A change for the better

[DOCBROWN1705]

In todays world, nothing truly natural seems to exist. So for a change I decided to start using holistic medications, and vitamins. I cant say that all of the things I have tried have worked, or that they will work for you, but it never hurts to give it a shot.... good health to all.

http://www.xerion.ca/PageClass_Home.aspx

[sirdarksol]

Sounds like a good change. There are a lot of medications whose side effects are as bad as or worse than what they treat (just don't forget that this applies to natural treatments as well as chemical treatments. Herbal does not mean safe)

The biggest thing to remember is that you want to do your own research, and you want to talk with third parties who are as neutral as possible, whether it is regarding a modern medical treatment or a homeopathic treatment. Multiple sources is your best bet. Do your own reading, too.

There's a lot of bad information out there (like this site's use of belladonna as a cold remedy. A cold is an inconvenience. I have belladonna growing in my backyard, and have found what it can do with simple contact. I wouldn't mess with the stuff. If the herbalist messes up the potency, you'd be in trouble), and no shortage of people who are willing to abuse that bad information in order to get rich.
I've seen some really horrible advice, not only from the homeopathic side of things but from the modern medicine side of things as well. Some examples:
-A person claiming that a diet heavy in high-fat meats and high-fat dairy products is good for your heart. This was from a doctor, mind you.
-A person suggesting that you take colloidal silver (minute silver particles suspended in water) for viruses. It's not that CS isn't useful. It binds to bacteria and makes it impossible for the bacteria to breathe. The bacteria dies as CO2 builds up in the cell and can't be replaced with O2. However, silver does nothing, that I've ever heard of, to viruses.
-Hundreds, if not thousands, of claims that you should take antibiotics for this or that viral infection.
And so on and so forth.

[DOCBROWN1705]

So true. You really do need to be careful, and defiantly do your own research. I also suggest talking to three or more naturopaths, and if they are all saying the same thing, at least you know that there is some constancy in your treatment.

I think that natural is the way to go... but make sure you are doing what is right for you, and your body.

[disgruntled]

you guys in BC are nothing but a bunch of hippies!! just kiddin'... i really agree with that approach myself. but you still have to be careful because so many people are trying to cash in on this trend that some info is questionably correct...

i am actually taking a ethnobiology class right now..... it is really interesting, but one thing you have to be aware of is that a lot of these herbal options are not synthetic or cultivated. they are gathered right from the wild. and unfortunately it is greedy companies paying for this and conservation has not been a priority. a classic example is echnacia (sp?). it is only gathered in the wild, and it has been so heavely harvested that some of the rarer strains of it are on the verge of extinction. it is actually now illeagal to harvest the rare forms, but they look the same as the more abuntant less endangered variety so there is no way to enforce the law.

[sirdarksol]

Personally, I go for the holistic approach. Take care of my body, and use the lowest-impact method of treatment. If that means antibiotics, then that's what I do. But I end up taking prescription meds maybe once every three years, and that's when I end up with a serious case of bacterial bronchitis.
Most of the time, my "meds" include glucosamine (not really natural, but better than extreme pain meds or synvisc shots, in my opinion) lyseine, cinnamon, green, white, and red teas, and zinc.