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Shary
147 Posts |
 Posted - 05/04/2007 : 11:19:42
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Having gone back and read some of the comments dissing homeopathy on the Hypoglycemia/Diabetes thread, all I can say is, don't believe everything you read. And don't expect the medical profession/drug industry to endorse the competition, particularly when it's something that's completely beyond their comprehension.
I can attest from personal experience that homeopathy can and does work extremely well for many things. Most importantly, it can effect a permanent cure, as opposed to masking symptoms, without the need for neverending prescription drugs and their toxic side effects. Placebo effect? You'll never convince me of that.
The downside is that homeopathy is poorly regulated in the U.S. That means you have to choose carefully because, like anything else, it's only as good as the practitioner. I got lucky and found an experienced board-certified homeopath whom I've gone to off and on for years. We're talking out-of-pocket here, so if it hadn't worked I assure you I wouldn't have gone back. On the other hand, I've been to quite a few doctors who were incompetent to the point of quackery, even though my insurance company is more than happy to pay for their services.
In spite of all this, I probably wouldn't stick my neck out again by recommending a homeopath because, apparently, the really good ones are just too few and far between.
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Woodchuck
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2007 : 12:19:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Shary
Having gone back and read some of the comments dissing homeopathy on the Hypoglycemia/Diabetes thread, all I can say is, don't believe everything you read. And don't expect the medical profession/drug industry to endorse the competition, particularly when it's something that's completely beyond their comprehension.
I can attest from personal experience that homeopathy can and does work extremely well for many things. Most importantly, it can effect a permanent cure, as opposed to masking symptoms, without the need for neverending prescription drugs and their toxic side effects. Placebo effect? You'll never convince me of that.
The downside is that homeopathy is poorly regulated in the U.S. That means you have to choose carefully because, like anything else, it's only as good as the practitioner. I got lucky and found an experienced board-certified homeopath whom I've gone to off and on for years. We're talking out-of-pocket here, so if it hadn't worked I assure you I wouldn't have gone back. On the other hand, I've been to quite a few doctors who were incompetent to the point of quackery, even though my insurance company is more than happy to pay for their services.
In spite of all this, I probably wouldn't stick my neck out again by recommending a homeopath because, apparently, the really good ones are just too few and far between.
My mother is working with a homeopath, that was recommended by a couple of satisfied customers, and with good results. About 3 years ago my mother had a bad chest cold with flu-like symptoms. I was not paying enough attention at the time as I was caretaking for an elderly friend. Later I found out that her doctor had immediately started her on blood pressure medications because her blood pressure was a little high (long story short: since then I've heard nothing but terrible things about this doctor who has the reputation of handling many more patients than any doctor can reasonably handle and still provide any reasonable level of care.....even a few choice curse words from a pharmacist about him). Anyway, once I became aware of my mother's situation, I switched her to the doctor who was working very well with this elderly friend of mine, but my friend did not have high blood pressure, but COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) which this doctor had a great handle on. Well, this doctor also turned out to be 'blood-pressure-medication-happy" and before we knew it, she had increased the dosage from one pill to two pills and was planning to up it to 3 pills. In the meantime, my mother had purchased a blood pressure machine and I was helping her monitor at her home. At the time the doctor wanted to up the dosage, mom's blood pressure was reading at times below 100 on the systolic (like around 95 or so), but she would have high readings at the doctor's office (white coat hypertension - I'm that way too). In any case, we did not increase the dosage and started working with the homeopath guy. He is out-of-state, so we've had to do this by phone. Through this process, my mother has been weaned off that particular blood pressure med (can't recall the name off-hand, but I believe it is one of the beta-blockers), is taking only 20 drops of an herbal blend daily, has no ankle swelling and her blood pressure averages about 120/65. The doctor's goal is to eventually drop the herbal blend. This is all out-of-pocket, but very inexpensive and I'm very happy with the results and I'm sure my mother's health has been improved. With that original medication, she was getting lip-swelling, shortness of breath, etc. Quite scary!
Woodchuck |
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Shary
147 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2007 : 14:51:50
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| Woodchuck, I'm glad your mom is doing better. Thanks for the input. |
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Woodchuck
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2007 : 15:15:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Shary
Woodchuck, I'm glad your mom is doing better. Thanks for the input.
Thanks Shary! She is a strong person and you would never guess she is 85. I'm 57 and people mistake her for my sister at times. Doesn't do much for me when that happens, but it makes her day! LOL!
Woodchuck |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2007 : 16:24:44
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I put up a small post yesterday not in defense of homeopathy per se, but in defense of individual experience. If someone feels helped or healed by whomever, a homeopath, a chiropractor, or for that matter a witch doctor, I don't see any wisdom in somehow trying to discount that...
All that said, I would not appeal to my experience as an individual as somehow weighty enough to challenge a well-designed study. I'm not a statistician or a scientist so I can't comment on this particular study, but just in general terms, anectodal individual success stories don't have much if any scientific value.
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Shary
147 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2007 : 17:29:26
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Hi Art,
Regarding scientific value, I'd just like to point out that there's probably nothing more unscientific than the Sarno approach to curing pain. It isn't mainstream medicine at all. Twenty years after the fact, most doctors still haven't even heard of it. Homeopathy, however, has been routinely treating the mind/body connection for hundreds of years. (Smile face goes here.) Sorry, I can't get the little icons to work. Other than being able to read and type, I'm sort of website-challenged. |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2007 : 18:15:16
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I actually find the homeopathic approach quite fascinating.
And I'm very glad you've had good success with it.
Healing good. Illness bad.  |
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wrldtrv
666 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2007 : 19:59:20
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| Sorry Shary, I just can't buy homeopathy any more than astrology. Why? Because it seems beyond belief that a "remedy" that is diluted to the millions and even billions of parts can do anything. This is akin to distant stars with their near zero gravitational pulls on us having any affect. |
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drziggles
USA
292 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2007 : 20:23:48
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I have to weigh in on this. While the homeopathy concept makes some rational sense, "treating like with like", the concept of extreme dilutions does not. The concentrations of the substances used are so infinitesimal, it's very likely that a given bottle of a treatment will not have even a single molecule of the active substance in it! It's the ultimate placebo: water... Like all placebos, homeopathy is successful for many people, and it's certainly harmless.
I can't believe pharmaceuticals haven't picked up more on this. I can just see the ads now:
"Ask your doctor if Placybo is right for you... (May cause genital warts, anal leakage, priapism,...)" |
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2007 : 22:20:37
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Hi Shary,
I have also had very good results with homeopathy..I researched and tried it myself, never went to a practicioner..Wish I knew of a good one in Las Vegas..I don't trust the FDA or drug companies at all..They even make it that Stevia (a healthy natural sweetner) has to be marketed as a supplement and not a sweetner! (too much competition w/ the poisons like Nutra Sweet)..Alot of politics in that field, no doubt about that..
take care,
Karen |
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Curiosity18
USA
141 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2007 : 22:38:27
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Shary,
I have also been helped by homeopathy. I had permanent resolution of several conditions. I don't believe that it was a placebo, because at the time I really didn't think it would be helpful. Homeopathy has not been useful for my major TMS symptoms(not surprisingly}, however.
Hang in there,
Curiosity
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
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Shary
147 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2007 : 08:06:39
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Placebo effect... Now there's a term that can be poked as full of holes as a pincushion. It's a tag the medical profession hangs on anything they can't explain--as if the human body is far too stupid to effect its own healing without medical meddling and dangerous chemicals.
In any case, although you don't have to believe in homeopathy or understand it for it to work, for sure it's an alternative approach that isn't going to attract many traditionalists, and it was never my intent to convert anyone. I just wanted to straighten out a few misconceptions. Thanks for all the interesting input. |
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shawnsmith
Czech Republic
2048 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2007 : 09:06:55
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I had a longer post posted here explaining why it is bogus, but it must have been deleted somehow
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Sarno-ize it!
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In defense of homeopathy
