Can I treat Myself
This is one among the most perplexed question. Giving an answer to this is our responsibility. But giving a spoon fed answer is not enough, because the consequences behind this is huge.
Here, we will help you to find out your own solution.
This is not something meant for a layman alone. Even if you are a medical professional, the situation is not different. Profit and gain are two opposite words. In spite of their contrary nature, both of these words exist simultaneously in a same single situation. Here also the circumstance stands same.Self-treatment involves both benefit and detriment.
Blindly believing and concluding is not an appropriate way. Let us analyze well first followed by making a firm confirmation.
Benefits:
• Give patients greater independence in making decisions about management of minor illnesses, thereby promoting empowerment.
• It facilitates better use of clinical skills, increases access to medication and may contribute to reducing prescribed drug costs associated with publicly funded health programs.
• Self-medication does not mean that you should rely on drugs and strong medication but instead you can use home remedies and natural treatment methods to get rid of a minor but persistent problem.
Detriments:
•
Misdiagnosis or delayed Diagnosis, use of excessive drug dosage, prolonged duration of use, drug interactions and poly-pharmacy.
• Inappropriate self-medication results in wastage of health care resources and increase resistance of pathogens, drug-drug interactions and adverse drug reactions leading to hospital admissions.
• Irresponsible use of over especially the counter medications can be particularly damaging and this is in fact the biggest risk.
• Self-diagnosis is yet another most dangerous aspect of home/self-treatment as it often down plays more serious conditions that manifest in mild symptoms, at times resulting in fatal delays in much needed medical advice and treatment.
• Increased risk of drug interactions and adverse reactions from certain medications and herbs are also very real.
• Over and unwanted reliance and almost abusive dependence on antibiotics has created a variety of drug resistant strains of bacteria which becomes really difficult to treat further.
From the above perspective it is now evident that self-medication does more harm than good. These above mentioned conditions and circumstances stand firm irrespective of the system of medicine.
While moving into field of Homoeopathy, the condition is still worse. Homoeopathy is a field of individualization. Individualization refers to the unique nature and attitude. Each and every patient is individual. Each and every disease is unique. Each and every medicine stands different from other. For a single disease entity, there are multiple medicines available depending on the character and presentation of the disease. A single medicine can be used for a wide range of diseases. Same disease in different individuals demand different medicines. Homoeopaths work really hard to point out the exact medicine for an individual and his disease. It’s easy to take medicines, but not easy to cure it.
From these mentioned points, now you can conclude and make your own answer….
• Never treat yourself…
• Never repeat the same medicine again and again….
• Consult your doctor…..
• Each and every disease, condition and circumstance is different…
• Never take unwanted risks…..
