We all pop over-the-counter pills at the first sign of discomfort. From the common cold to headaches, indigestion, or trouble sleeping, most of us have medications at the ready in our cabinets. However, Dr. Josh Axe, a Nashville-based doctor of chiropractic and certified doctor of natural medicine, says it’s time to rethink that habit. He believes many of these common medications have natural alternatives that focus on healing the body from within.

“Let’s talk about something nobody tells you when you get a prescription. From ibuprofen to thyroid meds to statins… Medications come with a hidden cost. They don’t just mask symptoms… They can actually deplete your body of essential nutrients — the very ones you need to heal. And over time, that nutrient loss leads to fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, anxiety, hormone imbalances, and more,” he said in apostshared on Instagram.

Dr. Axe also shares some natural alternatives for some of the commonly used medications. Let’s take a look.