tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20267695352842168522024-03-13T11:35:24.730-07:00SmartBodyz NutritionYour Online Source for Natural Medicine and Related ResearchDustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10901129191424790757noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769535284216852.post-42949449453778985222011-01-27T05:47:00.000-08:002011-01-27T06:13:51.842-08:00<span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT NATURAL/ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />It's a good possibility you're among the 40+ percent of<br />the population who have used natural/alternative<br />medicine in the past year. Relaxation techniques, smart<br />exercise, massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic,<br />smart supplementing, among others are all part of this<br />revolutionary new natural approach to medicine. In<br />November 1998, <em>The Journal of the American Medical<br />Association (JAMA)</em> revealed an interesting trend toward<br />acceptance of natural/alternative medicine. A popular<br />survey they sponsored showed the total number of visits<br />to natural/alternative medical practitioners increased by 50<br />percent since 1990. This exceeds visits to all primary care<br />physicians in the United States. <br /><br /><strong>An Additional Disturbing Trend<br /></strong><br />The survey also showed a significant number of people<br />utilizing natural/alternative medicine are not telling their<br />doctors for fear of ridicule, disapproval, or the doctor will<br />give misinformation. Since natural medicine is my<br />business, I feel comfortable discussing medicine (natural<br />or traditional) with any doctor whether they are of the<br />natural or traditional variety. Most people do not have<br />this comfort zone due to lack of knowledge. As a result,<br />millions of people are not telling their doctors they are<br />combining natural medicine with prescription drugs which<br />can put them at risk for possible adverse reactions.<br /><br /><strong>Proceed With Caution<br /></strong><br />Historically, natural medicine has very few or no side<br />effects. Conversely, traditional medicine (drugs) have<br />a host of side-effects. Taking extra magnesium<br /><a href="http://www.smartbodyz.com/Magnesium-Information.htm">http://www.smartbodyz.com/Magnesium-Information.htm</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">with an over-the-counter laxative can make you "too<br />loose" leading to diarrhea and possible dehydration. <br />Most over-the-counter laxatives contain magnesium. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />St. John's Wort has helped millions of people with mild to<br />moderate depression. However, combining it with<br />prescription MAO inhibitors may cause "serotonin<br />syndrome" as reported in the journal <em>American Family<br />Physician</em>, March 1998. "Serotonin syndrome" can lead<br />to lethargy and confusion. Another danger to consider is<br />discontinuing prescription drugs abruptly. Harsh<br />discontinuation of such drugs risks a potentially dangerous<br />rebound effect according to Dr. Harold Bloomfield,<br />co-author of the book Hypericum & Depression<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/">http://www.amazon.com</a>. If you choose to quit using<br />prescription drugs is recommended you gradually<br />wean yourself from them. Hypericum, by the way, is the<br />active ingredient in St. John's Wort. The message I'm<br />attempting to convey is: Generally, do not combine natural<br />medicine and drugs that have similar actions.</span>Dustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10901129191424790757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026769535284216852.post-78474999466261738622009-07-29T14:14:00.000-07:002009-07-29T14:16:01.462-07:00Your Online Source for Nutritional Supplements and Related ResearchDustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10901129191424790757noreply@blogger.com0