posted on September 18, 2004 07:49:26 AM new
EDITED TO ADD: Bet ya thought this would be political. LOL! Sorry, I've been de-caffinated.
I wanted to share with everyone my decision to leave behind conventional medicine and to embrace alternative medicine. I am also curious if anyone else on the board uses alternatives. As most of you know, I am partners in an alternative health care clinic. We do mainly massotherapy, reiki, reflexology, guided imagery and acupuncture (yes, with needles). The results are amazing, to put it mildly. Patients who were taking two or more highly addictive pain medications per day are now taking none. Imagine living on drugs like Percocet, Demerol, Morphine or Vicodin. It's no wonder there are as many people addicted to prescription drugs as there are. We figure we are saving the Medicaid system thousands of dollars in prescription drug costs. I have seen people crippled from Fibromyalsia no longer feeling the pain they once did. I've seen a 70 year old man who was told he needed a hip replacement in order to continue walking, walk without a limp. I've seen children whose doctors recommended Ritalin become different children after a few acupuncture and aromatherapy treatments.
The Cleveland Clinic is now doing studies into alternative therapies and their effectiveness on certain diseases. One of them being HIV/AIDS. These treatments appear to boost the immune system.
Sadly, the general medical community (and the insurance industry in general) see no benefits to these therapies. Why? Probably because it takes money away from them. It takes money away from the pharmaceutical companies. Why should they care that we've created a society of people hooked on pills. Gotta cold? Take a pill. Got an ache? Take a pill. It doesn't end. Back in the days of the country doctor, they worked side by side with local healers. Each had a great deal of respect for the other and their talents. Many common ailments were cured using plants found in the field or the garden. The American Indian has known this for centuries. So, why are we so quick to poo-poo it? I think we've become conditioned to think that a bottle of prescription medicine is the only thing that will help us. We may be antibiotic-ing ourselves right out of existence.
Most know that I underwent radiation treatments for cancer back in the late 80's and early 90's. Today, thanks to those treatments, I suffer a variety of different health problems. Radiation is never a good thing. Had I known more about alternatives, I may have chosen a different method of healing. Two breast cancer survivors I know didn't undergo radiation or chemotherapy. With the use of alternatives (including guided imagery), there is no sign of breast cancer in either woman. They combined modern western medicine with alternatives and both are healthy and happy today. While this may not be the course for every woman with breast cancer (their's was caught in the very early stages), it's certainly food for thought. Should my cancer return, I will not treat it the conventional way. It's quality of life, not quantity.
I've been trying to quit smoking for a long time to no avail. My acupuncturist has suggested acupuncture treatments, which I am going to undergo. He's also suggested I first work on eliminating the triggers. Caffeine is a big trigger. I've been caffeine free for one week now. I never imagined the hold caffeine has on one's body. The headaches have been horrific and we'll stay away from the mood swings. Even decaffinated contains caffeine. I undergo my first acupuncture treatment on Monday. My family will be thankful once the caffeine addiction has been eliminated.
Five years ago, I would have told everyone this stuff in bunk. Today, I think otherwise. Tomorrow is the AIDS Walk and I will be walking with clients who 6 months ago couldn't have even attempted it. In fact, 6 months ago most of them should have passed.
I would be curious as to everyone's opinions on the subject. Opinions seem to be wide and varied. What has worked for some of you and what has not? Your opinions will help me in developing the clinic further. BTW, we are a not-for-profit so, I'm not looking to make any money off of anyone. LOL! If you could see what my pay is every two weeks you'd know that for sure!!!
Cheryl
. . .if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist- I really believe he is Antichrist- I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend.. . - War and Peace, Tolstoy
[ edited by CBlev65252 on Sep 18, 2004 07:54 AM ]
posted on September 18, 2004 08:04:07 AM new
I think that some alternative medical treatments can be very effective, though some of it is sheer quackery.
I've seen incredible progress in friends who use acupuncture. It works with animals as well.
____________________
"Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are more bitter than to feel bitter. A man's venom poisons himself more than his victim." --Charles Buxton
posted on September 18, 2004 08:06:08 AM new
bunnicula
I agree with you about acupuncture. It's a shame Medicare doesn't see it that way. They say there is no proof it is beneficial at all. They recently made this determination. Tell the Chinese who've been practicing it for over 3,000 years that.
Cheryl
. . .if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist- I really believe he is Antichrist- I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend.. . - War and Peace, Tolstoy
posted on September 18, 2004 08:17:12 AM new
For years we went to a Doctor that was an MD and a trained Acupuncturist. He was great! Unfortunately, he retired. There is great benefit in a holistic approach to caring for your body. Beware, there is money in treating cancer, so the quacks abound.
Hebrews 13:8
posted on September 18, 2004 08:56:20 AM new
I had a friend who was seeing an acupuncturist for about two months. His problem was then diagnosed as bone cancer.
Generally, I can see some value in alternative medicine such as life style changes...good nutrition, weight loss, exercise, avoiding smoke and alcolol...but attempting to replace medical science with quackery is a mistake.
posted on September 18, 2004 09:04:51 AM new
The fact that acupuncture a is 3,000 years old doesn't mean that it works. It failed my friend and delayed treatment that he might have received from the medical community.
posted on September 18, 2004 09:23:20 AM new
CBlev: I have been interested in alternative medicine for years. I recently became interested in Reiki after being diagnosed with diminished blood supply to the hip bones. The x-rays and scans apparently showed both hip bones "dying" and the ortho doctor said I would know by the pain from the bones flaking when it would be time for hip replacements. In other words, stay on crutches until you can't stand the pain, then come see me again. I got back on a healthy food, vitamin regiment. I threw away the crutches, and began to slowly exercise. Then I took some acupuncture and Reiki treatments and positive imaging lessons. Long story short, the pain disappeared and on my last visit to the orthopedic surgeon, there was no sign of the hip problem!!
Go figure, miracle or result of alternative medicine? Are you familiar with the results of MD Dr. Simington in Dallas several years ago. He treated cancer patients with conventional medicine and positive imaging with amazing results. Alternative medicine is widely practiced in Europe.
posted on September 18, 2004 09:30:02 AM new
Helenjw: I'm sorry about your friend.
The order of treatment was reversed. First go to the medical doctor and then try acupuncture.
[ edited by etexbill on Sep 18, 2004 09:31 AM ]
Edited again for spelling. Sorry.
[ edited by etexbill on Sep 18, 2004 09:34 AM ]
posted on September 18, 2004 09:59:41 AM newToday, thanks to those treatments, I suffer a variety of different health problems. Radiation is never a good thing.
As usual I see it differently. Your radiation obviously gave you these additional years. I see that as being a good thing.
On the alternative 'healing' issues. If it's not something terminal...then I'd be open to trying them. If one is told there is no way our current medical science can help I'd try alternative medicine.
But I'd never go to alternative medicine rather than seeking medical treatments though the methods proven to work if diagnosed with a terminal illness.
A lot of what we do to deal with one problem creates another problem..as you mentioned with your radiation treatment and as some of us learn when using medications, as they too can create a problem all of their own. I think it comes down to weighing the risks vs the potential benefits.
posted on September 18, 2004 10:06:48 AM new
Helen's friend is a perfect example why alternative medicine is not viable...
However for addictions of the mind, all you are really doing is making your mind do the work... it does seem to work...
I have seen people try acupuncture for everything from weight loss to quit smoking... all you are really doing is reinforcing your mind to do those things... no real medical assistance.
posted on September 18, 2004 10:30:29 AM new
Twelvepole: "Helen's friend is a perfect example why alternative medicine is not viable...
However for addictions of the mind, all you are really doing is making your mind do the work... it does seem to work...
I have seen people try acupuncture for everything from weight loss to quit smoking... all you are really doing is reinforcing your mind to do those things... no real medical assistance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So the necrosis of the hip bone shown on both X-rays and scans were "addictions of the mind" and just went away on their own?
posted on September 18, 2004 10:36:42 AM new
I'm for whatever will stand the best chance of working. My grandmother controlled her diabetes her entire life with daily doses of Prickly Pear cactus juice and chaparral tea. Those plants are now undergoing serious study as aids in the treatment of diabetes. In those days, diabetes meant daily painful insulin shots, she took them for a few months, got fed up and went to a curandera, a healer, who put her on the natural treatments. She never needed insulin again, lived with diabetes for over 50 years and didn't die from it.
My wife has a pituitary adenoma, a non cancerious lesion on her pituitary gland that periodically grows and gives her very unpleasant "female" type side effects. Her doctors treat her with a medicine that has equally noxious side effects to shrink the tumor back to manageable size. Surgery is not really an option, as you basically have to peel a person's face off to get to the pituitary, or so she's been told by her doctors. She hates the pills, so she went to a medicine lady from her tribe. She has prescribed a tea made of local plants that works very well as long as she begins drinking it at the first sign of her symptoms.
We use natural treatments for the animals whenever possible, but there are times when mainstream medicines are the best course of action. Personally, I won't use anything on an animal that I wouldn't use on myself, so I've tried lots of the veterinary medicines myself, everything from Bag Balm for dry skin to sheep opthalmic ointment for the pinkeye I seem to get every year from my students... I developed arthritis in my left elbow a year or so ago, no fun for a southpaw like me.. I'm not much of a pill taker, so the constant Motrin got to be a real drag. You know how everybody these days is taking oral Glucosamine-Chondroitin supplements to help their joint pain...all you have to do is look at the supplements aisle at the Walgreens and you can see how popular it is. Well, guess what? Veterinary science has developed an injectible version called ADEQUAN, that is prescribed for competition horses, who often suffer from arthritis right at the peak of their performance careers. Very pricey at 75 bucks a vial, which contains two shots. A course of 6 shots is normal for a horse. My older girl's best jumper would have been retired 2 years ago without this stuff. It worked like a charm for me, too. Over a year and there's no sign of the pain in my elbow. Beats me why this isn't being developed for humans, or maybe it is.
I became a believer in the possible good of acupuncture when I saw the near miracles performed on horses and dogs by a veterinary acupuncturist. There's no way the placebo effect is working on an arthritic dog or horse.
I guess the short version of this is YOU are in charge of your health, not somebody else, be it a Mayo Clinic M.D. or some tie-dyed Naturopath. They're mechanics, not gods. It's up to all of us to make the final decisions about our health.
posted on September 18, 2004 10:58:27 AM new
prof5l:"They're mechanics, not gods. It's up to all of us to make the final decisions about our health."
How true. I worked for many years in the medical field in client services after the fall of the oil industry in Texas in 1984.
And yes, I worked for the famed large hospital in East Texas that "fried" two cancer patients several years ago due to a malfunction in the computer of the latest multi-million dollar radiation machine.
There are mistakes in all kinds of medicine.
MD's put their pants on one leg at a time, just like I do. No on is infallible. I look for the latest in modern medicine, and if it can't help me, I go for the alternatives.
posted on September 18, 2004 11:03:13 AM new
Well stated, profe.
I too have had the same type tumor you wife has...diagnosed about 25-30 years ago. Mine never grew, thank God. They watched it for years. But you might be interested in reading some of the latest methods for dealing with it, as there are a choice of ways to deal with these type of tumors now.
posted on September 18, 2004 12:18:37 PM new
My friend is the head of the medical writing group at Squib that has to prepare the documentations for new drugs for FDA certification.
Statistically, the "I new a guy once who .....and was cured" stories are meaningless.
To even BEGIN the FDA process, you have to have solid evidence of the efficacy of a drug.
For every story told by someone who had their cancer "cured" by coffee enemas in Mexico there's a cemetary full of corpses.
posted on September 18, 2004 12:45:43 PM new
My point is, like the country doctor and the healer, modern western medicine can work together with alternative therapies. They're called complementary therpies. Each of our clients provides us with their medical information from their primary care physician. Our doctor works with their doctor. It's had amazing results. I would never tell someone with cancer or other serious diseases (like HIV/AIDS) not to see a physician. However, the alternatives have been proven to greatly ease the side effects of the HIV/AIDS cocktails, which is the main reason some patients refuse to take the life saving medications.
Linda
As for my radiation, I spent one week hospitalized with radiation implants. They have since discovered how dangerous they are and no longer do them. I live with the results each and every day. I suffer from lactose intolerence, IBS, irregular heartbeats, anemia and a host of other things. These are attributed to the overdose of radiation. Would I do it again? Never.
For colds and flu, I have a mixture of natural herbs that I make into a tea and I also take massive doses of vitamin C. A cold never lasts me more than one or two days. Two years ago, I had a cold turn into walking pneumonia because I'm also prone to bronchitis. This was before I started the herbal remedies. I started them soon after that. I have not had a bout of bronchitis since.
desquirrel
Even our ND will tell you that colon cleansing (essentially what you are talking about) is a bunch of bunk. He refuses to recommend it to anyone.
Cheryl
. . .if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist- I really believe he is Antichrist- I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend.. . - War and Peace, Tolstoy
posted on September 18, 2004 01:12:00 PM new
cheryl - They have since discovered how dangerous they are and no longer do them.
They are still being used and in more than just breast cancer patients. My Aunt recently was hospitalized and had them placed in her thyroid.
I'm sorry you've had to deal with these side effects all these years. I was just trying to say I feel you're treatment worked...and you're still here. Of course it's your choice if you'd do it again...believing what you do now.
posted on September 18, 2004 01:56:14 PM new
Cheryl, you mention complementary therapies but then you go on to promote herbs and tea and massive doses of vitamins, massotherapy, reiki, reflexology, guided imagery and acupuncture .. I suppose most of this stuff is harmless but I wouldn't put too much stock in them as preventatives or cures for disease.
I don't have a lot of confidence in doctors or horse doctors and I have even less confidence in alternative remedies such as you have suggested. In my opinion, the best guard against disease is a good diet, exercise and weight control. Your alternative medicine may offer hope to some who believe in it and that positive attitude may contribute to their sense of well being but it's not a cure for disease.
You say about alternative treatments for HIV/AIDS ... "These treatments appear to boost the immune system". I seriously doubt that.
posted on September 18, 2004 02:19:23 PM new
Yes, a thorough medical check-up, THEN evaluate your choices. Acupuncture is more than fooling the mind, remember, I went to an MD that also utilized it, and had a degree in it.
Prostate cancer has a 50% cure rate with surgery and a 50% cure rate without surgery. I ask you to guess which way a board certified surgeon recommends you go........
posted on September 18, 2004 02:57:03 PM new
Helen
You know that I respect your opinion. However, there has to be something to these therapies for the Cleveland Clinic to take such an avid interest. They received a grant and are seriously doing studies. In fact, one of the doctors heading the studies, Dr. Tanya Edwards, is an HIV/AIDS specialist and does believe that alternatives can boost the immune system. Many of our patients are her patients as well. She has seen the results (through t-cell count increases) and so have we. I worked for New Hope Alternative Therapy Research prior to this. We conducted studies (all included regular physical exams by licensed MD's and blood testing) backed by grants back in the late 90's. There was a pharmaceutical company involved, but the name escapes me right now. All results showed the therapies to have beneficial effects on the patients. Whether it be state of mind or something else, the effects were all positive. We mustn't underestimate the power of our mind.
In the end, we all do what is best for us. We know our bodies and how we react to certain things better than anyone else. I can take a daily pill for my sinus problems or I can drink a cup of specialty herbal tea. The tea works, so I drink it. Saves me a heck of a lot of money on prescriptions in the long run.
Studies have shown that certain foods we eat help us reduce the risk for cancer. What if there were a plant growing freely in the U.S. that could provide a cure for cancer? What if the bark of a certain tree could cure Alzheimers or Diabetes? The possibilities are endless and I think we would be foolish not to look into them. In fact, I think we owe it to those we've lost to these diseases to look into it. Modern medicine so far is not the cure.
Cheryl
. . .if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist- I really believe he is Antichrist- I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend.. . - War and Peace, Tolstoy
[ edited by CBlev65252 on Sep 18, 2004 02:57 PM ]
posted on September 18, 2004 03:11:36 PM new
I will have to respectfully disagree with you on this one, Cheryl. Until variables can be controlled and studies can confirm the value of Alternative methods, I'll have to rely on what has been carefully studied and tested and retested. Modern medicine is based on such scientific research and I am 100% in support of that.
As I mentioned, I don't discount the benefit of a positive mental outlook that your kind of treatment may provide. But it will take more than that to cure disease...especially diseases such as Aids and Cancer.
posted on September 18, 2004 03:39:08 PM new
Cheryl, I think alternative medicine can have beneficial effects. Used to read edgar cayce books and his whole theory on illness is elimination of toxins accumulated in the body.
I prefer plant derivatives, as many known medicines are made from plant roots, etc. I dont know that they would cure cancer or anything major.
..
.. Go'wan and row yer boat. And try to do it merrily, merrily, cause this life IS but a dream...
posted on September 18, 2004 04:18:27 PM new
Helen, one of our flock guards, a Great Pyrennees, has arthritic hips. She is still doing the job she loves best, taking care of "her" sheep, thanks to acupuncture. About every three months, she starts getting down in the back end...creaky in the morning, can't get up quickly, drags one foot or the other. I call the vet, and he comes out and needles her. By the next day, she's up to speed and back at work. I didn't believe it would work, but watched it done to a fellow's horse and saw the result some years ago. When the dog began going lame I knew it was time to put her down or treat her. Guard dogs aren't pets, they are single minded and don't particularly like people.They have to earn their keep or they don't get to stay. Palliative medicines for arthritic dogs are expensive and have to be given daily. When the sheep are in the high pasture, we don't see them or their guard dogs for days and days. There's no way a dog's "positive mental attitude" toward her disease is being affected here. It just works. Beats me how or why.
posted on September 18, 2004 04:55:22 PM new
Helen
See there? We've shown some on this board that it is possible to respectfully disagree! No calling each other quacks or anything like that. No slamming each other's points of view. Ah, now that's better.
Cheryl
. . .if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist- I really believe he is Antichrist- I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend.. . - War and Peace, Tolstoy
posted on September 18, 2004 05:16:46 PM new
There are times and certain conditions that accupunture helps the body to heal.
In my experience I found it to be helpful in allieviating the symptoms of Bells Palsy, it had no effect on my tinitus (ringing in the ears a result of shooting without hearing protectors)
My accupuncturist saved my life by declining to treat my cirhotic liver and referred me to a western doctor.
[ edited by davebraun on Sep 18, 2004 05:18 PM ]
Your radiation obviously gave you these additional years. I see that as being a good thing.
