Unexpected GP advice - Real Mum story on MoM

8 Comments

I’ve often been frustrated with visits to the GP. If you don’t have one of the ‘mainstream’ diseases then it can be hard getting a thorough diagnosis and investigation. For my little niggles I’m almost always offered pain relief or anti-inflammatory medicine or told to come back in a few weeks if it is still bothering me (read another long wait in a practice that always seems to run late and a different brand of pain killer / anti-inflammatory offered for my trouble).

So one day I went to a different practice. I was the only one there so the ‘no long wait’ box was ticked immediately, in fact they were still building the foyer and it didn’t even look like anyone else had found the place had opened!

And I received some unexpected advice that didn’t involve the normal pain killers or anti-inflammatory medication. I was quite surprised that a mainstream GP practice offered it, since to me it is on the fringe of “alternative” medicine.

It was suggested that each morning I had a tea spoon of tumeric, mixed with some natural youghart and black pepper and some honey. The curcumin in the tumeric was a natural way to reduce inflammation, with the black pepper helping absorption, the yoghart making it palatable.

While I still don’t know whether there is some unifying undiscovered disease behind all the niggles It was refreshing to have something different to try to control the symptoms….and I’ve since learned that the tumeric has many other great health benefits too; and is safe to consume in even larger quantities than the teaspoon.

If you haven’t already tried it I highly recommend the tumeric and youghart combination for general health!

And I can’t help but wonder has anyone else ever been given “natural and herbal” remedies from mainstream GPs in place of more traditional prescription medicine?

Posted anonymously, 9th May 2016

8 Comments

- - mom19782016 said
  - 12 Jun 2016
    7:00 am
Thanks for the tip! I think eastern and western medicines work best combined together but it is very difficult to come across GPs who offer both.

- - june11 said
  - 31 May 2016
    10:16 pm
Some great suggestions on here.
I had a runny eye and was going on a holiday in an area that has very dry air – no humidity. The GP was right about that.

- - BellaB said
  - 11 May 2016
    11:29 am
My GP is very open to other options.

- - mom93821 said
  - 10 May 2016
    7:58 pm
GP’s like all professions have so many different people that work in different ways. Some are quite traditional and some can be alternative. It is all about finding the right fit for you and your family. Glad you are happy with your choice.

- - rachelvk said
  - 10 May 2016
    7:52 pm
I have a fabulous GP who I have been seeing since I was very young and now I take my kids to see her. I don’t know what I will do when she retires. As for turmeric, I have also heard amazing things; I may need to give it a go.

- - mom90758 said
  - 10 May 2016
    3:08 pm
I think you came across a very good GP. I love the idea of eating yogurt with turmeric. Turmeric is indeed well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin is the active ingredient of turmeric, and you can capsule at the health shops.
- mom90758 replied
  
  11 May 2016 , 4:31 pm
  You can “buy”..
- - mum888 said
  - 10 May 2016
    2:50 pm
I can understand your frustration as sometimes meds just don’t help. I have Blackmores Liquid Echidnea in the cupboard now as I have an allergy cough and quite prone to respitory infections . This is the only herbal med that has helped me stopped coughing . No more cough syrups as they are useless . Two times a day and after a few days your cold or cough is practically gone .