Medication

Improper medication and consequences/side effects of proper medication are the third major cause of death in the USA. Pharmaceutical industry is not a life-saver always, rather a steady step towards death (can be a rapid step as well) and detriment of health. The most recent example would be that of Michael Jackson and the farthest away in history I can recall is that of Marilyn Monroe. It is hard for a person like me to accept the fact that some people do not live on food and greens but on chemicals! A couple of years ago, I had read a book named “Death by prescription” by an American doctor, Ray D Strand where he clearly illustrates with instances the long-term effects of drugs(“medicines”) very much approved by the FDA(Food and Drug Administration-the US department for health and human services). Wiki states-The FDA is an agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services responsible for protecting and promoting the nation's public health. A drug which was released (approved by FDA) with short term experimentation resulted in severe side-effects eight years after its consumption. I would suggest everyone who resorts to allopathy (especially) for trivial illness to read the book. It is also important to realize that doctors and physicians themselves learn with time. For instance, they would experiment on the dosage of the medicine to be administered on the person. And a small miscalculation can take a U-turn in the way the body responds to these chemicals and end it all.
When a person consults a doctor, he is entrusting the functioning of his body henceforth into the doctor’s hands. One needs a prescription to undergo medication. As soon as people resort to the products of the pharmaceutical industry based on advertisements or even because of a word of mouth, they put their health and life in the fatal zone. Many tell-“Doctor is no more a noble profession” and is driven by the money factor. But, I do believe that some genuinely dedicated, service-minded ones still exist. My point is-Chemicals are always harmful. Be it from air/water/soil pollution or in the form of medication. Pollution in air? - Organizations go on rallies; create awareness; urge people to use lead-free petrol etc. Fine-to save earth and to hence save ourselves. What about the chemicals that are consumed with eyes wide open and all senses alert?
Everything from the west is the best is the Indian Philosophy. There is a saying in Kannada- Hiththala gida maddalla. That which can be cured with a cure available at arm’s length, is unnecessarily taken to unwanted consequences. But, I do not rule out the necessity of going to a doctor in case of extreme illness (I personally appreciate Ayurveda in this regard). Prevention is better than cure. I do not want to list the to-be-consumed-for-good-health and to-be-kept-at-bay eatables here. Everyone is aware of it. The only three significant parameters that can judge one’s health would be - Good sleep, Hunger and Digestion. As long as these three flourish in you and me, there should be no room for worries.

Here's the book overview I found:
Book overview
Did you know?|#xD; #xD; The leading drug problem in the U.S. today is not the use of illegal drugs-it is the use of legal drugs. #xD; The fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. is properly prescribed and administered medication. By adding improperly prescribed medication to that equation, it becomes the third leading cause of death. #xD; There are over 2 million hospital admissions and 180,000 deaths each and every year in the U.S. due solely to adverse drug reactions #xD; When the FDA approves a medication for use by the general public, less than half of the serious drug reactions are known. You-the patient-become the final clinical trial. #xD; #xD;If you aren't aware of these facts, and you don't have the tools and information to counter them, you are at risk. #xD;Experienced family doctor Ray Strand writes his patients prescriptions every week, but he also believes that prescribing drugs should be a last resort in most medical cases-not a first choice. In Death by Prescription he provides simple guidelines to help readers protect themselves and their families from suffering adverse reactions to prescription medication.