Have you ever wondered why doctors prescribe pharmaceutical drugs instead of supplements and dietary changes?
It’s because of their training. They receive little or no training in nutritional counselling. Also, it’s easier to assume that most people don’t have the motivation to change their eating habits anyway, so giving them prescription drugs to mitigate their symptoms is an easy solution, at least for the short term.
However, many of the symptoms that people go to the doctor for are often the result of poor eating habits, which result in nutrient deficiency. Taking prescription drugs to lessen these symptoms often makes the problem worse because prescription drugs also deplete nutrients. Even though your symptoms may improve in the short term, in the long term, you end up worse off than you were before because not only is your diet low in essential nutrients, but now the drugs you’re taking are making the situation worse. This leads to further symptoms, more drugs, and so on and so on.
Where does that leave people who do have the motivation to improve their diet instead of taking prescription drugs? Unfortunately, the conventional medical system doesn’t really work that way.
This is slowly starting to change. Many medical doctors are now realizing that when it comes to certain diseases, type 2 diabetes in particular, taking prescription drugs isn’t nearly as effective as changing one’s diet and lifestyle.
I’m not suggesting that prescription drugs should never be taken. Sometimes they’re necessary, especially in emergency situations, to lower your risk of serious complications. However, once the situation is under control, where possible, prescription drugs should be replaced with nutrients in the form of nutritious food, herbs, and supplements together with lifestyle changes. Prescription drugs alone can be reserved for people who refuse to improve their diet and lifestyle.
Some prescription drugs are very difficult to wean off for some people, especially psychotropic drugs for treating psychiatric conditions, which is why you should never stop taking any drugs without first consulting your prescribing physician.
In my work with seniors, I see people taking multiple prescription drugs several times a day. The drugs seem to keep their symptoms under control but their condition doesn’t seem to get any better. In fact, their health seems to deteriorate, especially if they have chronic conditions. It seems as though they die not of their condition but because of the drugs they were taking to treat it. It’s very sad to watch.
If you’re wondering about natural alternatives to prescription drugs, read my blog post on this topic: Top Three Prescription Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives.
If you’re considering weaning off your prescription drugs, always do so in consultation with your doctor. Consult a naturopath to discuss which supplements and other nutrients you can take instead. Book a free 15 minute consultation with me to find out how I can help you.