Why discuss natural treatments for asthma and allergies, anyway? Why not just use prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs? Here are a few reasons:
* Prescription drugs are expensive * Drugs usually have more adverse side effects * Drugs only relieve symptoms not underlying causes * Natural treatments can sometimes effect a cure * Natural treatments are usually much safer
Prescription drugs are not only expensive, but also have considerable adverse side effects. Corticosteroid drugs, for example, deplete the body of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. They may also increase the risk for cataracts.
Even OTC antihistamine drugs cannot be used if you have certain conditions such as glaucoma, prostate problems, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis. Frequent acetaminophen users (6 29 times per month) are more likely to have lung disease than non-users according to an English study. A study of more than 13,000 Americans also showed a 40% greater risk for asthma. Acetaminophen is found in many medicines, including Tylenol.
Prescription drugs have their place in getting critical symptoms under control rather quickly. They should be used with extreme caution, however. A study published in 1998 by the Journal of the American Medical Association, estimated that 106,000 hospital patients die each year from adverse drug reactions. Each year another 2,216,000 patients suffer permanent disability or require hospitalization from reactions to prescription drugs. Remember, all these drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In August of 2005, a Texas jury found Merck & Co. liable for the death of a man who took the pain killer Vioxx. The jury awarded his widow $253 million. According to an article in the Chicago Sun Times (August 21, 2005), one juror summed up the verdict by saying, They needed to be held accountable for putting a drug out there that shouldnt be out there. Another juror said, I want them to listen.
How many deaths and hospitalizations are reported each year from taking vitamins, minerals or other natural supplements correctly? Its near zero and yet the natural supplement industry is under continuous attack by the FDA, pharmaceutical companies (via unscientific studies) and certain members of congress. Why? You cant patent natural substances and make big bucks. Natural supplements are a threat to profits.
MY POSITION I am all for the use of pharmaceuticals in emergency situations and when there are no alternatives available. They definitely have their place in medicine. I am against their use when safe, natural alternatives exist. This is especially true in the long-term management of an illness where adverse side effects can build up to intolerable levels and cause severe problems.
The FDA and the pharmaceutical companies should let the public have natural alternatives without harassment or legal roadblocks. They should put the health of people ahead of financial gains and power trips. The stakes are too high to do otherwise. We are talking about life and death!
THE NATURAL APPROACH Natural nutrients have been used since ancient times to treat illnesses and conditions of all kinds. Modern society is gradually gravitating back toward natural or alternative medicine after seeing the general failings of conventional medicine. People want more than to have symptoms reduced at the expense of suffering side effects that are as bad as, or worse, than their ailment. Rarely are they actually healed; consequently, they seek help in less traditional medicine.
Natural supplements may take considerably longer to work and are not suitable for emergency situations. They are, however, more desirable for the long-term management of asthma and allergies. Drug alternatives are usually much safer because they occur in nature and can react in our bodies in a more natural way as compared to man-made, or synthetic drugs.
Both pharmaceuticals and natural supplements have a place in the treatment of asthma and allergies, but this book will focus on the natural supplements. Most of these natural alternatives have research studies to support their use.
Many different natural supplements are covered in this book. Why not just present one alternative? The answer is that each person is different and will respond differently to various treatments. What works dramatically for one person may be a dismal failure for another person. You have to experiment to find what works for you.
No substance will work 100% of the time on 100% of the people. Neither will pharmaceuticals. If a substance is effective 25% of the time, is it not worth a try? Combining natural supplements often increases your chances of being helped. Sometimes supplements have a synergistic effect. One supplement may be a co-factor for another. One may depend on another for absorption, activation or increased effect. These things will be covered later in more detail.
Dont give up! Keep trying and give the supplements enough time. Natural supplements often require considerable time to take full effect. The shortest time have I ever experienced was eight days. Most substances will take weeks or months. Some take a year. The Coenzyme Q10 cited in the preface took 12 weeks, but it was definitely worth it.
Patients with severe cases of allergy or asthma may never be able to completely eliminate dependence on pharmaceuticals, but they may be able to reduce the dosages. Even that would be worthwhile.
You may be wondering why I grouped asthma and allergies together. The two are highly related. Allergy is an inflammatory condition and asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways. Persons with severe allergies are at risk for developing allergy-induced asthma. A second type of asthma is exercise-induced asthma. Both types are covered in this book. Fortunately, many of the natural supplements discussed alleviate both allergies and asthma.
One other thing worth mentioning is that using the supplements listed in this book may give you more than allergy or asthma relief. Other serious conditions, such as heart disease, arthritis and cancer, may be helped. Many diseases have an inflammation connection. Therefore, you are actually getting a lot more for your money with more safety. Can pharmaceuticals make that claim?
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