TIPS: What to tell your doc, whether to take your regular meds, commerical vs. homemade preparations, how to know if it works.

1. Tell your MD if you are taking herbal or other alternative medicines. She will watch for side effects or drug-herbal interactions.

2. It's generally best to keep taking your Western medicines, even if you are undergoing alternative treatments.

3. Commercially prepared remedies and nutraceuticals are somewhat more likely to manifest consistent dosages.

4. When looking for evidence as to whether alternative medicines are efficacious, refer to peer-reviewed, national journals rather than word-of-mouth. Look to see that trials are placebo-controlled, are performed across more than one medical center and lots (like hundreds) of patients, and are double-blinded (neither the patients nor the caregivers know which treatments are being given).

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Yo, Doc. You are such a complete twit! You really should not be writing about things you have no knowledge of, such as alternative therapies unless you put a disclaimer admittingyou are totally ignorant of the matter. Let's look at herbs, for starters. Sure, no dimwit should go treat themselves for ANYTHING using over the counter herbs for all the reasons you mention. That is why there are alternative health care practitioners. Duh. Also, those idiots at Consumer Reports asked people who again were treating themselves usually without any training if the alternative modalities worked. That is ridiculous. Herbs as well as drugs are meant to be prescribed by trained professionals. Get real.

-- claire darling, October 9, 2000

I agree with Claire. And has anyone noticed that all of these pictures are of the same woman????

-- Maria Park, April 12, 2001

I agree with the doc--sort of. While I see a huge value to Western medicine, I wouln't completely write off the value of some--repeat SOME--alternative therapies. I believe in the value of chiropractic, accupuncture and massage, all of which are considered alternative therapies. I do use some herbal supplements, but I choose carefully to make sure that I am getting the "cleanest" most consistent dosage I can. I think those who jump on the bandwagon of any new, unproven therapy are looking for trouble. I want to see studies, scientific data, that not only will these products and/or procedures help me but that they won't hurt me. Can you say Ephedra?

-- Mom, June 18, 2001

I need help and fast im doing a school projecy i need to know what the theory behind naturopathy is .........some one please help, thank you

-- donny, July 5, 2001

I don't think that any company that produces Herbal remedies would be let go if someone got sick or died using their product. A person using these types of alternative medicine would be known by their family in most cases and if not, then found in their belongings, medicine cabinet, bedroom drawer, etc. A lot of people that are against these alternatives are those who are fearful of the unknown. To a degree it is valid, but don't you think that a company would go unpunished by law if something happen? No, companies that sell bad products get shut down, possibly put in jail, especially if they made "Medical Miracle Claims" such as cure AIDS, cancer and diabetes, the three most common killers. You would hear about families suing Herbal companies all the time, if it was such a threat. Thats all I heard on the News when the Ma Haung, Ephedrine product was connected to killing or harming people. Not all Herbal remedies are bad just like not all medicines pescribed by doctors are bad either. They have the same amount of problems, cures and questionable materials. Have you seen those commercials for asthma, Herpes, reflux, and allergy medicines that you can get from your doctor? When they advertise for its great properties then at the end they say may cause headaches, dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, cramps, seizures and some individuals will have stomache bleeding without knowing it, but won't you feel great if you don't suffer from these side effects. Don't say, well the doctor knows that you are on these medicines, because the ER doctor doesn't. So, tell me, you can't compare either or without some type of problematic situation in some individuals. Doctors can be a great resource for cures, but some of those medicines can cause unnecessary illness. Most people that want to take alternatie medicines can simply have the product tested by a lab. If, indeed there is something not valid, or hazardous, then the next step is the FDA, then the next step is the company gets shut down for producing hazardous materials. Meaning they can never produce anything again. Its simple, like someone who gets caught selling drugs, same procedures but without the actual police raid. Don't be naive about how medicines are made either. Did you know that they use properties from plants to make medicine in the first place. Not everything is made synthetically, if it were we would never be cured of anything. There has to be a blue print and plants offer that blue print, such as birth control pills are designed after certain plant properties. We use nature to cure oursleves, for instance, if we didn't have anti-venom, which comes directly from snakes and deadly spiders, and all we had was synthetic made cures would do you think the success rate would be-not pretty. We have to use nature to cure a natural process, such as the venom situation. Venom is took from snakes and spiders, then processed to make a anti-dote. Same thing with Herbal rememdies. The only difference is a few bad apples got in the mix and caused a lot of people to eat sour apple sauce. There are a lot of bad doctors too, ones who prescribe you too many medicines that will eventual kill you, that is what happen to my father at age 42, found dead with no concusional cause of death, I kept the list of medicines he had my father on, ridiculous amounts of different kind s of medicine to do different things and the frequency of refills that he had my father popping pills like candy, it all boils down to money in the end. You pick your enemy or your friend. I would be more afraid of synthetics than natural. Synthetically made material such as Sudafed has been linked to women and strokes, not to mention drug dealers use this crap to make drugs, so do you feel alright in taking something like that? Educate yourself before you make judgement. Last question, thought or comment for this is; why do you think doctors get upset when someone decides to try the natural way? When someone tries the natural approach and it works that means no money for the doctor. Some doctors are in the practice for money, others are in the practice because they care, make sure you know which kind of doctor who are going to. Ask you doctor how he/she feels about Herbal medicines and listen to them closely. If they don't agree at all, question why to them and you'll find the answers in between the lines, then question other doctors, you will find one that doesn't totally diagree with it(with exception of the nasty ma haung). Most of what you will hear is well its not FDA approved, but thats all I have heard as an answer (besides the ephedrine for you hard-core anti-herbal, who chooses to think as herbals as poision)Hey check your medicines throughly and decide what really is poision. Too much of anything will kill you, such as alcohol, but you don't see them pulling that from the shelves, because it is FDA approved. Bottom line is you can't trust anything, your best bet is to have it analyzed before you take any medicines, or herbals. And if you choose to take an Herbal remedy, buy from a company that has a lot of customers, if they have customers, then they are doing something right. Research the hell out of the company, formulator, etc. Just don't rely on either form of cure just because someone says it is good for you, research it yourself.

-- Anonymous, October 1, 2001

I am suprised that you have a health web site and actually know so little about herbs, which have been healing substances for thousands of years. What you don't seem to know, or are not interested in finding out about, is the true medicinal and strengthening value of master and supporting herbs(they take a lot longer to change a medical situation, but are much more long-lasting and curative than any pharmaceutical). God gave us herbs and the medical association tried to isolate the active ingredients from them to help alleviate symptoms. (The reason pharmaceuticals have so many side-effects is because the whole plant is not utilized, which has documented natural substances to balance and negate these disturbing and sometimes life-threatening effects.) Everyone knows that pharmaceuticals can never cure, but can only help symptoms. Also, they can not patent herbal formuations, so they will never undergo true studies for these precious species. We(humans) can only take someone seriously if they are truly unbiased. Your are extremely biased. Why can't we learn to blend the two together, without demeaning the other. Hopefully, the younger generation (and they already are going in that direction - as many medical schools are beginning to offer a few alternative courses) will be capable of open, fresh minds that understand that Preventive Medicine is the only way of the future of medicine (educate them before the problem) and should be where our medical dollar is spent. This will not happen for a time, as the medical practice is based on attending to people only after they are not well. What a shame. But believe me, things will change. Doesn't it make sense to spend the billions of dollars (now being spent after we're ill) on keeping people healthier, then on waiting for them to become ill? Our whole health psyche is changing, thank goodness. Hope you are part of this positive transformation. Our world needs more positive, caring people who are truly concerned about keeping us well. We definately don't need any more people or companies who negatively (maybe unbenowst to them) and with no life and health answers, respond to us only when we're not well.

-- jrotz, February 6, 2002

I am requesting help for good information pertain to "natural medicine" that might be helpful for my cousin, who has been recently diagonsed with Wegeners Granulomatosis. IS there "anything" out there, that would be a "wiser choice" than the conventional "toxic man-made treatments"ie ? Thank you for you time.

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2002

I spent several hours in the hospital emergency room while doctors thought I had a kidney stone - it turned out to be really bad back muscle spasms for which they gave me Soma and Vicodin (spelling?) both which made me lethargic and sick to my stomach in the first day of taking them. I stopped taking them, had accupuncture, an hour massage, and took some herbs and within 24 hours the spasms and pain had ceased and has not come back. Would they have stopped anyway - they weren't even with the medication. Once it wore off and it was time to take another the spasms were there as strong as before. After alternative medicine, I ached a little but no pain. The aching is now gone and also the pain. So please don't tell me that they don't work. The medicine Western doctors give have side effects which we don't even know of yet in many cases - herbs have been used for ions.

-- Anonymous, February 23, 2002

I have endometriosis, and the only thing that has ever worked for me in erasing my pelvic pain is called Cramp Releaf from Herbs, ETC. Its good stuff.

-- Regina, June 9, 2002

Puleeeeeze! Doc- Do you realize how completely passe' your theories and practice of medicine are becoming?? There is such a vast body of information out there about natural healing modalities,

including herbs, nutrition, exercise,energy..etc.. that it would take more classes than you could attend in 4 years to learn it all. And that's okay...you don't have to know it all, but you better be aware that you don't know it all before you go spouting off, adamantly 'critiquing' things you are clueless about. You just look stupid to those who know. If Docs would get more of their information from sources

other than Pharmaceutical companies, they might actually learn how to heal their patients instead of keeping them feeding into the system that is killing us all! (That would be Corporate America- via the Pharmaceutical Companies that pay for and design all allopathic means of Medical Education in this country - And people think that Oil companies run the world...look closer..But that's another long leg of the same story....)

If you want a satifying job in the future, I would suggest you begin expanding your horizons, because fortunately, the public that pays you, demands more that you can currently offer.

Thank you for your time, and for Godssake, quit THINKING LIKE A DOCTOR!

-- C.R. Short, RPh & Herb/Nutrition Consult, November 16, 2002

this MD comes across as someone who wants people to think he knows it all whereas in actuality, he seems to know little about the healing value of building up one's immune system with natural herbs. his insensitivity to the suffering of humanity screams out at the reader and is sacrificed by his need to be smarter than everyone else. if he worked for me i'd send him back to school for at least 5 years to learn compassion for his patients and how to become a true healer. the significance of our living in an increasingly toxic world warrants a change in viewing by the medical community. we will all benefit by viewing illness from a prevention standpoint, not solely from an intervention one, which uses too many toxic medicines and thus overlooks the healing benefits of natural supplements.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2003

I tend to trust mother nature and her herbs over doctors and man made medicine. Some doctors are good and still care but the majority only are interested in the money and if they give you more than 5 minutes at an office visit, they feel generous. I disagree with most of the arguments for asking a medical doctor about herbal medicine. Also, I don't believe the medical field would find the value of herbs and mass market them cause they're not taking the time to research them. I'm glad the medical field isn't trying to take over the herbal industry, if they did we wouldn't be able to afford the herbs either. Doctors and pharmacists stay in your corner and herbs stay in yours and we'll all be better off.

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2003

I've got a background in biochemistry-with honours, so i have a pretty good idea how things like pharmaceuticals work, nearly taking up an offer to work for Gallaxo-Welcome. I then went ahead to study chinese medicine as it had helped me with several illnessess in the past and being dissapointed somewhat with the politics of research...okay, i admit that there are some CM doctors out there who don't fully know what they are doing due to course requirements and standards and there are also herbal preparations out there that have not gone through qualitly control measures as we need more research into this field.

I must disagree when u say that pharmaceutical industries would of made a fortune by now if there was a cure..the fact is that pharmaceuticals can't work out what 10 to 20 herbs put together in a prescription (based on chinese medicine formulae)do for an individual person with an illness, the thing is, you can't isolate one herb in that group and look into the properties of that single herb and it's effect on that illness! Chinese Medicine doesn't work like that! It would take years and years of research to work out the effects of the herbs combined (that's if it is possible!)and no pharmaceutical company will invest that much time and money into doing something like that! They can extract one single powerful chemical ingredient out of one herb and turn it into a pill, but it is not going to have the same effect as a chinese medicine herbal prescription where the herbs have their own hierachy and reason for why they are put with each other in that prescription...4000years of existance...now that's some proof, as opposed to 180 if that, years existance of western medicine, to which i am not opposed..they both have their place in society..

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2003

Hi, if you take the hairs of the corn, and boil them in water, till tender, then let it cool off, and drink the liquid; it is a great way to release the excess fluids in your body, being a women or a man. It takes care of edema, near your period, or a salty night before. Gentley. I am sure most of you know that tablets of vita B-6, 100mg will do the same thing, unless you have severe problems that needs a med from the Dr.

1 other thing, if you are feeling continually; (not gettin better in your flu bout,) and you can't seem to get over it, 1 last day, try boiling a red potatoe till tender, and then let cool and drink the juice from that for an extra boost in your immune system. eat the potatoe too, after, and eat the yummy skin of the red potato, lots of nutrients.

Cayenne pepper is good for a boost in the morning, always after your meal and in a capsule, unless you have a cast iron tummy. Some people do. do not take at night as it can keep you awake. Cayenne under the tongue can bring people out of shock, stop a heart attack, and used daily can prevent the common cold, and flu, to name just a few. More later. I am not an expert, but have learned alot thru the yrs.

E-mail me anytime @ the address above. Thanks Nae

-- nae, August 24, 2003

Bottom line, to those of you who claim that these natural remedies really do work, is that almost none of you are molecular biologists, or chemists, or even real doctors (naturopathic doctors are NOT real doctors)... the person posting above who claims to have a background in biochemistry should be ashamed -- totally, utterly ashamed -- to be perpetuating such bad science. It reflects badly upon your university.

There are a very few "natural" products which do have beneficial natural ingredients; however, i submit that a properly prepared (ie by a pharmacy), prescribed dosage is going to be far more effective and safe than a mystery cocktail generated by someone with no real knowledge in the field, but rather with a brochure from some greedy corporation espousing a variety of benefits for common, cheaply produced (but sold at huge profit) plant material.

The claim that one chemical must be taken with another to work properly is garbage: a quick look at how biochemical pathways work will show you that. The claim that certain chemicals only work in their "natural" form and that that form is different from the synthetic one is just as silly: it goes against the laws of physics as i know them.

Herbs have been considered healing substances for thousands of years because people didn't know any better (also, the Chinese discovered the effects of willow bark, which contains the precursor to aspirin... one of the few useful natural remedies). For comparison, consider that people believed that the universe revolved around the Earth for hundreds of years, too, and that the moon was made of cheese, and that man would never fly.

This "vast body of information" concerning herbal/natural remedies isn't really information at all: it's fantasy, pure and simple. At the best, it's due to honest mistakes, and at worst, it's a pack of outright lies. Check out the journal "Natural Product Reports" (my library has access to this through online educational media -- it's a decent enough journal, though not great) or "Homeopathy." You won't find a single claim that any one herbal remedy works any better (equal efficacy and equally harmful) than an existing synthetic chemical.

It will be only a few more years before the natural remedy myths are very nearly put to rest by technology. Sadly, the method will be somewhat complicated, and the superstitions and fallicies will probably persist for years to come....

-- Glen McNamara, November 24, 2003

I would stay with Foods For suppliments

and not mess up my organs with alternative herbs. Just eat "an apple a day" so to speak and take your Prozac. And do some exersize.

JWK

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2004

I find your argument again herbal medicines typical of orthodox medical practitioners around the world. I have practiced herbal medicine for 20 years - it works. It works far better than 'western medicine' for chronic conditions and for those diseases that might be described and lifestyle illnesses.

Your comparison with car machanics and layers is nonsence. Neither of these professions has a viable alternative - medicine does. Yours point about Pharma not having found sucessful alternatives is also not so. Pharma will never make herbal drugs. Plants grow you know, and you can take the plant as medicine - so no profit there then. Pharma are much more likely to try and discredit alternative treatments that work (and do so), than work them up into medication.

-- Anonymous, November 24, 2004

All arguments for herbalism and "alternative" medicine are immediately shot apart by the fact that no disease has been effectively cured or eradicated through their use. If, say, smallpox had been cured by a mixture of dandelion and snail mucus instead of actual medicine, it would be on the covers of ALL the medical magazines and ALL the "Alternative" magazines. But it's not. Like the famous anonymous quote says, "The plural of anecdote is not 'data.'"

-- Mike McCarron, January 20, 2005

I know of a doctor who gave his patients pregnant

mare's urine for hormone replacement therapy.

The side effect after many years was known to be

breast cancer. Yet the doctor continued to defend

his treatment.

The problem is that almost all gynecologists will

give women HRT in the form of premarin which is

made from pregnant mare's urine and has had a

track record of raising the incidence of breast

cancer in the women who have taken it.

Imagine if an alternative health care provider

offered pregnant mare's urine to women for the

treatment of hot flashes. He would be in prison!!

-- miriam, March 21, 2005

As a student completing a 6 year course of study in alternative medicine from an internationally recognised college in Australia with a bachelor of science degrees in botanical medicine, naturopathy and homoeopathy; I am not surprized over the message that this website is sending.

While it is disturbing to continue to spread disinformation concerning alternative medicine, there are points of truth in the information presented.

(1) I would not advise any of my patients to skip immunizations for their children. The empirical evidence clearly points to a very low incidence of problems related to the immunization program and there is no verifiable evidence that particular diseases have been caused by the administration of a particular vaccine.

(2) herbal formulas, prepared by qualified and regulated doctors with qualifications in botanical medicine are safe, effective and individualized to the patient's needs. Student practitioners are required to show competence and experience in the effective diagnosis, prescription and follow up on patient cases in the clinic environment for a specified period of time before being tested for qualification. Self administration of any medications, whether herbal, prescription or over the counter drugs is not recommended.

In fact, the AMA should push for the registration and regulation of herbal medicines by qualified practitioners only, in order to avoid the misuse associated with the current dispencing of herbal medicines today.

(3) Like the selection of a tool from your toolbox for a particular task, there are appropriate times to refer a patient to a herbal doctor, a homoeopath, a general practitioner or to a specilist. You would not send a cardiac patient suffering with a myocardial infarction to a herbalist! You send him to the hospital. However, after the danger has passed and the patient has stabilised, a herbal doctor working in conjuction with a cardiac specialist can help the recovery process by focusing on lifestyle and diet, herbal formulas that support the recovery process and complement the specialist's work in this area.

To ignore or villify alternative medicine without understanding the benefits that it can bring is tantamount to the Salem witchcraft trials of the past.

-- Bernie Beaudoin, August 26, 2005

I am truly impressed by Bernie Beaudoin's letter. However, there is also a lot of helpful literature out there for those who choose self treatment with herbal remedies. My favorite book is "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC and James F. Balch, M.D. It seems now days like so much of the time people go the doctor for every little thing. And many doctors prescribe medications for every little thing. I am in the health Insurance industry, which requires me to ask a lot of health questions to thousands of individuals a year and I am amazed at how multi medicated our society seems to be. And many people are not being educated by their doctors on the importance of Vitamins and basic nutrition. I would think nutritional deficiencies should be determined and improved first. But I am constantly finding that many people do not even know the importance of something as simple as B-Complex vitamins for stress, yet they have plenty of anxiety and anti-depression drug prescriptions.

And then there is the other half who just can't afford to go back and fourth to the doctor all the time. Why do we need so many follow up visits??? This is why I turned to natural remedies. The book that I referred to above has been extremely helpful to me for the past eight years. As long as I follow the guidelines step by step, I have been able to avoid many expensive trips to the doctor for minor infections such as sinus, yeast, or UTI's, by trying natural remedies listed in this book first. I believe that if those ever fail me then I will seek medical attention. I still go to the doctor for annual physicals and screenings, for preventive measures but through personal experience there are proven compliments and alternatives to Western Medicine.

-- Crystal Clear, December 2, 2005

Hi, I'm a highschool student and I'm doing a project on Naturopathy as a mean of alternative treatments. I was wondering if anyone could give me an overview of what a naturopathist does and what skills you need to become one. Any additional information would be appreciated greatly. Thank you.

-- In Need of Help, March 24, 2006

I am requesting help for good information pertain to "natural medicine" that might be helpful for my cousin, who has been recently diagonsed with Wegeners Granulomatosis. IS there "anything" out there, that would be a "wiser choice" than the conventional "toxic man-made treatments"ie ? Thank you for you time.

-- john, June 9, 2006

I have Psoriasis. When there is a flare up, I thoroughly wet the affected area, and rub Baking Soda on the inflamed spots..I repeat this several times a day and the nasty stuff clears up.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2006

My mother has abdominal sarcoma, a rare cancer, and was getting chemo treatment. She had different types of chemo with no improvement. The decided not to continue with chemo and nothing they can do. When we went to visit my mom, she was laying on her bed with little energy and not her usual happy self. My mother is 80 years old and has always had lots of energy. She also had an itchy rash that wouldn't go away and worsened by the day.

Well, my sister went to a health food store and explained the situation. They recommended a couple of herbs (don't know the name right now) for her CBC and after taking these herbs, my mom started getting her energy back, about 2-3 days after consuming it. Although it's not a cure to her disease, she has regained her energy and is cooking, cleaning, shopping and everything else she couldn't do prior to taking these herbs. Even her itchy rash is gone.

Her doctor, like many doctors, wasn't too happy with my mother's results. Why? Because the more prescription medication she prescribes, the more money she makes. Yes, instead of being happy for my mother, she gets a little upset. Upset because she won't be making too much profit from my mother. Greed can really harden the heart.

Many countries do not use western medicine, and they are a lot healthier than we are. They use alternative methods and live a much healthier life than the western world. Too bad there's so much greed here. It's all about the money and how much profit they can make before retiring. Ever since talking with my mother's greedy doctor, I lost respect for most of them.

-- RM, September 18, 2006

that is so right

you told me a good lesson

you may save peoples lives

maybe even me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- dhdcbhdfcbj, September 19, 2006