Prescribed medicines are often necessary, but they can also be problematic, especially when you don’t care for yourself holistically – mind, body, and spirit. If you’re taking medication to keep yourself alive, it’s important to remember that this isn’t the only way to fight off sickness. Are your prescribed medicines keeping you alive or making you sick? It’s essential to look into this question before it’s too late.
Introduction
Medication is a huge part of our society. We take them to help us feel better, but do they make us feel better at the expense of our health? Do they make our lives worse because we don’t have time to take care of ourselves holistically–mind, body, and spirit–and get sick more often because we can’t stop taking medication and go for a natural diet that can possibly help us live longer and better?
The side effects of prescription medications
According to the Mayo Clinic, side effects of prescription medications vary by drug and person. Common side effects may include dizziness, fatigue, weakness, nausea, and stomach pain. Less common but more severe side effects may include heart attack or stroke. If you’re concerned about any symptoms you’re experiencing after starting a new medication, talk to your doctor immediately.
Side effects from drinking too much caffeine
Caffeine can be found in coffee, tea, and chocolate. It can also come from carbonated beverages, such as sodas and energy drinks. Too much caffeine can lead to anxiety, insomnia, heart palpitations, and muscle tremors. In rare cases, it could lead to seizures and death.
Drink your coffee and tea in moderation. The recommended maximum is 400 milligrams per day, equal to around four 8-ounce cups of coffee. For comparison, a Venti Blonde Roast filter coffee at Starbucks has the most caffeine at 475 milligrams. In comparison, white tea has the least amount of caffeine out of all teas, with only 15 to 30 milligrams per eight-ounce serving.
Side effects of smoking cigarettes
Smoking cigarettes can have serious side effects: Smoking causes chronic lung disease and cancer of the mouth, esophagus, larynx, bladder, kidney, and pancreas. Smoking is also linked with other cancers, such as stomach cancer and lymphoma. The harmful chemicals in cigarettes can cause many other health problems, including birth defects among children born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy.
Side effects of drinking too much alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to many adverse side effects, such as liver cirrhosis, and increased risk of cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Abusing alcohol is also highly addictive, meaning the more you drink, the more likely you are to develop a physical dependence on alcohol. If you’re drinking heavily and want to stop but just can’t seem to do it on your own, there are treatment options available that can help. The first step is seeking out medical help. However, if an addiction has already taken hold and left you unable to control your drinking habits, there are medications that may be able to help. These include Naltrexone (Revia), Acamprosate (Campral), and Disulfiram (Antabuse). There are many other medications used in the management of alcoholism, including Clonidine (Catapres), Lofexidine (Lucemyra), and Topiramate (Topamax). Alcoholics Anonymous may also be helpful.
The top 10 most recommended supplements to take
#1 Omega-3 Fatty Acids #2 Vitamin C #3 CoQ10 #4 Turmeric #5 Fish Oil #6 Calcium #7 Magnesium #8 Zinc #9 Vitamin D #10 Selenium. A holistic diet consists of consuming a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat protein, and healthy fats. Try cutting out processed food and chemicals (consult with your healthcare providers) for 30 days to see if you can feel the difference.
Let us examine some foods with high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids: Some examples include walnuts, salmon, mackerel, soybeans, and ground flax seeds. Eat more leafy greens, avocados, beans, nuts, lean meats, and fish such as halibut or tuna. The American Heart Association recommends two servings of fish per week; other sources recommend three servings. Include at least one serving each day of plant oils rich in omega-3s, such as hempseed oil, flaxseed oil, canola oil, and olive oil. Research on reparations as a public health argument reminds us that access to nutritious food is not a personal failing but a structural justice issue.
Importance of exercise in holistic health
Exercise is an integral part of a holistic lifestyle. Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous to be effective, and many people find that they can accomplish their fitness goals with just a few minutes of exercise every day. Research has shown that individuals who exercise regularly live longer and have lower rates of cancer and heart disease.
A breakdown of cost-effective ways to build a healthy body
*Eat three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit daily.
*Avoid processed foods, unhealthy fats, and refined sugars.
*Drink six to eight glasses of water per day.
*Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day.
*Do some form of stress management regularly.
*Spend time in nature for at least 20 minutes each day.
*Spend time with friends and family for 15-30 minutes each day
Remember, all of these suggestions are self-care techniques that you can do to build a healthy body. They may not be part of your daily routine; however, if you don’t work to balance mind, body, and spirit, you’ll have difficulties managing disease when it arrives.
How herbs and essential oils can be used in place of specific prescriptions
Herbs and essential oils can be used as alternatives to specific prescriptions. For example, lavender essential oil can be used as a natural alternative to sleeping pills, as it promotes relaxation and sleep. Some people have also found relief from migraines and headaches by applying peppermint essential oil topically. Lavender is an anti-inflammatory that can help with arthritis pain and joint stiffness. The same benefits apply to chamomile and eucalyptus.
Peppermint has been shown to help alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, while turmeric has been found to relieve nausea associated with chemotherapy. These are just some examples of how herbs and essential oils can be used instead of medications prescribed by your doctor if you are suffering from the symptoms listed above or other ailments that could be improved with herbal remedies. The essential oil has to be food-grade to be ingested. Follow dosage instructions and use them under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
Conclusion
Whether you are taking prescribed medicine, natural remedies, and/or a holistic diet, the key is to take care of yourself holistically. All three approaches have their pros and cons, but making an effort to be conscious of your health in every way is never a bad thing. So ask yourself these questions next time you fill a prescription for your chronic pain medication–Is this helping me live longer and better? Am I taking care of myself holistically? Am I staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water? Are my meals nourishing my body and giving me energy? Do I exercise regularly, even if it’s just a daily walk around the block? What does mind-body-spirit mean to me?
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3886980/
Community is the medicine.
Our ancestors held vast pharmaceutical knowledge in their bodies, their gardens, and their traditions — knowledge that modern medicine is only beginning to validate. Ubuntu Village honors that ancestral wisdom as a living inheritance. Support the work of reclaiming it.
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Michele Mitchell is the Founder, President & CEO of Ubuntu Village Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rooted in East Harlem, New York, with programs in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria. A writer, advocate, and community strategist working at the intersection of ancestral wisdom, public health, and community power, Michele leads Ubuntu Village’s work to center communities as the protagonists of their own healing. She writes from the conviction that science and spirit are complementary, that healing is relational, and that community is the medicine.
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