Uncertainty about our health and unexpected events are a part of life. Nobody expects to develop digestive issues or chronic migraines or bouts of sadness. It’s tempting to get a pill in hopes that the problem will just go away.

The thing about medications is that, yes, sometimes the problem seems to go away. But more than likely, the symptoms are simply receding into the background. The primary cause–be it lifestyle, some toxin, stressor, or trauma–persists despite the pill seeming to do its job.

This is why a cause-oriented, holistic approach is almost always the better option. To help you on your journey toward a more holistic approach to health, let’s take a look at five common medications, how they actually damage your health and how you can take a more natural route.

Acid reflux meds

More officially known as proton pump inhibitors, these are among the most commonly-prescribed medications in America, generating $10 billion in revenue per year.

The problem is, they can damage your kidneys, leading to kidney disease in some cases. They have been linked to an increased chance of developing dementia. AND they are linked to an increased risk of heart attack. They such the magnesium out of your system, leading to a deficiency in that mineral, and they are very often associated with constipation.

If you want to treat acid reflux naturally:

• Reduce or eliminate fried foods, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, tomatoes, citrus fruits, garlic and processed foods.
• Lower your stress – there are many ways to do this but the best way is something you have to discover for yourself whether it’s pursuing a hobby, getting more time outdoors, meditation or exercise.
• Consider taking digestive enzymes.
• Eat (and drink) more fermented food, i.e., kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, etc.
• Eat smaller portions.
• Look at the side effects of any medications you might be taking. For example, birth control has been known to cause acid reflux, as does some heart medication.

Cholesterol meds

More commonly known as statins, these incredibly pervasive medications are highly questionable in terms of their effectiveness and have a range of nasty side effects. Currently, around 25 million Americans take them regularly.

Right out of the gate, statins are known to cause nausea, headaches, muscle and joint aches, bloating and interfere with sleep. After several years on statins, links have been found to an increased risk of Parkinson’s, diabetes and certain types of cancer–namely breast cancer.

If you want to lower your cholesterol, the first place to look is your diet. Ditch the saturated fats, the fried foods, the vegetable oils, the processed meats and the sugar. Replace that with fresh, organic fruits and veggies, grass fed beef, free range chicken and wild caught fish. Foods high in Omega-3 fats are fantastic: fatty fish, coconut oil, avocados, nuts & seeds (particularly flax) and olives, olive oil, etc.

Eat more good fiber (and that does not mean grains) like carrots, legumes, Brussel sprouts, eggplant, berries, apples, pears, etc.

If you are overweight, lose weight. This might be the best thing you can do for high cholesterol (and so many other things).

Consider a plant sterol supplement. Normally, I recommend getting your nutrients from food, but plant sterols tend to be difficult to consume in high enough quantities just from your diet. Plant sterol is directly linked to lower LDLs. Just try to find a supplement without added sugar.

Antidepressants

Nearly 10 percent of Americans are on an antidepressant. Why this isn’t considered an all-out crisis is beyond me (although admittedly, a lot of people are concerned). The reasons any given individual struggles with their mental well-being is such a highly personable problem, but in the grander, social sense, there appears to be a pervasive sadness, listlessness, dissatisfaction flowing through our people–and it affects more women than men. It’s disturbing to say the least.

Antidepressants have a range of side effects, and there are so many flavors. In general, you can expect things like insomnia, constipation, sexual side effects, weight gain and, strangely, anxiety. Some depression medication has even been known to inspire suicidal thoughts–a complete mockery of their very purpose in the first place.

A holistic approach to health means truly evaluating and treating the “whole.” In this case, there might be a spiritual or behavioral solution, depending on the individual of course. Perhaps patterns in personal relationships contribute. Perhaps there’s a sense of loss from some past trauma. Perhaps finding a spiritual connection to something greater than oneself is in order. Solutions to this problem require ernest explorations of yourself. It can be work, but it is also worth it–and so much more real than covering up the problem. In any case, a clean diet and regular physical activity are consistently helpful in treating depression.

There is a new field called psychobiotics that is exploring the link between the gut microbiome and mental health. Some amazing findings are coming from this field, and treatment with probiotics has shown some promising results. Chiropractic care has also been shown to improve the mental health of some people.

Opioids

Opioid prescriptions are a problem to say the least. Every day (that’s right, EVERY DAY), 115 Americans die from an opioid overdose.

Beyond that, these drugs suffers from the problem of diminishing returns. They may be helpful for treating pain at the outset, but over time, become less and less effective. Furthermore, they are highly addictive and result in a sort of depersonalization effect that can affect your relationships, work, social life, etc. You’re lucky if the worst side effect is some nausea and constipation.

Treating pain is a huge challenge, both naturally and pharmaceutically. Doctors on both sides are frustrated with it, and understand the frustration of their patients. Regular chiropractic adjustments have been shown to help. Regular meditation has been shown to help. Regular exercise has been shown to help. Acupuncture has been shown to help.

Other than that, the specific type of pain matters. For example, if you suffer from regular headaches, here are 5 things you can do to address that problem. Consider your type of pain, do some research, ask us questions, and don’t just reach for the pills straightaway.