Monday, March 9, 2009

Let Me Introduce You To My Little Friend...


I really should have told everyone about this long ago. It's certainly no secret that I enjoy my cocktails on pretty much a daily basis. Luckily, about 15 years ago my dear older brother-in-law introduced me to an herbal product called Milk Thistle Seed Extract drops with Yellow Dock. What this lovely little liquid does, is cleanse your liver on a daily basis. I am a living testament to its power. Every year I have to have a blood test for the doctor and every year he and his staff are in awe of my liver reading because it's so awesome.


Before I was introduced to this wonderful herb, my doctor wanted me to quit drinking because I had really bad liver readings. You do the math.

When I first started using the drops I kept smelling what seemed like a nasty mildew smell every time I went to the bathroom, which was totally gross. Then, I came to find out that it was all the toxins being flushed from my liver. After a while, the odor finally went away.

It isn't the only herbal support that I take. I have an herbalist who mixes up all kinds of combos to keep me in good health. My doctor still balks at my use of herbals rather than FDA approved pharmaceuticals, which he offers me samples of, for free. I almost never accept them unless they are for an infection of some kind, since herbs still can't cure infections. Otherwise, I prefer taking herbal remedies that aren't approved by the FDA. This is one area where the FDA & the government can't screw us, since they still have no control over this industry. Hmmm. That must be the reason they are still at reasonable prices.


I'm not saying that all herbal remedies are good, because they aren't; but I'm also saying that most of what the FDA approves is not all good either. If you doubt me, then just look at the possible side effects of your medications next time you get a refill. Most herbals don't have any side effects at all. Only the government would argue with that. Why? They'd argue with that because they don't get a cut. There are no lobbyists, or money changing hands under the table, or kick-backs from the herbal industry. Thank God. And I'm seriously only scratching the surface on this issue.


If the government has never had our best interests at heart regarding health issues, then why would you believe anything they approve is actually good for us? Hello! It's all about the Almighty Buck, people. It has nothing to do with whether they want to help you get beyond whatever illness. It's all about the diagnosis (money to the doctor), the prescription (money to the pharmeceutical companies), and the consumption (if you can afford it), which all feed money back into what I consider to be a failing industry. Health care. When people are homeless and dying on the streets due to an inability to qualify for health care, then we've got more serious problems than most citizens think. Insurance in this country has become an absolute joke and might quite possibly not be repairable.


When we have to pay ridiculously exorbitant prices for every aspect of health care in order to pay for indigent patients and THEIR drugs, which causes our health insurance payments to continually rise, then we've got some very serious problems indeed. I don't really see a cure on the horizon for what ails this industry, any more than I see a solution to the problem of the overcrowded courts system. I'd give anything to believe a new administration can cure these ills, but I know better. It's riddled with bureaucratic bullshit and there is not an easy solution, so don't be fooled into thinking there is.


When I found myself in the uncomfortable early stages of menopause, I chose to not do Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for this very reason. Now that I'm post menopausal, I'm thoroughly happy that I went with herbal replacements. Have you ever read about all of the side effects caused by HRT? Pfft! Let them give it to the masses, but I'm never going there. I just happened to come through it smelling like a rose, against the advice of the drug companies and my GYN. What a surprise! I took Estroven religiously and it pretty much worked for me aside from the occasional hot flash, but I've always been hot-blooded anyway. Better to bear an occasional hot flash than die from the side effects of the drug approved by our government's FDA.

I take one FDA approved medication for my high blood pressure, which costs $50.00 for a 30 day supply. Our insurance pays for $10.00 of that, so I pay $40.00 per month. Not much of a break there. I also take migraine medicine that costs me $5.00 for a 30 day supply. Let's see here.... I could die without my high blood pressure pills (which must be why they cost so much). I could live without my migraine pills (which must be why they cost so little), although I'd have to live in pain. In my opinion, there is something very wrong with this picture.

And, in the words of Forest Gump.... "That's all I've got to say about that."

20 comments:

Treasia Stepp said...

Yippee Snooty, for saying what most of us feel. I have taken some herbals over the years myself. I have to be careful with certain ones because of my high bp but most times they don't affect it. My doctor is the one who told me to try the Estroven. And I was so happy I did. I took it about one year and actually haven't needed it since. It worked miracles for me.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm... I think my only concern with the herbal industry is lack of knowledge. I've had more people recommend meletonin for my insomnia. Unfortunately, I can't take it because it slows down breathing. Bad for asthmatics. I think there's 1. a lack of awareness that all herbal remedies are not safe for every patient and 2. an attitude of everything can be cured with an herbal... Like the folks that recommend flax seed to cure asthma. But I still think there's a lot of good to be had from herbals however I'm not giving up my asthma meds! I like breathing!

Snooty Primadona said...

AG: I agree that there are many herbals out there that aren't good for everyone. I can't do the melatonin either. It makes me sick. But, this is one herbal that does wonders for the system.

Daryl said...

www.jeansgreens.com

Her Cold Care Caps are the best and work to help you keep breathing when congested ...

However, I do HRT .. w/o it I am not sure I wouldnt be waiting execution for murder ..

Treasia Stepp said...

My doctor recommended me to take Melatonin about one year ago and I am an asthmatic. I take it each and every night and can't sleep without it. I never realized it slows down my breathing however.

Staci said...

How does one go about finding a herbalist? I might be into that!

I Am Woody said...

Damn - I thought you were going to tell me those little drops would cure a hangover!!

Snooty Primadona said...

Staci: Check with your local health food store. They usually know all the best people, although I found mine through a friend. She just lives around the corner from me.

Woody: It will cure a hangover if you put about 10 drops in a Bloody Mary, LOL!

Marido1125 said...

You are correct. The health care industry is all about the dollar. Doctors used to try to cure you. Now you see the doctor for 5 minutes, get a pill, and you're out the door. Our health care system is in the crapper. But lets give $900 million to rebuild Gaza after Isreal blows them up???? If Obama wants to do something about health care $900 million would go a long way.

And in response to your comment on Tammy's blog. It looks like the Oil Industry is going to be penalized for making profits. They are going to pay for the Stimulus plan and the bailout so Wallstreet and the insurance companies can keep screwing us all.

Mental P Mama said...

I take Milk Thistle too! And Dandelion Root. And I've wondered about Estroven...thanks for the heads up!

Alpacamountain said...

OK so does it only cleanse the liver or is it an all over cleansing? I think I need an all over cleanse :)

Anonymous said...

Great post Snooty! I take herbals too, mostly for pre-menopause symptoms and they work great for calming the anxiety and the irritability. There have been herbals that I haven't had good luck with and I just don't use them anymore. Since they are a fraction of the price of "real medicine" it's easier to experiment.

I'm very sensitive to most medications I've ever been prescribed so I try very hard to avoid them. I plan to not do HRT either, if I can avoid it.

I like to have my wine or beer 3-4 times a week so I'm going to give this milk thistle seed extract drops with yellow dock a try!

Anonymous said...

Well being married to a doc...well...you know how he feels about herbals so I am shut down to even discussing it! Ha! It's all science based over here but I don't doubt that some things are very effective!

hermomsometimes said...

Okay Snooty where do you get that stuff. My husband likes his mixed drinks way to much. I'm sure his liver tries to hide every time he takes a drink.

abb said...

Good God! Where have I been??? I need at least a truck load of that milk thistle stuff! Gonna go buy some right after work.

Sassy said...

I am going to give milk thistle a try...I was raised doing herbs and all through my married life I have done then off and on...I wonder if this will cleanse all the devil juice{diet coke} out of my system???? Thanks for the info...

That Janie Girl said...

I'm with you, girl. Give me natural or give me...ummm, wait a minute.

Yeah...

Have fun on your trip, Snooty! And let's do lunch!

Heather Kerrigan said...

I was thinking the same as Woody on the hangover cure. But I am a lover of wine, so I think I should be a lover of "thistle" too.

I'm up for anything that works. I don't like taking a lot of medication because the side effects can outweigh the benefits. HOWEVER, I do have a couple Rx that do the trick when needed. As far as herbals go I'm all for giving things a try, but some do have side effects.

No Sacrifice Bags said...

I am going to pick up some milk thistle as soon as I can.
This is the best information I have read in a long time!

Cheers,
Donna

brneyedgal967 said...

Harley Guy (Marido) sums up what we think about the healthcare industry and the oil business bailing everyone else out.

Milk Thistle... I need to put that on my shopping list. Pronto.

 

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