Before you pop that pill

Sometimes the best medicine may be none at all. Here's one doctor's prescription.

Joint Pain: a long term regimen of pain relievers come with considerable risks, ranging from internal to hemorrhage to kidney damage to liver failure and heart attack. Try a pysical therapist 1st; A good one can help relieve the pain and teach you ways to avoid reinjury.

Cholesterol: statins lower elevated LDL cholesterol levels, but diet n exercise can do that too, while also preserving your joints, strengthening your lungs, & improving your mood & mental acuity. And they can provide a boost in your self-esteem, which is something no pill can do.

Skin Infections: antibiotics can clear these up, but they can also put you at risk or allergic reactions, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, diarrhea, or secondary infections such as C.difficile. The drug free alternative: soak the infected area in warm water; heat often eliminates infection.

Insomnia: sometimes the reasons for sleeplessness go deeper than a drug can reach. And sometimes doctors overdiagnose (& overmedicate) the ordinary vicissitudes of life. Insomnia is often caused by caffeine, alcohol, or too much job stress.

Headaches: brain pain can be miserable, yes, but it's often caused by withdrawal from the very drugs we use to treat it. Learning to identify & avoid hidden headache triggers, such as staying seated in one position for too long, can break the cycle once and for all.

**Buy someone a Starbucks today-NO strings attached :) Kindness counts!