Recently, I heard a physician stating that alternative medicine might be a better way to go instead of taking pills. My ears perked up and I was eager to learn more. As the broadcast went on, taking “pills” became a five-letter word.
Knowing the dangers of not taking medicine, hypertension, high blood pressure, anxiety, I was hoping to hear more about the process of being able to reduce medicine. In my mind, this part, however, was skipped and the bad “pill” word became more prominent.
If you wished to reduce your medicine, what would be your first step? The first step is to find out how the medicine works with the condition if you do not already know. The second step is to ask if the condition could improve by adapting “lifestyle” changes. The broadcast did use the words “lifestyle” changes. However, what is a lifestyle change?
Some conditions, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes have lifestyle changes as a large part of their treatment. It is important to note it is lifestyle changes, along with “pills,” not instead. In some cases, folks have fully weaned themselves off from “pills” under the supervision of their medical care team.
If you are ready to learn more about your “pills” and the reasons you are taking them, the first step is to read the information your pharmacist gives with the pills. If you have additional questions, ask your pharmacist and medical team. Next, learn about those lifestyle changes.
Because we spend so much on alternative treatments, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gives us resources that tell us the latest information on alternative, complementary and integrative health, herbs at a glance and how to find a practitioner. It is the leading agency for scientific research on diverse medical and health care systems not generally considered part of conventional medicine.
Learn the definitions of commonly misused words. According to the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Health, complementary medicine is treatments used along with standard medical treatments. Alternative medicine is treatments used instead of standard medical treatments. Integrative medicine is a total approach to medical care that combines standard medicine with complementary, alternative medicine. They treat the patient’s mind, body and spirit.
Next, if herbal medicine is something you want to learn more about, check out the National Institutes of Health herbs at a glance. I often use this as a quick reference. Here is what they say about turmeric, a plant grown throughout India, Asia and Central America. Preliminary studies found that curcuminoids (primary active ingredient) may:
• Reduce the number of heart attacks bypass patients had after surgery
• Control knee pain from osteoarthritis as well as ibuprofen did
• Reduce skin irritation that often occurs after radiation treatments for breast cancer
Be an informed consumer, look at these web sites or call the clearinghouse toll free for information at 1-888-644-6226.
· https://nccih.nih.gov/ National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
· https://nccih.nih.gov/health/herbsataglance.htm Herbs at a Glance
· https://nccih.nih.gov/health/howtofind.htm How to Find a Complementary Health Practitioner
One commonly eaten medicinal herb is turmeric and is often knowm as Indian saffron because of its yellow color. It is in mustard, mayonnaise and a number of other products. Turmeric is on the FDA generally regarded as safe list. Make your own curry powder. Here is a recipe that uses turmeric, a common ingredient in curry.
Curry Blend
2 tablespoons turmeric
2 tablespoons ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground cardamom
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon powdered cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Combine the ingredients in a jar. Cover tightly and shake. Keep in a cool, dark, dry place. Makes one-half cup.
This is a great recipe low in sodium yet has calcium from the yogurt and curry powder. Enjoy!
Curry Vegetable Dip
1 yogurt (8 ounce plain, low-fat)
1/4 cup carrot (shredded)
2/3 tablespoon green onion (minced)
1 tablespoon salad dressing (mayonnaise-type)
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon curry powder
dash pepper
Mix ingredients in a bowl. Chill. Serve with crisp raw vegetables pieces, such as celery, carrot, or summer squash sticks.
