Alternative Medicines - Are They A Safe Alternative To Prescription Drugs?

Many people are now turning to alternative medicine, such as herbal remedies to treat everything from acne to cancer. However, are these alternative medicines any safer than the prescription drugs that have supposedly been fully researched and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? After all, there has been very little research done in comparison to give us proof that they are a better option.

In recent years we have seen a rash of prescription medications removed from the market due to extremely dangerous, even deadly side effects. We also see television commercials advertising prescription drugs that have a countless number of adverse side effects, some that are worse than the illness that they are originally intended to treat. We are left to wonder if we are doing ourselves more harm than good by buying into the drug companies convincing arguments that they offer the best possible treatments for our ailments.

Lets face it. Anything that we put into our bodies could cause an adverse reaction. This includes prescription drugs as well as any alternative medicines such as herbal remedies. The severity of the reaction is what determines the level of safety for a particular drug or herb. This is also where the uncertainty lies. With a prescription drug, most of the side effects have been identified and are made known to anyone that takes it. They are also monitored and controlled by the FDA. With alternative medications, the side effects are not always known. So, until an individual tries them they do not necessarily know how they will affect them. There may be no reaction whatsoever or there could be a serious reaction that no one else has experienced or reported. Unfortunately, at this time, there is no agency that monitors and controls alternative medicine.

Yes, many people have found relief from alternative medicines and in many cases there have been no reports of noticeable physical side effects. That does not mean that there are no hidden internal side effects. Many herbal remedies that were once thought to be safe are now being shown to have some very serious side effects if taken for extended periods of time. For example, Ginger, at one time, was thought to be a safe alternative treatment for arthritis. Recent studies now show that it contains natural chemical compounds that are extremely similar to those found in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It is also thought that they can cause many of the same side effects such as stomach and intestinal damage, interference with the clotting of the blood, and fluid retention that can be serious for those with heart failure or high blood pressure. This just goes to show that there is no way of really knowing the long-term effects of any medication, natural or man-made, without doing thorough research and in depth studies.

Ultimately, it is difficult to say whether or not alternative medicines are safer or better than prescription medications. The choice to use them is completely up to the individual. However, it should be noted that mixing alternative medications with prescription medications could be a dangerous game. It is highly recommended that you speak with a health care professional before trying any new medicinal therapy.

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