Holistic Remedies

By kikidew on Nov 23, 2009 | Reply

no, physicians do not tell us about natural cures because they are not educated about them in medical school and have no training in them.They do not get kickbacks from the drug companies and most doctors’s truly do have your well being at heart. Its just that they have trained analytical minds which tend to follow proven and tested medical science.ii.e. drug therapies. Unfortunately, most natural cures, albeit they work, do not have significant scientific data to back them up.When the data becomes mainstream and convincing a good physician will offer all choices to patients.
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Physician’s sister

By thuz5 on Nov 23, 2009 | Reply

I don’t know why doctors hold back on valuable information. Maybe it’s like Ministers who won’t tell you about the bad things in the Bible. They figure that’s not their job.
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By angrydoc on Nov 23, 2009 | Reply

Thank you for insulting a group of people who have dedicated their lives to helping others. Please provide proof of your accusations rather than your "I believe…" statement.

Doctors will not use "natural cures" until those "cures" have been proven through studies to be effective and safe for their patients.
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By weird_al23 on Nov 23, 2009 | Reply

Doctors do not (or should not) get any ‘kickbacks’ from drug reps or drug companies because it is unethical.

One of the reasons why doctors do not ‘prescribe’ natural cures is because more often than not, studies done on these natural cures, a whole of them have proven to be ineffective as cures. HOWEVER, there are some to be of use in medicine. (not every drug is a cure; they are used in different ways depending on what effect it has).

VINBLASTINE and VINCRISTINE are drugs used in chemotherapy for patients with leukemia. They’re actually from plant alkaloids.

PACLITAXEL is from a yew, also used for chemotherapy in patients with ovarian and breast cancer.

Vaccines are actually part of a virus that is used to stimulate your immune system to make antibodies against the virus.

Penicillin is from the fungus Penicillium, which is the first ever antibiotic to be discovered in 1928.
References :
Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology; Katzung Pharmacology

By Jeanmarie on Nov 23, 2009 | Reply

NO.
I have a friend who’s an MD. He told me he was taught how to give our script drugs in Medical school!

Scary eh?
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By dave on Nov 23, 2009 | Reply

There are NO ‘natural cures’ that come from plants anymore!

Quite simply, the MOLECULAR STRUCTURE used in some drugs may have first been discovered in some plants, however they are then synthesized in the laboratory. They are used because their steric configuration coincidentally ‘fits’ into human receptor sites. No one goes out harvesting these things like the deluded hippy image you imagine; they’re created in a laboratory from crude oil feedstock (like plenty of those ’supplements’ that you shovel down, all courtesy of big pharma!)

Modern drugs ensure that we in the west live far longer than less developed countries populations that rely on herbs, voodoo and the like.
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Conspiracies always sound more fun than the reality.

By dr. T on Nov 23, 2009 | Reply

By and large, MDs are motivated singularly by their desire to help heal their patients… There is no conspiracy. MDs simply do not receive training in botanical medicine.
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Skepdoc – FYI, this ND does not dispense; that’s what health food stores are for! Only when a patient is unable to access quality product will I bring in sups for them (with only enough mark-up to cover my shipping costs, etc.) Suggesting that NDs receive kickbacks for prescribing nutraceuticals is irresponsible (and fallacious.)

I wouldnt suggest you’re hiding anything., that’s silly. But I know you’re a busy guy, so if you’re genuinely interested to review some of the science, I’d be happy to share.

For the record, oh peanut gallery, it is also irresponsible to consistently imply that herbal medicine does not work, is patently unsafe or has not been tested. In fact, in Canada these "natural health products" must demonstrate efficacy and safety (via scientific analyses in RCT etc) in order to obtain a DIN# and enter/remain on the market.

(The escalating character assassination gambit is interesting, though.)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…
Skepticism is a necessary and healthy thing… but if you wanna call yourself a skeptic, you have to actually read (and evaluate) the science.
References :
Naturopathic Doctor

By William T on Nov 23, 2009 | Reply

Absolutely not. Doctors prescribe what works. Sometimes that medication comes from a plant, sometimes it doesn’t but it always comes from scientific research and careful study. My doctor often tells me about things that fall in the category of natural cures. For example she told me that I could try aloe vera for my planters warts if I wanted. It was a completely unsolicited recommendation for a natural product as opposed to a prescription, and I don’t think my doctor is the only one who does this. She would never be so irresponsible though as to assume that all natural products are better because they are natural, or to base her practice on claims that start with words like "I believe" instead of words like "research shows".

Drop the conspiracy junk, your life will only get better.
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By Christian D on Nov 23, 2009 | Reply

Doctors don’t get kickbacks, that is illegal in most places

They get pampered, drug companies will take doctors families out to fancy dinners, bring them on fancy holidays, they will get given free samples by the drug manufacturers and send them lots of free gifts, they choose to use these drugs because it is shoved in there face so much that they are convinced that it works
It’s like peer pressure and brain washing all rolled in to one, just because a person is smart doesn’t mean that they have a strong mind

And just because something is natural, doesn’t mean it is healthy, for example heroin comes from a poppy, while it can be used to help a lot of people, it can also do a lot of damage

There are many natural things that do work, and many drugs are inspired from naturally occuring things, there are also a lot of natural things that are worse too

Natural alternatives are usually good not because of the condition that it is treating but because it will often have other nutrients in it as well, unfortunately not everyone can have natural alternatives because people have allergies

There are a million points to this argument, but if you are going to blame someone for being in the wrong, you should be blaming the people who make the drugs, they are the ones getting the real money, have a look at Zyprexa, that is a fine example of a drug that costs an arm and a leg, and when people are ill they don’t have that much money lying around
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By pelops_dl on Nov 23, 2009 | Reply

No, they do not get kickbacks. That’s illegal and unethical. The most they get are pens. That isn’t to say drug reps don’t influence doctors in what they prescribe. My doctor actually refuses to see drug reps, preferring to read the literature and evalute the drugs on their merit rather than the sales pitch.

They dont’ tell you about natural cures if they don’t work. They actually have the same standards for pharmaceuticals as herbal drugs. Herbal drugs are just untested and unregulated drugs. The FDA should regulate them because they have side-effects (Kava is liver toxic for example).
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By janie on Nov 23, 2009 | Reply

Doctors are not allowed to prescribe or recommend anything that the AMA does not consider the standard thing..ie for cancer–radiation, chemo and surgery. Many have lost their medical licenses for things as small as selling "unauthorized vit b shots"

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Doctors are courted while in medical school where alternative health and nutrition is not taught except to say it is quackery and a few things like beriberi or scurvy.

They are pursued by drug reps who give them small favors like pens and notepads etc and large incentives for recommending their drugs that range from free computer programs to frequent flyer miles. If they are going to prescribe a drug for arthritis, doctors feel why not prescribe x brands on the prescription and get a free vacation since they are prescribing a type of drug anyway. They also receive free drug samples that they can give their patients who cannot afford drugs etc.

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The thing is that the average person knows a lot more than medical doctors on alternative health.

this is because doctors are kept so busy with paperwork, etc that they have little time. What reading they do it is usually in the medical library and the medical journals.

Here, too, the drug companies, massive industry that they are, have the upper hand. Highly respected medical journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and others can keep in business because they get tons of high priced full color, multi-page ads for various pharmaceuticals.

If the magazine publishes a study or something favorable to an inexpensive, safe, non toxic treatment that threatens to cut into their massive profits, they use threats to stop it.

It takes millions of dollars of investment to bring any drug to market..once they do and are approved by the fda, the drug company that invested their money and research into the drug, gets an exclusive patent for 7 years in return for their investment of time and money and noone else by that company sell the drug or can make generics until the 7 years pass.

No company is going to spend millions of dollars on studies etc– for say– garlic that anyone can buy at the store or some herb people can pick for free. Thus few studies are done.

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Remember when I said they use threats (the drug companies) here is how..on the few studies that do get done and make it to publication in medical journals and magazines, the magazine is full of more pages of ads than content and they need this money to keep the magazine running.

The drug makers threaten to pull their advertising money from the magazine anytime the medical journal publishes anything favorable to some cheap herbs or treatment that might harm their bottom line profit. They have folded other magazines and this example keeps them all towing the line.

Thus doctors who read these magazines never ever see the studies and effectiveness, thus keeping what they were taught in school intact.

Drug companies market to to the consumer directly in ads and mags saying ask your doctor if x is right for you to maximize profits. since doctors know if they don’t give a demanding customer what they want, they might go to another doctor, they prescribe it in essence letting the patient self diagnose

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Plus they are highly trained and guarded with peer pressure as well to consider anything besides them as quackery.

Plus face it, doctors can be ego driven to think only they, the highly educated in medicine, know the answers and if they do not know it, then it must be crap or if they do not know how to cure it that it is incurable..in reality what they are telling you when they say something is incurable is that there is nothing they know of or believe in that can cure you not that nothing on this earth will.

They are so used to rejecting something you read about and ask they never learn..when people do cure themselves, they say maybe you were misdiagnosed or why did you do that or show no intellectual curiosity or say that is great, keep it up but never recommend it for any of their other patients with the same illness. They don’t learn and they don’t change unless it is in tune with their belief system like many humans.

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Also we have set up a massive system of profit making industry that is hard to reverse for the economic impact.

I just read that if, for instance, a cure was found for cancer that it would collapse the US economy and the world economy thus TPTB (not individual doctors which may be kind and generous) have a vested interest in maintaining things as they are.

What they might like is to ban all supplements and herbs giving them even more monopoly as more and more people currently turn to alternative health which can only be spread by word of mouth one to another from people knowing how to cure or curing disease in themselves or someone else.

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Eventually this will happen. Years and years ago, I could scarcely find organic food and it was puny and wilted and overpriced. Now it is everywhere and known by all. Now doctors are using "complimentary" treatment as patients are demanding it. but they do not use powerful treatments that cure the killer diseases but small puny treatments.
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In truth, although allopathic may gain from adding alternative or "complimentary medicine, but naruopahts and you do not gain from combining allopthic with alternative for the most part as the two systems are diametrically opposed.

Using allopathy and its toxic drugs and serious actions like removing body parts harms the mechanism making it even harder for natural health to do its works. In some life-threatening accidents or something, these powerful things are needed, for most chronic diseases they are not and first do harm.

We cannot do much about this other than stop going to doctors and taking responsibility for our own health and educating others. many continue to live their poor lifestyle and expect the doctor to give them a pill so they can continue so the doctors will never be out of business, but they will notice and start using some of the herbs etc and studying them when a profit can be made or they will get the sale of natural medicine banned and under a doctor’s recommendation and since they know so little that will be a worst case scenario.,

Still one can learn to make their own herbal products and gather the herbs in the fields and woods when they are which are there for the service of man and beast as well as do healthy things like get good air, water, food, exercise, detox, use natural cleaners, lesson exposure to toxins, reduce negative thinking and emotions, practice gratitude, forgiveness, love, trust, etc and stop doing the bad things like smoking, drugs, overeating, drinking, hating, sedimentary lifestyles that harm them.

They can demand good healthy food by not patronizing fast food places, not buying bad foods, buying more produce, etc and training kids to not eat or do the bad stuff and to do the good stuff and practice alternative health whenever they can.

We cannot change everything but we can change ourselves and our communities one by one and one day at a time and if you stop going to a doctor let them know why and what you are looking for in a health practitioner so they will learn and eventually potentially look more to lifestyle advice and less drastic measure they so routinely use.

My doctor is an allopath, however, she is very into alternate health and sells supplements. Not sure if this is allowed but it is nontypical and those who practice alternative health prefer her over other local doctor. we she she practices what she preaches–thin and vibrant and shopping at the health food store, giving out healthy recipes as prescriptions and life changes, with a library full of alternative health.

We see her spending 30 minutes with each patient, asking what they ate and about them etc. this is a doctor of the future.

Even so, I prefer to reduce contact with all doctors whenever I can, and self treat when I can and disagree when I do..also my insurance does not cover her due to her not wanting to be on the hmo so I must self pay to see her and I do even though I am very poor.

Luckily she gives me a price discount. In 10 years, I have only bought 2 supplements from her and only because they were ones I wanted and cheaper there. we need more like her and more freedom for alternative doctors.

By JH on Nov 23, 2009 | Reply

Yes! They say they don’t trust natural cures because they haven’t been Approved by the FDA. I can give you several drugs that have been approved by the FDA that have killed people! How bout the fine Pfizer got from the Federal Government Because they bought Dr’s to prescribe their drugs! Doctors and Drug Co’s could care less about you! They only care about their bank accounts!
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