Sajila Nudrat | Health Editor
Featured Image: More than 70 per cent of Canadians regularly use alternative health care therapies. | Courtesy of Pixabay
It seems everywhere a person turns, there’s a new lifestyle fad that’s enraptured society. Recently, a naturalistic way of life has weaved and gripped its way into the average person’s day-to-day life, whether they like it or not. Gwyneth Paltrow has recently come under fire as Canada pushed back against the expansion of her lifestyle brand “Goop,” into the country.
Her brand has been criticized by members of the medical community for promoting practices that have no basis in science. Some of Goop’s products have no proven medical benefits, and contain questionable ingredients. Paltrow herself was recently on the ‘Weekend Update’ segment of the infamous variety sketch comedy show ‘Saturday Night Live,’ where her character poked fun at some of these absurd products. Recently, reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian also announced the launch of her own lifestyle brand called “Poosh.”
It seems as if celebrities have found their targeted market by promoting a naturalistic way of life. The question remains, do they work? The answer isn’t always as simple as the lifestyle brands want a person to believe. Just because a natural remedy works for one person, doesn’t mean it works for everyone.
An estimated 2.7 million Canadians say they have been diagnosed with a migraine at one point or another; with migraines being most common among women. One of the ways to naturally deal with a migraine, surprisingly, is with caffeine. According to Dr. Paul Cooper, a professor of neurology at Western University, coffee is most effective for people who suffer migraines and do not drink caffeinated beverages on a day-to-day basis. However, this can also have adverse effects, as caffeine has also been proven to be a trigger factor in migraines; the ‘natural cure’ swings both ways.
Alternative medicine is on the rise and is quite popular. With herbal remedies and essential oils for virtually every possible problem a person may have (physical or mental), it causes a person to question: ‘is there merit to any of it?’ Several herbal remedies have been studied as treatment for anxiety. Some studies show that lavender can reduce anxiety. However, side effects may include constipation and headaches. Lemon balm is shown to reduce some symptoms of anxiety such as nervousness, but can also cause nausea and abdominal pain. Is it worth it to get rid of one problem, only to replace it with another?
An essential oil is basically the essence of a plant. The oils have become increasingly popular in aromatherapy, a form of alternative medicine in which health effects are ascribed to the aromatic compounds found in essential oils. Some medical experts think this is nothing more than wishful thinking. While advocates of the oils say that it can help, it is not without the risk of side effects.
Sometimes people strive to look for a solution, and try their very hardest to find it. It may seem as if the answer lies in nature, and some may truly believe that, but it’s not always the case. So the best thing a person can do for themselves, is research. Instead of getting caught up in the new fad of the time, or sold on another celebrities’ venture to make money off impressionable fans, a person should educate themselves. Sometimes there is no easy way out, and it will do no one any good to strive to make one.
