Have you been deceived?

"Have any of you ever tried a natural remedy that didn't work or that resulted in a bad experience? What did you try and what were your results?"

This is the question that I posted to my Facebook wall yesterday, and surprisingly I have had a lot of feedback pertaining to "deceiving" natural remedies. Like many fads and trends, facts may be skewed as to what really works for certain issues, and what doesn't. Unfortunately gathering exact results when it comes to anything medical can prove to be difficult.


A few people commented under my Facebook question, and Jennifer Johnson replied, "I was taking echinacea during ragweed season to prevent sinus infections only to find out that it is a distant cousin to ragweed and it made my allergies worse. Big fail!"


Jennifer's experience is all too common. Many of us will take advice from a friend or conduct a quick Google search, and consume a product that may not be right for us. Doing your research, especially on something that seems harmless, is always a must when you are trying out a new remedy. 

Heather Chrosniak also contributed to the conversation. "I tried coconut oil to clear my skin from breakouts, but it only made it worse." 

I can attest to the fact that women will try almost anything when they are desperately looking for results in the area of beauty and fitness. Although coconut oil has been proven to be very useful and effective in various areas, many blogs and studies lack in clarification. Yes, coconut oil can be used as a wonderful moisturizer for dry skin, but most people with sensitive skin and prolonged acne issues should NOT apply coconut oil to the face. Let's be honest, applying any kind of "oil" to the face may not be the best idea for someone who already suffers from oily skin and large pores. 

Again, in some instances coconut oil may work to reduce acne for some people - I reiterate the fact that results vary from person to person. The bottom line is, statements passed through the grapevine and some sources on the internet can be deceiving. 

Please make sure you are doing your share of research (and not just from Wikipedia) on any new remedies that you plan on trying. Nobody knows your body as well as you - use your knowledge to achieve the best results possible!

If you have found yourself running in to similar problems, please feel free to share your experiences with me so I can do my best to help you in your research endeavors! 

Side note:
If you were interested at all in the topic of coconut oil, I found a great article by Kris Gunnars. He outlines things very well and also responds to comments to help with clarification. 

http://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/