to medicate or not?

[kymommy]

I've noticed on this sight that many of you all do not like conventional medicine and avoid medicating when possible. I am just wondering your reasons.

I would never take anything unecessarily, but I do keep our med cabinet well stocked.

Yesterday I had an awful sinus headache, I could hardly function, I took two Advil and felt 100% better.
My daughter was up with a rough caugh a couple nights ago, I gave her some Tylenol "Simply Cough" and she went right back to sleep.

I just think that God has given wisdom to researchers, chemists, pharmacists, etc. to invent them to heal.

I have looked into alternative stuff and just don't feel comfortable. It sounds good, but there is absolutely no guidelines from the FDA to the people who produce these products.

I know of one family whose child had a prolonged ear infection. They were trying to treat it "naturally" and it went into mennigitis. I have also heard of strep going untreated and turning into rashes and scarlet fever.

I'm not downing alternative treatments, I'm just anxious to hear from you all if they are truly successful and what guidelines to you use for brandnames, amounts, frequency, etc.

[myjoyoverflows]

I feel much the same way that you do.

I won't take anything (or give my daughter anything) unless it's completely necessary....it makes me sad when people over medicate their kids...it's not called for....and I believe that it can be harmful...

Some people that I used to babysit for would give their kids (without being sick or anything) tylonal (not childrens either) to put them to sleep at night...granted, it's probably a little bit better than the "olden" day wiskey...but still...it's not necessary!

I'm all about seeing if things can clear up on it's own...(being sick, being in pain....things like that)...but I'm also all about using medication when it's absolutely needed....

[breezykc2]

I also hold the belief that God gave us advancements as blessings and that we should embrace his gifts to us when needed...he works through everyone and in many ways...even children's cough syrup! LOL
I hold off and try a few days of vaporizors, vicks, warm drinks, higher Vit. C foods, and Tylenol or Tylenol cold and will try to clear up any colds/flu/etc this way first...if no help for a week or getting a lot worse, then we hit the docs and if needed take an antibiotic...but we've only needed an antibiotic once for a major sinus infection for the little guy!
I avoid as much as possible, but am very happy to use the medicines I have available to aleve my little ones symptoms if necesary!

[imported_rachel]

I avoid it all unless my day/sleep/work is being interfered with. I assume I'll treat similar symptoms for the kiddos, with whatever their doctor recommends.

[luvmy4sons]

Balance is the key. Good health habits and proper nutrition. I try to avoid illness with proper diet and natural supplements, but don't hesitate to use modern medicine when necessary. Balance. Not too much of one to the exclusion of the other, and all directed of the Lord through prayerful consideration.

[SoapLady]

We tend toward natural/alternative approach to most things. I believe God has given man the wisdom to know how to treat many medical issues, but I also believe that He gave us the earth in all its bounty which is good for both preventing and treating many medical issues. We use pharmaceuticals for a few things but generally avoid them.

I do wish there was more research on the effectiveness of various natural remedies! Unfortunately it takes a lot of money to do the type of testing the FDA requires which generally need tens of thousands of participants and whole staffs of people to manage the research. Since a natural substance cannot be patented (in the US), it isn't worth it for a medical company to take on the enormous expense of research only to have a competitor sell the same product. In recent yrs, there seems to be some interest among government and educational institutions to focus part of their research budget on herbs and other natural remedies. Hopefully that trend will continue. I believe there are many effective remedies out there that have only been researched minimally, if at all.

[stephwhiz]

With our ds we are a little more aggessive with trying to get colds, sinus infections, etc. cleared up because he has asthyma and it is very scary when his breathing capacity gets low and it is very dangerous too. A cold or sinus infection can make his breathing capacity be reduced rather quickly so I watch him very closely. With dd I let things go a little longer unless there is a fever involved, now a low grade fever for a couple of days is okay but of course not a high grade fever and I jump right on that. During the day I rarely give her anything for coughing but if it is keeping her and the rest of the family up at night, then I give her nighttime cough medicine.

Stephanie

[Rach]

mostly we try to give our bodies a chance to take care of things on its own, then we'll go to the drugstore or dr if things get worse or there are dangerous symptoms.

[tobikay]

I agree with Tara. I believe that God had given us scientists and wonderful knowledge, and sometimes medical intervention is necessary, but, I also believe that he created within our bodies the ability to heal itsself, if given the chance.

Just alittle research will tell you what these medications can do to the body...Tylolnol for instance is horrible on the stomach and the liver for one. Infact, all the medications you put in the body have to go through the liver, and they all leave behind traces that they have been there. Just look at the possible side effects and think about it, the same things happen to everyone, just more severe in some than in others.

I have 2 BIL who died from taking too much medication. All prescription, prescribed to them. The most amazing thing is that they did not die while they were taking the meds, but after not taking any for a period of time, eventually their liver and other internal organ had been damaged too much and couldn't go on anymore. One was 38 and the other was 29. (granted, they took ALOT of meds)

Recently, it was big news that peditricians have discovered that giving antibiotics helped ear infections to heal a whopping 2-3 hours faster than without. Think about what happens to your children when you give antibiotics...they get the "poopies" and rashes, not to mention the fact that antiobiotics kill all the bacteria, not just the bad but the good too. (which is why so many women get a yeast infection when they are taking antibiotics)

I have a trusted supplier of colloidal silver, (natural antibiotic) works for my family. We are rarely sick and when we are, it doesn't last long. Home, Rest, and Liquids.

[EmJo]

Ditto Tara and tobikay.

I once heard a natural-health-minded doctor say on the radio, "If you have a headache, it's not due to a lack of Tylenol in your body." Yes, sometimes medical intervention is necessary in emergencies, but generally medical technology has spoiled Westerners, causing us to believe bodily discomfort is a bad thing that must be stopped ASAP. Therefore people don't bother trying to uncover the root of the aches, pains, etc. Stress? Vitamin/mineral deficiency? Dehydration? Eating wrong foods? Exposure to chemicals? So people go on fighting the same symptoms b/c medications typically just cover them up.