Melida

The most common use for Over-The-Counter Drugs (OTC) is for heartburn/acid reflux, constipation, allergies, colds/flu, and headaches.

The top five health problems aloneheadaches, depression, common colds, flu, stress related issuescost employers more than $180 billion annually, according to a study sponsored by AdvancePCS. The annual financial toll for all health conditions is at least $250 billionapproximately $2,000 per worker per year.

The problem of lost worker productivity goes well beyond absenteeism, with many people reporting to work even when they are sick the study reveals. A prominent phenomenon, called presenteeism, is often invisible to employers, yet it accounts for more than two-thirds of health-related lost labor costs.

New data revealed June 27, 2006 at the 48th annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society, migraine headaches cost American employers more than $24 billion a year in direct and indirect healthcare costs.

The Journal of the American Medical Association Vol. 284 July 26, 2000, published an article documenting the tragedy of Traditional Western Medicine (TWM) paradigm. The author, Dr. Barbara Starfield of Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health describes how the U.S. health car system may contribute to poor health.

There is another way, a study completed by P.E. Strang, W.H. Crown, R. Bizier, et al suggests preventative approaches are far more effective than is commonly believed. Preventative measures can eliminate the need for pharmaceuticals or surgery as well as pain/suffering, expensive procedures, lost wages and absenteeism.

Remedies:

Heartburn/Acid Reflux:

Heartburn/Acid reflux: stomach acid backing up into the esophagus, usually caused by an undiagnosed food allergy or sensitivity. Eat natural foods instead of processed food. Take time to eat slowlycoupled with eliminating all foods causing allergies or sensitivities prevents heartburn/Acid reflux. Probiotics or Licorice helps neutralize stomach acid.

Headaches:

Apply pressure: Chinese acupuncture and Japanese Shiatsu. The process takes 5 to 10 minutes to create relief. Unlike prescription or OTC drugs, pressure works instantaneously with no side effects. People often feel relief before the routine is completed. Other natural remedies include: herbs: Willow Bark, Aromatherapy, Massage, and biofeedback. Migraine headaches are frequently linked to food allergies and sensitivitiestherefore food allergies/sensitivities need to be determined and those foods eliminated to fully resolve migraine headaches for some people.

Cold:

Zinc lozenges, Vitamin C, N-Aceytl-Cysteine and/or Willow Bark.

Inhalation Allergies: Vitamin C. Grape Seed, Feverfew, Bee Pollen, Goldenseal, Echinacia, Quercetin and other Bioflavonoids.

Constipation: Water (minimum 64 oz. per day), Vegetables high in fiber, Aloe Vera and Cascara Sagrada. Constipation is your bodys way of telling you that you are not eating right.

Ask yourself: Do you want to do what your body needs or ignore what your body needs and then use OTC drugs to treat the symptoms. The choice is yours.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, Author, "101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life." Dr. Dorothy has the unique gift of connecting people with a broad range of profound principles that resonate in the deepest part of their being. She brings awareness to concepts not typically obvious to one's daily thoughts and feelings. http://www.drdorothy.net