Can you think of one common disease or illness that seems inevitable in our society?
You may chime in with diabetes, heart disease or cancer – and these are all good answers because they are extremely common.
According to the CDC:
- 29 million Americans have diabetes
- 610,000 Americans have heart disease
And according to the National Cancer Institute, nearly 2 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2018.
But here’s the thing: these diseases aren’t inevitable. You may (or may not) have a genetic predisposition to one of them, but your lifestyle plays a role in whether or not you may get one of these common illnesses.
What are non-traditional remedies?
To understand non-traditional remedies, let’s first look at the traditional ones. Modern medicine is the conventional route to health management.
If you have a family doctor, s/he may tell you how to prevent these common diseases. But most of your time in the doctor’s office is spent talking about how to treat any issues you may have.
Traditional medicine is focused primarily on treatment over prevention. Even when your doctor mentions screenings for preventative measures, they’re talking about early detection. If something comes up on a cancer screening, for example, there is already a problem that needs to be addressed.
Non-traditional remedies may include things like herbs that help to keep a person healthy. Unfortunately, it’s difficult for researchers to find the funding to test such inexpensive remedies, but we have some evidence (anecdotal and actual) to suggest that the following non-traditional treatments help prevent common diseases.
Turmeric
Turmeric is one of the few herbs that has been studied by modern medicine. It is a powerful antioxidant that can help keep inflammation at bay. Inflammation is the main culprit behind many of our modern diseases.
The active compound in turmeric is called curcumin, and according to Cancer Research UK, it has been scientifically proven to have anti-cancer properties. In fact, it seems to kill cancer cells and prevent more from growing.
If you think it’s going to be hard to get your hands on this powerful herb, think again. You can probably find it at your local grocery store. Take turmeric along with black pepper to get the best effect, like Swanson Turmeric and Black Pepper supplements.
Chili Pepper
Chili peppers may hurt going down, but they are another powerful weapon against inflammation. Capsaicin is the active component in chili peppers and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
This is another remedy you can find on your grocery store shelves, but you may want to consider supplements. If you’re going to take capsaicin in therapeutic quantities, it may be difficult to do by eating chili peppers. Unless you love spicy food.
One study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that capsaicin causes cancer cells to commit suicide in a process they call apoptosis.
Ginseng
Ginseng is another widely studied herbal remedy that helps to strengthen the immune system, which will help you ward off any disease. According to the Journal of Ginseng Research, ginseng helps regulate all types of immune cells, including T-Cells and natural killer cells.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is an ancient Chinese herb with a long history of therapeutic use that spans thousands of years. This herb has powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immune-modulating effects. Possibly its most well-known use is to improve memory, mood and brain function. Studies have shown that ginkgo biloba can prevent or maybe even reverse cognitive decline and neurodegeneration.
Lifestyle preventative measures
You may be of the belief that “everything causes cancer.” And while that can sometimes seem true, it isn’t.
There are a lot of things that are more likely to cause cancer than others. For example, smoking accounts for nearly 90 percent of all lung cancer deaths.
You should also know that any unhealthy lifestyle choice will likely put you at risk for a common illness. Overeating and eating too many sweets could put at risk for type two diabetes. Drinking alcohol in excess could increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer. And a sedentary lifestyle can increase your risk of developing heart disease later in life.
Modern medicine may not always address prevention, but it’s best if you take the non-traditional route and prevent common illnesses by living a healthy lifestyle.
If you’re eating a junk-food diet, cook more meals at home and eat more vegetables instead of sweets. If you’re smoking or drinking too much, get help. Addiction is a serious disease. There are many rules for early sobriety that can help you get through, but you shouldn’t try to do it alone.
When you look at the statistics, it can be a bit depressing. It seems like everyone eventually gets diabetes, cancer or heart disease – and some people get all three. But the good news in this story is that these common illnesses are almost entirely preventable (some types are not). It’s still a good idea to go to your doctor for early detection screenings, but you can also take the non-traditional route to help your body fight off common diseases with herbs and lifestyle changes.
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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Moreover, views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Awareness Junkie or its staff.
