Do you think natural remedies really work or do you only trust medication?

Question

And what are your reasons?

Answer 1

GREAT QUESTION! :)

I think both have their place.

I used to be completely brainwashed that a 'real' MD and meds were the only way to go. Got diagnosed with depression (no family history, made no sense) was on several different antidepressants. Last one I was on was Effexor and doc told me nothing about how horrible it would be to come off it. I did my research and asked him about it and he said...don't believe what you read on the internet, people can MAKE up fake websites...you will be on antidepressants for the rest of your life. That was the moment I 'fired' him. Went to an herbalist, did some tests and I was deficient in 8 vitamins! EKK!! She said I bet your doc didn't tell you those are the EXACT same vitamins that antidepressants suck from you! NOPE! Started taking the vitamins. Had to withdrawl like an addict from the Effexor...took me 6 wks...awful...when I finally was off. Guess who didn't NEED antidepressants anymore!!!!!! The vitamins cured it!

I had a massive ear infection..had appointment with doc late in the day but then I felt like I had a grapefruit in my ear...so much pain. It was over the holiday so he gave me eardrops and said if this isn't better in 2 days take this oral antibiotic...I was in so much pain, I filled them both. Two days later I called to said NOTHING had worked and it was now in BOTH ears...over the phone he diagnosed me with SHINGLES!!!!!! WHATEVER!!! I called the local Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic...gave me some herbal eardrops...with in 15 minutes I could feel the pressure leaving.

I have had many drugs fail and make me sicker...but so far...NO natural rememdy has failed or made me sick!

Answer 2

I know natural remedies work. But I also trust some medication.

Answer 3

I know that natural remedies can work, from personal experience. Truth to be told, I research anything I take whether it is traditional or alternative medication. Knowledge is absolutely your best defense. I am attaching a great resource (a link regarding a book), that I have used through two editions now.

It should be noted that even natural cures can have side-effects, so please research anything you take. A good example is fenugreek, which is great as a decongestant, but can play havoc with your blood-sugar.

Answer 4

i hardly trust pharmaceuticals AT ALL!!! There are way more 'side effects' than are worth the one trade off you MAY get. What do you think people did for medicine a hundered years ago?...... They didnt have asprin or viagra or zantac or ritalin. People went into nature and healed themselves. Aspirin is derived from a tree's bark. White willow to be exact. Then the government got in there with their money hungry hands and labs, and added chemicals and compounds. None of which are readily accepted by the human body. Nature is.
And have you noticed that more and more auto-immune diseases keep 'appearing'? Not just AIDS. I'm talking about arthritis, eczema, alzheimer's, depression, impotence, multiple sclerosis................ i could go on........... All of these things only materialized since the 'age of convenience'. Processed foods (McDonalds), high stress jobs and demands on our lives. we want everything NOW.
And our bodies are paying for it.

Answer 5

Some natural remedies work very well (such as using niacin to reduce LDL cholesterol) and have good evidence supporting their use. However, natural does not equal safe. Botanicals can have side effects too, and in some cases they can cause death. In my experience, they are much better for treating chronic conditions. I would, however, utilize prescription meds if warranted. In short, yes, I do believe that natural remedies work if they are used correctly as part of an evidence based practice, but I do trust prescription meds as well.

Answer 6

Natural resources, such as herbs and deydrated food supplements and mineral supplements are always best in my opinion. They were put on this earth for a reason. Most, if not all, do not have side effects. However, you must educate yourself on how to use them respectfully. They ARE medicines and should be treated as such. The best benefit to the natural resources though, is PREVENTION. Take care of yourself and pay close attention to what your body tells you. At the first sign of a cold, for example, start taking preventative measures including vitamin C, zinc, and so on, for about a week, to build up your immune system to fight it off or to at least shorten the sickness. Remember, EDUCATE yourself. I also believe that man-made medicines are sometimes necessary whenever you cannot fight off a sickness on your own. So see your doctor if the natural cures do not work for you.

Answer 7

I think natural remedies do work. Certain herbs have proven medicinal values. They are especially useful as preventatives. For eg Cinnamon is extremely good for people who suffer from diabetes and cardiac problems as it regulates the sugar level. Garlic is said to boost the immune system. it is anti-fungal and can also reduce cholesterol levels. Garlic also helps eliminate toxins such as mercury, certain food additives and chemical versions of the hormone estrogen. It also protects against Heliobacter Pylori, the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers and also helps ward of the common cold. Prunes contain tartaric acid which is a natural laxative. Saffron is the richest source of riboflavin. Due to the presence of crocetin it indirectly helps to reduce cholesterol in the blood as well as reduce the severity of artheroscelerosis. It also has anti-tumour and anti cancerous properties. Green tea has many health benefits such as lowering cholesterol, boosting the imune system, helping prevent cavities and tooth decay as well as fighting certain forms of cancer. It is 200 times more potent than Vitamin E in fighting free radicals. The list is endless and I think the best way to reap the benefits of these natural remedies is to incorporate them into our diet in such a way that they become a way of life for us rather than try to use them after we fall sick

Answer 8

It's better to take natural remedies to offset a condition and keep yourself generally healthy rather than waiting to get the condition and having to take drugs with potential side effects to fix it.

Answer 9

I prefer the natural remedy over medication.
Medicine is full of side effects and toxins and it usually make you sick with another ailment in addition to the ailment it was suppose to treat.

Answer 10

I am very sensitive to the side effects of western medicines. Natural remedies and eastern medicine works much better for me. my last bout with kidney stones only lasted 3 hours by going to acupunturist... with western med, the previous bout lasted almost 2 weeks of incredible pain.