Medicine

Traditional Medicine
Source: usually comes from plants (herbs) or animals.
Example and uses:
Aloe Vera: •Treats skin disease, •Relieves skin wounds resulting from contact with hot things.
Garlic: •Treats high blood pressure, •Prevents cancer and flu.
Turmeric: •Treats ringworm and liver disease,• Cures diarrhoea.
Bee's Honey: • Relieves pain of skin that has been scalded by hot things.

Traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional medicine

Modern Medicine

Side Effects of Medicine
Traditional

Photosensitivity

Individuals taking St. John's wort to treat depression or anxiety may find their skin becoming more sensitive to the sun. They may burn more easily. Typically, fair-haired and light-skinned Caucasians have the highest incidence of photosensitivity, but this herbal side effect is thankfully rare. Typical cases of photosensitivity occur when people take very high doses of St. John's wort, or take it over a long period of time. If taking St. John's wort, avoid too much sun exposure.

Skin Irritation

Topical herbal antifungal and antibacterial agents such as tea tree oil and lavender may cause rashes or skin irritation, especially if used at full strength. Before using any topical herbal product, try a skin patch test. Place a small amount of the product on the inside of the elbow on one arm only. Wait a few days. If the area remains clear, proceed with using the herbal product.

Sleepiness

Everyone's body is different, and some people are more sensitive to herbs than other people. Herbs used to treat anxiety, depression and insomnia may cause excessive daytime sleepiness in certain individuals. These herbs include chamomile, valerian and kava kava, with valerian and kava being the most likely culprits. Avoid driving or using machinery until you're sure of the effects of the herb.

Drug Interactions

Drug interactions are serious side effects of herbal medicine. Many commonly used medications interact with herbs. Herbs may amplify the effect of the medication, as in the case of sedatives, anesthetics, and blood thinners. Others may block the drug from working. This can lead to dangerous consequences.

Interaction with General Anesthesia

One of the most common side effects of herbal medicine is its interaction with pharmaceutical drugs. Of particular danger is the interaction between herbs and anesthetics. Many people undergo general anesthesia for outpatient procedures and diagnostic tests as well as major surgical procedures. Certain herbs, such as kava kava and valerian, may magnify the effect of sedatives and general anesthetics.

Patients must tell their anesthesiologist about all herbs, supplements, vitamins, pharmaceutical medications and alternative remedies they are taking to avoid dangerous drug interactions. TheAmerican Society of Anesthesiologists advises patients not to take herbal remedies two weeks prior to receiving any anesthesia because so many herbs can interact with anesthetics as well as cause other complications during surgical procedures. Many doctors also advise against taking dietary supplementsprior to surgery for the same reason.

Liver Inflammation

Echinacea, one of the most popular herbs used to boost the immune system and battle colds, may also cause liver inflammation when it interacts with certain pharmaceutical compounds. Echinacea may also prevent certain medications used to treat lupus and other immune-system disorders from working.

Modern
1. The inability to truly cure, which results in 40% of the American population suffering from a serious chronic disorder.
2. Adverse side effects, which result in 180,000 deaths per year.

Examples

• High blood pressure (hypertension). Modern medicine uses various drugs to drop the blood pressure - without considering why the body had elevated it in the first place.
• Angina - Modern medicine uses drugs to "cover-up" the symptoms of angina and other forms of heart diease, without telling you you can actually reverse the damage that is causing it!
• High Cholesterol - modern medicine uses drugs to artifically force lower cholesterol levels, without thinking about WHY the body raised them in the first place (clue: it is a defensive mechanism!)
• Depression - modern medicine dopes adults and (increasingly) kids with toxic drugs to cover up pyschiatric / psychological issues that are caused by malnutrition, plain and simple. (specifically, a chronic lack of omega-3 fatty acids)

3. Iatrogenic disease of epidemic proportions.
4. Escalating costs that prohibit many from seeking appropriate modern health services.
5. The failure to prevent disease and suffering.


Correct Usage of Traditional and Modern Medicine
Modern
• Modern medicine like antibiotics, analgesics and psychotherapeutic medicines can only be taken under doctor's supervision or obtained through a prescription.
• Antibiotics given by the doctor must be consumed within the stipulated time frame this is important to ensure that all the bacteria that is causing the sickness has been killed by the antibiotics. Otherwise some of the bacteria that are still alive in the body may develop a resistance towards the antibiotic. when this happens, the same antibiotics will not be able to cure the disease or a very high dosage is needed to cure the same disease in the future.
• Analgesics such as paracetamol and aspirin must be taken only upon the advice of a doctor. Long term consumption of analgesics can damage the liver and kidneys.
• So, my advice is, follow the doctors advice always as they know better. =)


DRUG ABUSE
Usual Drugs Abused
•Tobacco
•Alcohol
•Heroin
•Marijuana


Why Teenagers Take Drugs
• Teenagers that feel pressured and are not able to handle that are prone to drug abuse because the drugs mentioned above stimulate relaxation and this makes them forget about their problems and thus will lead to addiction from frequent consumption.


Side Effect of Drugs on Health

Nicotine: Increased blood pressure, and heart rate/chronic lung disease; cardiovascular disease; stroke; cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, cervix, kidney, bladder, and acute myeloid leukemia; adverse pregnancy outcomes; addiction

Alcohol: In low doses, euphoria, mild stimulation, relaxation, lowered inhibitions; in higher doses, drowsiness, slurred speech, nausea, emotional volatility, loss of coordination, visual distortions, impaired memory, sexual dysfunction, loss of consciousness/increased risk of injuries, violence, fetal damage (in pregnant women); depression; neurologic deficits; hypertension; liver and heart disease; addiction; fatal overdose

Marijuana: Euphoria; relaxation; slowed reaction time; distorted sensory perception; impaired balance and coordination; increased heart rate and appetite; impaired learning, memory; anxiety; panic attacks; psychosis/cough, frequent respiratory infections; possible mental health decline; addiction

Heroin: Euphoria; drowsiness; impaired coordination; dizziness; confusion; nausea; sedation; feeling of heaviness in the body; slowed or arrested breathing/constipation; endocarditis; hepatitis; HIV; addiction; fatal overdose

Impact of Drug Abuse to Society
The abuse of drugs cause social and economic issues. As crime rate in society increases, the demand of drug trafficking also increase. This effects nearly all aspects of our lives.


How to Prevent Drug Abuse

A number of different prevention approaches have been found to be effective in decreasing the risk of drug abuse and addiction. Simple lifestyle changes, like increased physical activity, are thought to help prevent drug abuse in teens. There is also formal programs that are found helpful in preventing drug abuse.

References
http://www.mum.edu/physiology/hazards.html
http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/modern-medicine.html
http://herbs.lovetoknow.com/Side_Effects_of_Herbal_Medicine
http://drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/DrugsofAbuse.html
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