There is a definite movement that discusses the danger of side effects in comparison to the efficacy of a medication/vaccination/therapy etc...
noun
Side effect:
1.
noun
any effect of a drug, chemical, or other medicine that is in addition to its intended effect, especially an effect that is harmful or unpleasant.
www.dictionary.com
side effect
noun
: an often harmful and unwanted effect of a drug or chemical that occurs along with the desired effect
: a result of an action that is not expected or intended
www.merriam-webster.com
In essence, it is a reaction that is unexpected or unintended, and carries a negative connotation.
Everything that we come into contact with has side-effects. Everything.
For example:
1. When a person drinks coffee and the intended/desired effect is an increased amount of energy, a list of side effects could look like this:
Possible Side Effects of Coffee:
- diarrhea
- stomach upset
- increased heart rate
- restlessness
- difficulty sleeping
- dehydration
2. Exercise - this has an intended effect of improving stamina and shedding unwanted fat.
Side Effects of Exercising:
- increased heart rate
- difficulty breathing
- heart palpitations
- sharp side pains
- stomach upset
- muscle soreness
- dizziness
- fatigue
- muscle spasms
3. Watching a concert has the desired effect of entertainment and euphoric feelings.
Side Effects of Listening to Live Music:
- headache
- ringing in the ears
- scratchy or sore throat
- fatigue
- erratic emotions and/or mood swings
4. Eating raw vegetables has the desired effect of nutrition.
Side Effects of Eating Raw Vegetables:
- stomach pain
- diarrhea
- gas and/or bloating
- constipation
- discolored urine
- foul smelling urine or stool
- indigestion
- choking
5. Smoking Marijuana has several desired effects, mainly decreased nausea, decreased pain, fewer seizures, among others.
Possible side effects of smoking marijuana:
- may cause drowsiness
- increased appetite
- short-term memory loss
- muscle weakness
- stomach pain
- may induce vomiting
- eye redness
- lung damage (mj burns hotter than tobacco and can result in internal burns)
- paranoia
- decreased motor function
- mood swings
- euphoria
- do not operate heavy machinery while taking this substance
Many people are particularly terrified of the side effects that are listed in medication leaflets and vaccination warnings. I get it. Seeing "possible death" or "infection" or "may cause stomach pain" is always scary. I mean, some of the medications that I have to take can cause Cancers or severe neurological problems as 'side effects', and if I could function and live without those medications, I would jump at that opportunity.
The main reason why I put my faith and trust in my physicians, naturopaths, pharmacists, and medications is because all of those substances and therapies have a LIST of all the possible side effects that can/have occurred. In addition to that, many of the side effects that appear on those lists have only occurred in less than 1% of patients being treated. I know, for a fact, that these treatments have been specifically and properly tested over and over again.
Alternatively, just because a substance or action does not include a list of side effects, it DOES NOT MEAN that it has zero side effects. It means that there have been no formal tests or studies to show you what side effects could occur. With a lack of regulation, there is no way to know what side effects you may experience from those substances, and, frankly, that is much more terrifying and MUCH more risky.
Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), for example, is a particular chemical to which I am allergic. It is the base pain relieving chemical that is found in Aspirin, Robax (not robaxacet - where 'acet' stands for acetaminophen aka: tylenol) as well as anti-inflammatory medications such as Pentasa and Salofalk. I have been hospitalized several times because of experiencing pancreatitis caused by ASA (which can be fatal). Luckily, this side effect is listed for the convenience of myself and my physicians, so the cause was simple to pinpoint, and therefore, is simple to avoid in the future.
Did you know that acetylsalicylic acid is derived from Willow Bark? The pain relieving plant properties are extracted, tested, studied, and partly changed in effort to reduce the negative side effects and improve the efficacy of the substance as well as to target specific sources of pain. All FDA approved medications that contain ASA must include a leaflet of information regarding side effects that could occur by ingesting this substance.
Willow Bark, on the other hand, does not need to list the side effects (which are, obviously, vastly similar to those of ASA medications) because it is designated as a natural/herbal substance.
Don't get confused by a lack of information regarding side effects as an actual absence of side effects.
Now, I am incredibly grateful that pills containing Willow Bark include a fine-print warning on the packaging that states: "This medication is not to be used by those with allergies to ASA."
If I had not read that particular sentence, I may have purchased and then ingested that medication.
Any claim that a substance has ZERO adverse effects is absolutely bogus. Even medications and natural remedies that are chemicals the body makes naturally have adverse effects.
I enjoy being able to read all of the ingredients in a product and have a number of peer reviewed articles and studies available to give me an idea of what effects a substance may cause...
Just because there is "no known cause" to an illness does not mean that there isn't a cause, it just means that the cause has not yet been discovered.
Just because there is "no known cause" of death does not mean that there isn't a reason.
For a long time there was "no known adverse effect" from smoking cigarettes....
So just because there are "no known" adverse reactions does not mean that there are none, but rather that the adverse effects have yet to be documented.
When you come across a product that boasts of endless positive effects, while denying or failing to provide ANY possible adverse effects, ask yourself:
"Is this too good to be true? Are there truly no adverse effects or are there no documented adverse effects?"