Health and wellness products will mean very different things to different people.
Wellness can be defined as ‘the pursuit of a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
For the benefit of this article, wellness products are being looked at in the context
of ‘over the counter drugs, health supplements and health remedies.
While for some people, wellness products might be viewed as an aid to recovery
from illness, for others it might be a means of further enhancing some
aspect of their current health. The variety of and uses for such products
are as numerous as are the the definitions of wellness products or wellness
programs, depending of course upon who is promoting them at any given time.
Whatever your reasons for pursuing alternative care health or health and wellness
products, a common goal is to achieve optimised health and well-being.
There are powerful media images hailing the benefits and safety of many over the
counter drugs, supplements and health and wellness products, every where you turn
these days. They have equally strong claims of being the one and only miracle cure
or solution for one ailment or another. How accurate are these claims though, and
what are the real costs to you in monetary and health risk terms?
Immediately after reading this article, go take a look and do a quick add-up of the
total cost of all the health and wellness products you currently have in stock. I’m
sure the figure will surprise you just as much as learning about the very real and
harmful side effects which can be caused by some of these drugs or supplements
that are supposed to be contributing to your overall state of wellness.
You may also be surprised to know that many of the ‘over the counter drugs you
buy on a regular basis, simply treat the symptoms and not the real health issue.
Needless to say, this approach of focusing on the symptom, side-steps
the crucial requirement of getting to the root cause of your condition or whatever
it is that ails you.
You’re most likely to pursue a wellness product either because you are becoming
wary of the adverse effects of chemically produced drugs or because you’re keen to
recover from ill-health and improve a specific health condition. In some instances it
might be that you just want to optimise your current state of good health.
While some health and wellness products can be an effective measure toward
improving your health, you should note that long-term use of certain over the counter
drugs and some supplements can cause you more harm than good, with the long-
term implications far outweighing any short-term benefits. You may well find that
you are paying far too high a price on the basis of a mere quick fix promise.
For thousands of years, people in lands far and wide have used natural homemade
remedies to manage their health conditions and wellness needs, without manufactured
health and wellness products, that can be detrimental to health. They have purely relied
upon attaining or maintaining health by plants or by other natural means.
It could be argued that with the emergence of chemical and pharmacological methods,
many forms of this natural means to health and wellness have declined. In fact, even
by todays standards, there are many so-called under-developed countries where
inhabitants’ rely on nothing more than homemade health and wellness products,
gained via natural methods of plants or plant-based extracts.
While conventional medicine relies on scientifically backed research to substantiate
effectiveness and safety. In contrast, similar cannot be said about some alternative
medicines or health and wellness products. There is no such requirement but their
promotion as regard effectiveness are deemed sufficient in themselves as support
for therapeutic or wellness claims.
Herbal remedies in general are harmless, however, certain claims being made by
some health and wellness products promoters, (under the banner of being
‘natural’)) can insinuate their health and fitness products being the
exclusive answer to your health condition or wellness questions, thus putting you
at great risk. Secondly, how open are they being about what’s really inside? You
should always consult your physician over any health concerns, as well as discussing
with him/her your intention or choice of alternative means for treatment with any
health and wellness product or remedy.
Multi-billion-dollar industries have long weald their power by way of
lobbying to gain exemption from FDA regulation. This has been exactly the
case, according to the Skeptical Inquirer, who, on commenting on
the ‘dietary supplement industry back in 1994, states – “Since then, these
products have flooded the market, subject only to the scruples of their
manufacturers”.
The above point is an important one to note in that, while health and wellness
products manufacturers may list ingredients and quantities being used in
specific health and wellness products, there has been no real pressure on them to
do so, or to do so accurately. Furthermore, neither has there been any
watchdog body to ensure they are penalised for this failing.
So, what are the alternatives open to you? Increasingly, more and more people
are turning to do-it-yourself health and wellness homemade herbal remedies.
The distinct difference being that in making your own health and wellness products,
you are in the driving seat. Not only do you have a full awareness of exactly
what the ingredients are and the true quantities, but with the appropriate level of
guidance from a reputable practitioner, you’re more conversant with any health
implications, if any.
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