Health food store giving medical advice

rph3664 · Feb 23, 2008

I did a rotation on an organ transplant unit, and one of the patients I followed was a practitioner of the Maharishi cult, was a hardcore vegan, and came to the hospital where a duffel bag full of herbal supplements, most of which interacted with his antirejection meds.

I don't want to sound like I'm ridiculing anyone's religion, but he also plastered one wall of his hospital room with pictures of the Maharishi, which was kind of funny. Most people might put up a cross or whatever, but the whole wall? Sort of like a 15-year-old with Slipknot posters. :bugeyes:

rph3664 · Feb 23, 2008

Has anyone seen those TV ads for sticky foot pads that "remove toxins from the body"? I could see them absorbing sweat, which would contain toxins, but this sounds like a total ripoff.

EmmaG, RN · Feb 23, 2008

Has anyone seen those TV ads for sticky foot pads that "remove toxins from the body"? I could see them absorbing sweat, which would contain toxins, but this sounds like a total ripoff.

I nearly fell out when I saw that commercial :lol2:

"A fool and his money are soon parted"

Perhaps people who would believe those ridiculous claims deserve it.

Woodenpug, BSN · Feb 23, 2008

Nutritional supplements only need to meet the standard of not causing too many reported deaths directly attributable to the supplement. Even if the herb is proven beneficial, you do not know what you're actually getting unless it is USP verified.

http://www.usp.org/USPVerified/

Evidence for the effectiveness of various herbal medicines can be found on medline at

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html.

sauceywolf · Feb 23, 2008

Famous people who go on TV and talk about natural health products are only giving a tiny piece of the puzzle--and I agree, it is frightening--why? Most people in this country are looking for that magic pill that will restore health without the person doing anything to change the things that lead to the illness in the first place! It doesn't work!! People don't want to take responsibility for their own health--they give up that responsibility--however, in their defense, they are conditioned by Wall Street to believe in the magic pill. My fellow nurses--Big Pharma is a BUSINESS--it's legal mandate is to increase profits--period. This is perfectly legal. They don't care about actually helping people--look deeper into their testing methods--it's shocking. Plus, are you aware that some of the ingredients of our meds come from overseas? 93% of the factories in China that supply Big Pharma with ingredients have NEVER been inspected.

I have heard of Hoxey and his method did indeed work unless the person was end stage ca. As far as better methods, I hope you weren't referring to chemotherapy. :nono: I worked the hem/onc floor my first year out of school, I'm well aware of what it does--actually, I'm much more aware now than I was then.

I'll close this with this thought---the human body is an amazing thing--it can cure itself of almost anything with the right tools--always has been able to--so how do you thing we survived before the advent of Big Pharma? :idea:

sauceywolf · Feb 23, 2008

Before anyone posts how unsafe natural whole foods based supplements and herbs are--do some research. Did you know that prescription and non prescription drugs kill more americans each year than all the wars this country has been in during the 20th century combined!! And that is taking them as prescribed. Studies also show that when doctors go on strike, mortality drops.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2008

I have, on occasion, asked a clerk at one particular local health food store for advice. They aren't earning minimum wage, and they aren't stupid. Most of them have worked there for years, and they actually know a decent amount. Yes, I take everything they say with a grain of salt, though. Occasionally, I learn something.

I don't take too many supplements, and I'm highly suspect of new agey natural fru fru crap that often frequents health food stores. I'm just as suspect of drugs that come from a pharmacy. That said, there can be help in certain natural products, IMHO. What I hate though, is how you can slap a "natural" label on a product and people will clamor towards it like lemmings. So much is just clever marketing.

I suspect many patients want a different solution than what they are getting from the mainstream medical establishment. I also suspect some patients, including me, are adverse to being treated like ignorant sheeple by the "ask your doctor" and hierarchical "compliance" climate of the medical community. Health food stores offer some autonomy about one's health. Of course, one must be responsible for the outcomes.

sauceywolf · Feb 23, 2008

sorry, misspelled Hoxsey.

Woodenpug, BSN · Feb 23, 2008

---the human body is an amazing thing--it can cure itself of almost anything with the right tools--always has been able to--so how do you thing we survived before the advent of Big Pharma? [/b]

We survived but quality and length of life have been improved by pharmaceuticals. Herbal and complimentary therapies do indeed work. But these areas have also become big money making industries.

They prey on peoples desperation and ignorance. Since I work nights, I see many infomercials which make very outrageous claims. Most of their arguments sound similiar to your claims sauceywolf. The difference is you care about people, they care about money.

We sincerely, need to regulate this industry. It's simply not enough to tell people that if it's sold at GNC - don't risk you health or waste your money.

rph3664 · Feb 23, 2008

Famous people who go on TV and talk about natural health products are only giving a tiny piece of the puzzle--and I agree, it is frightening--why? Most people in this country are looking for that magic pill that will restore health without the person doing anything to change the things that lead to the illness in the first place! It doesn't work!! People don't want to take responsibility for their own health--they give up that responsibility--however, in their defense, they are conditioned by Wall Street to believe in the magic pill. My fellow nurses--Big Pharma is a BUSINESS--it's legal mandate is to increase profits--period. This is perfectly legal. They don't care about actually helping people--look deeper into their testing methods--it's shocking. Plus, are you aware that some of the ingredients of our meds come from overseas? 93% of the factories in China that supply Big Pharma with ingredients have NEVER been inspected.
I have heard of Hoxey and his method did indeed work unless the person was end stage ca. As far as better methods, I hope you weren't referring to chemotherapy. I worked the hem/onc floor my first year out of school, I'm well aware of what it does--actually, I'm much more aware now than I was then.
I'll close this with this thought---the human body is an amazing thing--it can cure itself of almost anything with the right tools--always has been able to--so how do you thing we survived before the advent of Big Pharma?

And since when does any big corporation care about anything but $$$$$$? The pharm companies aren't any different; when I worked at the grocery store, more than once I responded to a customer hollering about Big Pharma with "Sorry, I just work here" and waved them off.

I personally do not understand why any patient with cancer of the lung, pancreas, or esophagus would take chemo, or why any doctor would order it, when every study has shown little or no increase in lifespan from these treatments, and the side effects are beyond horrible.

There are many types of cancer, especially those in the pediatric population, that have a 100% fatality rate WITHOUT chemo (ALL is the first that comes to mind) so it's not all expensive poison.

How long has it been since you renewed your nursing license, Saucey?

sauceywolf · Feb 23, 2008

I have, on occasion, asked a clerk at one particular local health food store for advice. They aren't earning minimum wage, and they aren't stupid. Most of them have worked there for years, and they actually know a decent amount. Yes, I take everything they say with a grain of salt, though. Occasionally, I learn something.
I don't take too many supplements, and I'm highly suspect of new agey natural fru fru crap that often frequents health food stores. I'm just as suspect of drugs that come from a pharmacy. That said, there can be help in certain natural products, IMHO. What I hate though, is how you can slap a "natural" label on a product and people will clamor towards it like lemmings. So much is just clever marketing.
I suspect many patients want a different solution than what they are getting from the mainstream medical establishment. I also suspect some patients, including me, are adverse to being treated like ignorant sheeple by the "ask your doctor" and hierarchical "compliance" climate of the medical community. Health food stores offer some autonomy about one's health. Of course, one must be responsible for the outcomes.

Excellant point--I totally agree :yeah: A little FYI--Big Pharma has gotten into the supplement business, however, theirs is made from artificial vitamins and chemicals with only what they consider the "active" ingredient, leaving out all the rest that mother nature put in so it's about as good for you as--well--nothing. know where your supplements come from.

elkpark · Feb 24, 2008

My fellow nurses--Big Pharma is a BUSINESS--it's legal mandate is to increase profits--period. This is perfectly legal. They don't care about actually helping people--look deeper into their testing methods--it's shocking. Plus, are you aware that some of the ingredients of our meds come from overseas? 93% of the factories in China that supply Big Pharma with ingredients have NEVER been inspected.

You're not suggesting that the companies producing "supplements" are any different, are you??????