I think everyone has a crazy aunt. Or crazy uncle, I do not discriminate. Personally, mine happens to be an aunt. She wears more gold than the Gold Rush miners could ever have hoped to see in their lives. And that is just the clothing. Then you have the layers upon layers of turquoise jewelry. No, we do not have Cherokee blood in us. Her earrings could be used as chandeliers if the need arises. She has multiple cats, excuse me, multiple "children" and a common law husband. Conspiracy is not unheard of in her political chats. In fact, if you ever listen to talk radio, I'm sure you've heard her a few dozen times, she calls twice a day.
What does this have to do with alternative medicine? My aunt also happens to be an avid supporter of natural medicine. She does not agree with modern medicine and is strongly against unnatural chemicals. Although her fashion sense may be questionable, she may be on to something. She has an alternative medicine doctor that she uses, and despite the natural signs of age, she is remarkably well without all the chemicals.
After reading about the effects of certain chemicals on the body I decided to do my best to eliminate unnecessary chemicals. In today's world it is impossible to completely avoid all of them, unless you can grow your own food and isolate yourself from the atmosphere. On a college campus on a small budget it gets even more challenging, but I have done what I can and you would be shocked at the results.
For health reasons, I became a vegetarian back in my sophomore year of high school. That in itself was followed by the healthiest years of my life. I used to get sick once a year with bronchitis, yet not since the big switch. But I was not unfamiliar with the occasional cold or scratchy throat and even the flu. As any person with a busy life would do, I loaded up on over the counter or prescription medications to keep me going.
When I got to college I decided to stop taking most modern medicines, but not for the big natural reason. It was too expensive. Of course my parents would have more than gladly paid and I have insurance for the prescribed stuff, but who has time for doctors in a new town and extra cash for the co-pay. To get on a college campus today you usually are required to have the meningitis shot, so maybe that has something to do with it. I still take birth control for medical reasons so maybe that contributes, but something unexpected happened when I gave up the rest of the pills and syrups. When I started to have a bad feeling or others were getting sick all around me I was suddenly immune. Not to say I would not wake up one morning with a bit of congestion, but my body was able to fight the infection without outside help.
That is the amazing thing about the human body that our society does not give it credit for. Our bodies are able to fight these infections and pain if we let it. No one can expect results to be immediate, but a little after a year of stopping chemical drugs I rarely wake up feeling ill and even my allergy symptoms have begun to alleviate.
Now I fight flu season with strong herb teas and a spoon full of sugar. I fight colds with exercise and meditation. Congestion is taken care of with going outside for a walk, especially in the cold. This alternative medicine has some weird options that sound like someone had a complete lack of common sense, but I dare you to try some of them. You might be surprised at how healthy you really could be.
Think about it...
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
"despite the natural signs of age, she is remarkably well without all the chemicals."
The average life expectancy in China, prior to the discovery of anti-biotics and other Western procedures was something like 32 years, after these Western medical discoveries it rose to 68. Today it is 71 years; not thanks to alternative remedies which prevailed there for hundreds or thousands of years, but thanks to modern technologically driven Western medicine.
"As any person with a busy life would do, I loaded up on over the counter or prescription medications to keep me going."
This is what often leads to fallacious criticisms directed at many pharmaceutical medications; improper use, over-use and abuse. People load up on painkillers, then complain when they become addicted; critics ignore the fact that the fault lies with abuse of the drug and start trying to label it ineffective. ADHD is mis-diagnosed and stimulant based medications with hundreds of clinical trials and over 50 years of scientifically documented use under it's belt are suddenly attacked, as if they are to blame for mis-diagnosis or abuse of the drug beyond it's intended purpose.
It's got to the point where groups like the Cult of Scientology are trying to convince people that the entire field of psychiatry and psychology are bogus. They garner creedance for their claims through the number of puplicized and disingenuous claims that drugs and treatments are not effective or safe, based upon accounts of improper, or abuse of a drug. 2 pacacetamol is safe, 200 is not, if I choose to take a handful, when the recommended dosage is 2, and in the process give myself irreversible liver damage, that is proof that I am a liability uto myself, not that paracetamol is unsafe.
"No one can expect results to be immediate, but a little after a year of stopping chemical drugs I rarely wake up feeling ill and even my allergy symptoms have begun to alleviate."
I only take pharmaceuticals when they are needed. I haven't taken anything, pharmaceutical or herbal, in a couple of years, except for two distinct occasions. I got an ear infection, for which I took anti-biotics, which cleared it right up. This happened in India and I can tell you that the Ayuveric herbal preparation I was given, as this happened in India, did nothing, other than allow the infection to grow and necessitate anti-biotics before I got really ill. The other time was for a cold a few months back, for that I took paracetamol and vitamin C.
I don't understand something here. Are you perpetually ill with some kind of condition/s that necessitate your being on chemical mediaction for prolonged periods? You said you stopped and felt better, did you switch from some necessary regular pharmaceutical medication to a natural alternative? I'm just wondering if you have some illness that necessitates you taking some kind of regular treatment on an ongoing basis, or at least to the frequency where it could have an effect so adverse, that an improvement is well being couldn't be better attributed to a change in diet, routine or personal outlook, as opposed to a physiological change brought about by changing your body's chemical balance through a change in medical disciplines.
"This alternative medicine has some weird options that sound like someone had a complete lack of common sense, but I dare you to try some of them. You might be surprised at how healthy you really could be."
This alternative medicine is also rife with con artistry and quackery, with all manner of trickster and charlatan ready to separate a fool from their money. Research any and every method of medical treatment thoroughly yourself before making a decision. Read what those who promote it say, read what skeptics say, and draw your own conclusions. This is your health you are talking about, not some kind hobby.
The problem with many alternative medicines is that they sell a funky, mysterious image, one that Western medicine is just too serious to lower itself to. Your average doctor will not pretend to be a wizard or magician, they have spent too long studying formally in the sciences and spent too long working gruelling hospital schedules, where they are too busy trying to cure ridiculous numbers of patients of diseases that would have killed them prior to anti-biotics, vaccination etc., patients who are more interested in having tumors removed and infections halted , rather than having their auras re-invigorated or some joker selecting their personal healing crystal for them.
Some alternative medicines show promise for certain things, but most are merely hiding behind the efficacy of a small handful of practices. Research is all I can say, and don't buy into the sales pitches either. People tend to over-ride reason and think that the manufacturers of alternative products and providers of alternative therapies are not interested in money or something. 1 duck liver provided all the raw material required to make $20 million worth of a homeopathic treatment for the common cold. The Economist magazine christened the unlucky bird 'the $20million dollar duck", needless to say, they were hot for the massive amounts of revenue represented by the pretty much unregulated alternatives market.
_____________________________________________________________
I am the people my mother warned me about.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tuffgong
TUFFGONG
Senior Executive Administrator™
Just to clarify, I am not downing the use of medication entirely, like I said I am still on birth control and I completely disagree with the Scientologists on the area of psychiatry. I also, personally do not believe in the false sales pitches often associated with natural medicine. If you have to buy a special pill it probably is not what it is said to be.
There are many different ideas of alternative medicine. The one I was referring to in this was not long term drugs, mostly over the counter drugs and basic cold supplies frequently administered. Long term drugs are often useful for individuals, especially with diseases that modern medicine has a distinct advantage with.
As I said above, I did not entirely void my world of chemical methods, but I did stop those, as you said, frequently misused drugs. I did always follow the directions and was careful in reading the directions and other warnings.
You asked if I had a condition that required me to take medicine often. Well, for many years a doctor prescribed to me Claritin for my allergies and as I also stated, yearly I would tend to be susceptible to bronchitis and stuff like sinus infections. I had certain medicines that, in fact, did help. I am not arguing that the chemicals do not help alleviate symptoms and help fight infections, I was simply saying that in my case there are now alternative ways to deal with the problems and even prevent them before they become an issue.
And the last thing I wished to clarify: The methods that I listed were not from a sales pitch or anything that would have to be bought outside of your typical grocery isle. The natural cures that helped me and cleansed my body of the excess chemicals were things like tea and walking.
I agree that any alternative method should be just as scrutinized as the modern solution. They should not be used if there is a more serious issue that is beyond such a simple solution. Common ailments are too often over-prescribed and handled in an inefficent manner. I hope that helps to clarify what I meant in this post.
Think about it...
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tomorrowtoday
That is much clearer. I just had to push for clarification as there are too many people singing the praises of 'alternative medicines' in a manner that leaves it open for many readers to conclude that you mean to give an uncritical thumbs up to the vast array of purported medicines that make up the alternative sector.
Exercise and eating healthily do not need to be attributed to 'alternative medicine', both are commonly advised courses of action suggested by allopathic doctors. The only difference is that when an allopathic doctor suggests a healthier lifestyle and diet, people generally ignore them; when somebody in the alternative sector suggests it, it is greeted like some kind of magical esoteric knowledge.
People ask doctors about vitamins, doctors tell them to eat more fruit and vegetables; people don't want to do that though, they want to take vitamin pills and eat cheese burgers. But when a homeopath suggests that eating more fruits and vegetables might be a better source of vitamins than pills, and uses the magical word 'holistic', the homeopath suddenly becomes some kind wiseman, in the eyes of those who never listened to their allopathic doctor.
I'm not a doctor, I'm not an alternative therapist, but I can tell you that eating healthily, exercising and not using medications when they aren't really needed will make you healthier. Why people feel the need to have some guru or other tell them something that they already know, is beyond me. It's also dangerous, because the health benifits reaped from common sense then get attributed to the alternative therapy, which often has nothing to do with why the patient feels better.
Proponents of alternative medicine, propose it as an alternative to Western medicine, not a complimentary medicine. That is dangerous and callous.
_____________________________________________________________
I am the people my mother warned me about.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tuffgong
TUFFGONG
Senior Executive Administrator™
Switching from over the counter medications to 'treatments' that actually stimulate your body's own immune system isn't exactly the image most people, at least those in the medical field, associate with alternative medicine. Did you exercise at all before? That might have something to do with it, as your body needs some stress in order to function properly. To improve your circulation, both of blood and lymph... liquid, I guess. Eating better will help your health. These are things any doctor will tell you.
Using homeopathic treatments for malaria (homeopaths can apparently get degrees 'equivalent' to a doctor, dentist, and chiropractor in 4 years), instead of proven medications from doctors (who are trained for 4 years in school, and at least 3 years in residency) is a whole other story.
~C
Check out the latest entry in the Between The Lines column!
I realize now that the commonly accepted definition nowadays for alternative medicine seems to be a more unusual form than it once was I suppose. The alternative doctor that I know of uses practices like acupuncture, pressure massage, scent therapy and other such solutions. Those who practice alternative medicine in its new form might use different methods.
I personally don't have the money or resources for proper acupuncture and I am not especially informed on the exact scent combinations used for different ailments. I have seen these. Yes, I did exercise before cleansing my system, the more important part of that exercise is that the cold was useful to my condition or the humidity in some cases.
All doctors recommend healthy eating and exercise and having this is not alternative medicine, but the other treatments, such as specific herbs and teas and other "old wives" remedies were once under the blanket term "alternative medicine". I apologize for not clarifying this definition before using it in my post. Please note I used alternative medicine as a synonym for natural medicine, which better describes how I used the term.
Think about it...
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tomorrowtoday