"Our health care system has a pill for every ill," writes Weil (Spontaneous Happiness, 2011), who may be the nation's foremost advocate for integrative medicine. He then meticulously explains why the multitude of medicines prescribed in America is problematic. He's concerned about the safety, efficacy, cost, long-term side effects, and, with some classes of medicines, possible drug dependency. Make no mistake, Weil is not against prescription medications. He acknowledges how their appropriate use improves and saves lives. Integrative medicine incorporates alternative and complementary treatments with conventional medical therapies. Some remedies he promotes as alternatives or adjuncts to drug therapy include botanical and herbal products; relaxed breathing techniques; vitamins and minerals; mind-body therapies (meditation, hypnosis, biofeedback); and acupuncture. Weil enthusiastically encourages lifestyle modifications-exercise, dietary changes, stress reduction, and weight loss-to maintain good health and battle chronic diseases such as diabetes and high-blood pressure. Antibiotics, opioids, statins, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, psychiatric and ADHD drugs, and treatments for GERD, hypertension, diabetes, and osteoporosis are covered. In all, a sensible approach to reducing what Weil correctly identifies as our "excessive reliance on medication." Copyright 2017 Booklist Reviews.
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