Complete Family Medicine Book

The wise old physician, Hippocrates, rightly said, ‘For the sick the least is the best.’ In contrast, the motto of modern medicine seems to be ‘The most is the best.’ It is common knowledge that in the present system of health care not only are too many drugs prescribed at one time, but also too often. In fact, indiscriminate use of several life-saving and potent antibiotics has finally relegated them to the status of the ‘not-so-effective’ ones. We are therefore faced with the situation of needing newer and stronger antibiotics for infections which earlier responded to the so labelled ‘not so effective’ antibiotics. The newer generation of antibiotics are not only more toxic but also more expensive. These too, if used indiscriminately, may lose their effectiveness, and in time, even more potent agents may be needed, perhaps even more toxic and expensive. How long this cycle will last is anybody’s guess. With medicines, discretion is more important than adventurism. To use discretion, one has to be knowledgeable. How many doctors instruct their patients not to take milk with tetracycline, the most important precaution with this class of drugs? (given with milk they may be as ineffective as chalk powder.) The knowledge gap about drugs goes against the long-term interest of the individual, his family, and the community. In the enlightened world we live in it is essential that every individual knows the how, why and when of drugs that he and his family are likely to use some day.

The purpose of this book is to facilitate effective and non-hazardous drug usage. This book has been designed as a family guide on medicines. It attempts to answer many questions in the mind of the patient and his family, and describes almost all the drugs used for common disorders, their correct use, and the need for medical advice. It will be of particular interest to housewives, chronic patients, and as they say, ‘heads of families’. Doctors, pharmacist, and nurses may also find it very valuable. The book establishes that expensive drugs are not necessarily better drugs. With knowledge, understanding, and discretion, significant economy can also be affected in medical treatment.

51 separate sections covering the causes and symptoms of major diseases as well as common disorders and ailments — from body aches and pains to anxiety, high blood pressure, and diabetes, etc. — and the medicines used to prevent and treat them.