Welcome to my blog!
INTRODUCTION:
MY CONCERN:
I am very concerned about the dangers of prescription drugs as the first line method for treating chronic disease—especially when they are the result of poor dietary and lifestyle choices. Choosing drugs as the primary choice of treatment to address these issues are irresponsible and potentially harmful.
“FIRST LINE THERAPY” Prescription drugs?
WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW:
I want people to know that better health is possible without relying on prescription drugs.
MY WORK
My current work involves educating and training others how to optimize their health to prevent or reverse disease.
The following platforms allow me to help more people:
This work:
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Blog – “Drugless Pharmacist”
Other work:
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Online courses
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Books
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Video Presentations
Additional Work:
Group programs for:
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· Detoxification
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Reversing Prediabetes
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· Optimum Health Agenda
One-on-One Clients:
As time permits, I will see some clients on a one-on-one basis. Most of my clients
see me for:
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Weight loss
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Blood sugar regulation
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Basic or specialty testing
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DNA testing and consultation
The “DrugLess Pharmacist” blog posts fall into 1 of 3 categories.
1) Dangerous Drugs- Why we need to “Drug Less”. Risk versus Benefits–
The first thing you learn in pharmacy school is that drugs are dangerous. We will discuss some of the negative effects of dangerous drugs. Topics include:
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long term side effects .
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drugs that have little or no effect
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drugs that may do more harm than good
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drug-nutrient depletions
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drug interactions
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hormonal disruptions
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mental status changes
These are just some of the dangers that we can expect from (prescription) drugs. The big chain drugstores are literally huge drug mills. If you haven’t seen one, they are a sight to behold. Consumers, rely heavily on prescription drugs to get through life. The fact that they are dangerous substances some how just doesn’t seem to fit the bill of “health care”.
2) Disease prevention- The more diseases can be prevented the less the need for drugs to treat them. This category is dedicated to discussing ways to prevent disease, especially with regard to diet and lifestyle choices. This line of intervention is not only lifesaving but also cost saving. Getting the body into balance is a key factor in preventing disease. I will explore the use of:
a. testing that can reveal imbalances and how to make corrections.
b. Genetic testing that can be used as a tool to reveal predisposition to certain diseases. states. Providing support and cleaning up these genes can lead to disease prevention.
c. Basic laboratory testing and specialty testing can provide insight into problem areas and can point clinicians in the right direction.
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compromised detox pathways
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mitochondrial deficits
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negative gene SNPS
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allergens
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toxic burden
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gut permeability
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low grade chronic infections
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gut dysbiosis
Case for prevention: SC lost her mother to cardiovascular disease at the age of 56. Her mother had the gene that predisposes you to early death from heart disease. SC is now 67 years old even though she has the same gene pool as her mother, she is heart healthy. She has taken the preventative actions necessary to prevent heart disease. She follows primarily a plant-based, nutrient dense low carbohydrate, healthy fats diet. She includes aerobic exercise and strength training. These are intervention that keeps her heart safe every day.
3) Non-pharmacological treatments – These are not gimmicks nor quackery type things that I am talking about. They are science-based activities that are literally being utilized today all over the nation. You cannot walk into your doctor’s office and talk about these kinds of things because it’s not a part of the protocol of the United States Health Care system.. Your primary care physician’s office nor the specialists are up to date of these types of interventions.
Example:
Drugs vs Supplements
ARE WE TRIGGERING QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES?
· Polypharmacy: The more drugs on board the greater the potential for side effects and interactions leading to more drugs to take care of the side effects. This is common in senior citizens.
· Direct to consumer marketing of prescription drugs: In the past, you would never have seen a television ad for prescription drugs. Now it is a daily occurrence. The way they are made is unsettling to me as a pharmacist. They come with jingles, and smiles and the touted benefits, and the viewers even sing along with the commercial. But in the end as required by law, the nasty potential adverse drug reactions are listed. Some of them are serious– blindness, sexual dysfunction, liver disease, kidney damage and sudden death. But people do not seem to be phased by the potential problems. It is like its overlooked like fine print. But one would never walk into a store and ask for something like this. You would run as far as you could away from it. But instead, people actual go into their doctor office and demand the drugs they see advertised on television and doctors have to deal with that.
· Top prescribed drugs, why so many? I will be putting a spotlight on these drugs from the perspective of how and why they are at the top of the prescribed drug list. Why are so many people on them? What is the common denominator here? Is there something in the water? Let’s take sleeping pills for example. Why is it that so many people require a dangerous drug to get to sleep when sleeping is a natural function of the body.
Benefits versus risk information on drugs
Safe and reliable treatment modalities resources
Latest research findings
Laboratory test information useful in determining root causes of disease
Access to testing
Tools for self-care
Book/author referrals
Wholistic programs
Exclusive access to affiliate products
WHAT WE ARE NOT SAYING:
No one is against the appropriate use of drugs. Drugs definitely have a place in healthcare and treatment regimens. When it’s time to have surgery or for any acute or emergency situation, bring on the drugs–nothing about alternate therapies are a part of that conversation. There are some diseases that also warrant the use of appropriate drug therapy as a first-line approach. We are advocating for appropriate use of dangerous drugs in the context of considering other means that offer safer but still effective treatments.
A FINAL WORD:
Although you may not be the doctor, or the nurse of the research scientist, you do have a brain that can weigh in on information or seek out people you trust to help you make more informed decisions about your health.
Sometimes you may need to get a second or third opinion.
The Drugless Pharmacist
CEO, Nutritional Pathways Functional Wellness