Yesterday the Tampa Bay Times included an article that so closely echoed my feelings about death and invasive medical care that I knew I had to share it with you. This article discusses how many doctors choose, at the end of their lives, to refuse medical interventions. These people who know more about medicine and it's practice than most others, chose to live the end of their lives out quietly, with family and without pain and anxiety.
Here is a link to the article: How Doctors Die.
This article make me want to have No Code tattooed on my chest or at least get a really big No Code medical alert necklace.
God bless,
Pam
Showing posts with label frugal medicine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frugal medicine. Show all posts
Monday, March 12, 2012
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Frugal Home Remedies: Switchel
Switchel, also know as Haymakers tea, is a popular drink for people doing hard work or to give an invalid energy. Think of it as the Colonial Gatorade. It is popular, even today, in the Appalachias and in the Prairie States.
You can even read about switchel in my favorite book series, "The Little House on the Prairie". Ma makes switchel as a surprise for Pa and allows the girls to bring it to him in the hay field.
Switchel recipes change according to each individual family's tastes. Here is a basic recipe: one part apple cider vinegar, two parts sweetener, two inch piece of ginger.
Grate the ginger, then add the honey and vinegar. Refrigerate until needed. Mix 4 tablespoons into a cup of water to make switchel.
The sweetener changes according to the area of the country. A small amount of molasses or sorghum gives the switchel a traditional flavor.
Medicinally the vinegar in switchel is purported to reduce arthritis inflammation and reduce cholesterol. The ginger is an anti nausea remedy. The honey soothes a sore throat and cough.
Try switchel as a beneficial home remedy and a healthy alternative to sports drinks.
God bless,
Pam
You can even read about switchel in my favorite book series, "The Little House on the Prairie". Ma makes switchel as a surprise for Pa and allows the girls to bring it to him in the hay field.
Switchel recipes change according to each individual family's tastes. Here is a basic recipe: one part apple cider vinegar, two parts sweetener, two inch piece of ginger.
Grate the ginger, then add the honey and vinegar. Refrigerate until needed. Mix 4 tablespoons into a cup of water to make switchel.
The sweetener changes according to the area of the country. A small amount of molasses or sorghum gives the switchel a traditional flavor.
Medicinally the vinegar in switchel is purported to reduce arthritis inflammation and reduce cholesterol. The ginger is an anti nausea remedy. The honey soothes a sore throat and cough.
Try switchel as a beneficial home remedy and a healthy alternative to sports drinks.
God bless,
Pam
Monday, March 7, 2011
Frugal Medicine: Iatrogenic Disease
This is going to be a controversial post and it reflects my experiences/beliefs about medical treatment. Specifically, medical treatment in the United States.
We have a strange revolving door syndrome going when it comes to our medical treatment. Doctors are paying exorbitant malpractice insurance fees - which go up if a doctor is sued - causing doctors to be over cautious about patient treatment - which causes doctors to over treat, prescribe and test patients - which leads to iatrogenic disease/illness - which leads to malpractice suites - which leads to higher malpractice insurance costs.
Iatrogenic disease is any disease or medical condition caused by medical treatment. Heart disease and cancer are the top two causes of death in the United States; the third is iatrogenic disease. A quarter of a million people in the U.S. die each year due to iatrogenic disease. Approximately 12,000 of these deaths are caused by surgical interventions.
How does this affect frugal homemakers? We are paying for unnecessary treatments and tests. Paying, not only with our money, but with our health. It is imperative that we question our doctors on the necessity of each treatment/test, then go home to research it ourselves, before WE make the decision to proceed.
I know a few people that never go to the doctor or receive treatment. I am not suggesting this. I am suggesting that we need to take control over and lead our healthcare. Trust me, this doesn't always make you the most popular patient, but it may save your life.
Let me give you a personal story. I decided several years ago not to receive invasive tests if I am asymptomatic. I do get blood work (barely invasive), mammograms, EKGs, PAP smears and needed x-rays. My doctor has been after me to get a colonoscopy and I have declined. I have no symptoms, there have been recent problems with patients receiving serious, chronic diseases because of improper cleaning of equipment (this is nationwide, research it), and there is a risk for silent bowel perforation. Now the risk of perforation is only 1%, but I don't want to be one of that 1%.
When I discussed this with my doctor he asked me if I was depressed! Apparently, refusing a doctor recommended test must be related to a patient's emotional condition, not a patient's research and thoughtful consideration. This is not a decision caused by fear and it may be a decision that I someday regret, but it is MY decision.
Each year medical costs and medical insurance costs rise. We are not only paying for testing and treatment, but our insurance companies are charging us for the possibility of future testing and treatment. Another revolving door.
See, I warned you this would be controversial. I am open to debate. I just want people to see how our current medical systems are affecting us. I am not trying to sway your medical decisions, I just want YOU to make those decisions.
As an Amish minister said in Family Life magazine, "Why are God's people spending so much time and money to avoid seeing him?".
God bless,
Pam
We have a strange revolving door syndrome going when it comes to our medical treatment. Doctors are paying exorbitant malpractice insurance fees - which go up if a doctor is sued - causing doctors to be over cautious about patient treatment - which causes doctors to over treat, prescribe and test patients - which leads to iatrogenic disease/illness - which leads to malpractice suites - which leads to higher malpractice insurance costs.
Iatrogenic disease is any disease or medical condition caused by medical treatment. Heart disease and cancer are the top two causes of death in the United States; the third is iatrogenic disease. A quarter of a million people in the U.S. die each year due to iatrogenic disease. Approximately 12,000 of these deaths are caused by surgical interventions.
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| Fuzzy, But You Get The Picture |
I know a few people that never go to the doctor or receive treatment. I am not suggesting this. I am suggesting that we need to take control over and lead our healthcare. Trust me, this doesn't always make you the most popular patient, but it may save your life.
Let me give you a personal story. I decided several years ago not to receive invasive tests if I am asymptomatic. I do get blood work (barely invasive), mammograms, EKGs, PAP smears and needed x-rays. My doctor has been after me to get a colonoscopy and I have declined. I have no symptoms, there have been recent problems with patients receiving serious, chronic diseases because of improper cleaning of equipment (this is nationwide, research it), and there is a risk for silent bowel perforation. Now the risk of perforation is only 1%, but I don't want to be one of that 1%.
When I discussed this with my doctor he asked me if I was depressed! Apparently, refusing a doctor recommended test must be related to a patient's emotional condition, not a patient's research and thoughtful consideration. This is not a decision caused by fear and it may be a decision that I someday regret, but it is MY decision.
Each year medical costs and medical insurance costs rise. We are not only paying for testing and treatment, but our insurance companies are charging us for the possibility of future testing and treatment. Another revolving door.
See, I warned you this would be controversial. I am open to debate. I just want people to see how our current medical systems are affecting us. I am not trying to sway your medical decisions, I just want YOU to make those decisions.
As an Amish minister said in Family Life magazine, "Why are God's people spending so much time and money to avoid seeing him?".
God bless,
Pam
Monday, January 10, 2011
The Frugal Home: Home Remedy for Colds
In honor of my dear daughter being sick with a cold I will share this home remedy with you:
1/2 cup of honey
1 onion, finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
Mix, cover and keep at warm temperature. Have patient swallow a spoonful several times a day or when coughing or sore throat becomes uncomfortable.
After five days discard and make a new batch. Surprisingly, this mixture doesn't taste half bad. I keep thinking that it would make a great glaze for roast pork.
God bless,
Pam
1/2 cup of honey
1 onion, finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
Mix, cover and keep at warm temperature. Have patient swallow a spoonful several times a day or when coughing or sore throat becomes uncomfortable.
After five days discard and make a new batch. Surprisingly, this mixture doesn't taste half bad. I keep thinking that it would make a great glaze for roast pork.
God bless,
Pam
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