Do you know what's in your OTC meds?

People seem to take over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol and Advil like candy. While these medicines are relatively safe for short-term use, many people take them daily with no awareness of the possible side effects.

The most common side effects of these meds deal with damage to the gastrointestinal system, primarily the stomach and liver. Long term use of many of these drugs can cause serious disfunction and/or damage to these organs.

What many people do not realize is that, most of the time, the medicines are merely masking their symptoms and not fixing the cause of their pain/discomfort. Addressing the cause is vital to long-term pain relief!

Additionally, there are many natural herbs and supplements that can be used in place of OTC painkillers. These natural remedies have far fewer and less severe side effects than their pharmaceutical counterparts. For example, willow bark is a natural painkiller that is chemically similar to aspirin. However, willow bark is not digested in the stomach. This leads to a far less likely risk of ulcers.

Be sure to ask your health care provider what alternatives to OTC medications are available to you and make your health a priority!

For more information on this topic, follow this link for an interesting article on peoples' awareness of OTC medications: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/otc-medicine-side-effects.html.

For more information on this topic or to schedule an appointment, please call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!