Contrary to what mainstream medicine would have you believe, there are natural alternatives to prescription drugs. These alternatives are found in nature and are without the toxic side effects found in so many pharmaceutical medications.

On these pages you will find common medical conditions and day to day living concerns. They are listed in alphabetical order, and when 'clicked', you will be taken to natural alternatives and nutrients.

We are only concerned with natural alternatives to prescription medications. Therefore the popular prescription drugs which are used to treat a disorder or disease will not be mentioned. To find out more about these medications and their side effects, refer to this page.

There are two nutrients which have been proven to be indispensable to good health and which are severely lacking in the typical American diet. They are omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.

Insufficient quantities of these two nutrients have been linked to a wide variety of chronic diseases; these diseases range from Alzheimer's disease to cancer and from depression to multiple sclerosis.

Care should be taken to include much more of both of these nutrients in your diet. Read about the importance of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids here.

Definitions

Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine is any form of practice that is outside the realm of conventional modern medicine. It covers a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches, and therapies. Most of these treatments and health care practices are not taught widely in medical schools. Examples are naturopathy, chiropractic, ayurveda, homeopathy and acupuncture.

Complementary Medicine

When a treatment or therapy is done along with or in addition to conventional medicine, it is referred to as "Complementary Medicine" as the two practices complement each other. For example, many Chinese hospitals use acupuncture to reduce the pain during the surgery instead of anesthetics. This is complementary medicine. Later, we refer to the use of sesame oil as a complementary treatment for cancer. Dean Ornish uses life style changes to combat heart disease. These are all examples of complementary medicine.

Holistic Medicine

Many of the alternative practices pay attention to the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health, in addition to the physical body. Therapies like hypnosis and visualization claim to be able to change physical conditions through purely mental interventions. They believe that our bodies are remarkably resilient, capable, with some occasional prodding or intervention, of healing themselves.

The name "holistic medicine" came from this unification of the mind and the body. Holistic practitioners treat the "whole person" as opposed to the individual organs of the body where symptoms occur. The importance of self care and preventing illness are stressed by holistic practitioners.

Natural Medicine

Any therapy that relies on the body's own healing powers may be considered natural medicine. These include herbal remedies, diet and water therapies.

ADHD
Alzheimer's disease
Arthritis
burn fat
diabetics (reduce blood sugar)
Heartburn
Migraine headaches
Restless leg syndrome

Arginine

The Journal of Nutrition published a study which found that the amino acid arginine may stimulate weight loss. Obese laboratory rats had their diets supplemented with this amino acid over a period of three months. Their body fat gains were decreased by 64 percent.

Arginine enhanced the oxidation of fat and glucose while simultaneously increasing muscle. Watermelon is an abundant source of arginine. It can be found in seafood, nuts, and seeds too.

Scientific studies found that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) stimulates muscle growth while simultaneously burning body fat.

Many decades of study has discovered that conjugated linoleic acid helps to prevent the fat enzyme lipoprotein lipase from breakng down dietary fat. This means that this fat cannot be stored as body fat. CLA also reduces the number and size of adipocytes or fat cells.

A dietary source of CLA is grass-fed beef. It is also available in supplement form. A daily dosage of 3.4 grams should be taken. Make certain that it is Tonalin CLA; it is the highest form of CLA on the market.

Omega-3 fatty acids

The pain that is associated with arthritis, osteoarthritis (age-related) and rheumatoid (autoimmune disease that results in joint swelling and pain), is mostly associated with inflammation.

Traditional treatments for the pain caused by inflammation are NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as Celebrex. As with most prescription and non-prescription pharmaceuticals, the side effects can be devastating.

Arthritis sufferers should avoid foods which promote inflammation. Foods cooked at high temperatures fit this category. This includes fried foods and non-organic/non-grass-fed meat. Both contain large quantities of AGES (advanced glycation end products.) AGEs promote inflammation.

Omega-3 fatty acids fight inflammation. Cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines are good sources. Plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids are good too. You will find these in nuts such as walnuts, almonds, and pecans.

Plant foods will help reduce inflammation too. They contain large amounts of antioxidants which fight inflammation.

Dark berries such as elderberries, black currants, blueberries, cranberries, cherries, and blackberries have the highest amounts of anti-inflammatory substances. They should be eaten on a daily basis.

Foods in the nightshade famly such as tomatoes, white potatoes, and eggplants have been found to increase arthritis pain in 20 percent of arthritis-sufferers.

Acetyl-L-carnitine

The key to getting and maintaining an erection is blood flow; in order to have sufficient blood flow, a supply of nitric oxide is necessary. Age naturally decreases your supply of nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas which is produced naturally in the body. It signals the smooth muscles lining the blood vessels to relax. This causes them to dilate (expand; become wider.) The wider the blood vessel, the more nutrients and blood flow to the muscles. This results in more nutrients reaching the muscles leading to repair and growth.

Pharmaceutical drugs such as Viagra work by increasing the supply of nitric oxide which in turn increases blood flow. However acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) does the same thing but without the undesirable side effects.

ALC will increase your erection better than testosterone. It is naturally synthesized in the body from the amino acids lysine and methionine.

Your best dietary sources of ALC are grass-fed beef, poultry, fish, and dairy products (I recommend raw dairy.) ALC can also be taken as a supplement. Take 500 mg twice a day on an empty stomach.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Like your cell phone which needs a battery to power it nd your car which needs gasoline in order to generate electricity, your body needs a source of energy. This energy source is your blood sugar which is called glucose.

Glucose however has to be converted into energy; this is the job of alpha lipoic acid (ALA.)

Alpha lipoic acid can be found in spinach, broccoli, peas, Brewer's yeast, brussel sprouts, rice bran, and organ meats. These foods contain a small amount of ALA. You can take ALA as a supplement. Take on an empty stomach for optimum absorption.

Magnesium

Restless leg syndrome or RLS is defined as a form of insomnia; it is characterized by an intense compulsion to move the legs especially while sleeping. Sufferers of RLS describe sensations ranging from tingling, crawling, and creeping to pulling and painful.

Current research has pinpointed low magnesium levels in people diagnosed with RLS.

Certain nutritional aids have been found to be effective in combating RLS. The 1935 issue of Journal of Physiological Reviews recommended a mineral ratio of 2:1 of calcium to magnesium for effectiveness. This ratio is based on long term metabolic studies of men and women. Calcium assists the body in assimilating magnesium.

Adults should get 400 mg (milligrams) of magnesium daily. Sources include, raw pumpkin seeds, spinach, raw sunflower seeds, almonds, black beans, and brown rice.

Cinnamon

To successfully control diabetes you have to control your blood sugar.

Studies consistently show that cinnamon significantly reduces blood sugar levels, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol in people who have type 2 diabetes. Additionally, cinnamon supports the digestive system, relieves constipation and the pain and stiffness of muscles and joints.

Cinnamon assists the body to increase its insulin function and delays stomach emptying which leads to a decreased glycemic load. It drastically delays gastric emptying and lowers post-eating blood sugar levels.

Other nutrients which can control your blood sugar are co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10), alpha lipoic acid (ALA), chromium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Cayenne pepper

Cayenne pepper can reduce or eliminate the pain caused by migraines; place 10 teaspoons of cayenne pepper in a glass of water and drink.

Apple cider vinegar

Heartburn and acid reflux are rarely caused by too much stomach acid. As a matter of fact, stomach acid naturally decreases with age! When in your 60s, you release 3-1/2 times less acid than you did while in your teens.

If you are not producing enough stomach acid, apple cider vinegar will help. Take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar before a meal ( the vinegar stimulates acid production.)

If that doesn't help, buy an acid supplement known as betaine hydrochloride (HCL.) Take the dosage recommended with your meals.

Omega-3 fatty acid

ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is characterized by reduced attentiveness and concentration, excessive levels of activity, distractibility, and impulsiveness.

Research conducted by the University of Adelaide in Australia has discovered that fish oil corrects the symptoms of ADHD without any of the dangerous side effects of pharmaceutical drugs. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, fish oil does it a lot more effectively!

It has been determined after a thorough of 24 scientific studies that artificial food colorings can negatively affect a child's behavior. Low iron levels have also been associated with ADHD.

Studies have concluded that other foods can bring on the symptoms of ADHD. I would adise avoiding ALL artificial sweeteners and grains as well; avoid all fast and processed foods and stick to eating organic fruit, vegetables, and meat according to your metabolic type.

Lithium aspartate or lithium orotate

Lithium aspartate or orotate: Blocks all the major Alzheimer's pathways. Found in nature, in can be purchased in your local health food store. Take 10 to 20 milligrams daly.
Alpha lipoic acid: Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) prevents Alzheimer's from progressing further; take 600 mg daily. Because this dosage depletes the B-vitamin biotin, supplement with 300 mcg (micrograms) of biotin along with ALA.
Coconut Oil: Use organic, extra-virgin oil only; take 4 tablespoons of coconut oil twice daily. First dosage should be administered in the morning. Coconut oil can completely reverse the damage caused by Alzheimer's.
Organic sulfur: (Will also reverse Parkinson's disease and osteoporosis.) Sulfur is useless if it is powered, non-organic, or not lignan-based.
Omega-3 fatty acids: Dietary omega-3s can be supplemented with Krill oil, an excellent source.
Quercetin: Aluminum and mercury have been associated with the development of Alzheimer's; quercetin prevents aluminum from being absorbed by the body. It can b found in broccoli, onions, kale, blueberries, cranberries, red apples, and red grapes.