What pills have you quit taking, looking for alternatives?

[Marianne]

Okay, now I have to try some of it!

 

[hqueen13]

Oh that does sound good! I can't wait to start growing things that I can use!!

 

[heatherlynnky]

I have really undocumented Asthma. My doctor wanted me to see a specialist even though she was positive. She tried to put me on an inhaler and some steroid pills and wanted me to consider more than just allergy pills. Its been over a year since I have had to use any steroids. I keep the emergency puffer just in case and its watched BUT I use a homeopathic blend specifically for asthma. I also have been taking astralgus to increase immune system and lung function.

I am also premenopausal. Lots of fun. I use all natural for everything. I also have endometriosis and have been coping with that naturally. Many of my supplements not only help with the perimenopause but also with my breathing and the mild arthritis I have. Evening primrose, flax seed oil, Oat grass tea( massive amounts of vitamines especially magnesium, potassium, and b vitamines). Tons of vitamine C.
We also use natural meds for colds and flu. This is the first time I had the flu and it was horrid but short lived thanks to some very good homeopathics meds fro Boiron. We do lots of aromatherapy, homepathic, lots of teas and even accupressure. I do not like pharma at all.

Ooo almost forgot Raw Apple cider vinegar with the mother. Man that stuff if effective. Athletes foot for the oldest boy, no problem. Yeast infections, exzema, and even indigestion. Stuff is awesome.

Do you actually have oat grass and make tea or buy the tea?
I'm such a ninny when it comes to teas. I know you can make teas with leaves, fruits even barks of various plants. I'm a basic black tea kind of girl, but I'm willing to change my ways.
I read that mullion tea was good for lung support. Anyone try that?

What is astralgus?

I actually have COPD, some days are better than others. At the time I was diagnosed, I was so sick from a bacterial lung infection that I was no longer smoking. Side effects, more side effects from drugs, finally got better and never went back to smoking. Doc said there was a good chance I would not end up with a hose in my nose since I'd quit smoking. But I still have days that I can't do anything as I get so breathless. Other days I'm good to go within reason. SO, anything that actually will help with lung support is of interest to me.

I love ACV! I always have a jar brewing in the cupboard and a small bottle in the frig. Good stuff.

I bought green oat grass and make the tea. We are going to grow some of our own though now that we know it works so well. The oatgrass has been AWESOME for the anxiety that came along with the hormone changes. Seriously I thought I could not make it through the day and about a month later I feel so much more like myself. Now I do take a ton of nutritional care to help with all this too but I love the oatgrass tea and its pretty yummy. I think for 2 lbs of tea I paid $25 including shipping and that is probably 6 months worth for normal people. i am not normal though and I live off herbal tea, so I went through a bunch of it faster than anticipated. It really was yummy.

Astralgus is used in asian medicine. Depending on what you read it can boost immune system. For lungs though i read chinese medicine uses astralgus and Mullein leaf. My sister has COPD ( never smoked, all lung infections from uncontrolled asthma and a fungal lung infection she got in Arizona) and she drinks a tea I bought her which is a blend. I think its called breathe deep and it has Mullein leaf and she says she can tell the difference. I also have her doing deep breathing excercises. When she first started she could barely count to 3 for a deep breath. She can get all the way to 6 even on her bad days. Her doctor has said he lung function has improved and really the only change has been the tea and the excercises. If you look up the belly breathing they do for anxiety, thats what I have her doing. We are talking about trying a couple easy yoga poses that open up the lungs and I am learning reflexolgy and some accupressure techniques that may help her function. Might look into those.

 

[baymule]

I have hull less oats growing in my yard right now! How do I harvest leaves for tea? Do I make tea with green leaves or dry them first and how much oat grass to a cup of tea? Thanks!

 

[Marianne]

Heather, thanks for the info on the teas. And for spelling Mullein correctly. I used to be able to spell........ :/

Yes, deep breathing exercises are so important. My biggest toot now is when the temperature is dropping - close to sunset is the worst!! Seasonal allergies are adding to that.
I do believe that a more alkaline diet plus losing weight would help, too. Lately all I crave is milk products, carbs. I was practically inhaling that heritage yogurt and drinkng a washtub of kefir and juice every day. No matter how good for you it is, too much will still add weight. I have lost almost 10 pounds now, but not due to any excercise! Having some impulse control makes a difference.

Our daughter is a yoga teacher. She hasn't been preaching, but it comes up often. The last time she visited, she left two DVD's for chair yoga. I just need to do it.

Mullein grows around here, but I seem to remember something about 'little hairs' on the plant. I have seen mullein tea bags for sale. I think I'll get some now, and remember what you said about the astralgus.

 

[Dumbfarmhand]

Some time ago, I thought about all the pills I was taking. All the pills that I had been taking for a long, long time. At the doctor's office, it was always the same:

Doc: Take these pills twice a day, every day, forever.
Me: What are the long term effects of taking these pills?
Doc: When it happens, then we'll deal with that then.

So, for chronic carpal tunnel, I took Naproxen Sodium (Aleve is one), for 10 years!! Did a lot of reading on the web about long time usage - heart attacks! Hey, that runs in my family!

Made the switch to Ibuprofen. Decided to attack my liver for a while. Did some research on that, too. And Tylenol. And aspirin. Finally decided to take one low dose aspirin ONLY and tough it out. I didn't bookmark the study findings on this (!!!), but here's one article about benefits of low dose aspirin besides lowered risk of stroke -
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/243171.php . They won't do any more studies on aspirin because of the cost and the fact that it's so cheap to buy everywhere.

I have some arthritis, bursitis, that kind of tendon, joint, connective tissue issue. :/

I was pretty achy for a week, maybe even two weeks. Then I started feeling better, not so achy. Now, I take Tylenol or aspirin first. Some days I still have to take something stronger, but not often. I decided I'm going to stick with the drugs that have been around the longest.

Super B complex has helped my carpal tunnel more than anything.
I stopped the two blood pressure medications because Hawthorn is working better. (still take my bp regularly, just to make sure) Can't believe how much better I feel just not taking those anymore.

We put saturated fats back in our diet. My cholesterol dropped 50 points.
DH quit taking statin drugs (he had big time trouble w/them). His dropped 50 points after adding saturated fats, a year later, it's dropped another 25 points. He's added several things to his daily routine - niacin, etc.

Anyone else have a success story to share?

I stopped statins as they really didnt work, made me feel sore in my legs - so I had to do something. I added Red Yeast Rice to my daily intake and my TG's dropped 400 points - not changing my diet! I also take Allicin (Garlic), long used in Europe to decrease cholesterol. I enjoy bacon (from our pigs) and real butter. Go figure? As for my platelets, a twice-daily 81mg aspirin has taken the place of Plavix. If you look at the studies, taking an anti-platelet is not much better than good ol' aspirin.

The only thing I need to research is what can improve my thyroid (hypo). I take Synthroid, but would likw to see if there is an alternative.

Stay away from Tylenol - very toxic to the liver!

 

[Marianne]

I haven't found or heard of anyone that ACTUALLY was able to get off of thyroid medication. I'm the only one in my family that has dodged that bullet, even our daughter has a wonky thyroid.

DH tried red yeast rice and his legs started bothering him again, just like the statin drugs. I'm glad it's working for you!

And have I welcomed you yet? I don't get here too often anymore (life keeps me busy lately).

 

[snapshot]

Thyroid meds is all I am on. If they were no longer available, I would take a spoonful of coconut oil a day and keep going as long as it works. I have a little arthritis and take cinnamon and honey. I also make candied ginger which is a great anti-inflammatory!

 

[flitter]

Thyroid meds is all I am on. If they were no longer available, I would take a spoonful of coconut oil a day and keep going as long as it works. I have a little arthritis and take cinnamon and honey. I also make candied ginger which is a great anti-inflammatory!

What an interesting thread!
I've been adding dulse (seaweed0 to my diet in hopes of helping the thyroid... love to get off the meds!

 

[Amiga]

I found my allergies were greatly reduced when I stopped eating gluten. And now I am finding that if my joints start to ache, I stop eating grains for a few days and the aches fade quite a bit.

I watch my posture more closely now and that has stopped the pins and needles in my arms at night. I also do a few simple exercises to reverse the shoulder-rounding tendency.

There is a Wahls Protocol, combination of better nutrition, stress management and exercise that has shown very good results especially for people with chronic inflammation.

Before I dive in, I realize I need to clarify my motivation to get me through rough patches. I had my share of rough patches going gluten-free 30 years ago. I realize now that I need to use the "mental floss" before encountering resistance (especially my own (c: )

On a different tack, Epsom salt helps a bunch of things, from feeling run down and tense, to easing sprains, to drawing out stubborn small splinters.

I use Traumeel for aches and pains - very helpful.

Activated charcoal and coconut oil with some baking soda makes a really good toothpaste. The cost is really low, and my dental hygienist tells me my teeth and gums are doing better than when I was using store-bought toothpaste.

Ginger and turmeric are nice anti-inflammatories, and I have used those from time to time. It is not overnight miracle stuff for me, but does reduce problems after several days.

But really the biggest thing that I do instead of going on medication is restrict empty carbs. After an awful summer a few years ago (my emotional painkiller is baked goods), at my checkup the young doctor declared I needed to be on glucophage and statins due to blood test results. Instead, I went on a sugar and starch fast, then slowly introduced fruits and some whole grains. Next blood test, not a trace of the minor indicators that my blood sugar was too high or that my LDLs and HDLs were off.

I keep an asthma inhaler (albuterol) handy, and sometimes use an antiviral. I watched my dad with asthma and learned that he could work himself into a serious asthma attack just by getting nervous that he might have an asthma attack. He saw some crown vetch once, told me it was red clover and that red clover gives him asthma. Sure enough, he started wheezing. It was not red clover.

From this I decided I could reduce the severity of attacks by refusing to get worked up and nervous about it. That works most of the time. I am not opposed to having the occasional prescription for short-term relief.

At the first sign of UTI, it's rooibos tea with a little applesauce, and a couple of ounces of cranberry juice in ten ounces of water.