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Drug Muggers - How To Keep Your Medicine From Stealing The Life Out Of You.
Drug Muggers is not just about medicine, it's primarily about nutritional deficiencies that cause health problems (often labelled as a disease). This could be the result of lifestyle choices, diet and medication. This book is packed with so much information in an easy-to-read format, it is a MUST if you are dealing with any type of health concern, or if you take medication. There is a ground-breaking chapter on drug-food interactions and another chapter on how you can pick the best supplement. Suzy gives you insider information on what to look for, what to avoid and how pretty labels mean nothing when the vitamins inside come up short. Millions of people worldwide are taking medicine. This often means you are likely being robbed of essential nutrients because drugs can reduce your body's stores of vital life-sustaining nutrients.When a drug robs your body of a nutrient you will experience another effect of that drug, something you call a side effect. You probably didn't know that drugs could do that, but I bet you have experienced the drug mugging effect first hand. One example is with antibiotics...they are drug muggers for your normal intestinal flora and when they rob your gut of these 'friendly bacteria' you probably get diarrhea, cramps and nausea. Another example is with statin cholesterol drugs, like Zocor, Mevacor, Lipitor, Crestor, etc....when these medications mug your body of Coenzyme Q10, you get side effects like muscle aches, fatigue and cardiac problems in the long haul. That's because Co Q10 is found in your muscles (your heart is a muscle isn't it?) and so when these drugs mug Co Q10, your entire cardiovascular system and brain pay the price. Dozens of popular medications mug CoQ10, not just cholesterol busters. Women who take hormonal replacement drugs or birth control pills could be robbed of B vitamins (among other important nutrients) and this causes all sorts of problems including low thyroid, weight gain and depression. The list goes on and on. I have termed the nutrient depletion, the Drug Mugger effect. The information which I am sharing with you is rarely known by the public, but knowing it is very crucial to your health and well-being and it could save your life. One simple way to replenish nutrients is to eat a balanced diet that includes foods rich in vitamins and minerals, including leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, grains, nuts, seeds and...if you like meat, grass-fed, hormone free meats. But sometimes eating doesn't do enough to offset the drug mugging effect, and supplementation of a particular nutrient becomes necessary.
Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2008
102 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Suzy Cohen
22 books6 followersSuzy Cohen, America's Pharmacist, is a Functional Medicine practitioner and pharmacist for more than 24 years.
Cohen is a Huffington Post blogger, and the author of several best-selling books on natural health. She has appeared on hundreds of radio programs and television shows including The Dr. Oz show, The View, Know the Cause and The Doctors.
Cohen is a Huffington Post blogger, and the author of several best-selling books on natural health. She has appeared on hundreds of radio programs and television shows including The Dr. Oz show, The View, Know the Cause and The Doctors.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 20, 2022
4.5 ⭐'s
This is excellent and I think anyone interested in maintaining their health should read it. Especially if you are on any pharmaceutical drug. Any drug . A wealth of info. The reason I knocked it half a star is that I wish she had listed drugs that have particularly bad reps in an easier to find, easier to understand way. I had to hunt and pick through info, it was frustrating. Just a smidge, though. It's worth reading for your health.
How many of us are on beta blockers? Let me tell you, it's a bear getting off of them. Especially when your dr says just drop it after you've been on them for 20 years. And yes, I know I didn't capitalize the d in dr. Because that's not being a Doctor. First, do no harm. Hippocratic oath, first line. My pharmacist actually logged a complaint against him, and I'm in a really big HMO. She's 20 years younger than him, thus went to medical school when they actually taught not to do that, but that's no excuse. As a Dr. you are supposed to continue your education, daily, if needed. So much research coming out all of the time that makes once common practices, obsolete. Ugh, sorry. But it almost killed me. Heart attack anyone?
Anywho. This is worth a read, just make sure you get the updated version bc it was originally written in '08 and she has updated yearly. Kinda like a Doctor is supposed to.
Sorry about all the bold words, well not really. 😂
This is excellent and I think anyone interested in maintaining their health should read it. Especially if you are on any pharmaceutical drug. Any drug . A wealth of info. The reason I knocked it half a star is that I wish she had listed drugs that have particularly bad reps in an easier to find, easier to understand way. I had to hunt and pick through info, it was frustrating. Just a smidge, though. It's worth reading for your health.
How many of us are on beta blockers? Let me tell you, it's a bear getting off of them. Especially when your dr says just drop it after you've been on them for 20 years. And yes, I know I didn't capitalize the d in dr. Because that's not being a Doctor. First, do no harm. Hippocratic oath, first line. My pharmacist actually logged a complaint against him, and I'm in a really big HMO. She's 20 years younger than him, thus went to medical school when they actually taught not to do that, but that's no excuse. As a Dr. you are supposed to continue your education, daily, if needed. So much research coming out all of the time that makes once common practices, obsolete. Ugh, sorry. But it almost killed me. Heart attack anyone?
Anywho. This is worth a read, just make sure you get the updated version bc it was originally written in '08 and she has updated yearly. Kinda like a Doctor is supposed to.
Sorry about all the bold words, well not really. 😂
May 11, 2014
With the health care paradigm shifts and my deductible doubling to $6000.00, I decided that I needed to come up with a preventive health care maintenance program. The purchase of Drug Muggers is one of the best book investments I've made in a long time. The author got my attention right away by telling the reader to rearrange the letters in diet to spell edit. I always thought that I ate fairly healthy but my last grocery cart looked completely different from my previous trips.
I currently do not take any medications but found the information on how drugs can rob the body of vital nutrients very interesting along with valuable information on the purchase and use of top quality supplements. The author known as The Angel in the White Lab Jacket loves what she is doing, very witty, making her book fun to read. Enjoyment doesn't stop with her book, she has a very informative web page, e-mail news letter, and many you tube video's.
I currently do not take any medications but found the information on how drugs can rob the body of vital nutrients very interesting along with valuable information on the purchase and use of top quality supplements. The author known as The Angel in the White Lab Jacket loves what she is doing, very witty, making her book fun to read. Enjoyment doesn't stop with her book, she has a very informative web page, e-mail news letter, and many you tube video's.
August 14, 2012
If you take any medications, you need this book. It tells you what nutrients most medications deplete from your body while also giving you a thorough explanation of what those nutrients do, and how much you need based on your body and any "drug mugger" meds you may take. I consider this a must read, even for anyone who isn't taking meds. Does your spouse, your parents, your children? Then get this book. Written by a well regarded practicing pharmacist who actually knows what these meds can do to you. Often a med that is treating one thing can cause other problems and negatively impact your health, your energy levels and your sleep.
March 6, 2011
This is a really good book for nutrition information. Even if you aren't on medications, read this book to find out what kinds of supplements to buy and where. I bought this book because there were too many pages of good information to copy.
November 15, 2016
Hated it. Sponsored af most definitely. As a pharmacist myself I find so many errors and false&crude statements in this book and she doesn't even have proof to back up her theories. Especially i couldnt believe that this book was famous when i read dead probiotics are no use at all and probiotics are very sensitive, watch out for noise like rap music. SERIOUSLY????
December 30, 2016
This is a must read for those who want to understand in layman terms how various drugs and vitamins affect you!!! She is awesome!
December 29, 2021
I've been on a quest to identify and repair a bunch of nutrient deficiencies since learning I had low bone density and low ferritin at the beginning of this year. On this quest I've learned more and more about different nutrients and how they interact with each other, foods, medicines, and other lifestyle factors to influence how well they're actually absorbed and/or utilized in the body (positively and negatively). Consuming a certain quantity of something doesn't necessarily mean your body is actually using it properly (I was getting plenty of iron, calcium, and vitamin D, for instance).
So I came upon this book and was glad to see a compendium of some of the common medications (and other lifestyle factors) that prevent your body from properly absorbing or using nutrients. It does serve that purpose well (and includes helpful charts that make it easy to cross-reference nutrients and common medications), although it's not as comprehensive as I would have liked. Most of the medications I've been on weren't actually listed, though some were. I also really wanted to know about the long-term effects of these medications — if I took something for years but stopped, do I no longer have anything to worry about? Or could my current persistent chronic symptoms still be due to all those years I was being "mugged" of vital nutrients? This really isn't even touched on in the book, which was disappointing to me.
I also found the writing style of the book just on the borderline of irritating. Cohen writes in an informal yet authoritative way, which sounds good (and is fine on the surface), but can be grating (even when I mostly agreed with the content). To be fair, she is upfront most of the time about which of her advice is personal opinion, and this book is now a decade old, but there were some assertions made that either I know are untrue or are incomplete.
But at the same time, I feel like the fact that this book is a decade old and millions of people are still taking all these medications without any education from their doctors (who likely aren't aware of a lot of this either) shows how ahead of its time it was and how vitally needed it still is. In short, it's far from perfect but still an excellent resource and starting point for understanding the ramifications of taking common medications. In my opinion, every prescribing healthcare provider should read this, and anyone taking any medication should use it as a reference to see which nutrients they may need to keep an eye on to prevent deficiency.
So I came upon this book and was glad to see a compendium of some of the common medications (and other lifestyle factors) that prevent your body from properly absorbing or using nutrients. It does serve that purpose well (and includes helpful charts that make it easy to cross-reference nutrients and common medications), although it's not as comprehensive as I would have liked. Most of the medications I've been on weren't actually listed, though some were. I also really wanted to know about the long-term effects of these medications — if I took something for years but stopped, do I no longer have anything to worry about? Or could my current persistent chronic symptoms still be due to all those years I was being "mugged" of vital nutrients? This really isn't even touched on in the book, which was disappointing to me.
I also found the writing style of the book just on the borderline of irritating. Cohen writes in an informal yet authoritative way, which sounds good (and is fine on the surface), but can be grating (even when I mostly agreed with the content). To be fair, she is upfront most of the time about which of her advice is personal opinion, and this book is now a decade old, but there were some assertions made that either I know are untrue or are incomplete.
But at the same time, I feel like the fact that this book is a decade old and millions of people are still taking all these medications without any education from their doctors (who likely aren't aware of a lot of this either) shows how ahead of its time it was and how vitally needed it still is. In short, it's far from perfect but still an excellent resource and starting point for understanding the ramifications of taking common medications. In my opinion, every prescribing healthcare provider should read this, and anyone taking any medication should use it as a reference to see which nutrients they may need to keep an eye on to prevent deficiency.
November 13, 2021
Would you willingly consume a substance that can cause sickness or death when ingested or absorbed (i.e. a poison)?
Unfortunately, the drone army, which we call the medical profession, is unknowingly doing so on a global scale. And now at a level we've never seen before, as billions of people have been injected with an experimental chemical cocktail, with some ingredients and technology that have never been used before and have not even been publicly revealed.
This book explains how the body is essentially depleted of nutrients in order to counteract the numerous toxic effects of pharmaceutical interventions. As the author states in her introduction:
"Drugs have an intended effect on the body, but in the process of helping you, they can put your body in a dangerous state by slowly depleting you of the very nutrients you need to maintain your health and to help you heal. This slow depletion can make you feel miserable. It can even hasten your death."
Some would argue that pharmaceutical drugs are essential for survival and treating disease. However, as the author states, "The fact is, you can't cure disease with drugs made of synthetic chemicals, especially when they often suppress your body's ability to produce or use natural, healthy nutrients."
Many free-thinking medical doctors have realized this major shortcoming in their education and can help you to reduce your dependency on synthetics. This book can be a great guide if you are not able to find such a doctor that can aid you. She also provides lists of foods that will also effectively and safely help replenish lost nutrients. In some cases, supplemention is necessary, as we've created a toxic and polluted environment that is only getting worse. Fortunately, our bodies have the ability to detoxify, as long as we make every attempt to live as close to nature as possible.
Unfortunately, the drone army, which we call the medical profession, is unknowingly doing so on a global scale. And now at a level we've never seen before, as billions of people have been injected with an experimental chemical cocktail, with some ingredients and technology that have never been used before and have not even been publicly revealed.
This book explains how the body is essentially depleted of nutrients in order to counteract the numerous toxic effects of pharmaceutical interventions. As the author states in her introduction:
"Drugs have an intended effect on the body, but in the process of helping you, they can put your body in a dangerous state by slowly depleting you of the very nutrients you need to maintain your health and to help you heal. This slow depletion can make you feel miserable. It can even hasten your death."
Some would argue that pharmaceutical drugs are essential for survival and treating disease. However, as the author states, "The fact is, you can't cure disease with drugs made of synthetic chemicals, especially when they often suppress your body's ability to produce or use natural, healthy nutrients."
Many free-thinking medical doctors have realized this major shortcoming in their education and can help you to reduce your dependency on synthetics. This book can be a great guide if you are not able to find such a doctor that can aid you. She also provides lists of foods that will also effectively and safely help replenish lost nutrients. In some cases, supplemention is necessary, as we've created a toxic and polluted environment that is only getting worse. Fortunately, our bodies have the ability to detoxify, as long as we make every attempt to live as close to nature as possible.
May 30, 2022
This is a rather entertaining book to read, but clinically, it's an absolute mess. The author keeps referring to herself as the most trusted pharmacist in America, which I haven't even heard about. I want to proclaim that I am the most trusted physician in America so please take everything I say with a grain of salt. This book is for anyone interested in throwing out Western medicine and replacing it with herbs and supplements. There's a lot of fear-mongering in this book. The point is that there is nothing magical about Western medicine, and most of what we say and claim in Western medicine is entirely blown out of proportion and rather grandiose—no doubt about that. But to take Western medicine and try to do the same thing with herbs and supplements and Make all these outrageous claims it's the same thing. It's replacing one pig for another. There are some interesting points here; however, if you can get past the bullshit, there is about 10 to 20% of essential and helpful information which is why I gave this book a two star instead of a one star. However, some of this is difficult for the average labor person to sift through.
August 30, 2016
The idea for this book is excellent. Cutting down the number of drugs you take is the best idea, but minimising some of the harm of the drugs you do still take just makes sense.
The book starts off by explaining that synthetic chemicals cure nothing and can leave you sicker as they deplete nutrients or make certain nutrients unusable by the body.
There are sections on most of the B vitamins as well as some of the minerals and other vitamins. They were quite detailed and made for interesting reading. A bit of information was included about the best forms of each nutrient which was good, and some brand recommendations were given for each nutrient. More sections including all the B vitamins and the minerals would have made the book a lot better and more complete. The dosages given seemed reasonable for most things and weren’t those silly and out of date ‘2 mg of thiamine’ type ones you still get in some recent books.
Newer concepts like the need for activated folate if you have an MTHFR polymorphism were included but in some parts they could have been a bit clearer. The information about how to test for MTHFR seemed out of date as the test is not expensive anymore. Synthetic folic acid is also recommended throughout the book which is no good if you have MTHFR and considering that many have MTHFR issues and do not know it is not ideal. Some good information about the benefits of activated folate was included however, even if it was quite basic.
Some sections were a bit unclear on the details. In the CoQ10 section the benefits of ubiquinol (reduced CoQ10) over ubiquinone (CoQ10) were mentioned but then the dosage recommendations given didn’t specify which type was being discussed. Later on the author mentions that 50 mg ubiquinol is the equivalent of 100 mg of ubiquinone which is helpful, although the 2x figure is quite different to others I have read (e.g. between 3 and 4x by cardiologist Dr Sinatra.) But even knowing that it’s still not clear which form was referred to in the given dosages.
The term folic acid is used interchangeably with 5-MTHF at times and this is incorrect. To say that vitamin C causes kidney stones is also incorrect. Tofu is listed as a source of vitamin B12 but actually B12 experts say that plant foods such as tofu in fact contain B12 analogues which do not give the body any of the B12 it needs and also block the absorption of B12 from other sources. They mimic B12 in some ways but the body can’t use them as B12. These foods should actually be avoided if B12 is low.
There is a bit of vegetarian bias in the book which was disappointing. Soy is listed as a food that significantly lowers thyroid hormone levels yet the recommendation is not to avoid soy, but to just take more thyroid hormone. That’s pretty bad advice. Soy is not a health food! (See ‘The Whole Soy Story’ book.) Beta carotene is listed as far better and safer to take than preformed vitamin A form animal foods, despite the fact many of us convert beta carotene to vitamin A very poorly. Getting some real vitamin A in foods such as liver is not dangerous and is in fact an extremely healthy choice. Liver is the real superfood.
Agave nectar is mentioned as a safer sweetener (?) and grape seed oil is mentioned as an oil to cook with and protein powders are listed as healthy foods. The nutritional information in this book is not great and the book would have been better if it were all omitted as this seems to be not the authors speciality. Some outdated and wrong information is included.
Probably the worst part is when the author talks about how stupid and mad you’d have to be to eat a high fat diet and so get your arteries ‘all clogged up’ dangerously. The author really needs to do some more recent reading on this topic and why the saturated fat = heart disease hypothesis is junk science. Plus on why low carb or ketogenic diets can be very healthy as well and are in no way ‘as bad for you’ as low fat diets as the author claims. Books like Primal Body, Primal Mind and The Great Cholesterol Con and Know Your Fats and many others explain these facts well.
I most liked the bits of the book where the author talked about the more cutting edge information on the superiority of activated forms of B2, B6 and B12 as well as folate. I took lots of notes. Almost nobody discusses who needs the active forms of each nutrient and why. Few experts even recommend coenzymated vitamins – especially B2. But if you have low thyroid levels, poor digestion, low stomach acid or gut flora issues then taking your B2 in the activated form is actually a very good idea as you may convert the standard form to the active form very poorly. The Thorne products which contain activated forms of the B vitamins were listed too, which is great. More people need to know about those high quality products.
Some of the general information about why drugs wont cure you was also very good, as were the sections on why the RDI of nutrients has nothing to do with the optimum level for each person, how much nutrient needs vary per person and stage of life, and why what is important is the optimum level of a nutrient – not merely the RDI. The RDIs for most nutrients are ridiculously low.
Overall this book is an essential read for anyone taking prescription medications. Hopefully it will help people cut down on drugs a lot and also make it safer to take those few that may remain. The information is not quite comprehensive enough to be a sole source of information about supplements and nutrients but it’s a very good start. Recommended reading for anyone taking prescription or OTC drugs daily. 3.5 stars.
Jodi Bassett, The Hummingbirds' Foundation for M.E. (HFME) and Health, Healing & Hummingbirds (HHH)
The book starts off by explaining that synthetic chemicals cure nothing and can leave you sicker as they deplete nutrients or make certain nutrients unusable by the body.
There are sections on most of the B vitamins as well as some of the minerals and other vitamins. They were quite detailed and made for interesting reading. A bit of information was included about the best forms of each nutrient which was good, and some brand recommendations were given for each nutrient. More sections including all the B vitamins and the minerals would have made the book a lot better and more complete. The dosages given seemed reasonable for most things and weren’t those silly and out of date ‘2 mg of thiamine’ type ones you still get in some recent books.
Newer concepts like the need for activated folate if you have an MTHFR polymorphism were included but in some parts they could have been a bit clearer. The information about how to test for MTHFR seemed out of date as the test is not expensive anymore. Synthetic folic acid is also recommended throughout the book which is no good if you have MTHFR and considering that many have MTHFR issues and do not know it is not ideal. Some good information about the benefits of activated folate was included however, even if it was quite basic.
Some sections were a bit unclear on the details. In the CoQ10 section the benefits of ubiquinol (reduced CoQ10) over ubiquinone (CoQ10) were mentioned but then the dosage recommendations given didn’t specify which type was being discussed. Later on the author mentions that 50 mg ubiquinol is the equivalent of 100 mg of ubiquinone which is helpful, although the 2x figure is quite different to others I have read (e.g. between 3 and 4x by cardiologist Dr Sinatra.) But even knowing that it’s still not clear which form was referred to in the given dosages.
The term folic acid is used interchangeably with 5-MTHF at times and this is incorrect. To say that vitamin C causes kidney stones is also incorrect. Tofu is listed as a source of vitamin B12 but actually B12 experts say that plant foods such as tofu in fact contain B12 analogues which do not give the body any of the B12 it needs and also block the absorption of B12 from other sources. They mimic B12 in some ways but the body can’t use them as B12. These foods should actually be avoided if B12 is low.
There is a bit of vegetarian bias in the book which was disappointing. Soy is listed as a food that significantly lowers thyroid hormone levels yet the recommendation is not to avoid soy, but to just take more thyroid hormone. That’s pretty bad advice. Soy is not a health food! (See ‘The Whole Soy Story’ book.) Beta carotene is listed as far better and safer to take than preformed vitamin A form animal foods, despite the fact many of us convert beta carotene to vitamin A very poorly. Getting some real vitamin A in foods such as liver is not dangerous and is in fact an extremely healthy choice. Liver is the real superfood.
Agave nectar is mentioned as a safer sweetener (?) and grape seed oil is mentioned as an oil to cook with and protein powders are listed as healthy foods. The nutritional information in this book is not great and the book would have been better if it were all omitted as this seems to be not the authors speciality. Some outdated and wrong information is included.
Probably the worst part is when the author talks about how stupid and mad you’d have to be to eat a high fat diet and so get your arteries ‘all clogged up’ dangerously. The author really needs to do some more recent reading on this topic and why the saturated fat = heart disease hypothesis is junk science. Plus on why low carb or ketogenic diets can be very healthy as well and are in no way ‘as bad for you’ as low fat diets as the author claims. Books like Primal Body, Primal Mind and The Great Cholesterol Con and Know Your Fats and many others explain these facts well.
I most liked the bits of the book where the author talked about the more cutting edge information on the superiority of activated forms of B2, B6 and B12 as well as folate. I took lots of notes. Almost nobody discusses who needs the active forms of each nutrient and why. Few experts even recommend coenzymated vitamins – especially B2. But if you have low thyroid levels, poor digestion, low stomach acid or gut flora issues then taking your B2 in the activated form is actually a very good idea as you may convert the standard form to the active form very poorly. The Thorne products which contain activated forms of the B vitamins were listed too, which is great. More people need to know about those high quality products.
Some of the general information about why drugs wont cure you was also very good, as were the sections on why the RDI of nutrients has nothing to do with the optimum level for each person, how much nutrient needs vary per person and stage of life, and why what is important is the optimum level of a nutrient – not merely the RDI. The RDIs for most nutrients are ridiculously low.
Overall this book is an essential read for anyone taking prescription medications. Hopefully it will help people cut down on drugs a lot and also make it safer to take those few that may remain. The information is not quite comprehensive enough to be a sole source of information about supplements and nutrients but it’s a very good start. Recommended reading for anyone taking prescription or OTC drugs daily. 3.5 stars.
Jodi Bassett, The Hummingbirds' Foundation for M.E. (HFME) and Health, Healing & Hummingbirds (HHH)
August 5, 2021
OK, it is an eye-opener, but very similar to Suzanne Sommers book. Don't fall into the trap in believing you need ALL the vitamins Suzy suggests. CALL YOUR PHARMACIST(S) to go over your medicines. I did find that this book helps you find interactions with vitamins. But please don't depend on your doctor to help you with your meds. As I said, call your pharmacist to advise you. WedMd and Mayo Clinic are super websites to check med interactions.
March 25, 2021
A must read for anyone taking medication. Also a great guide to let you know the best form of vitamin to take. Quality supplements are important and they generally won’t be found in the grocery store.
May 12, 2019
The nursing geek in me—-I thought this was a great resource/book if someone wants to know about medications and contraindications.
December 10, 2019
Badly needs an update with more concise info & less storytelling.
March 18, 2025
Drug Muggers is a great resource for people who have to take medications.
August 14, 2011
This is a decent, well-written books about medications we take and how we can take natural things to help react, proactive solutions for certain conditions, but not necessarily have to stop taking our diabetes pills, etc.
I will look at aloe vera juice for constipation. Depending zinc doses for women can cause testosterone in the system and reading on acid reflux and non-aspirins. May have to get a copy to keep on the shelf in future.
Sleeping pills, sometimes I suffer from insomnia, suggests sedating herbs like catnip, ginseng, hops, kava, lemon balm, sage, St. John's war (USE TO TAKE THIS), skullcap, valerian root, yerba mansa, passionflower, and sassafras.
Will see where I can find horsetail tea. Not into caffeine drinks but will see what is up with these green drinks and spirulina supplements. I agree with in place of sugar, tried agave nectar (tastes pretty good), honey, blackstrap molasses, coconut nectar, or brown rice syrup.
Overall, drugs take out nutrients in our bodies and need to replenish and find natural ways vs. taking pills all the time. I notice when I take certain pills, popping, and does nothing! We are so use to taking medications here in U.S. but other places will use herbs or natural means to feel better. (p.85 had some good pointers too, DIET scramble words to say EDIT).
I will look at aloe vera juice for constipation. Depending zinc doses for women can cause testosterone in the system and reading on acid reflux and non-aspirins. May have to get a copy to keep on the shelf in future.
Sleeping pills, sometimes I suffer from insomnia, suggests sedating herbs like catnip, ginseng, hops, kava, lemon balm, sage, St. John's war (USE TO TAKE THIS), skullcap, valerian root, yerba mansa, passionflower, and sassafras.
Will see where I can find horsetail tea. Not into caffeine drinks but will see what is up with these green drinks and spirulina supplements. I agree with in place of sugar, tried agave nectar (tastes pretty good), honey, blackstrap molasses, coconut nectar, or brown rice syrup.
Overall, drugs take out nutrients in our bodies and need to replenish and find natural ways vs. taking pills all the time. I notice when I take certain pills, popping, and does nothing! We are so use to taking medications here in U.S. but other places will use herbs or natural means to feel better. (p.85 had some good pointers too, DIET scramble words to say EDIT).
January 1, 2016
I wish I'd had this book years ago because my nutrition has definitely been mugged by prescription and OTC drugs. This is an excellent resource book that I think should be on everybody's bookshelf. For instance, something as simple as Tums could be robbing you of quite a few important vitamins and minerals your body needs. The author isn't saying don't take the antacid or what your doctor prescribes. She is helping you know the foods and/or supplements you can use to replace what the drug has depleted while helping you with what ails you.
November 24, 2020
Excellent book that explains how drugs that we take for examples diabetes will rob us of certain vitamins. For example metformin will reduce your B12, which becomes an issue especially if you a vegetarian or vegan. The B vitamin are essential for our nervous system. We know of anemia with regards to iron, but you can also be B12 anemic and that can lead to other issues.
This is a valuable book to keep referring back too.
This is a valuable book to keep referring back too.
October 14, 2014
An interesting book to have on hand if nothing else, for reference.
August 28, 2015
Very informative.
June 30, 2016
Great reference concerning medication interactions and dangerous combinations.
June 10, 2014
Good Reference to have for medicated patients, friends, and family.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews