How to Stock Your Medicine Cabinet With Herbal Medicines Instead of Over-the-Counter Drugs
Traditional Chinese Medicine offers herbal alternatives that we believe are safer and in many cases actually work better than their pharmaceutical counterparts.
The table below is for educational purposes, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your health care provider.
Herbal products are not approved by the FDA. They are not meant to cure or eliminate diseases.
|
Condition |
Typical OTC Drug |
OTC Herbal Med |
|
Allergies |
Claritin, Zyrtec, etc |
|
|
Burns (minor) |
Aloe, Petroleum Jelly |
|
|
Colds (general symptoms) |
Dayquil, Nyquil, etc. |
|
|
Cold Sores |
Lysine |
|
|
Constipation |
Miralax, X-Lax |
|
|
Cough from cold |
Robatussen,cough drops |
|
|
Diarrhea (occasional) |
Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol |
|
|
Indigestion (simple) |
Pepto Bismol |
Stomach Curing Pills |
|
Injury Pain |
Motrin, Tylenol, Alieve |
|
|
Itching (poison oak, etc.) Itching (dry skin)** |
Cortisone creams Topical Moisturizers |
|
|
Menstrual Pain |
Motrin, Tylenol, Midol |
|
|
Mood ** |
Prescription meds only |
|
|
Nasal, Sinus Congestion |
Sudafed |
Allergy: Dr Shen’s Sinus Pills Cold: Bi Yan Pian |
|
Pain** |
Ibuprofen Acetaminophen Aspirin |
|
|
Skin: pimples with pus Skin: dry and inflamed** |
Topical cleansers Topical moisturizers |
|
|
Sleep** |
Benadryl, Aleve PM, others |
|
|
Sore Throat (topical) |
Cepacol, Chloraseptic |
**Consultation Highly Recommended**
