Billy G. Howard
FDA: Regulation or ?
The result of a recent experience wherein I ended up in the hospital emergency room at midnight ultimately resulted with me seriously questioning the functionality of the FDA. MedicineNet.com defines the Food and Drug Administration as “FDA - a federal agency in the Department of Health and Human Services established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products.”
As circumstance would have it, my visit to the emergency room eventually concluded at 3:00 a.m. with the doctor administering and prescribing medication to rectify the physical “discomfort.” My general disdain for the idea of ingesting pharmaceuticals impulsively prompted an inquiry as to the anticipated side effects. As is the usual response from virtually every physician or nurse ever questioned, I received from Ms. RN, “Oh no, it’s perfectly all right. There are no known side effects to taking this medicine.” so I reasoned it perfectly safe and returned home to arrive around 3:25 a.m.
To sum up the overall medical experience in two words or less, “They lied.” I woke the next day with a headache so intense it hurt to turn on the bedroom light. The window blinds couldn’t be opened because of the sunlight, light from the television or lap top computer caused excruciating pain and it even hurt to lay my head on the pillow. This issue was further complicated by the fact that to sit upright resulted with the room spinning uncontrollably. I later discovered that severe migraine headaches and dizziness were marked side effects of the sulfur-based medication.
After suffering through an entire day of side effects from the medicine that Ms. RN had assured me was “perfectly all right,” my dear spiritual mother who is affectionately known as Granny proved a saving grace. Granny hails from Trinidad and swears by what she calls the old ways. Thankfully, the eighty-three year old matriarch informed me of a vegetable called “Daikon radish” that, when I tried it, miraculously provided relief from the intense headache.
The relief and tremendous excitement compelled me to look into this miracle food so I turned to Mr. Google. A search of the vegetable actually termed a “super food,” according to the internet, revealed benefits extending from the fact that it cleanses the blood of toxins, helps with weight loss, improves kidney and liver functions, acts as an antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. The vegetable also aids in skin, respiratory, and bone health as well as digestion. There is evidence that the characteristics of the super food also aid in combating cancer causing agents in the body.
For the complete column pick up your copy of The Baxley News-Banner on newsstands today or CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE.
To sum up the overall medical experience in two words or less, “They lied.” I woke the next day with a headache so intense it hurt to turn on the bedroom light. The window blinds couldn’t be opened because of the sunlight, light from the television or lap top computer caused excruciating pain and it even hurt to lay my head on the pillow. This issue was further complicated by the fact that to sit upright resulted with the room spinning uncontrollably. I later discovered that severe migraine headaches and dizziness were marked side effects of the sulfur-based medication.
After suffering through an entire day of side effects from the medicine that Ms. RN had assured me was “perfectly all right,” my dear spiritual mother who is affectionately known as Granny proved a saving grace. Granny hails from Trinidad and swears by what she calls the old ways. Thankfully, the eighty-three year old matriarch informed me of a vegetable called “Daikon radish” that, when I tried it, miraculously provided relief from the intense headache.
The relief and tremendous excitement compelled me to look into this miracle food so I turned to Mr. Google. A search of the vegetable actually termed a “super food,” according to the internet, revealed benefits extending from the fact that it cleanses the blood of toxins, helps with weight loss, improves kidney and liver functions, acts as an antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. The vegetable also aids in skin, respiratory, and bone health as well as digestion. There is evidence that the characteristics of the super food also aid in combating cancer causing agents in the body.
For the complete column pick up your copy of The Baxley News-Banner on newsstands today or CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE.
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