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

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. Have you ever personally used alternative medicine for a medical condition?

    • 14
      Yes, I used it exclusively.
    • 32
      Yes, I used it in conjunction with medical therapy.
    • 4
      No, never tried it.
    • 3
      Other. Please discuss.

53 members have participated

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

My great grandmother was an herbalist. She must have done something right. 12/15 kids lived to adulthood while homesteading in SD at the turn of the last century. Sadly, most of her knowledge was not passed down. Although one family story was how at every christmas each of her kids was given at least one segment of an orange. She gathered greens etc for feeding the family. This was done I am sure to prevent scurvy.

OT but my grandfather was a circuit preacher. He froze his toes one winter. He knew that they were gangrenous. He went out to his shop heated up an axe blade and did a self amputation. (Those old pioneers were tough!):eek:

Pinning 12/14/07.

My great grandmother was an herbalist. She must have done something right. 12/15 kids lived to adulthood while homesteading in SD at the turn of the last century. Sadly, most of her knowledge was not passed down. Although one family story was how at every christmas each of her kids was given at least one segment of an orange. She gathered greens etc for feeding the family. This was done I am sure to prevent scurvy.

OT but my grandfather was a circuit preacher. He froze his toes one winter. He knew that they were gangrenous. He went out to his shop heated up an axe blade and did a self amputation. (Those old pioneers were tough!):eek:

Pinning 12/14/07.

Wow, great stories. I love talking to elderly folks. My own grandma was full of folklore stories. . . .. . especially about alternative treatments and ghost stories and seeing a leprechaun in the woods once. I think she told them to scare all the grandchildren.

steph

Specializes in ER; HBOT- lots others.

I have chronic knee pain; and october 06 i was told i had a severly herniated disc pinching off my sciat (like they really had to tell me that for me to really know!! ) nacr's and all kinds of meds were on my list. i ended up having surgery to get disc out, and am totally fine now. In that mean time, i did chiro; hot packs; cold packs; massage; tens; relaxation; accpuncture; accupressure.. EVERYTHING i could get my little hands into to try (non drug tx)...i would try anything at least once just to see. I HATE needles, and accupuncture was horrid for me, but my boyfriend went and helped mentally. i firmly believe you have to try everything. that and i was in soooo much pain, i didnt have a choice but to try. surgery was the best thing i ever had for what my prob was. i will always have pain, but am always looking for new stuff ESP other than dang meds.

During the period when J - my ex-husband - moved out - I was under a lot of stress - kept having palpitations that would make me catch my breath (not painful - just off rhythm...felt wierd, strong!) So I hooked myself up to the monitor at work one night - PAC's. The cardiologist nurse @ work recommended fish oil and magnesium supplements. That worked for me - I since stopped taking them because my stress level is down and I do not have any more palpitations.

My eye doctor also reccommended fish oil to me as a treatment for dry eyes.

Viking, wow - self amputation - what a man - I am not sure I would have had it in me to do that to myself!

Specializes in LTC.

Tea tree and lavender for boils which I chronically get (negative for MRSA, thank GOD!). Both have antiseptic and drawing properties. They only work if I can catch the little buggers before they get too big and painful, at which point I go back to Western medicine and get them lanced.

Oil of clove for toothaches; it is also antiseptic in nature and numbed the pain far better than any Orajel I've ever used; I have read that it can be caustic to tissue, so I use it conservatively.

Specializes in med-surg 5 years geriatrics 12 years.

I take a combination of black cohosh and soy for hot flashes.....the jury is still out for hormone replacement. Have a stubborn spouse so when he fot a fungal toenail, I put Vicks on it. Took awhile to grow out but it worked. And of course I start taking Coldeze and Vitamin C when I feel a cold sneaking up. They work for me.

Specializes in Home Health Care,LTC.

I have taken Herbal medicines in the past but right now just can't afford the extra. Heck I can't afford to get my prescription medication.

I am limited as to what meds I can take (severe allergies) and NSaids(bleeding issues) but have tried with pretty good results, Tea Tree (skin infections) Reikei for managing my pain from a MVA 7 yrs ago, and yoga

Specializes in MPCU.

I had a mis-diagnosed lipoma on my back. My symptom was pain. I was diagnosed with dorsal nerve root compression and prescribed 800 mg Motrin tid. It did very little to relieve the pain. I had one treatment at the acupuncturist and the pain was relieved. The pain did not return for several years at which time a correct diagnoses was made and the lipoma was surgically removed.

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