Surviving Without Prescriptions
Surviving Without Prescriptions
Surviving Without Prescriptions
Prescriptions
DISCLAIMER............................................................................................................................................................ 4
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Antacids............................................................................................................................................................. 29
THE AUTHOR OF “How to Live Without Prescriptions” HAS MADE ALL REASONABLE
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EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS.
In any crisis scenario, one of the first priorities is providing emergency care. However, a lot
of this care is focused mostly on tending to injuries and common diseases.
While other medical issues are also planned for, they are not considered a priority. This
presents a big problem to many older adults who suffer from a chronic illness such as
diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
Middle-aged and older adults are the most vulnerable in the event of a disaster. Around
80% of them have to cope with at least one chronic disease on a regular basis.
Living with chronic disease can impose a lot of physical limitations. Diabetes, arthritis and
heart disease are just a few examples. However, these are some of the leading causes that
limit activity in older adults.
Their illnesses prevent these people from performing a lot of basic activities of daily living,
also known as ADLs. These can include moving around, dressing, eating, bathing etc. Under
normal circumstances, many of them require aid on a regular basis.
In a SHTF scenario, their conditions can get worse. This can happen due to stress, lack of
proper food or water, and exposure to extreme temperatures. All of these issues can cause
a chronic disease to worsen very rapidly. This can happen even if the condition was kept
under control prior to the disaster.
Other common problems in this situation include a lack of necessary medication or medical
treatment. Moreover, nutrition is also an issue. Disaster victims are often provided Meal,
Ready-to-Eat (MRE) packages. However, these are rich in fat and sodium, a problem for
many chronic disease sufferers.
HOW TO PREPARE
Knowing that people with chronic diseases are more vulnerable than others during a
disaster can actually be beneficial. If you are among them, this can be the motivator to
Your first decision should be whether you will stay in or get out after a disaster. This
decision is based on how well each scenario can attend to a few basic needs, including daily
living items, supplies, mobility and aid.
Daily living means items necessary for personal care (clothes, grooming tools, bathing
supplies etc.), but it can also include special utensils and equipment used to treat your
chronic illness. They shouldn’t pose a big problem whether you decide to stay in or bug out,
but it will be easier to stock up on them if you stay in, though.
Next issue is supplies, mostly referring to food, clean water and medical supplies. This does
not take your disaster kit into account.
A disaster kit should be filled with the supplies you need to survive the initial period after a
catastrophe. However, it is possible for the kit to be exhausted. In this scenario, you need to
decide which situation makes it easier for you to obtain new supplies.
The other two problems are mobility and aid. It is usually easier to move around the house
because you have access to mobility aids. Extensive traveling outside can pose a problem:
in a disaster, it is common for the transportation network to be damaged. Aid refers to your
ability to seek outside help, and this can be from friends, family or community responders.
Once you take all these factors into account, you can make an informed decision whether to
stay in or leave the home after a disaster.
After a catastrophic event, your disaster kit can be your best friend, and it can also, literally,
be a lifesaver. This kit should contain everything you need to survive following a SHTF
situation. The best part is that you are the person assembling the kit.
You should also wear a medical ID bracelet at all times. It can save your life if you are in a
situation where you cannot communicate, and will alert first responders to your chronic
condition and special needs.
People with chronic disease usually have dietary restrictions. This is something to keep in
mind when assembling your kit. You should pack food which is healthy for you. At the same
time, pack food you enjoy. This can make a bad situation a little better. Furthermore, you
can simply eat the food once its expiration date approaches. Be sure to replace it, though.
There is no way to tell how long it will take you to recover after a disaster. This is true for
your entire community, also.
As mentioned above, various factors associated with disaster can exacerbate your chronic
condition. That is why one of your main priorities after this kind of event is to get your
condition under control again.
Not having enough meds is perhaps the biggest health issue known to a lot of people who
are preparing for long-term survival after a catastrophic event.
It’s easy to stockpile over-the-counter medications such as fever reducers, pain relievers
and allergy medications but if you suffer from a chronic life-threatening condition such as
diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, you’ll have a much more difficult time hoarding
prescriptions.
Know now that managing to stockpile your medications is the best thing that you can do;
they’re tried and true treatments for your illness. They’re also closely regulated and nearly
impossible to stockpile. You have a set amount that’s supposed to last you for a designated
period and you’re likely not permitted to refill them until you’re nearly out.
If you can hold back a few days’ worth each time that you refill, do so. After all, a month’s
worth might get you through a disaster, and maybe the pharmacies will get back on track
and functioning again.
If you’re due a refill on your meds when (and if) news of pending disaster is announced, get
your refills. At that point, be prepared to ration them and supplement them with some
alternative therapies that we’ve found for you.
We’re not doctors, but we ARE survivors. If you can skip a dose of your medications or
take your meds twice per day instead of three or four times without suffering life-
threatening conditions, then do so.
These treatments are likely going to be more successful for Type-2 diabetics but may also
be of some assistance to those of you with Type-1 diabetics. As always, controlling your
diet is going to be crucial to survival regardless of what type you have.
Because your disease is caused by your body’s inability to produce enough insulin to
manage glucose, the first thing to do is eat as little extra refined sugar or starch as possible.
Discussing symptoms is outside the scope of this article; you know your illness. If your
sugar gets too low and you begin to experience symptoms, eat a pack of sugar or a glucose
tablet.
To maintain manageable levels of glucose, eat plenty of fiber with your carbohydrates. This
helps your body to digest the sugar slowly.
There are several alternative substances that have been shown in some studies to increase
insulin sensitivity. They include:
Aloe Vera
Alpha-lipoic acid
Caffeine
Cassia cinnamon
Chromium
Flaxseed
Ginseng
Glucomannan
Gymnema
Guar gum
Magnesium
Oat bran
Zinc
The amounts that you need to take depend upon your individual condition. Do your
research and have a plan in place BEFORE SHTF!
Cat’s Claw
Garlic
Hibiscus, often studied in tea form
Magnesium, if you’re deficient
Vitamin D, if you’re deficient
Green Coffee Extract
Hawthorn (this is a primary treatment that’s been used for 1000′s of years in
Chinese medicine)
Exercise, especially meditative exercise such as yoga
In addition, there are also some substances that you should avoid because they can
increase your blood pressure. These include salt, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
This one is a tough one because once you’re diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it’s likely already
spread to the point that treatment success is limited.
Recently, this tragic disease has actually been labeled as Type-3 Diabetes because it’s been
shown to be caused by ineffective insulin usage in the brain.
Therefore, controlling your diet now may reduce your chances of developing Alzheimer’s
later.
There are also some alternative treatments for Alzheimer’s that may help you live through
a SHTF situation. They include:
The bottom line is that if you have a debilitating illness that required medication in order to
keep you from dying, your chances of survival when SHTRF are severely reduced.
However, some of the suggestions that we’ve made may help you extend your life by at
least something. The best option that you have is to get a handle on your health now, before
you NEED to be healthy in order to survive. Of course, you’ll significantly extend your
lifespan even in today’s reality!
If you have a disease that you’d like for us to research, or you have please ask us about it in
the comments section below. We’d love to help out if we can.
Coping with diabetes is hard under normal circumstances. Diabetics need to take regular
medication; they must stick to a strict diet and are prone to illness and infection. All of
these problems get exacerbated when SHTF. If a disaster happens, a diabetic is left much
more vulnerable than the average person. He must take special precautions in order to
ensure that he is fit to handle the situation.
After an SHTF event, people with diabetes need to attend to their special medical needs. If
they are lucky, they still have access to medical help soon after the disaster strikes. This is
not always the case, however, but, if it is, they need to be prepared. They might not be able
to communicate with the healthcare professionals due to injury or shock.
PREPARATION IS KEY
Oftentimes when SHTF, help is not immediately available. In fact, on many occasions, it can
be days or even weeks until you would be able to reach a hospital or any other kind of
medical facility. A diabetic simply cannot wait this long without proper medication.
That is why it is highly recommended to create a diabetes disaster kit. It should be easy to
carry around, waterproof and insulated so that it does not get damaged. It should also be
placed in an area which you can easily access, even after an earthquake, tornado or flood.
Medication and medical supplies. This is the most important resource for a
diabetic in an SHTF situation. You should pack as many medical supplies as you have
access to since you can never know when you will have access to outside help. A 30-
day pack would be ideal. If this is not possible, make sure that the medicine will last
you at least 2 or 3 days. The supplies should include insulin, insulin pumps, syringes,
glucagon, testing strips, glucose tablets, glucose meters, extra batteries and anything
else that you use on a regular basis to treat your diabetes.
Extra supply of drinking water. Again, it is a good idea to store a lot of water
around the home since it becomes a valuable commodity when SHTF. However,
keep the water in the disaster kit to about 2 or 3 days’ worth. Any more and the kit
would become cumbersome and difficult to handle.
A few days’ worth of food. Besides medication and water, food is extremely
important to a diabetic as they need to stick to a specific diet. That is why the food
kept in the disaster kit should have two qualities: be nonperishable and be safe for a
diabetic.
When talking about something as dangerous as diabetes, there is no such thing as being
overprepared. That is why it is a good idea to keep vital extra supplies such as medication
and snacks around other places you regularly visit such as your workplace, homes of
friends and family, your neighbors etc.
Insulin is the most important medication for any diabetic so you need to look after it
properly. It does not matter how many vials of insulin you have in an emergency if they
have not been preserved in an adequate manner.
The good news with insulin is that it does not need to be refrigerated. It can safely be
stored at room temperature for as long as a month, as long as that temperature does not
exceed 84 degrees Fahrenheit. However, in many areas, the temperature will routinely pass
that limit. That is why it is also a good idea to have a cooler to keep your emergency supply
of insulin in.
Adding to the disaster kit would be several packets of re-freezing gel in order to maintain
proper storage for the insulin even if the electricity goes out.
The biggest emergency that a diabetic has to deal with is when blood sugar levels are too
high or too low. For a diabetic on insulin, it is important to monitor blood sugar levels at all
time in order to make sure that they do not dip below recommended levels.
When this happens, there is a huge risk of suffering from hypoglycemia, a problem which
can occur in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. It is most often brought on by missing meals
or medications at regular intervals, two scenarios which are very possible when SHTF.
The symptoms include dizziness, sweating, shakiness, hunger, fatigue, confusion, an erratic
heartbeat and even loss of consciousness. The best course of action if you feel any of these
symptoms is to take something that raises blood sugar levels and acts fast.
Recommendation would include glucose tablets or natural juice.
By their very nature, SHTF scenarios are unexpected. It is quite possible that you get caught
in one such emergency without the medication you require or with lower levels than
needed. It is important to know what to do when your insulin is in short supply.
Basically, you will need to stretch out your supply as long as possible in order to wait it out
before help arrives. Your diet will play a big factor. Try to avoid eating food rich in
carbohydrates and instead go for food full of proteins.
Moreover, you should know who you can contact if the communications lines are up. The
Red Cross, the International Diabetes Federation and even the American Embassy can all
provide you with an emergency supply of insulin if access is cut off to your regular supplier.
As you can see, having the proper knowledge and the proper guidance can help anyone
overcome a SHTF scenario, even someone with diabetes.
Do you fear about living with chronic disease after disaster? Share your thoughts with us
using the comment form below.
One of the most common medical issues today is asthma. Asthma is a chronic condition that
affects your ability to breathe. The condition affects the airways, which are the tubes that
transport air to your lungs.
In the United States alone, there are almost 20 million people who suffer difficulty with
breathing due to asthma and its complications. Indeed, it’s the most common cause of
chronic illness in children. In a survival setting, stress and hygiene issues will only make
things worse.
When people with asthma are exposed to a substance that they are allergic to (an
“allergen”), the airways become inflamed. As the airways become swollen, they constrict
and less air gets to the lungs. As such, you will develop shortness of breath, tightness in
your chest, and start to wheeze and cough.
In rare situations, the airways can become so constricted that a person could suffocate
from lack of oxygen. This extreme condition is sometimes referred to as “Status
Asthmaticus”.
There are many myths associated with asthma; the below are just some:
Here’s a “true” myth: Asthma IS hereditary. If both parents have asthma, you have a 70%
chance of developing it compared to only 6% if neither parent has it.
Asthmatic symptoms may be different from attack to attack and from individual to
individual. Some of the symptoms are also seen in heart conditions and other respiratory
illnesses, so it’s important to make the right diagnosis.
Cough
Shortness of Breath
Wheezing (usually sudden)
Chest tightness (sometimes confused with coronary artery spasms)
Rapid pulse rate and respiration rate
Anxiety
Besides these main symptoms, there are others that are signals of a life-threatening
episode.
If you notice that your patient has become “cyanotic”, they are in trouble. Someone with
cyanosis will have blue/gray color to their lips, fingertips, and face.
You might notice that it takes longer for them to exhale than to inhale. Their wheezing may
take on a higher pitch. Once the patient has spent enough time without adequate oxygen,
they will become confused, then drowsy, and then possibly lose consciousness.
Use your stethoscope to listen to the lungs on both sides. Make sure that you listen closely
to the bottom, middle, and top lung areas. In a mild asthmatic attack, you will hear
relatively loud, musical noises when the patient breathes for you.
As the asthma worsens, less air is passing through the airways and the pitch of the wheezes
will be higher and perhaps not as loud. If no air is passing through, you will hear nothing,
not even when you ask the patient to inhale forcibly. This person is in trouble.
The cornerstones of asthma treatment are the avoidance of “trigger” allergens and the
maintenance of open airways. Medications come in one of two forms: drugs that give quick
relief from an attack and drugs that control the frequency of asthmatic episodes.
Your survival group members with asthma should have accumulated a good collection of
inhalers. Quick relief drugs that open airways (known as bronchodilators) include Ventolin,
Albuterol, and Proventil, among many others.
These drugs should open airways in a very short period of time and give significant relief.
These drugs are sometimes useful for people going into a situation where they are exposed
to a “trigger”, such as before strenuous exercise.
Don’t be surprised if you notice a rapid heart rate on these medications; it’s a common side
effect. By the way, physicians are usually sympathetic to requests for extra prescriptions
from their asthmatic patients.
If you find yourself using quick-relief asthmatic medications more than twice a week, you
are a candidate for daily control therapy. These drugs work (when taken daily) to decrease
the number of episodes and are usually some form of inhaled steroid. There are long-acting
bronchodilators as well, such as Atrovent.
Another family of drugs known as Leukotriene modifiers prevent airway swelling before an
asthma attack even begins. These are usually in pill form. Often, medications will be used in
combination, and you might multiple medications in the same inhaler, such as Advair and
Symbicort.
It’s important to figure out what allergens trigger your asthma attacks and work out a plan
to avoid them as much as possible. This includes pet dander, cigarette smoke, chemicals,
and others.
Various breathing methods are thought to help promote well-being and control the panic
response seen in asthmatic attacks. Asthmatics tend to breathe faster than non-asthmatics,
and many also tend to be “mouth breathers”.
This exposes the lung to cooler and drier air, a possible asthma trigger. Breathing exercises
that encourage shallow breathing at a controlled rate may actually reduce asthma
symptoms and the need for medicine.
Inhale slowly through your nose and then exhale through pursed lips, or exhale slowly as
though you were going to whistle… When you inhale, your abdomen should expand (not
your chest). Exhale slowly with your abdomen going inward. Make sure that your
exhalation is twice as long as inhalation. This is similar to breathing techniques taught in
Yoga classes.
In mild to moderate cases, you might consider the use of natural remedies. There are
actually quite a few substances that have been reported to be helpful:
Ginger and Garlic Tea: Put four minced garlic cloves in some ginger tea while it’s hot.
Cool it down and drink twice a day. Some have reported a beneficial effect with just the
garlic.
Other herbal teas: Ephedra, Coltsfoot, Codonopsis, Butterbur, Nettle, Chamomile, and
Rosemary all have the potential to improve an asthmatic attack.
Coffee: Black unsweetened coffee is a stimulant that might make your lung function
better when you are having an attack. Don’t drink more than 12 ounces at a time, as coffee
can dehydrate you. Interestingly, coffee is somewhat similar in chemical structure to the
asthma drug Theopylline.
Turmeric: Take one teaspoon of turmeric powder in 6-8 ounces of warm water three
times a day.
Licorice and Ginger: Mix licorice and ginger (1/2 teaspoon of each) in a cup of
water. Warning: Licorice can raise your blood pressure.
Black Pepper, Onion, and Honey: Drink ¼ cup of onion juice with a tablespoon of
honey, after adding 1/8 tablespoon of black pepper.
Mustard Oil Rub: Mix mustard oil with camphor and rub it on your chest and back.
There are claims that it gives instant relief in some cases.
Lobelia: Native Americans smoked this herb as a treatment for asthma! Instead of
smoking, try mixing tincture of lobelia with tincture of cayenne in a 3:1 ratio. Put 1
milliliter (about 20 drops) of this mixture in water at the start of an attack and repeat every
thirty minutes or so.
Don’t underestimate the effect of your diet on your condition. Asthmatics should:
You might have been taught not to believe in natural remedies, but why not use all the tools
at your disposal?
There are some natural alternatives for common meds that you can use in a post-SHTF
survival situation.
Use these remedies with just as much care for dosage as you would standard chemical
meds.
There are a few different reasons why you may take these meds; you may take it to relieve
pain or as a blood thinner to reduce your odds of having a heart attack or stroke.
Aspirin taken long-term may also increase your risk of developing macular degeneration
and cataracts by as much as 44%.
In any event, it may not be available in a survivalist situation so you need a natural
alternative to aspirin if SHTF. Here are some alternatives:
BLOOD THINNERS
Devil’s claw – this has been used as an anti-inflammatory and pain killer for
successful treatment of arthritis, tendonitis and muscle pain.
STATINS
Statins, including Lipitor and Zocor, are used to lower cholesterol in order to avoid heart
attacks and cardiovascular disease. There are many natural alternatives to these
medications that you can use now and in the case of a survivalist, SHTF scenario.
BLOOD PRESSURE
Though high blood pressure can be genetic, it’s mostly a dietary issue.
However, once you develop it, it’s a life-threatening condition that requires daily treatment.
In addition to losing weight, there are some natural remedies that will work as natural
blood pressure medications in a survivalist SHTF scenario.
Increase potassium! Bananas, potatoes, tomato juice and coconut water are all high
in potassium, which can help lower blood pressure.
Coenzyme Q10 works well to lower blood pressure
ANTACIDS
Heart burn, acid reflux and stomach upset don’t have to plague you, even in a SHTF
situation. When you’re making your survivalist list, include these natural alternatives to
antacids.
Almonds – they naturally reduce stomach acid. Take a handful of 15-20 and your
heartburn will disappear in a half-hour or so.
Aloe vera juice – long used to heal ulcers and soothe upset stomachs. Make sure that
if you’re making your own, you follow proper procedure. Aloe is super-easy to grow.
Apple cider vinegar – though it may sound counterproductive to throw acid on
heartburn, ACV has been used forever to cure stomach ailments. Stir 2 tablespoons
into a few ounces of water and drink it immediately following a meal.
Apples – a slice of apple can reduce stomach acid and have you feeling better in 5
minutes or so.
Baking soda – mix a teaspoon in a few ounce of water and drink. Don’t use it
regularly though because it can increase sodium levels.
Bananas
Basil leaves – 2-3 will do the trick.
The list for natural antacids goes on and on but these are some of the best.
TYPE-2 DIABETES
Though there is no real approved alternative treatment for type-2 diabetes, there are some
interesting research studies taking place that suggest that the following may be effective in
helping to control it in the future.
North American ginseng – may help with blood sugar control and glycosylated
hemoglobin levels.
Chromium – this essential trace mineral plays an important role in carbohydrate
and fat metabolism and helps cells respond correctly to insulin.
Magnesium – found naturally in green leafy veggies, nuts, seeds and grains. It’s an
essential mineral for everything from blood sugar metabolism to sodium uptake.
Cinnamon – studies are showing that as little as 1 gram or as much as 6 grams of
cinnamon may improve blood glucose control in people with type-2 diabetes.
These herbs can help but the best way to prepare yourself to survive in a survivalist
scenario is to be in the best shape that you can be!
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about the Paleo diet. It’s all
the rage in some circles right now and rightly so.
There may be some pretty significant health benefits to it. In fact, it may save your life.
Today we’re going to talk about what the Paleo diet is, and we’ll discuss certain Paleo foods
for surviving chronic disease in case SHTF and you don’t have access to your meds.
Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, heart disease, and even many
cancers can be avoided by eating properly. Enter the Paleo diet.
Also known as the Paleolithic diet, the Stone Age diet or the Caveman diet, it eliminates all
grains, beans, potatoes, processed foods, non-organic foods, and artificial foods, including
sugar.
The strictest form also eliminates dairy and salt though some of the modified versions
allow them.
In a nutshell, the Paleo diet lets you eat whatever you want as long as you can hunt for it,
fish for it, trap it, or scavenge it.
More moderate versions allow potatoes because potatoes are only toxic in their raw state
or if they’re green. Beans and grains are inedible raw so they’re out.
There are a couple of reasons why proponents of the Paleo diet (and many other health-
conscious folks) have mixed grain in all forms from their diets. The premise of Paleo peeps
is that wheat is a relatively new dietary addition that our bodies simply aren’t adapted to
digest.
This, according to them, accounts for digestive upset as well as many GI issues such as
GERD and gas.They’re not alone in this believe and research supports them, at least
partially.
A second reason is that since consumption of wheat products became common, allergies
and digestive issues have skyrocketed. There’s actually good science behind this: gluten,
the protein in wheat, rye, and barley, is an inflammatory that has been officially linked to
everything from certain cancers to rheumatoid arthritis. White flour is so processed that it
has basically no nutritional value whatsoever.
This one’s easy – beans are toxic in their raw state and even in their cooked state, they can
still cause significant gastric distress. (Remember – beans, beans, the musical fruit?)
They’re good sources of protein but many people just don’t consider that worth the
discomfort. Paleo folks take it a step further and say that the distress is a sign that your
body just isn’t designed to handle them. It’s not a bad argument.
Ahhh… the meat of the matter so to speak. Eating Paleo-style is a great preventative
measure to avoid disease. Meats and vegetables should all be non-GMO and organic so that
you’re not getting cancer-causing hormones and other toxins.
Also, when you eliminate grains, processed foods and refined sugars, you’re avoiding
inflammation caused by grain and you’re not feeding cancer cells with sugar.
As far as using Paleo foods for treatment in lieu of medications to survive chronic disease in
a survival scenario, here are just a few examples:
Type-2 diabetics may not need insulin to control insulin spikes because refined
sugar is eliminated and high-fiber foods help control the release of glucose into the
blood stream. Low-starch vegetables and meats are the best Paleo foods for
diabetics to depend upon to survive chronic disease.
Eliminating salt from your diet, as required by Paleo, can lower your blood pressure
to manageable levels in case you can’t get your blood pressure medication. Again,
this is a situation that’s better to avoid than treat.
Cholesterol medications can possibly be eliminated because you’re eating lean
meats and plenty of healthy vegetable fats oils that have healthy doses of good
(HDL) cholesterol that will help lower bad (LDL) cholesterol.
Obesity, though not strictly an illness that requires medication, leads to conditions
such as heart disease and those discussed above. The Paleo diet only allows healthy
foods. Though you can conceivably gain weight, chances are good that an obese
person is going to shed some serious pounds by going Paleo. This can help avoid the
near-inevitable future need to start medications.
The antioxidants that you’ll gain from eating plenty of vegetables can help you fight
all of the conditions that excess free radicals cause. These include everything from
Eating a healthy diet has numerous health benefits. Since the Paleo diet essentially
eliminates anything that your body may have a hard time digesting, or that may cause
inflammation that leads to disease, it’s a good first step toward being healthy.
There is, of course, the argument that milk and whole grains are good for you, but to each
their own.
Research your particular disease and medications to see if Paleo foods can help you survive
your chronic disease if SHTF.