How to take pills - my 3 secrets

Often I think about the service I offer people and how I improve their lives.

I can inspire, motivate, give hand-outs etc... but essentially as a health coach and naturopath, I rely on people making some major life changes. Tough stuff if you ask me. I think that is why I admire and respect my clients so much. I have the advice but I don't have to go away and try to make it all work and integrate it into my life.

So last night, as I decided to get ontop of some severe back pain (froggy leaps with the personal trainer), I thought I should take some of my own advice and swallow some pills. Good pills. Omega 3 pills. Good anti-inflammatories but I know with the level of pain that I have been experiencing that I need 8 tabs of the omega 3 alone , each day (NB I only use practitioner only products - the same in over-the-counter tablets would be 10-16 ).

So, reluctantly I line up my 4 tablets. Not many when I know some of my clients take 10 + medications and a handful of supplements (and it is you whom I have greatest empathy for)!

They look like horse pills. Big fat suckers laughing at me while I psych-up to swallow them. At this moment, I reflect on my role as a health care professional. How many times have I said "3 tabs twice a day" etc... Some healers and health professionals are against pill taking and I can see why. In an ideal world, we would all slink away to a health retreat like Gwinganna , and allow nature and food to heal us. But in the ugly world of urban society, we rely on a neatly packed pill!

I manage to swallow 2 of the pills. And they must have triggered that tiny but potent regurgitate reflex. Darn - I still have another 2 tablets.

This is when one has to be creative.

These are 3 of the best ways to swallow pills:

1. have with yogurt or icecream

2. put some water or fluid in your mouth. Put the pills in your mouth and tilt your head forward (ie chin toward your chest) and swallow.

3. If the pills are a capsule, open the contents and mix with jam or in a shake

Good luck and if you are ever concerned about taking pills, let your health professional know. There may be other options that we can offer you,

Sam