Natural alternatives to mass meds

Better Nutrition, Dec, 2004

Natural Alternatives to Mass Meds

Each month, Amber D. Ackerson, ND, informs you about complementary and
alternative choices to mass-produced over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.

CONDITION         OTC DRUG

Vitiligo          Tanning solutions, skin dyes
(progressive      and cosmetics
whitening or
depigmenta-
tion of skin)

Dizziness         Dramamine (dimenhydrinate);
(benign posi-     Bonine (meclizine); Marezine
tional vertigo)   (cyclizine)

Skin ulcers       Myciguent (neomycin); Baciguent
(bedsores,        (bacitracin); Polysporin (bacitracin
decubitus         with polymyxin); Bactine Triple
ulcers, pres-     Antibiotic Ointment (polymyxin,
sure ulcers)      bacitracin and neomycin)

Head lice         Licetrol, Pronto Lice Killing
                  shampoo kit, A-200 Shampoo
                  Concentrate, Barc Blue
                  (pyrethrins/piperonyl butoxide)

CONDITION         ALTERNATIVE

Vitiligo          Standardized ginkgo biloba extract (GBE): 40 mg three
(progressive      times daily. Picrorhiza (Picrorhiza kurrooa) rhizome,
whitening or      encapsulated dry powder: 500 mg two to three times
depigmenta-       daily. L-phenylalanine (LPA) to enhance ultraviolet
tion of skin)     light therapy: 50 mg per every 2.2 lb. of body
                  weight (about 3.5 grams for a 150-lb. person),
                  between meals. Folic acid: 10 mg per day.
                  Vitamin [B.sub.12]: 2,000 micrograms per day.
                  Vitamin C: 1 gram daily. Note: People scheduled
                  for surgery or who take blood thinners should not
                  take ginkgo.

Dizziness         Standardized ginkgo biloba extract (GBE): 40 mg three
(benign posi-     to four times daily. Gingerroot (encapsulated dry
tional vertigo)   powder): 1 gram daily in divided doses. Vinpocetine:
                  15 mg daily. Note: People scheduled for surgery or
                  who take blood thinners should not take ginkgo.

Skin ulcers       Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) ointment (with at least
(bedsores,        1 percent triterpene content) with aloe vera and
decubitus         zinc: apply one to three times daily. Bioflavonoids:
ulcers, pres-     supplying hesperidin (100 mg daily),
sure ulcers)      hydroxyethylrutosides (2,000 mg daily), and diosmin
                  (900 mg daily). Note: Gotu kola, in rare cases, may
                  cause a skin rash.

Head lice         Mix 3 tsp. of essential oils from tea tree, rosemary,
                  lavender, eucalyptus or hyssop with 4 oz. of olive
                  oil. Apply to scalp before bed, cover with shower cap
                  and leave on overnight. Comb hair with nit comb in
                  the morning, wash hair with tea tree oil shampoo,
                  rinse with rosemary tea and comb again. Blow dry.
                  Rub 2-3 drops of rosemary or lavender oil into
                  hair. Repeat daily for 1 week, then once weekly for
                  3 weeks. (From An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for
                  Children and Infants. Mary Bove, ND, Keats
                  Publishing, 2001.)