Prescription medicines aren’t what they always appear to be. While people buy prescription drugs to help them alleviate certain symptoms and manage their illness, the side effects can sometimes be fatal. Many people are killed due to side effects from prescription drugs.
One example is the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx. In 1999, the FDA considered this drug safe and approved it to be released in the market. But in 2004, Merck and Co., Vioxx’s manufacturer, voluntarily withdrew the drug out of the market because it killed about 60,000 Americans and about 140,000 persons worldwide due to heart attacks and other related cardiovascular issues.
In 2005, the FDA admitted that there’s a 92 percent failure rate of drugs that tested safe and effective in preclinical studies. There are also cases where drugs were relabeled or withdrawn because of lethal adverse effects.
Some of the prescription medicines that have serious side effects such as cognitive decline are antidepressant drugs. Researchers reported that clinical studies did not include in the study’s publication the serious harmful side effects of antidepressants. Hence, these drugs are linked to dementia and memory loss.
Some research has been done to find out if there’s a connection between anticholinergic drugs and negative brain effects. These drugs include medications to treat seasickness, allergies, and insomnia. In a study using brain imaging through MRI and PET scan imaging, researchers were taken aback when they found that patients who are taking anticholinergic drugs had lower brain metabolism and higher brain atrophy. Another study in 2015, also showed that chronic use of anticholinergic sleep aids increased the person’s risk for dementia.
Instead of reaching out for prescription drugs, which have the potential of impairing your memory, try to heal yourself the natural way. Below are some of the health issues you can heal with the aid of the right exercise, diet, and nutrition.
1. Incontinence
Incontinence or leakage occurs when you’re unable to contain urine. Some causes include stroke, prostate gland enlargement, Parkinson’s disease, and other unknown causes. The best natural ways to treat incontinence are:
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Strengthening the muscles around the urethra
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Kegels is one of the most effective pelvic floor muscle exercises. This exercise can be done either in a sitting or standing position. All you have to do is contract the muscles you use when urinating. Clench and unclench these muscles for up to 10 counts three times a day.
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Training your bladder
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Bladder training is another way of managing your incontinence. This means taking control of your bathroom trips. Whenever you have the urge to pee, try to wait for five minutes more before going to the bathroom. Increase the number of minutes as you see your progress. Keep doing this until your bathroom trips return to normal. Be patient while applying these strategies because healing does take time. Research also shows that eating vitamin C rich foods help improve the health of your urinary system.
2. Muscle strains and spasms
Drugs associated with muscle relaxants are also linked to memory impairment. Improve your muscle condition without using drugs through massage therapy and magnesium rich foods.
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Massage therapy
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Massage has been found to have relaxing effects on the muscles.
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Eating foods rich in magnesium content
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Magnesium deficiency is one cause for muscles to cramp easily. Eating foods high in magnesium content may help. The best are green leafy veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes, and seafood.
3. Pain
If the pain you’re feeling isn’t associated with serious injuries or serious health issues, natural painkillers might be the best choice over ibuprofen. The best remedies for pain include ginger and turmeric, which are popular in Asian healing alternatives.
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Ginger and turmeric roots
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Ginger is anti-inflammatory and also offers an antioxidant effect while turmeric is anti-inflammatory and has anti-cancer properties. Both of these roots can be taken as a tea drink.
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Herbs and other plants
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Other natural painkillers include capsaicin, valerian root, and peppermint or lavender essential oils.
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Pain-relieving methods
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Some techniques include dry needling, cryotherapy, and chiropractic care.
4. Depression
Antidepressants are one of the popular drugs that are linked to memory loss. The natural ways to heal from depression involve lifestyle changes and establishing loving relationships. Though these require more effort than popping a pill, the rewards are great and can reduce depressive episodes.
Experts suggest the following things can help improve your mood and fight against depression:
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Exercising
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Exercise helps release happy hormones endocrine, which are also considered natural antidepressants.
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Regulating blood sugar levels
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Maintain a stable blood sugar to reduce mood swings.
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Increasing your brain’s serotonin levels
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Help your brain to release happy hormones by eating healthy fats like avocados and omega 3s and increasing high protein intake as well.
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Avoiding caffeinated foods and beverages
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Chocolates, coffee, teas, and sodas contain caffeine that can trigger depression. Avoiding these foods while on your way to healing can serve you well.
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Getting a daily dose of vitamin D from sunlight
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Vitamin D has the natural ability to improve your mood.
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Taking mood enhancing natural supplements
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St. John’s Wort, L-theanine, and fish oil are food supplements that are said to help improve your mood. But it’s best to consult your doctor before taking supplements that you haven’t tried previously.
5. Allergies
Allergies come and go. They can also be seasonal depending on the trigger. The best natural ways to treat allergies include:
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Honey
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If your allergy is triggered by seasonal changes, taking honey before the season is in full swing works best.
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Neti pot
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Research shows that neti pot helps clear congested sinuses, rids nasal passages of allergens and irritants, and treats several upper respiratory conditions.
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Bone broth from chicken
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This soup helps reduce inflammatory problems and boosts immunity.
6. Seasickness
Ditch your motion sickness medications and grab these things instead.
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Ginger
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Aside from pain management, ginger also works best to prevent motion sickness.
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Aromatherapy
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Fragrance therapy using peppermint or lavender oil is one way of reducing the onset of motion sickness.
7. Insomnia
Getting a good night’s sleep is challenging for some people. If you’re among those suffering from sleepless nights, these things might help:
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Exercise
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Exercise helps improve your circulation and relax your mind. With a relaxed mind, falling asleep might not be too hard to do.
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Sunlight exposure
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Research reveals that there’s a strong link between vitamin D deficiency and insomnia. If you haven’t been exposed to the sun for a while, doing so might be all you need to pamper yourself for a good sleep.
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Establish a relaxing bedtime routine
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At times, the troubles of the day may be the culprit to your sleeplessness. Make it a point to relax your mind and body before bed. You can do it by listening to relaxing music, reading a good book, or listening to mindfulness audios.
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Shower before bed
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Taking warm showers before bed also helps relax your mind and body and induces a good night’s rest.
