John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd. | ISBN: 978-0-470-83908-9 | Author: SHERRY TORKOS, B.Sc. Phm. | English | PDF | 455 Pages | 1.92 MB
INTRODUCTION
A PHARMACIST’S PERSPECTIVE:The Power of Natural Medicine in Modern Health
The history of medicine is a fascinating story of the transition from ancient healing techniques to brilliant scientifi c and technological advances. We have gone from using medicine men and plant-based remedies to creating pharmaceutical drugs and sophisticated surgical procedures. Undoubtedly, medicine today now provides us with the ability to fi ght off deadly diseases and live longer lives; however, we must not forget that many solutions can still be found in nature. In fact, many of the prescription medications used today are derived from plants. As well, we must be aware that lifestyle factors—diet, activity level, sleep, and environment—play a critical role in health and disease prevention. In the last 20 years, we’ve witnessed a growing desire to look to natural remedies fi rst before taking prescription medications that may have drug interactions, side effects, and high costs. There is increasing interest in prevention for both minor and chronic health concerns and awareness of taking responsibility for one’s health. People are no longer satisfi ed with the idea of taking a pill to fi x their problems. They are starting to question the indiscriminate use of prescription drugs and the motivations behind the industry, and they are becoming better educated about their options. I have also witnessed a growing awareness among doctors, pharmacists, and other health care professionals in holistic therapies, but we still have a long way to go before mainstream medicine and natural medicine are fully integrated. And that’s where I come in. As a traditionally trained pharmacist with a complementary background in natural health, nutrition, and fi tness, my goal is to bridge the gap between the two worlds and in doing so, help people along their journey to optimal health.
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