#2: All OTCs Are Not Alike

I think of natural OTC healthcare products as better for you and not containing harmful chemicals or additives.  I refer to them as all natural products.  The characteristics and traits are that they are free from harmful chemicals and are natural, almost home remedy type solutions with ingredients I can pronounce and understand.  It is easy to tell because natural products pride themselves on being natural and put that face forward! The names usually include nature, earth, etc.

However, I think of conventional OTC products as more effective int relating symptoms.  I don;t think I really refer to them as anything, rather they are the default when I talk about OTC healthcare products.  The characteristics are a strong emphasis on effectiveness and an almost aggressive description of how the product will fight the symptoms and illness.  The absence of any discussion of natural is how I tell that something is conventional.  It is easy to tell and I cannot imagine a situation where it would be difficult for me to determine.

2.    Using Google Images (or any other image source) choose & post 2 images:  the first one should illustrate how you FEEL about “natural” OTC healthcare products, and the second one should illustrate how you FEEL about “conventional” OTC healthcare products.  Explain why you chose each image, what they reflect about your feelings, comparing/contrasting the images to each other. 

This image represents how I feel about natural OT healthcare products

They are nice and pretty but do not seem strong and powerful.  They are healthy but not who I want on my side in a fistfght!

This image represents conventional OTC products

It's not pretty to look at, but its strong, powerful, and will kick butt in a fight!!

I find natural OTC healthcare products appealing for a number of reasons, mainly that they are healthier for me and that I am putting only natural, pure ingredients in my body.  I think the biggest benefit of this is long term as overall my body will endure better over time.  The advantages are in that its better for your body and relies not on chemicals and other unnatural ingredients to treat symptoms, rather its natural and helps your body do what it naturally does best, and that is fight back against illness!

I don't recall consciously hearing about natural OTC products, rather I remember always being aware of natural products, mostly in the specific areas of vitamins, cough drops, stomach aids, digestive aids, etc.  The fact that they are all natural and not putting harmful ingredients in your body appealed to me and I also intrinsically believed that relying on chemical ingredients, etc is not good for your body long term and could form reliance and prevent your body's ability to fight illness naturally.  Nothing made me hesitate or hold back

I think the first natural OTC product i recall trying is ricola cough drops.  I liked their advertising and their claims that its natural, herbal, and fights coughs naturally.  The message I got was that it fights cough, but in a better, natural way.  It was so long ago I don't recall specific details but I'm assuming I felt a cold/cough coming on and bought them at a local drug store.  It worked great and I continue to use them. 

1.  ricola cough drops: i use when i feel a cough/cold coming on and use in place of conventional OTC products.  It is meeting my expectation because it eases my throat and fights my cough. 

2. new chapter everyday womens multivitamin.  I use everyday in place of conventional OTC.  it is meeting my needs because i feel like i am getting all the benefits I am looking for in a daily multi vitamin.

3.  natures bounty probiotic.  I use everyday in place of conventional OTC. i think its working great and find it very effective.  

4.  smooth move tea-i use this occasionally for constipation in place of conventional OTC. i think its good because it is natural, however i think it may not be as effective as traditional OTC.

5. zicam nasal swabs-i use occasionally when i feel a cold coming on in addition to conventional OTC products if i get a full blown cold.  i think theyre great because theyre homeopathic and certainly help, but i question their effectiveness at totally preventing a cold.

Continued....

6.  cold eeze cough drops.  i use when i feel a cold coming on and throughout the duration of my cold (in conjunctino with conventional methods).  i think theyre great-taste great and feel effective.

7.  sundown naturals B complex.  i take a b complex supplement daily and think it is effective at giving me increased energy (and healthy hair and nails!).

8.  i have used nature's balance cold time to treat/try to prevent an oncoming cold.  i think it was helpful but not totally effective and i then used convetional treatment for a cold.