You Don't Have to Suffer: Natural Options for Five Common Diseases

[Guest guest]

You Don't Have to Suffer: Natural Options for Five Common Diseases

http://www.mercola.com/2004/dec/22/natural_health.htm

By Dr. ph Mercola

with Droege

It's no secret that Americans suffer from a hearty array of aches, pains and

other maladies. In fact, I challenge you to think of someone in your life,

particularly someone over the age of 30 or 40, who does NOT suffer from one of

the " common " diseases you'll see mentioned below. It is alarming that a

person free from disease and health problems is becoming the rare exception

rather than the norm.

The sad fact is, these " common " diseases have become so much a part of the

way we live that they're just as much a part of the American Dream as a house

with a white picket fence. Along with that two-car garage and 2.5 kids, we

have high cholesterol and hypertension, anxiety and depression, chronic pain

and insomnia. It's sown right into the seeds that plant our freshly mown lawns.

But what if I told you that for each of these common diseases, there is a

very real, very attainable alternative that can help? You don't have to accept

these conditions as a way of life or resign yourself to a lifetime of

medications and other elixirs. The following natural options will set you free

from

these common conditions and soon the healthy life you've really been dreaming

of will become a reality.

High Cholesterol

Number of Americans with high cholesterol: 37 million

Cholesterol is an extremely important nutrient that your body needs to

survive -- in fact, it is a structural precursor of the membrane around each of

your 10 trillion cells. It is also the major precursor molecule for every major

steroid hormone. Your body converts cholesterol into pregnenolone, and from

there into important hormones like estrogen, progesterone, cortisol,

testosterone and DHEA.

There are two types of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is

known as " good " cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or " bad "

cholesterol. HDL is so important to your body that it actually protects against

atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). This is why total cholesterol

levels are not typically very helpful in predicting heart disease. Instead, it

is the proportion of _HDL to total cholesterol ratio_

(http://www.mercola.com/2003/jan/1/heart_attacks.htm) that is so important.

Popular cholesterol drug: Lipitor (Pfizer)

* 2003 U.S. Sales: $5.8 billion

* Annual cost per patient: $1,100

* Potential side effects:

* Muscle weakness

* Severe muscle breakdown (rare)

* Kidney damage

Safe and Healthy Alternatives:

_Exercise Can Increase Your HDL_

(http://www.mercola.com/2001/aug/22/hdl.htm) - Read this article to find out

how exercise, along with a healthy diet,

can play a major role in increasing your levels of " good " cholesterol.

_http://www.mercola.com/2001/aug/22/hdl.htm_

(http://www.mercola.com/2001/aug/22/hdl.htm)

_Lower Your Grains and Lower Your Insulin Levels_

(http://www.mercola.com/article/carbohydrates/lower_your_grains.htm) - Learn

about the importance of

limiting grains in your diet, and why making this dietary change can actually

help to normalize your cholesterol levels while contributing to other healthy

changes in your body.

_http://www.mercola.com/article/carbohydrates/lower_your_grains.htm_

(http://www.mercola.com/article/carbohydrates/lower_your_grains.htm)

_Low-Grain and Low-Carbohydrate Diets Treat Nearly ALL Chronic Illness_

(http://www.mercola.com/article/carbohydrates/scientific_evidence_low_grains.htm\

)

- This comprehensive article by Dr. ph Brasco explains why limiting your

intake of carbohydrates (especially as cereal grains and starches) will

improve human health.

_http://www.mercola.com/article/carbohydrates/scientific_evidence_low_grains.h

tm_

(http://www.mercola.com/article/carbohydrates/scientific_evidence_low_grains.htm\

)

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Number of Americans with high blood pressure: 50 million

Many people are unaware that insulin, the hormone secreted by your pancreas

to normalize your blood sugar levels after you eat a sugary snack, plays a

large role in high blood pressure. Raised insulin levels cause blood pressure

to rise, so if you eat sugars and grains that break down into sugar, such as

bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, beans, cookies, cakes, cereals, oatmeal, toast

and rice, your body will be releasing insulin to balance out your blood sugar

and blood pressure will therefore increase.

Insulin is not the only factor, however. Emotional stress is also plays a

major role. High blood pressure is a serious issue that can kill or permanently

impair you, and it should not be ignored, but it is important to remember

that high blood pressure normally kills you slowly over time (giving you time

to address the problem without taking high-priced drugs).

Please note that if your systolic blood pressure is over 160-180 there is a

danger that you could have a stroke, so you need to be careful about stopping

your blood pressure medications without monitoring your blood pressure

carefully.

Popular Hypertension Drug: Norvasc (Pfizer)

* 2003 U.S. Sales: $1.9 billion

* Annual cast per patient: $500

* Potential side effects:

* Edema (a swelling in the arms or legs that can cause heart problems)

* Dizziness

* Flushing

* Palpitations

Safe and Healthy Alternatives:

_Sunlight Can Lower Your Blood Pressure_

(http://www.mercola.com/2004/jul/24/sunlight_blood_pressure.htm) - Did you know

that regular sun exposure could

help your blood pressure levels to go down significantly? Read this article

to find out more.

_http://www.mercola.com/2004/jul/24/sunlight_blood_pressure.htm_

(http://www.mercola.com/2004/jul/24/sunlight_blood_pressure.htm)

_Exercise Will Lower Your Blood Pressure_

(http://www.mercola.com/2002/apr/17/exercise.htm) - Learn how engaging in

regular exercise such as walking,

cycling, jogging or swimming can help lower your blood pressure -- and your

subsequent risk of heart attack and stroke.

_http://www.mercola.com/2002/apr/17/exercise.htm_

(http://www.mercola.com/2002/apr/17/exercise.htm)

_Stop Eating Grains and Sugars_

(http://www.mercola.com/article/carbohydrates/lower_your_grains.htm) - For some

this may sound like heresy, but even

whole unprocessed sprouted grain bread can break down to sugar and raise your

insulin levels. Sugar and all sweets are even worse. Elevated insulin levels

can increase your blood pressure, so it's best to avoid grains and sugars until

you normalize your weight and blood pressure.

_http://www.mercola.com/2004/jul/7/stress_blood_pressure.htm_

(http://www.mercola.com/2004/jul/7/stress_blood_pressure.htm)

_Have Better Tools to Handle Stress_

(http://www.mercola.com/2004/jul/7/stress_blood_pressure.htm) - It is possible

to have hypertension even with a

perfect diet and exercise program if you do not have an effective method to

address the inevitable stressors in your life. My personal favorites are brain

wave entrainment technologies that passively allow you to achieve the benefits

of meditation. _Insight CDs_ (http://www.mercola.com/forms/insight_focus.htm)

are a great option here. Additionally, you can download the _free

instructions_ (http://www.mercola.com/forms/eftcourse.htm) on an effective

energy

psychology tool called EFT.

_http://www.mercola.com/2004/jul/7/stress_blood_pressure.htm_

(http://www.mercola.com/2004/jul/7/stress_blood_pressure.htm)

Anxiety And Depression

Number of Americans with Anxiety: 30 million

Number of Americans with Depression: 18 million

Depression and anxiety are absolutely devastating conditions that can

figuratively paralyze a person from living their life. If left unaddressed,

these

mental challenges can cause physical symptoms and leave a person unable to

deal with relationships, work and even day-to-day activities.

What causes depression or anxiety? There are many theories out there, which

include:

* Biological factors (a genetic disposition or neurological weakness)

* Psychological factors (an inability to cope or regulate your moods)

* Social factors (difficult family or life experiences)

* Nutritional factors (low cholesterol, too much sugar, too little

omega-3)

Popular Depression/Anxiety Drug: Zoloft (Pfizer)

* 2003 U.S. Sales: $2.5 billion

* Annual cost per patient: $850

* Potential side effects

* Sexual dysfunction

* Nausea

* Insomnia

* Diarrhea

* Suicidal thoughts in kids

Safe and Healthy Alternatives:

_Treatment Options for Healing Depression_

(http://www.mercola.com/2002/dec/11/depression.htm) - Read this article to find

out diagnostic criteria for

major depressive disorders and treatment facts about depression from a more

traditional perspective.

_http://www.mercola.com/2002/dec/11/depression.htm_

(http://www.mercola.com/2002/dec/11/depression.htm)

_New Findings About Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Depression_

(http://www.mercola.com/2004/feb/14/omega_3_depression.htm) - Find out why

omega-3 fatty acids

in _fish oil_ (http://www.mercola.com/forms/carlsons.htm) are so important

for anyone who may be suffering from depression.

_http://www.mercola.com/2004/dec/22/natural_health.htm_

(http://www.mercola.com/2004/dec/22/natural_health.htm)

_Exercise Better Than Drugs for Depression _

(http://www.mercola.com/2001/mar/31/depression.htm) - Exercise has many

mood-boosting effects that can fight

clinical depression faster and more efficiently than leading antidepressant

drugs.

_Exercise Good for Depression_

(http://www.mercola.com/2002/jan/26/exercise_depression.htm) - Read this

article to find out how exercise can reduce

anger, fatigue and tension among people in depressed moods.

Insomnia

Number of Americans with Insomnia: 60 million

During the deepest phases of sleep growth hormone is released, energy is

restored and the immune system is strengthened, and during REM (rapid eye

movement) sleep we have vivid dreams and our brains may be working on

consolidating

memories.

It's no wonder, then, that insomnia, or routinely having trouble falling

asleep and staying asleep, causes numerous health problems in those who are

afflicted, as well as secondary effects like lost productivity and the ability

to

enjoy precious daytime hours. Insomnia has named as a contributing to factor

to many diseases, including diabetes, depression, obesity and cancer.

Popular Insomnia Drug: Ambien (Sanofi-Aventis)

* 2003 U.S. Sales: $1.3 billion

* Cost for three-month supply: $230

* Potential side effects:

* Dizziness

* Diarrhea

Safe and Healthy Alternatives:

A consistently effective tool that works well for most of my patients is

brain wave entrainment, which can be achieved by listening to a sound source

that has different frequencies that play in different phases in each ear. The

degree that the frequencies are out of phase causes your brain to

sympathetically resonate at that frequency. Typically, this is done by

listening to a

stereo CD before sleeping.

The CD sounds like rain falling and actually slows down your brain waves to

the same frequency you would experience had you been meditating for many

years. I am continuously amazed at how consistently effective this tool is for

helping the patients I see that have difficulty sleeping. The specific CDs I

use in my practice are the _Insight CDs_

(http://www.mercola.com/forms/insight_focus.htm) , and I could not endorse

them more for helping restore normal

sleep patterns.

_Guide to a Good Night's Sleep_ (http://www.mercola.com/article/sleep.htm)

- In this article you'll find almost 30 excellent tips to help you fall

asleep and wake up feeling rested and refreshed. Insomnia will be a thing of

the

past -- and no drugs are needed.

_One of the BEST Cures for Insomnia_

(http://www.mercola.com/2000/may/7/cure_insomnia.htm) - Read this article to

find out how exercise was able to help

the participants of one study to fall asleep about 15 minutes earlier and

sleep about 45 minutes longer at night.

Chronic Pain

Number of Americans with chronic back pain: 26 million

Chronic back pain affects some 80 percent of Americans at some point during

their lives. Causes of the pain are varied and include physical impairments

or injuries, psychological factors and an inability to recover (due to other

illness, lifestyle or emotional factors).

Because we depend on our muscles, especially those in our backs, for our

very survival, chronic pain that results in an inability to move freely is

debilitating, causing emotional, financial and psychological strain on those

afflicted. Chronic pain symptoms vary almost as much as the causes, and can be

dull, aching, burning or sharp, broad or centered in one place. It can come on

gradually or appear suddenly with little warning and accompanied by muscle

spasms and stiffness.

Popular Pain Drug: OxycoNtin (Purdue Pharma)

* 2003 U.S. Sales: $1.6 billion

* Annual cost per patient: $1,300

* Potential side effects:

* Nausea

* Constipation

Safe and Healthy Alternatives:

_Do You Struggle With Back Pain?_

(http://www.mercola.com/2004/jun/2/back_pain.htm) - You may be surprised to

learn that psychological factors can

contribute significantly to back pain. Read this article to find out how the

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) can safely and inexpensively treat even the

most

stubborn of chronic aches and pains.

_Beyond Bad Backs: What Chiropractic is and How it Can Help You_

(http://www.mercola.com/2003/nov/12/beyond_bad_backs.htm) - Find out how

chiropractic

can not only help you to deal with chronic back pain, but also can help you to

make health gains in other areas of your body and life as well.

____________________________________

Related Articles:

_Drugs and Doctors May be the Leading Cause of Death in U.S._

(http://www.mercola.com/2003/jan/15/doctors_drugs.htm)

_Five Common Hygiene Mistakes and How to Avoid Them_

(http://www.mercola.com/2003/sep/27/hygiene_mistakes.htm)

_Six Common Dental Procedures That can Harm Your Health, and How

Environmental Dentistry can Help_

(http://www.mercola.com/2004/feb/18/dental_health.htm)

____________________________________

Jeff el

10360 Pine Lakes Blvd

North Fort Myers, Fl,33903

http://www.msprotocols.com/