10021 Useful health resources
I believe that the community — in the fullest sense: a place and all its creatures — is the smallest unit of health and that to speak of the health of an isolated individual is a contradiction in terms. — Wendell Berry, The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays
Attitude
Your attitude about your health is a most important resource. Will you be a puppet of industrial medicine? Or will you see your health in its holistic context and take responsibility for understanding your health care needs? That is up to you. It takes no money, no degree, no nothing other than your own interior resolution that you are in charge of your health care. You are the boss. You are not a pawn or slave of the industrial medical care system.
Independent sources of health knowledge.
Internet search systems are your friends. Do internet searches regarding every aspect of your health care. If your doctor gives you a diagnosis, check out independent information sources. If your doctor prescribes a treatment, research it. Be discerning of what you read — internet publication is not a guarantee of veracity and your mileage may always vary.
Ask detailed questions of your medical provider.
Some of my personal sources for health care information include:
A good source for conventional medical care information and advice.
Use the various sub-sites like health, nutrition, diabetes, etc. to research specific situations and treatments. This is a great source of information for managing and treating addictions, especially their Smoking Cessation resources.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health-information/
The Mayo Clinic’s online health guide is another source for conventional medical care information and advice.
Alternative Medicine
With the usual thoroughness of an about.com site, a survey of options in what we call “alternative medicine”.
American Red Cross first aid recommendations
http://www.i4at.org/surv/emergncy.htm
Essential basic info on emergency first aid.
Access to Medicinal Herbs (aloe vera, mints, chamomile, etc.)
Herbs have a long history of use in treatment of medical and psychological issues. Many modern drugs have herbal roots. The allopathic medical system is good for what it does, but people can do more to care for themselves.
Home remedies for teeth and gums
http://possumsal.homestead.com/teeth.html
Dental care is one of the most problematic aspects of health care. It is expensive, little charity care is available, and dentists may advise treatment for you based on what is best for the dentist, not necessarily what is best for you the patient. Dental pain is often caused by an infection. If dental pain is present, and dental care is not available or unaffordable, see a medical doctor and request an antibiotic prescription for dental pain. This doesn’t solve the underlying problem, but it will quickly relieve the pain symptoms.
How to make your own herbal remedies.
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/herbalhow
How-to instructions to make infusions, macerations, decoctions, tinctures, tonics, infusions, cremes, salves, and syrups.
A word about herb lists.
There are lots of lists of medicinal herbs on the internet. They always reflect the knowledge and resources of their compilers. Some of the herbs they include are hard to find and difficult to grow. In other words, your mileage may vary, use with discretion.
Ten Most Useful Medicinal herbs to Grow
Aloe vera, Great Burdock, Pot Marigold (Calendula), Chamomile, Echinacea, Yellow Gentian, Tea Tree plant, Peppermint, Ginseng, Sage
18 of Nature’s Most Potent Herbs
Marijuana, California Poppy, Blood Flower, Tansy, Hyssop (Korean Mint), Alfalfa, Catnip, Sage, Blackberries, Wild Quinine, Navajo Tea, Red Clover, Sweet Marjoram, Burdock, Feverfew, Sweet Violet, Winter Savory,
http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2008/09/30/most-powerful-potent-medicinal-medical-plants-in-nature/
17 Best Medicinal herbs
Black Cohosh, Wild Yam, Motherwort, Sage, Blue Vervain, Ginseng, Schizandra, Hawthorne, Dandelion, Vitex, Licorice, Ginger, Dong Quai, Nettle, Lady’s Mantle, Raspberry leaf, Oat Tops
http://www.wholeliving.com/134831/17-best-medicinal-herbs
10 Best Researched Herbs
Garlic, Hawthorne, Ginko Biloba, Ephedra, Licorice, Bilberry, Echinacea, Milk Thistle, Astragalus, Ginseng.
http://www.all-natural.com/top-ten.html
Interesting list of 65 medicinal herbs (from a commercial seed company)
http://www.everlastingseeds.com/medicinallist.html
Bob’s List
These are the medicinal herbs I grow —
- Aloe Vera,
- Sage,
- Echinacea,
- Alfalfa,
- Chamomile,
- Catnip,
- Winter Savory,
- Blackberries,
- Sweet Marjoram,
- Feverfew,
- Ginger,
- Comfrey,
- Lemon Balm,
- Horehound,
- Lovage,
- Thyme,
- Lovage,
- Mints (Orange, Apple, Chocolate, Peppermint),
- Lemon verbena
- Lavender
Veterinary Medications
Many people do not have insurance and thus do not have good access to medical care. If they need an antibiotic, they first must find and pay a physician for the prescription, then they can buy what they need.
Veterinary medications like antibiotics are exactly the same as the medications for human beings. The pills and capsules may be a different strength, but penicillin or amoxicillin sold for veterinary use is identical to the same drugs sold for human use. The difference is that you don’t have to have a prescription to buy the veterinary antibiotics.
Here is a website with some basic information about using veterinary antibiotic drugs to treat human people:
http://www.truthistreason.net/guide-to-veterinary-drugs-for-human-consumption-post-shtf
Self-diagnosis and treatment may work well. . . OR. . . it may not work and may delay getting the correct treatment. Because the United States rations medical care based on the ability to pay, many people these days cannot access adequate medical care and thus have restricted choices. Some readers live in nations with more humane medical systems than the United States.
Bottom Line for Health: Nutrition and Active lifestyle
There can be little doubt that good nutrition and an active lifestyle are primary methods of avoiding illness and injury in the first place. Don't leave it until late in your design game. Priority issues go first in design.