This week, we talk to American pharmacist Susie Cohen about the effectiveness of medicines and natural remedies. She has a multimedia presence in newspapers and television. Millions of people trust her advice on over-the-counter and prescription medications. She is also a strong supporter of natural approaches.
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Susie Cohen's experience as a pharmacist:
Susie Cohen has over 30 years of clinical experience in retail, hospital, and long-term care pharmacies. She has been called “America's Most Trusted Pharmacist®.” Given this background, you might imagine that she would be a supporter of modern medicine and question ancient treatments. But that's wrong. Many useful drugs, such as statins that lower stubbornly high cholesterol levels, can have a negative impact on the nutrients we need. Susie calls them “drug robbers.” The solution is to replenish your nutritional status by taking supplements. For example, people taking statins may need to take the coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10 for short).
Why experience matters:
Since the mid-20th century, we have seen the development of numerous synthetic drugs. Ideally, a double-blind controlled trial (RCT) would establish its value. However, recent research also supports the value of many traditional treatments, such as botanical medicines. An example is hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa). This beautiful flower is consumed as a tea and has the effect of lowering blood pressure. Traditionally, it has also been used to treat coughs, fevers, inflammations, and infections (pharmaceuticalsApril 12, 2022).
Get personal:
One of the reasons Susie Cohen started to become more cautious about medications was her husband's experience. Before she met him, she had been taking fluoroquinolone antibiotics for a long time. At the time, doctors and pharmacists were less aware of potentially harmful drugs such as: Cipro or Revacan Might do. Due to such prolonged exposure, Susie's husband suffered many side effects, and it took her a great deal of time and effort to recover from the damage. Susie Cohen provides listeners with important questions to ask when being prescribed antibiotics. Sometimes such drugs are essential and can even save lives. In some cases, there may be alternative treatments that can relieve symptoms with fewer risks.
Effectiveness of medicines:
Americans tend to think that the fancy, expensive pills sold at pharmacies are highly effective. After all, the FDA approved them, right? Discussing how drugs like oral phenylephrine can be used as over-the-counter cold medicines, even though researchers have shown for 50 years that they are not effective as decongestants. To do. Susie Cohen points out, by contrast, topical phenylephrine, found in nasal sprays and eye drops, is effective but should not be used for more than three days. Otherwise, the patient risks redness or redness in the case of the eye.
Drugs that are difficult to quit:
Nasal decongestants aren't the only medications that are sometimes difficult to stop. Heartburn medications such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and alprazolam (xanax) are notoriously difficult to cancel. Not only do patients suffer from severe rebound anxiety, they can also have seizures and even die (JAMA network openDecember 1, 2023).
Natural remedies for anxiety and stress:
We spoke to Susie Cohen about how she copes with the challenges of living in a stressful world. One of the recommendations she offers is to use ashwagandha occasionally. This herb has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional Indian treatment. This is very helpful for people who have difficulty relaxing to get the sleep they need for health. Susie Cohen offers listeners advice on how to approach supplements for natural healing, not just pharmaceuticals.
This week's guest:
Susie Cohen RPh brings more than 30 years of clinical experience in retail, hospital, and long-term care pharmacies to her role as “America's Most Trusted Pharmacist®.” Her syndicated column, “Dear Pharmacist,” reaches millions of readers nationwide, and she is the author of several acclaimed books, including “Drug Muggers” and “Thyroid Healthy.” Susie's journey, which began with her recovery from hypothyroidism, led to her hosting a 'Thyroid Summit' in 2014, developing specialized supplements and writing a book on the subject. She is Susie Nova She is her 2023 recipient of the national Patient Safety Award shared by Southeastern. Currently, she has five patents on her custom nutritional supplements available on her website. SuzyCohen.comHere you can explore her extensive blog archive and learn more about her holistic approach to medical issues.
Susie Cohen, RPh, praises natural healing
Listen to the podcast:
The podcast of this show will be released on Monday, January 29, 2024, after the January 27 broadcast. You can stream shows and download podcasts for free from this site.
Download mp3.
