Have you ever personally used alternative medicine for a medical condition and if so,

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

Have you ever personally used alternative medicine for a medical condition and if so, which ones and what were the results?

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

With the understanding that this thread should not be used as medical advice and we're just sharing experiences here:

I've used it in conjunction with medical therapy for my chronic back problem. Every couple of years or so, I'll do something to my back that causes intense nerve pain, so painful that I cannot sit, stand still, or lie down. Walking gives me the least amount of pain. I went to the ER for it once when my back went out on me on a holiday weekend. I was given Demerol but it did not cure the pain, it only gave me about an hour's relief. I got a script for a heavy narcotic painkiller and was sent home.

By the time I got to the chiropractor, "agony" was insufficient to describe the amount of pain I was in. He did the first adjustment and my pain reduced by a point. He gave orders for ice packs and ibuprofen. I went back daily for about a week or two and became completely pain free and able to go back to work.

Now when my back goes out, I just go right to the chiro and I'm usually fixed within a week, no narcotics at all, and I can go back to work faster and not groggy from medications.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I've grown up with a chiropractor relative, so family get-togethers always turn into "adjustments for all" and I wouldn't have it any other way. I too went to a chiro not too long ago for REALLY bad back pain - after about a month of adjustments & exercises I was back at 100% with zero narcotics and minimal Ibuprofen. Ironically, he told me that most of his referrals come from orthopods & neurosurgeons!

I've also used melatonin for sleep.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I've used herbals such as goldenseal, garlic for infections. I've used other herbals. I mostly make alternative choices in order to avoid medical conditions. I haven't had too much go wrong so far because I think I make good lifestyle choices. I got an atypical pneumonia a few years ago and I went on PO levaquin, but then afterwards I replenished my friendly intestinal bacteria from a acidophilus supplement.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I usually use a combination of medicine and alternative. When I had a recent wound infected with MRSA, I took the conventional p.o. antibiodics (zithromax and bactrum), but also tumeric (anti-inflammatory), ginger, garlic, and tried to eat lots of fruits and vegetables. I also took serious probiodics during the treatment. I was able to fight it off without IV antibiodics or inpatient I&D's, c-diff. etc.

I take Valarian most work nights to help get me sleepy at a decent hour because I'm an insomniac.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I voted no before reading the posts.

I have tried ginger - with no success in a true viral nausea and vomiting and diarrhea situation. It does help with slight queasiness, maybe from overeating.

I went to a chiropractor once when I won a gift certificate to a local guy. (I was their ob nurse for 2 of their kids). Nice guy - no help with back pain. It went away in its usual course - about 2 to 3 weeks. And lots of ibuoprofen. (Not overdosing btw).

I can't take herbal stuff because I'm on Tegretol.

steph

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I have used chiro also. My Chiro uses the activator, basically a spring loaded plunger-I do not understand why it works but it does. I can't afford to have hands on due to osteoporosis and an iffy neck-and he agrees. And here I am an ortho nurse on top of it all.

I've also used a red cider vinegar herbal mix for really badly cracked heels-don't know why it works either.

Have to be pretty careful with any internal herbs don't want to mix with my heart meds.

Have used accupuncture for a bad dequervains contracture-yep it worked. I do understand a little about that alternative.

As long as you don't neglect your health and stubbornly continue with what doesn't work just because you don't "believe" in allopathic medicine......well.....

[KJRN79]

I had a wonderful family doc who was an osteopath and would adjust me for different conditions, including mono and chronic fatigue. I go to a chiropractor when I feel I need one and get massages for health (and stress). I'll take herbal remedies sometimes, too.

[beck_79]

I use alt. remedies all the time. They've been an interest of mine since I was a kid, lol. But I'm a big fan of conventional medicine, too, so I wouldn't use alternative medicine exclusively, because every ailment responds differently. If something isn't working, you bet I'll see a doctor about it, or try a conventional treatment.

I've used probiotics to resolve a miserable two- year battle with a yeast infection that wasn't responding to regular meds (actually suggested by a new doctor after I fired my old one); ginger for stomachaches; vitamin E oil for minor scars (don't know if it helped or not, though), tea tree oil for minor skin infections; zinc to shorten colds; honey facials for dry skin; reflexology for nasty headaches (it helps); arnica gel for bruises and aches; cider vinegar rinse for dandruff; I could go on, but I won't put you all to sleep. :) And chiro and massage have been great for my back.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I went to a chiropractor once when I won a gift certificate to a local guy. (I was their ob nurse for 2 of their kids). Nice guy - no help with back pain.

Mebbe ya just need to come to the East Coast & see MY chiro!!

[Kashia, ASN, LVN]

Yes. I was diagnosed with Hep C about 15 years ago and have lived peacefully with this virus most of those years. When I was going through a stressful period of my life I went in for check up and found my viral load and LFT's out of balance. actually quite high.

In cooperation with my Physician, she provided information and I did research on my own to make a treatment plan whose success was monitored by frequent labs and improved overall well being. In addition to taking some of the herbs listed at the link, I also took various supplements, enzymes and amino acids. In addition before starting these I spent two weeks at:

http://www.optimumhealth.org in San Diego, CA.

They have a comprehensive holistic raw food cleanse program

( which I discovered those with Hep C need to go lightly on ( 4-5 days max for me, break with regular vegan diet then resume)

I witnessed medical miracles occur for people with a wide range of disease.

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/hepatitisc/#scientific

These combined approaches along with making wellness a priority

brought me to what I would call large percentage of remission.

I elected to not have Interferon, to many side effects as bad as disease and hoping for improved allopathic treatment which I may try ...or if the above plan did not work I would as last resort try Interferon.

Be Well!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I suffered from sciatica and its associated chronic pain for 2 years. The pain that shot down the posterior aspect of my right leg was so horrible that it rendered me unable to walk reasonable distances.

I first sought medical attention from an orthopedic surgeon, who first alerted me that I had a "back problem," although he was not very helpful. My next move involved going to a local urgent care clinic, where I received a script for Flexeril. The Flexeril helped somewhat, but I still grappled with the sciatic nerve pain on a daily basis. I also saw an acupuncture doctor once, but to no avail due to no relief of pain.

I proceeded to see a chiropractor, who precribed "spinal decompression therapy" after x-rays revealed I had an L4/L5 injury. I basically laid on a table while wearing a backbrace with pulleys attached. The pulleys applied a certain amount of pressure to alleviate the narrowing between L4 and L5. I felt slightly better, but the pain was still present.

I was involved in a car collision in November 2006, and experienced some whiplash. I began two months of therapy at the chiropractic clinic that was recommended by my attorney. The chiropractor did old-fashioned manipulations on my spine, and the sciatic pain was completely gone from my life within 3 months. In my case, an alternative practitioner alleviated my chronic condition when traditional Western medical methods failed me.