I appear to be uncharacteristically on my soap box about public issues this week. Forgive me. And bear with me. Please also remember this is a post written from my perspective and experience – I don’t intentionally mean to denounce anyone else’s experience.
There is no denying that western medicine and science is crucial. I won’t even begin to count the ways. In saying that, for treatment of minor (and medium, bordering on serious) conditions, I try to avoid it as much as possible.
So today, when I read this article that is reporting an apparent global uprising of doctors and scientists to prevent universities and health funds from recognising alternative medicine, I felt a sense of dread. The article states:
Almost one in three Australian universities now offer courses in some form of alternative therapy or complementary medicine, including traditional Chinese herbal medicine, chiropractics, homeopathy, naturopathy, reflexology and aromatherapy.But the new group, Friends of Science in Medicine, wrote to vice-chancellors this week, warning that by giving “undeserved credibility to what in many cases would be better described as quackery” and by “failing to champion evidence-based science and medicine”, the universities are trashing their reputation as bastions of scientific rigour.
Okay. Now, I am all for everyone finding their own method of wellbeing. I also realise there are “quacks” out there – but you can find those sitting in GP’s offices in proper, accredited clinics anywhere in the country just as easily as the oft-joked-about “slapping fish”, “hocus-pocus” (etc. etc. etc.) alternative practitioner. Obviously, any healthcare provider needs to be good at what they do. I just take deep offense at my choices being limited by this ruling. What about all the families out there who rely on these sorts of treatments for their children? How will they afford it if they whip out the health cover rug from under them? They want to take away my right to choose – I mean, sure, the treatments will still be around, but I won’t be able to receive a rebate because of my choice and what works for me and my family. And damnit, they’re going to win, aren’t they?
My experience with doctors has pretty much been along these lines:
Scenario 1 (which actually happened)–
“How can I help you today?”
“My daughter is pulling at her ears and crying. She’s too young to tell me what’s wrong, but I’m sure there’s something happening with her ears.”
“Any other symptoms?”
“No, none apart from the crying and irritability… oh wait, sometimes she pulls at her cheeks lately.”
“Well… I’ve checked her ears and they’re clear.” *shrug* “My best guess is that she had a cold or something like that and her ears were blocked for a while.”
I left the office with no treatment or solution being prescribed or suggested.
After several days pass, I take her to my Homoeopath, desperate for some relief for her and sure something is happening but she just can’t tell me. My Homoeopath takes one look at my ruddy-faced grizzly baby and says “She’s getting more teeth! It can affect the ears…” and goes on to describe the mechanics of the sinus region and why this would be impacted by Lolly’s teeth coming through. He prescribes a remedy, I diligently give it to her every four hours. The change is remarkable within the first day. I am relieved, she is relieved.
Scenario 2 (which actually happened) –
“How can I help you today?”
“My child is very sick but I don’t know what it can be. She has some spots but they’re fairly insignificant at this stage and only around her nappy area. She won’t eat or drink and keeps crying and thrashing about.” (Of course the crying and thrashing stop when we’re in the office…… don’t they always?)
“Well… I’ve checked her over, she has no temperature and looks fine. Keep an eye on those spots and watch for any new symptoms. If anything changes or if you feel she is getting worse, bring her straight back.”
“Ummm…. o…kay? I guess?”
Dumbfounded, I head to my Homoeopath for help again. This time, I think my child is far too unwell to be helped by the “quackery” (as so belligerently described in this article today) of something so, frankly, mysterious as homoeopathy. I’ve heard the opinion that the pillules they give out are no more than placebo tablets. I also know that, either way, I don’t care if they are if they relieve me – but I’m not so certain I want to risk testing the theory with my child on something that appears to be quite serious this time. More over, I don’t want to risk looking to others like I am doing nothing for her but giving her sugar-placebo tablets!
But with little else to do, I turn again to my trusty Homoeopath.
This time, the result convinces me without doubt that I would turn to him before a GP any day of the week for almost anything except broken bones!
As it turned out, Lolly had hand, foot and mouth disease. She passed it on to both Steve and me. I didn’t shake the horrible disease for five months (largely because I was stupid and was so concerned about getting her back to health that I ignored the pain and literally swallowed it down every day without focusing on my own wellbeing and getting myself treated… in hindsight, that was the end of my phase of subconsciously inflicting pain on myself). It was a horrendous time. But we got through it with little more than a bit of Pain Stop and the homoeopathics to treat the symptoms. I did take her back to the doctor to discuss it and was there for little more than five minutes, being shown the door and told that it couldn’t be treated by them. What the….?
I could go on and on, listing examples of more minor ailments I or Lolly have had over the past six years. I now naturally call on my Homoeopath for things that I am initially sure cannot possibly be treated or eased but will contact him “just in case” they can. One memorable time, I just happened to mention a grotesque little-fingernail-sized cauliflower wart (oh, yes… ewww) that had grown on the side of my chin while I was pregnant. The thing was there to stay. It grew so large that Steve started asking it how the heck that thing grew on the side of its face (“that thing” being, my head… oh he is soooooo funny, no? sigh).
With barely more than a week’s worth of aggressive treatment with the correctly prescribed homoeopathic remedy, the bloody thing fell off! And just two months ago, Lolly and I worked together with our Homoeopath to get rid of a painful papilloma (one of those warts that grow inwards in a conical shape usually on the underside of the heel). They’re yuck and in my teenage years, I had one removed with quite a bit of discomfort, local anaesthetic, freezing it out and bandaging. I thought I’d try to avoid that for her and see if we couldn’t give homoeopathics a go. She was over the moon when it shrivelled up and died and painlessly fell off in her sock one day, about a month after we started treating it with a 3-times daily remedy. I was pleased she was able to see how the treatment had worked for her, as it had been troubling her and making walking uncomfortable – I offered her the choice and explained what the doctor would do. The word “needle” (even though I reassured her it would only sting for a moment) was enough to make her try the (in my opinion, better) alternative.
Placebo? Quackery? I don’t believe either of those ill-advised descriptions for ONE second.
And finally, I just want to say: please note that my Homoeopath was not the one who didn’t do anything for you… if you have been given poor or ineffective treatment by one – as with doctors, there are good ones and crap ones. I have the great fortune of having found a damn fine Homoeopath, whom we actually call “Dr K” because he’s just as good, if not better, than any I’ve seen in my entire life and certainly treats me and my family more effectively and more often.
What have been your experiences with doctors, alternative therapists, or otherwise?
I'm so with you. Have my own experiences with the same. It's frustrating to hear "oh it's just in your mind" when I describe how Homeopathy has helped me and my family. We've been through the ER with experiences like this and even calling my homeopath and having her guide me to a remedy has turned the situation back to well-being. Thankfully they haven't stopped practitioners who do homeopathy here but not for lack of trying.
I could go on and on about the medical profession. I will do that one day on my blog. I now question EVERY THING and I consult Dr Google a hell of a lot.
Doctors hate that. They want to be omnipotent. There are a few exceptions, to be fair. I now also talk to our wonderful chemist first to get more idea if and what drugs may be needed. I have NEVER been informed of any side effects of medication by a doctor!
Cheers and good luck with your little one.
Um…your GP sounds like an idjit, if you don't mind me saying. Put five moms together in a room and four will tell you that spots that originate in the nappy region = HFM disease. Sheesh.
You know what floors me? So many diseases are treatable (and preventable) simply by eating a whole foods diet and getting rid of all the processed crap. But doctors just keep throwing medications at us. I think they need to offer more nutrition courses in med school.
After my car crash last year both my son and I were checked by our docs for back/neck pain. The paed said my son was fine. I took him (and myself) to a chiropractor and we both had misalignments (mine severe) from the impact of the crash. He showed me x-rays. They treated us both for a couple of months and the difference was amazing. Oh, and my son was falling a lot too, and the adjustments helped him with his balance (I forget the explanation, but it was somehow related to the misalignment).
I'm also a big proponent of energy medicine, as you know. Maybe one day they'll teach that at traditional colleges. That would be amazing.
I agree that you have to be careful with whose advice you follow, whether in traditional or nontraditional circles. But I think we should cast the net wide when looking for health solutions.
I used to have chronic back pain and started seeing a really good chiro. I was scared of the bone popping/cracking thing so she used another technique on me. It worked a little but I had to avoid lifting things, which was impossible with a toddler. So, the pain would still come back. One day the chiro was away and a locum treated me instead. The locum didn't know about my no-bone-popping preference and did a big pop-crack. Freaked me out a little (the sensation) but I tell you what, I didn't get the pain for quite a while after that.
My mum has arthritis and medications make her sick, her doctors do the whole mumble mumble thing. Mum was a sceptic about alt. therapies but tried acupuncture for the hell of it. It was the only thing that helped. Currently, she's in a fair bit of pain from a hip replacement she had done 6 years ago. In the past 6 years she has visited surgeons and so on, getting more of the mumble mumble (she wasn't able to raise her leg to climb stairs). So back to the acupuncturist, then she was able to lift her leg properly without pain.
There was a young boy who had started seeing my chiro, he was incontinent and had to wear nappies everywhere. As a 10yo you can imagine his life was hell, he was bullied etc. He'd been to every doctor imagineable. Then they tried a chiro, after two adjustments the boy was fully continent. I've heard so many stories about people being helped with 'quackery' but this one really stood out to me.
I would still go to a doctor first but I wouldn't hesitate to get other opinions from the 'quacks'
Frankly in my experience, they're the ones who are far more knowledgeable and solve the problem to boot!
I also read that article about the universities and I was so angry! How dare those people think they can make those decisions for us? It's censorship and discrimination. If someone thinks naturopathy for eg is quackery then by all means exercise your choice to stay away. They have no right to try and stop others from accessing those services.
I was often told I was a hypochondriac when I was a kid, so I rarely seek any advice, medical or otherwise, until the pain becomes too much to bear.
Having said that, I've definitely found that there are GP's and there are Doctors. I've been seeing my (now former) GP for 9 months about my depression, anxiety and increasing agoraphobia, and he refused to even prescribe antidepressants, referring me to a psychiatrist instead.
Whereas yesterday I went to an old doc I used to go to, and within 5 minutes of being in his office I was diagnosed (tonsillitis and middle ear infection), treated, and sent on my way. This guy gives me the confidence that I won't need to keep researching everything myself, and then just asking for the prescriptions I feel I need.
I want a Doctor who will use his knowledge to help me, not to sit in a chair and apathetically see as many patients a day as he can.
I could rant, but instead I'll just say that I love the way my naturopath sees the whole person and looks at what is actually causing the symptoms rather than just shoving antibiotics down our throats.
She will address deficiencies and issues in a preventative manner rather than just in a reactive fashion.
I attribute my beautiful son's existence to the marriage of science and natural therapies.
See…the problem is that if you believe in homeopathy, or naturopathy, or whatever, you find anecdotal evidence. But we could all go the other way too…I really don't believe in it…when my friends force it on me, it never works…
But I don't want to keep you from using what you like. The placebo effect is strong, so go for it..
But I also don't want it taught at university. Because it is NOT science…it is a string of anecdotes. None of them have any basis in science. If you do studies, the statistics show that for thousands of people, this antibiotic cures the infection, and the people without antibiotics take longer to heal, or actually die. But when you do that kind of research study with acupuncture, there is no difference in outcome. The people who did not have acupuncture have the same cure rate as those with acupuncture.
Please..feel free to use whatever you like, but do not teach students things that are not science.
Annabellz: It is. Very frustrating. It's amazing how many people think homoeopathy is something you have to "believe in" working…. I just can't even…. finish the sentence on that one!
Lydia La La: Very valid point about the side-effects chat. Really makes you wonder why they prescribe so often (and often unnecessarily – I'm sure there are scores of stories people could share about that!)….. a conspiracy theory I won't go into here!
Wanderlust: No argument from me (either about the eejit doctor or the fact that we need to be informed, no matter who is providing the care)! It is disappointing, though, that the extremes trotted out and touted by the media (largely) and these sorts of overseeing bodies want to deny access or at the very least, make it difficult to obtain. Surely driving studies out of the legitimate, trusted universities is counter-intuitive and they'd actually be better able to manage studies if they were more strictly structured. I don't get their logic, except for if they want to eradicate natural therapies altogether..? And how bizarre is that?
RuskinDownUnder: For all the instances you describe, and your last paragraph especially, exactly!
Lady Fabulous: Hold onto him! That's the kind of doctor I have been yet to find in my exhaustive search. I'm not against doctors (or GP's for that matter). But I am really not comfortable with those who barely look us over and send us away with little more than pain relief to help ease symptoms.
Mum On The Run: Yes. Brilliantly put (and pointed out). I wouldn't have had the opportunity to spend the 4 weeks of my daughter's life if it weren't for medicine and the NICU – but I also prefer to find the natural way wherever possible in all things, rather than fill my body (or my child's) with drugs. To each their own and I would never attempt to sway anyone – this is about retaining the right for freedom of choice and not forcing people to use only doctors because other therapies aren't covered by their health cover!
Ann: Thanks for your thoughts. I respect them. You are obviously passionately against homoeopathy as much as I am for it and I would never attempt to try and force it on anyone. That said, I've given plenty of instances above (and have several more!) where doctors were useless to us – it was not for lack of going to a doctor, but they have almost always been unable to provide antibiotics or any drug (trust me, I would have gladly taken ANYthing but was sometimes not given it so had no alternative other than the alternative!!), the doctors therefore effectively offered no relief from symptoms in a raging toddler (who wouldn't have a clue what a placebo is…. in fact, didn't even realise I was slipping her the remedy because of her thrashing and incoherence). But anyway, what of the other modalities that fall under the same banner? For instance, I don't go to chiropractors and avoid them like the Plague – but so many rely on them for relief. The main point of my post was to highlight that no matter what, there should be choice. If someone is relying on health cover for a certain treatment (whatever it may be), what happens if/when this body gets their way? I maintain: it will set us back. And frankly, I believe it's more about greed and fear than wanting universities to retain their credibility.
As a chiropractor I can tell you there is extensive evidence available supporting chiropractic treatment for neck pain, low back pain and some headaches (systematic review of RCT's-the highest level). These are peer reviewed journal articles, most published in the last 5 years (check pubmeb and the cochrane collaboration for yourself!). To be frank, these so called "friends of science in medicine" aren't aware of the latest evidence supporting chiropractic treatment, or probably any musculoskeletal treatment regimes. They don't actually know about the science! Incredible hypocrisy! It must be said, there is no evidence for chiropractic treatment for bedwetting, asthma and some other diseases that are claimed by some in the profession. None the less, my course at an Australian University taught me about this lack of evidence, and how to base my treatment protocol on the evidence. These 'friends of science' are completely ignorant, and should look into the courses they are critiquing (I learnt nothing that is not a currently accepted scientific theory at Murdoch University in Western Australia).
I'd also like to add, despite no studies being published as of yet (not that it doesn't work, rather no studies have been funded yet), I am confident in treating many causes of shoulder, knee, ankle, elbow and wrist pain (given a mechanical cause). Many of our treatment protocols for these conditions are actually based on the work of medical doctors (i.e. dry needling/ Trigger point therapy aka Travell and Simons) and physiotherapists. Many, many physiotherapists also now use chiropractic manipulation techniques as a mainstay of their treatment.
Searching for Truth: Thank you so much for your insightful comments. It only serves to add to my concern about this movement towards quashing so-called alternative therapies, or making them harder to afford (let alone study in major universities). I hope you didn't take offense at my choice not to use chiropractors…. they're just not for me! I have tried, but for my particular constitution, I find other treatments have been more suited. At the end of the day, I wish for more of an equilibrium across the board so that anyone can seek whichever practice best suits them. Some swear by doctors, some chiropractors, some naturopaths. It is just nonsensical, to me, to think that some group can come out and take the decision out of the hands of so many (intelligent, free-thinking, well informed) people. Ludicrous.
So what do you include in Universities and what do you exclude – where do you draw the line? I have a high regard for our Universities so I think that the bar should be high for both students and course content.
Surely, students who pay large sums to go
through uni have a right not to be called quacks when they graduate?
Let's get ALTMED tested so that it can be included in university courses.
Anon: Thanks for your comment. Good point. This is just it – why this big push to remove it from universities and not work out some common ground instead (like, as you say, ALTMED). This is what makes me dubious. You can't eradicate entire therapies from society when they are in demand from people wanting to use them – good old supply and demand – so why not integrate them? They have always been called complementary techniques, why can't we keep them that way? This Friends of Science in Medicine mob sound very heavy-handed in their dislike for alternative medicine being around at all. And I think that is very dangerous and ulterior to some other motive.
I rely on my GP for a lot of my health and my sons. Without daily medication he could quite possibly not be here. I get annoyed when people tell me to take him for acupuncture or to the chiropractor. He needs medication. End of story. BUT – I have a mother who was told to say her goodbyes 20 years ago as there was little else that could be done for her cancer. She is still here. Her specialists were somewhat amazed that her tumour had completely gone. And gone it has stayed. She achieved this through meditation and visualisation.
What I'm trying to say is there is a place for both practices. They complement each other. There should be university courses to stop the quakery. Make it – keep it – a well maintained, well developed, current practice profession.
Choice is a wonderful thing, and everyone should be able to have the right to choose.
Naomi: Exactly my point. Yes. There is (and should be) room for all. A well-informed decision and good care/treatment does not always happen in the medical field OR any of these alternative therapies. A combination of resources should be maintained and keeping it in the universities would surely help keep it regulated. It's only going to drive it back underground to where it was 20 years ago and the only thing that will change is that it'll become too expensive to use for many families. And that in itself makes me mighty suspicious of the motives for this drive.
Science is great. Truly it is. Except in one area: it's mistaken and dangerous belief that it has all the bases covered and no knowledge exists outside of it's strict empirical parameters.
Science needs to be more open. Not closes. Your experiences and those of thousands of other people prove it. Now that's empiricism at work.
There are pros and cons of both sides. Must admit I'm surprised people are still pushing the "there's no evidence that chiropractic approach works" when there is heaps of evidence (peer reviewed, journals, etc) out there if one just searches. It is not just anecdotal. My GP scoffed at me going to a chiro, going on about anecdotal blah blah.
My grandmother had cancer of the throat which, in the end, prevented her from being able to swallow anything. At one point during her treatment, 'science' aka the surgeons, said there was nothing that could be done and she would starve to death. Yep, those were the words. Just by chance the next day, my dad was chatting to a visiting surgeon who was outraged by what my family had been told. A surgery was performed (again) so my grandmother would not starve.
My uncle was taken to hospital with a severe headache. Two doctors assessed him, gave him panadeine forte and told him to go home. My aunt said no way and refused to leave until more thorough checks were done. Turned out to be a serious brain infection. The doctor that eventually looked after my uncle said if my uncle had gone home he would have been dead within hours.
So, the 'quackery' exists in all areas. I'm a parent to kids on the autism spectrum. Do you know there are GPs and medical professionals out there who tell people that adults on the autism spectrum can not marry or have successful relationships?
For me, I stick to the solutions that work for my family. I might not believe in some alt. therapies but if they work for others, great!
I'm a big fan of whatever works works and the right to choices.
On a completely different tangent, I had a 4th degree episiotomy with my first birth to 'save time'. I had an 'excellent' obstetrician perform it and high level health care. I was told afterwards that I'd never be able to birth without an Ob or being cut again due to the scarring.
For my three subsequent births I chose the support of a doula in one instance and caring midwife in the others. No cutting, the worst I experienced was a mild graze.
Sometimes the 'experts' suck!
A load of bunkum. These guy know what they are doing… protecting their own incomes!!!
Well folks, "get ready" because in England & Europe the whole Alternative medicine industry has been "rocked" by new barriers put up against them with a NO advertising of any form of healing with Alternative medicines. Products can NO longer be advertised to heal ailments or conditions and in many cases cannot be sold any longer. This is currently a shock to many many people in those parts of the world. Not to mention what it has done to many practices and businesses. Big pharmaceutical companies and medical doctor's like the above group are prepared to kill-off the Alternative industry. And it is all about their opinions of Quackery. If they were SO learned they would allow many more cases to be studied. But it is simply not what they want!
I cannot begin to tell you the many times I have used Alt medicine when all else failed. I swing toward it more because it has helped so many times. However I AM also very happy to see my Doctor any time for the things I can't help myself with. And that is "MY CHOICE" and it should not be taken away from me. Choice is life…. Shall I buy a Holden or a Ford??? Well I'm sure Holden wishes there were no Fords to choose from eh!
If Alt medicine didn't work ever… then what have the Chinese (& others) been healing their nation's people with for many thousands of years.
Try going back thousands of years or even only hundreds of years in western medicine and you will find Quackery, more Deaths, and Snake-oil traders.
Most western medicines are originally derived from plant or herbs. IE. Willow-bark for pain = Aspirin when syththesized. For centuries this has been the way. By sythesizing these they are able to get a "PATENT". Because you can't patent a herb or plant substance, it's natural so it's free for all.
Pharmaceutical companies need Doctors & Doctors need pharmaceutical companies…. and there people is the issue… $$$
since when was University only fit for science based subjects/courses only ?.
never in history has that been the case.
Steve: Exactly.
F-shells: thanks for sharing your experiences. All dine examples of the vital importance of retaining both.
Kate: Well there you go – experts in their field and not always getting it completely right. Birth is a dicey one, a very grey area for me (based on personal experience and alternative experts telling me with hindsight what could have been prevented during Lolly's precarious birth). I like to accompany open-mindedness with a person's right to make informed choices. That is, I wouldn't like to think we go back to an age where we only have one option (the intervention birth) because then the wonderful opportunities such as yours would never be realized. Thanks so much for commenting x
Anon: my sentiments exactly.
Keidon: Well now, I've heard whispers of this and so far it terrifies me. I wonder how on Earth they are allowed to get away with removing so much freedom of choice. How canit be sensible for these treatments to be removed altogether? Surely they see thatthere will be a sharp increase in illness, medical claims and so forth. It makes me go cold seeing it already in action. Thankyou for weighing in, a thought-provoking comment.
I choose not to profess that climate change is mostly a man-made phenomenon after reading a few articles on it or upon making personal observations on the trends in the weather pattern globally over the last decade. Instead I defer to the consensus opinion of the majority of climatologists that this is indeed the case i.e. Global warming is to a large extent a consequence of human activity. The reason I chose not to form an unshakeable belief based on my observation is that I didn't spend many years of my life studying climate. I must admit, though, that the temptation was there for a while for me to join the global warming skeptics camp. With every new report released by climatologists, the above mentioned conclusion is strenghtened.
Most proponents and practitioners of questionable modalities such as homeopathy, iridology, reflexology, reiki, kinesiology ,TCM, acupuncture etc are at an unfortunate disadvantage. They were never taught the basic principles of science and the pitfalls one can stumble on if innate biases and flaws are not accounted for, when judging the efficacy of a certain therapy. I think it's unfair that every child in primary and even secondary school is not taught about critical thinking and how to counter our fallible, pattern seeking brains.
Self-deception, confirmation bias, placebo effect, poor handle on analysing statistical data are just some of the traps for practitioners of many alternative therapies. Every patient attending an alternative practitioner owes it to themselves to understand the credulity and gullibility the mind is susceptible to before forking out hard earned money for pie in the sky therapy.
Being Me: I have zero doubt that your experience with your homeopath was absolutely positive. My only suggestion is to carefully deconstruct what it is that made those visits positive. I too have attended shonky GPs but have eventually found a good one that thoroughly and professionally conducts each visit. Eventually finding a good homepath is unfortunately a bit like eventually finding a good astrologer or crystal ball reader. They don't exist. Homeopathy is based on principles such as 'like cures like' (Treating your cold symptoms such as runny eyes and nose with diluted onion aka allium cepa will treat those very same symptoms) and dilution of a remedy makes it even more powerful. Do these sound plausible? Please keep in mind that homeopathy is a modality that, when randomised placebo controlled double blind studies are carefully conducted by not allowing biases and confounding factors to creep in, has been shown to be as effective as placebo. I kindly refer you to a blog called Science-Based Medicine and to google James Randi's million dollar challenge (paying particular attention to the homepathy study involving Jacques Benveniste and Randi). If any of what I said has been offensive or condescending, I assure you that wasn't my intention.
Sorry, your comment went into the spam folder. I resurrected it.
Thank you for your deeply thought-out comments and the time you have taken to refrain from condescension. I maintain, again, that people deserve the right to choose their health care provider. I find my methods very effective. And I am healthier for it! For having that right to choose. I do not "believe" in masking my symptoms with anti-biotic course after anti-biotic course and I am not alone in choosing not to treat my symptoms (if/when they arise) in this way. I have been to many doctors, trying to find one who impresses me, over the years. It has never happened. I choose homoeopathy. Respectfully, what does it matter? Western medicine, TCM (which has been around for how many centuries??), chiropactors… etc. etc. The freedom to choose what gives relief – regardless of whether you can conveniently bring out the well-worn placebo argument – is paramount here. Rather, SHOULD be. And quashing other modalities or relegating them to some underground status, is not the answer. Just what are you/bodies such as these so afraid of? That people actually can be successfully treated by them?
In my post, I point out several instances where symptoms have resolved themselves, never to return. I go to a dr to freeze off a wart – it grows back in the same spot and is now harder to remove (except by further freezing off). Not a pleasant experience and somewhat inconvenient to keep going back. However, I go to a homoeopath and take a remedy for another wart… it falls off and never comes back in that spot ever again. Hmm. If my positive thinking causes that… then, great! I choose the placebo effect. I just do not see the validity in the oft-reported argument "But it's just a placebo", for are we trying to "win" here or treat the patient and make them comfortable??
I have to say I wonder why people fully trust Western medical "scientists" when as of ate we have seen articles saying things about how some of our most trusted tests for detection of cancer are now known to be contributors to the early deaths of some people. I've had personal experience with the death of my father-in-law from prostate cancer which never would have killed him. The treatment did kill him and it's well known that this is a concern of medical science right now. A once supported practice is in deeply in question for breast cancer as well.
As well ADHD medication has been proven to be ineffective and even harmful to some children with ADHD. We are drugging our kids younger and younger to deal with issues we need to stop and work through with a better consciousness. Bottom line… some research that has been done is now being found to be faulty (although people will find endless ways to defend this it's irrefutable that medical science is bending the rules to fit their needs).
While Homeopathy and other Alternative therapies have not been tested out and brought to the scientifically exacts that some people want many many many people have experienced a wealth of positive outcomes and there in fact are scientific studies done that support them.
I won't go to the extent to say there is no place for Western Medical intervention but I will strongly defend our right to health practices that work for us. These are not placebo. If you don't want to try them I say don't do it. We need more of this taught in our Universities not less so there will be more research and options opened up.
Standing and applauding. This comment brings a tear to my eye. Literally, Annabellz. You have succinctly spoken to the main points I have been trying to make. Thank you. This "drug your kids" business…. it is desperately sad. People have nowhere else to turn, they have been taught they need to fear/distrust/not use anything other than a doctor… who will simply prescribe drugs. (Ok, in this instance only. And I do realise there are some who do think outside the box and will suggest diet changes to see if there is improvement, etc.)
And I agree: I, too, am not saying there is no place for western medical intervention. I will forgive readers who believe this is what I am trying to get at.