For many years, people took the medications their doctors prescribed without question. That was the standard of care when we were sick—from over-the-counter cough syrup to pain relievers and antibiotics. We grew up with medication being modeled as a treatment and cure for most of what ailed us.
Many doctors see patient refusal to take medication as non-compliant behavior. Other doctors may put patients in one of several categories or reasons to explain their refusal to take medications. However, after my IBS diagnosis, I noticed a growing intolerance to many medications. By the time of my automobile accident, I had no tolerance for any of the medications prescribed to help me deal with my ongoing pain.
The birth of modern medicine began in the 19th century and steadily grew to what it is today. Scientific breakthroughs, the treatment and prevention of illnesses such as infection, the development of antibiotics, and the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer are just a tiny sample of how far medicine has come. Modern medicine has been a blessing in keeping and making Americans healthy. Many modern medicines are more effective at treating symptoms and diseases than previously used methods.
However, as many scientific breakthroughs as there have been, traditional medicine still has a place in treating symptoms and diseases. While medication is the standard treatment for illness in America, alternative medicine needs to be allowed for patients who have little or no tolerance for medication.
Doctors need to take a patient's intolerance to medication seriously. Intolerance is different from a medication allergy. When medication is prescribed for one health condition, but the patient has an intolerance resulting in unpleasant reactions, continuing with that medication may lead to other serious health problems for that patient. It is then that doctors should be willing to look to different methods of treating the patient's illness. Americans have the right to be educated about the alternative methods of treatment that are important to make them healthy again.
Medication intolerance is a real problem that some patients experience and some doctors' comments on the issue can be dismissive or borderline passive-aggressive. This article published by PubMed, "Medication Adherence: WHO Cares?" is compelling as it speaks to the behavior of patients who do not take their medications as prescribed or refuse them altogether. Of course, medication intolerance was not mentioned in the article.
Some Americans are lucky enough to find a naturopathic doctor in addition to their primary care doctor. These doctors do not simply treat their patient's symptoms but work to find the underlying causes of those symptoms that lead to a diagnosis—also known as finding the root cause.
There is an old remedy for upset stomach—baking soda and water. This was an effective treatment for upset stomach before the advent of the modern antacid. My mother was one of many who relied on this simple, traditional form of treatment. There are many forms of traditional medicine, from herbal treatments to acupuncture. Conventional medicine has been used to treat health conditions of the body, mind, and senses. Some of these traditional medicines have been used for a great many years—for example, ayurvedic medicine which dates back over 5,000 years.
For chronic pain patients with medication intolerance, doctors must help them find alternative treatments to alleviate that pain best. Yoga, coherent breathing, and acupuncture are all very therapeutic.
Yoga is approximately 5,000 years old, although it has evolved from its original form. There are a range of yoga practices, from hot yoga to restorative yoga. The combination of gentle movement coordinated with slow, deep breathing started me on a long road to recovery, and today, I am not in constant pain. Besides being used for chronic pain, yoga is an excellent alternative treatment for physical and mental health and sleep.
Coherent breathing can lead to relief from stress and improve sleep, among many other benefits. It is also an excellent alternative treatment for chronic pain. I was lucky enough to have a doctor who taught me coherent breathing. It is even used by active duty military.
Acupuncture has been practiced for over 3,000 years and has become more widely accepted as an alternative treatment for pain. Physical therapy and chiropractic treatment can provide some temporary relief, but acupuncture is showing positive results in helping manage chronic pain.
The methods of treatment listed will never cure my chronic pain, but neither will medication. However, they make my chronic pain manageable. They are natural, medication-free alternatives, and they allow me a quality of life where I can live to my fullest potential.
Americans should be allowed to choose alternative methods of treating their symptoms and diagnoses whenever possible, especially if they have valid reasons for using those alternatives. Every American deserves to be educated about their diagnosis and fully informed about medications and treatments for their disease. At the same time, doctors must listen to what patients tell them, especially about problems they may have with medication. To Make America Healthy Again, doctors must incorporate more than just medication and the usual standard of care. Healthcare must be tailored to each individual using medication or any natural healing therapies or alternatives.
