Chemical-pharmaceutical drugs: interference with the body's normal functioning results in suppression of symptoms and increased toxic effects
"In 1983, 2876 people died from medication errors. By 1993, this number had risen to 7,391 - a 2.57-fold increase." Increase in US medication-error deaths between 1983 and 1993. The Lancet 1998; February 28, page 643
While pharmaceutical drugs can have powerful and life-saving benefits when used appropriately, these medications are too often used in clinical situations where safe and natural treatments should be tried first. If safe and natural treatments (diet, nutritional supplementation, botanical medicines, exercise, physical medicine, hormones) are unable to produce the desired effect, then pharmaceutical drugs should be used. Chemical-pharmaceutical drugs generally work by interfering with the way your body normally functions. Just look at the names of the categories of the major drugs and this fact becomes quite obvious:
| Drug class | Use | Toxic effect | Safe and effective natural alternative available? | | calcium-channel blockers | to lower blood pressure | Associated with a slightly increased risk for cancer | Yes | | Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) | to lower blood pressure | Adverse Effects: Gastric irritation, aphthous ulcers, peptic ulcers, dysgeusia, cholestatic jaundice, hepatocellular injury, anorexia, constipation, Tachycardia, angina pectoris, MI, Raynaud's syndrome, CHF, hypotension in salt/volume depleted patients, Neutropenia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, fatal pancytopenia, Proteinuria, renal insufficiency, renal failure, polyuria, oliguria, urinary frequency, Rash, pruritus, pemphigoid-like reaction, scalded mouth sensation, exfoliative dermatitis, photosensitivity, alopecia, Cough, malaise, dry mouth, lymphadenopathy | Yes | | HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors: the "statin" drugs such as Zocor and simvistatin | to lower blood cholesterol | These drugs cause cancer in animals. Increased risk for kidney, liver, and muscle diseases in humans. | Yes | | SSRI: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as Prozac | for depression | Decreased sexual drive or ability; inability to sit still; restlessness; skin rash, hives, or itching; Breast enlargement or pain; convulsions (seizures); fast or irregular heartbeat; purple or red spots on skin; symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), including anxiety or nervousness, chills, cold sweats, confusion, cool pale skin, difficulty in concentration, drowsiness, excessive hunger, fast heartbeat, headache, shakiness or unsteady walk, or unusual tiredness or weakness; symptoms of hyponatremia (low blood sodium), including confusion, convulsions (seizures), drowsiness, dryness of mouth, increased thirst, lack of energy; symptoms of serotonin syndrome, including diarrhea, fever, increased sweating, mood or behavior changes, overactive reflexes, racing heartbeat, restlessness, shivering or shaking; talking, feeling, and acting with excitement and activity you cannot control; trouble in breathing; unusual or incomplete body or facial movements; unusual secretion of milk in females | Yes | | proton-pump inhibitors | to treat ulcers and heartburn | These drugs also reduce liver function, increase toxicity from other drugs | Yes | | cox-2 enzyme inhibitors, such as Vioxx | to reduce joint inflammation | These drugs increase the risk for heart attack, stroke, renal failure in humans. | Yes | | MAOI: monoamine oxidase inhibitors | for depression | Increase the risk for high blood pressure | Yes | | synthetic hormones for "hormone replacement therapy" (HRT) | Most women experiencing the normal and natural process of menopause will be offered equine estrogens (estrogens from horse urine) and synthetic progesterone. | Estrogen from horses and synthetic progesterone are not normally found in the human body, and these drugs interfere with the way the human body naturally works. These drugs increase the risk of cancer, stroke, heart attack, incontinence, and gall bladder disease. | Yes |
How could anyone expect to be healthy if 1) they had a health problem caused by a biochemical imbalance in their body, and then 2) the problem was masked and then potentially worse by adding another drug-induced biochemical imbalance? Natural medicines provide the most safe and effective approach to treating and preventing many chronic diseases.
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| Eur Neurol 1999 Jul;42(1):23-6 | |
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Cimetidine-associated optic neuropathy.
Sa'adah MA, Al Salem M, Ali AS, Araj G, Zuriqat M.
Medical Department, Islamic Hospital, Amman, Jordan.
Two cases of optic neuropathy associated with cimetidine therapy are reported. Recovery occurred in both after drug withdrawal. Rechallenge with the same agent totally reproduced the condition in the first case. Cimetidine exerts an unequivocal toxicity on the central and peripheral nervous systems. Since its introduction in 1976, it has been used in over 100 million patients, but only 3 cases of optic neuropathy have been reported as far as we know. Although the mechanism of toxicity is still unclear, cimetidine is a well-recognized zinc chelator, and zinc deficiency has been implicated in causing optic neuropathy. Hence, it can be concluded that cimetidine produced this toxicity through its mechanism of zinc chelation. However, close ophthalmic follow-up of such patients is unnecessary, but an unexplained visual deterioration should prompt immediate drug withdrawal.
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