![Image de couverture de Mind Over Meds [electronic resource] : Know When Drugs Are Necessary, When Alternatives Are Better -- and When to Let Your Body Heal on Its Own](https://images.yourcloudlibrary.com/delivery/img?type=DOCUMENTIMAGE&documentID=n75xtz9&token=nobody "Image de couverture de Mind Over Meds [electronic resource] : Know When Drugs Are Necessary, When Alternatives Are Better -- and When to Let Your Body Heal on Its Own")
Résumé
Résumé
Too many Americans are taking too many drugs -- and it's costing us our health, happiness, and lives.
Prescription drug use in America has increased tenfold in the past 50 years, and over-the-counter drug use has risen just as dramatically. In addition to the dozens of medications we take to treat serious illnesses, we take drugs to help us sleep, to keep us awake, to keep our noses from running, our backs from aching, and our minds from racing. Name a symptom, there's a pill to suppress it.
Modern drugs can be miraculously life-saving, and many illnesses demand their use. But what happens when our reliance on powerful pharmaceuticals blinds us to their risks? Painful side effects and dependency are common, and adverse drug reactions are America's fourth leading cause of death.
In Mind over Meds , bestselling author Dr. Andrew Weil alerts readers to the problem of overmedication, and outlines when medicine is necessary, and when it is not. Dr. Weil examines how we came to be so drastically overmedicated, presents science that proves drugs aren't always the best option, and provides reliable integrative medicine approaches to treating common ailments like high blood pressure, allergies, depression, and even the common cold. With case histories, healthy alternative treatments, and input from other leading physicians, Mind over Meds is the go-to resource for anyone who is sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Critiques (2)
Critique de Booklist
Our health care system has a pill for every ill, writes Weil (Spontaneous Happiness, 2011), who may be the nation's foremost advocate for integrative medicine. He then meticulously explains why the multitude of medicines prescribed in America is problematic. He's concerned about the safety, efficacy, cost, long-term side effects, and, with some classes of medicines, possible drug dependency. Make no mistake, Weil is not against prescription medications. He acknowledges how their appropriate use improves and saves lives. Integrative medicine incorporates alternative and complementary treatments with conventional medical therapies. Some remedies he promotes as alternatives or adjuncts to drug therapy include botanical and herbal products; relaxed breathing techniques; vitamins and minerals; mind-body therapies (meditation, hypnosis, biofeedback); and acupuncture. Weil enthusiastically encourages lifestyle modifications exercise, dietary changes, stress reduction, and weight loss to maintain good health and battle chronic diseases such as diabetes and high-blood pressure. Antibiotics, opioids, statins, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, psychiatric and ADHD drugs, and treatments for GERD, hypertension, diabetes, and osteoporosis are covered. In all, a sensible approach to reducing what Weil correctly identifies as our excessive reliance on medication. --Miksanek, Tony Copyright 2017 Booklist
Critique du Library Journal
Weil's (Univ. of Arizona; Spontaneous Happiness, Healthy Aging) revolutionary book casts a critical eye on modern medicine, examining the very serious risks that medicine can carry. He looks at why they are used (and their histories), questions the role that modern medicine has in our society, raises concerns about the overprescribing of drugs (looking at both the immediate side effects and the long-term impacts of overprescribing), and shares anecdotes that illustrate the potential dangers. In each section, he reveals possible natural alternatives (including food as medicine, breathwork, essential oils, Chinese medicine, massage, and herbs). Each chapter ends with a "Bottom Line," a great summary, recommendations, tips, and alternatives. VERDICT This very user-friendly text is suitable for those with no medical background but will also be of interest to medical professionals. Those who seek to understand the ramifications of overmedicating, are interested in the impact of modern medicine, or want to learn alternative therapies and how to take an active role in their health care will appreciate this book. [See Prepub Alert, 10/31/16.]-Cheryl Yanek, Brooklyn © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
