More With NC LIVE: Natural Medicines

Did you know that NC LIVE has more databases than the ones on our database page? It's true! And, as a member of the Durham Tech community you have access to all of it. (You may also access NC LIVE through your local public library.) This post is going to look at the Natural Medicines database.   First you need to know how to get to the database. You can get to NCLIVE by going directly to nclive.org or clicking the NCLIVE Home Page link on the library databases page. From there you can browse the databases that NC LIVE provides by subject or title, or even search for it directly. If you are on campus you can start searching right away. If you are off campus you will need to authenticate that you are affiliated with Durham Tech. Call or email the library to get the password needed to access this database. Now that you are in the database, let's look at what you can do. Natural Medicines is a resource that pulls together information from scientific, peer-reviewed studies about dietary supplements, natural medicines, and complementary alternative and integrative therapies. Instead of combing through CINAHL, HerbMed, EMBASE, MedLine, and more, on your own, Natural Medicines has already done it for you. They also summarize and explain the results of the studies in language that you don't have to be a medical professional to understand! You can search by keyword, adverse reactions, and by condition or disease to see what might work for treatment. There is also a nutrient depletion screen where you can look up both prescribed and over the counter medications to see if they deplete any nutrients in the body. Under Pregnancy & Lactation you can look up what may or may not be safe to take or use while pregnant or breast feeding. Search for your medications and supplements in the interaction checked to find out what to avoid taking with them. Natural Medicines is not a substitute for a visit to your doctor. However, it's a great first place to look after your grandmother tells you to take echinacea to shorten a cold, or your friend recommends trigger point therapy for muscle pain. Go forth, merry searchers, and explore!