[Health] Basic Medicine

NTBKtrader · Intermediate Crude Joined: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 591

Anyone here have any recommendations on basic medicine, medical books, or maybe even herbal remedies? I have a first aid kit but need books on how to use this stuff and make do with whatever may come up in the future!

Thanks!

stepka · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 6:59 pm Post subject:

A few suggestions: "Where There is No Doctor: A Village Healthcare Handbook" by David Werner. It is written for people in developing countries where there are few supplies.

I'd get hold of an old EMT textbook for lots of info on emergencies and getting people stabilized.

As for herbs, it would be good to learn about the weeds in your immediate area. Some of the most common, like plantain, can often be the most useful. Then learn to make salves and tinctures and cough syrups, etc. So you probably want to get an herb indentification handbook for your state, along with another herb book that tells what they are good for and how to make preparations. There are lots of good ones.

savethehumans · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Oct 20, 2004 Posts: 1541

Since oil provides most of our modern medicines, a return to holistic methods is a no-brainer for the Post-Peak world. People who know their herbs and their medicinal properties will never have to worry about starving or having adequate shelter, that's for sure! Having some books on the subject, at least, should be a priority for all of us preparing for what's coming.

Ever wonder what the "medical schools" of the future are going to be like? Wink

Shannymara · Master Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 5141 Location: Oklahoma

bart · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 2:16 am Post subject:

Good suggestions. Agree about herbs and Where There Is No Doctor. I think it's good to learn basic healthcare, Peak Oil or no.

Here are some other suggestions:

1. First aid and EMT courses. The main thing I got out of these courses was an increased awareness of how people get into accidents and a determination to avoid them.

2. Books or courses on first aid or medicine for outdoor activities --assuming that in a post-peak future you'll be doing more things outside. A classic is Wildenerness Medicine: Management of Wilderness and Environmental Emergencies. 1500 pages, encyclopedic, expensive. Perhaps worthwhile for a group.

3. Survival Guides, like the ones published by the armed forces. They help get you in the right mindset. One thing I remember is the advice from a guide for tropical survival; you probably won't be killed by big animals or human beings; it's that cut you neglected to clean that will do you in (infection).

4. Books and publications for nurses. More understandable and hands-on than the ones for doctors.

5. Family Medical Guide. The ones that have a troubleshooting chart that helps lead you to a diagnosis ("Painful eye -- Q: Have you injured your eye? Yes: Is there any visible damage to the eye? etc.)

Several different titles are available. We've been happy with the American Medical Association Family Medical Guide, but others are good too. This is the healthcare book we use most frequently.

6. Publications from the editors of the University of California Wellness Letter. For example: The Wellness Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Family Resource for Safeguarding Health and Preventing Illness. They also have one on food and on physical fitness. Authoritative and easy to read.

Chocky · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:03 am Post subject:

stepka · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:36 am Post subject:

stepka · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:52 am Post subject:

Oh, and here's another then: Herbal Antibiotics
by Stephen Harrod Buhner

I have seen this one. He says that Oil of Oregano is the most potent herbal antibiotic known, and is more effective than many of the pharmaceutical drugs on the market. He also says that herbal antibiotics are superior to pharmas because they knock out bacteria on several levels, rather than just one. Apparently the bacteria can adapt rapidly to pharmas because it's a simple and refined compound, but herbals are complex molecularly, so bacteria never seem to figure out the code. I hope I said that right.

He says that herbal antibiotics will probably be the medicines of the future, because the pharmas just aren't working all that effectively anymore. If we'd stop feeding it to livestock to make them gain weight, it would be a big help, because they're peeing antibiotics into the ground water, and we're all getting dosed whether we eat meat or not. If you don't believe me, Google it.

Anyway, I have healed several stubborn skin infections with tea tree oil (according to Buhner, much less potent than oregano). It soaks deep into tissues, and smells like piny kerosene. It works better than antibiotic ointment from the drugstore, and heals fungus infections as well.

The_Virginian · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Jun 19, 2004 Posts: 1428

DITCH MEDICINE

by

Hugh Coffee

http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/0873647173/kicanada-20/701-0984243-4849137

http://www.alpharubicon.com/prods/ditchmed.htm

Suger is good for more than Diabeties!!!!
_________________
Eickhorn Daggers!
www.pistolanddagger.com

bart · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 3:02 pm Post subject:

Glad that Chocky brought up antibiotics and dental care -- two of the big wins of modern medicine. Can you imagine having a bad wisdom tooth and no way to get it out? Pretty miserable, even life-threatening.

Some of the other big wins would be birth control, aseptic methods of delivering babies (to keep infant/mother mortality low), and clean drinking water (to avoid diarrhea and intestinal parasites - widespread in the past and in many 3rd World countries).

It seems to me that some of the most effective treatments of modern medicine are inexpensive, and should carry over into a post-Peak future.

On the other hand, herbs and alternative treatments are great way to deal with the minor aches and complaints that now take up so much of our medical resources. Headaches, feeling blue, upset stomach, psychosomatic ailments, etc. As stepka points out, herbs can even serve as antibiotics.

The nice thing about herbs is that they are cheap and accessible ("poor man's medicine" was what I've heard them called). And they are usually, but not always, mild and with few side effects.

What will probably have to go, in a low-energy society, are the ineffective and wildly expensive treatments often given towards the end of life. I don't remember the figures, but a large % of medical expenses are devoted to these last-ditch treatments.

smallpoxgirl · Moderator Joined: Nov 08, 2004 Posts: 5212

Chocky · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 5:52 am Post subject:

Schneider · Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2004 4:01 pm Post subject:

Nice topic Smile

Boil water with solar oven !
A good antiseptic : honey

Birth Control topic :
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic2656.html

Schneider
French-Canadian

Schneider · Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2004 8:31 pm Post subject:

Well,i wanted to learn a bit more on the "Where there is no Doctor" book..

This is what i have found at http://www.nitro-pak.com/product_info.php/products_id/260 :

Very simple reading and understanding. An excellent resource when traveling out of country when no, or limited medical help is available such as when visiting a way out village or in the event of a major disaster "

Hey hey,isn't exactly what is coming Shocked

!? Hmm,i think it will be the Christmas Gift for myself from myself Laughing

.. another book for my library

Schneider
French-Canadian

mindfarkk · Heavy Crude Joined: Dec 07, 2004 Posts: 481

great topic. this is stuff i like to know even before i learned about PO and got all hinky.