Prescription for Drug Alternatives: All-Natural Options for Better Health without the Side Effects

508 Pages·2008·39.253 MB·English

by  James F. Balch, Mark Stengler, Robin Young-Balch

All-Natural Options for Better
Health without the Side Effects
Healing heart disease, diabetes, obesity,
anxiety, ADHD arthritis, depression,
high blood pressure, and more
JAMES F. BALCH,
m.d.
coauthor of Prescription for Natural Cures
MARK STENGLER,
n.d.
coauthor of Prescription for Natural Cures
ROBIN YOUNG BALCH,
n.d.

Prescription for
Drug Alternatives
All-Natural Options for Better Health
without the Side Effects
JAMES F. BALCH, M.D.
MARK STENGLER, N.D.
ROBIN YOUNG BALCH, N.D.
WILEY
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Copyright © 2008 by J&R Balch, Inc., and Stenglervision, Inc. All rights reserved
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Balch, James F., date.
Prescription for drug alternatives : all-natural options for better health without the side
effects / James F. Balch, Mark Stengler, Robin Young-Balch.
p.; cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-470-18399-1 (paper)
1. Naturopathy. 2. Alternative medicine. 3. Drugs—Side effects—Prevention. I. Stengler,
Mark. II. Young-Balch, Robin. III. Title. [DNLM: 1. Naturopathy—methods—Popular
Works. 2. Diet Therapy—Popular Works. 3. Pharmaceutical Preparations—adverse
effects—Popular Works. 4. Pharmacognosy—methods—Popular Works. 5. Phyto¬
therapy—methods—Popular Works. WB 935 B174p 2008]
RZ440.B284 2008
615.5'35—dc22
2008031707
Printed in the United States of America
10 98765432
CONTENTS
Preface v
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction: How to Use this Book 1
PART ONE: What You Need to Know about
Pharmaceutical Drugs 3
1 Drugs: The Good and the Bad 5
2 Natural Medicine: A Necessity for Good Health 11
PART TWO: Pharmaceuticals and Their Natural
Alternatives, Condition by Condition 15
3 Acne Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 17
4 Allergy Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 31
5 Antacid and Reflux Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 47
6 Anxiety Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 59
7 Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Disease Drugs
and Their Natural Alternatives 79
8 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Drugs and
Their Natural Alternatives 93
Contents
9 Blood Pressure Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 105
10 Cholesterol Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 123
11 Common Cold Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 145
12 Depression Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 159
13 Diabetes Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 179
14 Eczema Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 197
15 Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence) Drugs and Their
Natural Alternatives 209
16 Glaucoma Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 221
17 Headache Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 233
18 Herpes Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 245
19 Hypothyroid Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 255
20 Menopause Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 265
21 Obesity Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 285
22 Osteoarthritis Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 297
23 Osteoporosis Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 307
24 Premenstrual Syndrome Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 321
25 Prostate Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives 343
PART THREE: Resources 353
A-Z List of Nutritional Supplements 355
At-a-Glance List of Pharmaceuticals 403
Commercial and Generic Names of Common Pharmaceuticals 471
Glossary 477
Holistic Doctor Associations 480
Recommended Reading 481
Index 482
IV
PREFACE
With the success of our best-selling book Prescription for Natural Cures, we
found that many people have been helped by having access to concise, effective
information on natural medicine for a variety of health conditions. From our
discussions with patients, the public, and doctors, we saw a great need for a book
comparing commonly used pharmaceutical medications and effective natural
alternatives. With the explosion in scientific validation of natural therapies,
combined with public concern over potential side effects of pharmaceutical
drugs, the current medical climate has created an unprecedented demand for
natural alternatives to pharmaceutical medications. This book provides a
resource for patients and doctors alike to bridge the gap between these two fields
of medicine.
Chances are that you or someone you know takes one or more medications.
Many of these come with a long list of potential side effects, some of which can
be life-threatening. The question we are often asked is, “Are there any natural
alternatives I can use instead?” Depending on the situation, the answer can be
yes. There are also cases in which the answer is no. There are, however, many
circumstances where a combination of both pharmaceutical and natural med¬
icines can be used together to best help a patient. Prescription for Drug Alter¬
natives provides readers with the most up-to-date and time-tested natural
alternatives for today’s most commonly used drugs.
Knowledge is the key to empowerment for those wanting to take charge of
their health. To help readers understand and assess various pharmaceuticals, we
have provided an extensive amount of information on these drugs. This will
v
help readers assess whether a certain pharmaceutical may be causing undesir¬
able side effects. Readers can also review potential interactions with other
drugs, supplements, and foods. How a drug works and its potential benefits are
also addressed. We have done our best to provide unbiased information for each
of the covered pharmaceuticals. It is up to patients and their doctors to assess
a drug’s benefits compared to its risks. Taking this a step further, the benefits
and risks of a particular drug can be compared to those of commonly available
natural medicines.
With all of the pertinent information about a class of drugs and correspon¬
ding natural alternatives, we now have the ability to make fully informed deci¬
sions. Gone are the days when we had to rely upon traditional use or folklore
as the sole means of choosing natural options. We believe that Prescription for
Drug Alternatives will provide the information needed to help people use phar¬
maceuticals more effectively. In addition, many readers will discover safer, nat¬
ural alternatives that can accomplish their health goals just as effectively as their
pharmaceutical counterparts. For people who require pharmaceutical treat¬
ment, we have provided information on nutrients that may be depleted by these
medications, so further health problems caused by nutritional deficiencies can
be prevented.
Through common grace, our Creator has provided us with healing reme¬
dies found in nature as well as the ability of human beings to create pharma¬
ceutical medications.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
From all three authors: Thanks to our book agent, Jeff Herman, and our
editor, Tom Miller, and the staff at John Wiley 8c Sons for their support in
publishing Prescription for Drug Alternatives.
I thank my Lord Jesus Christ for expanding my knowledge about
health and healing over thirty-three years ago.
James F. Balch, M.D.
To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the One who
sustains me and all things.
(Colossians 1:17)
Mark Stengler, N.D.
My thanks to Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals us all.
Robin Young Balch, N.D.
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