Green Your Medicine Cabinet

This article was published in the Fall 2009 issue of Green Living magazine.

We want to do what’s right for the planet, but also what’s right for our health. Can we have it both ways? We poked around the medicine cabinets of a few environmentalists, then put some of their musts under the microscope. So, can you guard your health while protecting the planet? For at least some common health complaints, it seems you can.

1. NAUSEA

Typical Treatment: Anti-nauseants like Gravol rely on dimenhydrinate to quell sickness, but come with annoying side effects, notably drowsiness. It has even been misused as a deliriant (thus the phrase “tripping in the D-house”).

Greener Alternative: When Mom nursed you back to health with ginger ale, she was onto something. Research shows that ingesting ginger reduces the severity of nausea and shortens the recovery time (for motion-induced sickness). Ginger’s benefits have become so well-accepted that the makers of Gravol have created a Ginger line.

2. MUSCLE AND JOINT PAIN AND INFLAMMATION

Typical Treatment: Ibuprofen—found in over-the-counter pain relievers. Long-term usage has been shown to cause bleeding and visible damage to the small intestine.

Greener Alternative: Bromelain is an enzyme mixture found in pineapple stems that, when taken orally, can reduce inflammation or pain caused by inflammation, according to preliminary U.S. research. Boswellia, an extract of the boswellia serrata tree, reduces pain associated with osteoarthritis, according to a study conducted by researchers in India. Find both bromelain and boswellia in CanPrev’s Pain-Pro Formula at health food stores.

3. VITAMIN INSUFFICIENCY

Typical Treatment: Many drugstore vitamin supplements contain synthetic vitamins made to approximate the real thing. Some critics argue they don’t come close enough. Plus, many contain additives.

Greener Alternative: “Organic, local food is still your best bet” for vitamins and minerals, says Toronto-based homeopath Janet Neilson. But when a dietary boost is required, most experts, including Neilson, believe that supplements derived from whole foods deliver more nutritional bang for your buck—and buying them supports farmers. Some brands, such as New Chapter, use certified organic ingredients.

4. CUTS AND SCRAPES

Typical Treatment: Antibiotic ointments such as Polysporin rely on synthetic chemicals—bacitracin zinc and polymyxin B sulfate—to combat bacteria. Plus, the growing presence of antibiotics in waste water is cause for concern.

Greener Alternative: Tea tree oil is a powerful (and environmentally benign) anti-microbial. Derived from the leaves of the melaleuca tree, it’s as effective at controlling infection as chemical equivalents, according to research. Pure tea tree oil can be purchased at most drug stores. (Note that it can irritate sensitive skin.)

5. SEXUAL LUBRICATION   

Typical Treatment: Drug-store lubricants such as Vaseline are petroleum-based. Petroleum-based products have come under fire of late for contributing to a number of reproductive and endocrine issues.

Greener Alternative: Good Glide, available at collectivewellbeing.com, is a blend of vegetable glycerine and aloe vera gel—in other words, pure pleasure. Even K-Y jelly is water-based and biologically inert.