|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
red dog
Joined: 31 Oct 2004
|
 Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 5:31 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| mindmetoo wrote: |
| red dog wrote: |
| Well, if a drug company marketed a new wonder-drug and it turned out to be a sugar pill, that would involve blatant deception and fraud. It would be a criminal act. Do you really want to make criminals out of all practitioners of alternative medicine? People have the ability to think for themselves, educate themselves and make their own decisions. I personally am skeptical of most of what gets touted as alternative medicine, but I would never be arrogant enough to dismiss all of it. |
Regardless of intent, drug companies are held to a very high standard, one which the alternative medicine crowd is not. When chasing profits, it's very easy, in non double blind trials, to see effects where effects don't exist. This is why drug companies have very strict testing protocols. Do you really think homeopaths get into the biz for reason other than making money? Would drug companies do expensive clinical trials if they, legally, didn't have to? |
OK, you've got me there. Double-blind clinical trials of homeopathic remedies -- involving human volunteers -- would be a good idea. But if the trials were mandatory, all homeopathic remedies would have to be withdrawn from the market in the meantime, wouldn't they? That wouldn't affect me, since I don't use homeopathic remedies. But I have to wonder where the government intervention would stop: Would I still be able to buy a multivitamin supplement if my own research indicated that it might benefit my health? Would everyone who wanted nutritional supplements of any kind be forced to run to a doctor to get a prescription? Would those products eventually be available only from the big pharmaceutical companies, which many of us prefer to avoid supporting for a multitude of reasons?
As it stands now, people who buy homeopathic remedies can research what kinds of studies have or haven't been done and decide for themselves whether the evidence is convincing enough. Likewise, a person with cancer or heart disease can look critically at the conventional medical treatments that are available and decide whether to go that route or not. Some Waygug-in made an important point earlier -- those treatments aren't always effective either. A big crackdown on alternative medicine could very well affect doctors (medical, naturopathic or whatever) who helped people recover their health using vegan and/or raw food diets, rest, exercise, etc. That would be Orwellian, IMO.
Last edited by red dog on Mon Nov 20, 2006 6:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
red dog
Joined: 31 Oct 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 5:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| some waygug-in wrote: |
So what would you call this?
Is this "alternative" or just something else?
http://oceanplasma.org/English/frames.html
also:
http://www.truthquest2.com/oceanplasma.htm
I don't have any experience with this, good or bad, but I do find it interesting.
Having had 3 members of my immediate family die of various types of cancer, while the traditional approaches to treatment only made them sicker, I am interested in exploring the alternatives and I don't think the government or anyone else should have the right to prevent people from trying different approaches. Especially since the failure rate of chemotherapy and radiation are so high.
Also interesting reading:
http://darrendixon.supanet.com/deathbydoctoring.htm
I have friends who have been helped by homeopathic treatments, they weren't suffering from serious conditions though. |
I'm sorry to hear about your family members, Some Waygug-in. Although I'm not familiar with the salt-water treatments described in the links, and I've only had time to take a quick look at them, I'd be very skeptical if I were in your position. Personally, I'd probably seek out a health practitioner who emphasized a plant-based diet as part of an overall healthy lifestyle to reverse disease -- I'd read everything the person had written and only talk to them if their writing passed my (unfortunately not infallible) BS detector. Even then, I wouldn't be too trusting and would ask a lot of pointed questions. I hope this helps. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I am not seeking therapy at the moment, but I may need to some day.
I do find this interesting, especially some of the case studies which are posted.
http://oceanplasma.org/English/frames.html
I would certainly do more checking before I were to use this over any other treatment, but I can't see any harm in taking some oral ingestions
for some non-terminal conditions. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| red dog wrote: |
| OK, you've got me there. Double-blind clinical trials of homeopathic remedies -- involving human volunteers -- would be a good idea. But if the trials were mandatory, all homeopathic remedies would have to be withdrawn from the market in the meantime, wouldn't they? That wouldn't affect me, since I don't use homeopathic remedies. But I have to wonder where the government intervention would stop: Would I still be able to buy a multivitamin supplement if my own research indicated that it might benefit my health? Would everyone who wanted nutritional supplements of any kind be forced to run to a doctor to get a prescription? Would those products eventually be available only from the big pharmaceutical companies, which many of us prefer to avoid supporting for a multitude of reasons? |
Vitamins of course have a lot of science and research behind them. Safe and effective. If you want to self medicate, like taking 500 mg of vitamin c thinking it will stop your cold, that's free choice. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
red dog
Joined: 31 Oct 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| mindmetoo wrote: |
| red dog wrote: |
| OK, you've got me there. Double-blind clinical trials of homeopathic remedies -- involving human volunteers -- would be a good idea. But if the trials were mandatory, all homeopathic remedies would have to be withdrawn from the market in the meantime, wouldn't they? That wouldn't affect me, since I don't use homeopathic remedies. But I have to wonder where the government intervention would stop: Would I still be able to buy a multivitamin supplement if my own research indicated that it might benefit my health? Would everyone who wanted nutritional supplements of any kind be forced to run to a doctor to get a prescription? Would those products eventually be available only from the big pharmaceutical companies, which many of us prefer to avoid supporting for a multitude of reasons? |
Vitamins of course have a lot of science and research behind them. Safe and effective. If you want to self medicate, like taking 500 mg of vitamin c thinking it will stop your cold, that's free choice. |
I wouldn't normally do something like that, and I don't think it's a good idea under ordinary circumstances. (I took vitamin C lozenges last year when I had no time to eat anything but coffee and Clif bars for a while, but I'm obviously not going to defend that as a healthy choice.)
Some vitamins, minerals and other supplements can be very harmful if you don't need them. And in some cases, as you've noted, people make claims for these substances that may or may not be true ... for example, many people take vitamin C hoping for a drug-like effect. There are legitimate and illegitimate uses for many kinds of nutritional supplements, but I don't want the government looking over my shoulder to make sure I'm not taking something they might deem an "unproven remedy." I'm pretty sure the Canadian government has talked about the possibility of regulating all nutritional supplements, and that would be bad news for consumer freedom IMO.
Last edited by red dog on Tue Nov 21, 2006 2:22 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 2:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
| mindmetoo wrote: |
Vitamins of course have a lot of science and research behind them. Safe and effective.
If you want to self medicate, like taking 500 mg of vitamin c thinking it will stop your cold, that's free choice. |
ECHINACEA works well with colds. One has to be mindful of the dosage however as overusage will reduce the efficacy. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
red dog
Joined: 31 Oct 2004
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 2:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
| igotthisguitar wrote: |
| mindmetoo wrote: |
Vitamins of course have a lot of science and research behind them. Safe and effective.
If you want to self medicate, like taking 500 mg of vitamin c thinking it will stop your cold, that's free choice. |
ECHINACEA works well with colds. One has to be mindful of the dosage however as overusage will reduce the efficacy. |
Well, it didn't do anything for me when I tried it, many years ago. More recently (but still a long time ago) I had some success with a "cantaloupe cure," but that wasn't scientific either. I hope no one finds out and decides to ban cantaloupe. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| igotthisguitar wrote: |
| mindmetoo wrote: |
Vitamins of course have a lot of science and research behind them. Safe and effective.
If you want to self medicate, like taking 500 mg of vitamin c thinking it will stop your cold, that's free choice. |
ECHINACEA works well with colds. One has to be mindful of the dosage however as overusage will reduce the efficacy. |
No. It's never been demonstrated in a double blind study. But whatever makes you happy. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Also helps to boost immunity. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| igotthisguitar wrote: |
| Also helps to boost immunity. |
Got some scientific, double blind studies to back that up? Or is science one big conspiracy too? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The thing with a lot of herbal remedies is that each person's body chemistry is slightly different, so what works with one person may or may not work for the next.
You have to try things out for yourself, if you find something that works for you...stick with it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
red dog
Joined: 31 Oct 2004
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| some waygug-in wrote: |
The thing with a lot of herbal remedies is that each person's body chemistry is slightly different, so what works with one person may or may not work for the next.
|
Yeah, and that happens with drugs and foods too, which is why no "cure" is 100 percent trustworthy. Look, I like to eat foods prepared with curry, basil, garlic, etc., because I think they taste better and I doubt they'll do me any serious harm. I also hope to wean myself off coffee one of these days, and herb teas seem like a less harmful substitute. I think it would be completely asinine if the government decided to ban herbs and start testing them to see if they should be "allowed" back on our plates or in our teabags.
But I don't have much faith in herbal cures either -- the way I see it, if you're really in serious trouble (for example, if you get injured in an accident) it probably isn't wise to experiment with home remedies and you should head for the nearest emergency room. If the situation is less serious or less clear cut (such as a cold or stomachache), maybe no treatment is the best option and you just need to eat better and get more rest. I know I get colds because I've allowed too much toxic crap to build up in my body, and my body can't get rid of it fast enough. When I tried that "cantaloupe cure," I think it helped because I managed to take it easy and stop pushing my body's limits -- at least for a short time. (The "cure" really just involved resting, missing a meal or two, and then giving my body a source of vitamins and energy that was wholesome and easy to digest.) Nowadays I might drink hot lemonade or ginger tea and feel better for while, but I know the colds are going to keep coming back until I do a major detox. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
