The pharmaceutical marketplace is full of medications meant to clear your head, ease your pain, reduce your blood pressure, and help you sleep, among other things. What if there were some natural alternatives?
Of course, natural remedies don’t necessarily pack the same punch as drugs, but they may be enough if you give them a try. Just be careful; don’t switch over to natural products without first talking to your doctor. Natural options come with their own set of interactions, allergies and side effects to consider.
Now, let’s take a look at what’s out there:
§ If you need an allergy drug (antihistamine) try this:
Quercetin, is a powerful mast cell stabilizer that reduces histamine. It occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables. It may also reduce anxiety, asthma and inflammatory chronic pain resulting from stress.
§ If you need a pain reliever, try this:
Willow bark and California poppy provide pain relief similar to natural and weaker opiates. Holistic doctors favor these options.
§ If you need an antacid, try this:
Supplements like slippery elm, marshmallow root, digestive enzymes, DGL and probiotics work for digestive issues. Instead of reducing stomach acid, these herbs reduce gut inflammation. If the problem lies with insufficient acid, try betaine with pepsin for digestion.
§ If you need blood pressure management, try this:
Systolic blood pressure is alleviated by grape seed extract and potassium citrate. Magnesium is a strong anti-hypertensive too. You’ll want to eat more basil, and perhaps garlic. I recommend eating garlic, or taking “aged garlic” supplements.
§ If you need your cholesterol reduced, try this:
Use natural “statins” like red yeast rice or vitamin C. Try a cup of Tulsi tea or coenzyme Q10 as well.
§ If you need to sleep, try this:
Low doses of 5-HTP or GABA may be beneficial if used under a doctor’s supervision. Lemonbalm, hops and passionflower provide natural relaxation as well.
