Did you know that pharmaceutical drugs have their history embedded in herbal medicine? Apothecaries offered medicines with medical care. The cost of medical help was expensive(sound familiar), so many families made home remedies. However, today's pharmaceuticals derive from the medicines stirred and pounded by apothecary in mortar by pestle. "The history of Merck & Co., Inc. can be traced back to Darmstadt, Germany, in 1668 when an apothecary named Frederic Jacob Merck opened a chemical firm." If curious about Merck's history, learn more about it here: http://tinyurl.com/4m4ft.

Further historical proof is found in 1792, Alexandria, Virginia. Three Hundred homes nestled near Potomac River; on Fairfax Street, Edward Stabler, a Quaker pharmacist, started a family business which operated until 1933. To this day, many of Stabler's herbs, potions and paper labels in his apothecary desk. Stabler like other apothecaries of his day prescribed Native American Indian remedies like witch hazel for external treatment of inflammatory conditions.

Today, most patients visiting a doctor go for cold and flu symptoms or joint and muscle pain. Modern prescriptions provide relief, but sometimes with side effects. Now, you can get temporary relief from minor arthritis pain by using remedies derived from all natural ingredients. For example, non greasy, penetrating and topical cream referenced below, brings soothing relief quickly. Further relief comes from Boswellia serrata, used in India for centuries as a proven pain reliever.

Women are a group of drug consumers who should be especially concerned with Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion. Few women know that oral contraceptives lower levels of vital nutrients such as Vitamin B2, B6 and B12, Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Magnesium and Zinc.

To put importance of vitamins and minerals in perspective, think about construction of a new building. Carbohydrate, Protein, Fat and Water are comparable to building materials. Vitamins and minerals are comparable to architect, contractors and construction workers. Without architect, contractor and construction workers, it does not matter how many building materials you have, it will never be built. At same token, without vitamins and minerals, our bodies cannot synthesize new cells, build new tissues and produce energy we need regardless of how much carbohydrate, protein, fat and water we ingest every day.

Drugs can alter ability of body to digest, absorb, synthesize, transport, store, metabolize or eliminate nutrients. This situation potentially can cause Nutrient Depletion. Quite often, a patient is then placed on additional medication to combat a new set of symptoms. The cascading effect of such an approach to disease management often leads to a reduction in patient's quality of life.

Folic Acid is a nutrient that is often depleted by drugs. Ross Pelton and James B LaValle claim that it can be depleted by some 30 different types of drugs, from Aspirin and magnesium containing antacids to stronger medications such as anticonvulsants,cardiovascular drugs and oral contraceptives. Some of possible effects of Folic Acid deficiency can include Megaloblastic anemia, birth defects, elevated homocysteine levels, fatigue and even increased rates of colon and colorectal cancer.

What Does Your Drug Deplete?