Re: Ask The Herbalist: Ibuprofen

 I wish I had that info years ago! Back then, there was no internet. I used to spend time leafing through books looking for any natural options. For example, back then a nurse told me to really up my calcium intake---even recommended a supplement. I tried that---didn't work. But I digress... As I said before, now I just don't use any NSAIDs---and certainly don't miss them either!

Calcium is a muscle contractor, so it can make menstrual cramps worse.  Magnesium is the muscle relaxant.

The drug companies and the FDA have been hiding known side effects of drugs for years.  Again with NSAIDs like ibuprofen they have known these drugs increase the risk of heart attack and stroke for decades.  It was not until just a few years ago that these side effects of NSAIDs started coming to the public light.  Same with Premarin, which we have know for an extremely long time increases the risk of cancer.  But the FDA did not admit to this well known fact until about 6 years ago.  This is why there is a major problem with how cozy the FDA is with the pharmaceutical companies.