Holistic Medicines?

Chibi Baka · Apr 24, 2004

What do you think of holistic medicines?

or Qigong (chi kung).

Many of the methods used in these claim that they can cure anythign

even cancers and stuff.

This is a moslty eastern (mainly chinese i believe) belief system,

but i just want to know what everyone's opinion is on using non traditional "western" medicine is.

heres somthing to look at. :confused:

http://shaolin-wahnam.tripod.com/chikung/cancure.html

P_RN, ADN, RN · Apr 24, 2004

Do you mean herbal medicine or the whole complementary medicine thing...accupuncture, meditation, etc? I've had accupuncture and I know it worked for me. I am more cautious with herbs because they are not regulated in their manufacture. They're "dietary supplements" so why can't the FOOD and drug admin check into them?

At this point in time I do not have confidence that there is a cure for cancer on a web page on the internet....and that all you have to do is follow their advice. I do believe there will be a cure or at least a manageable treatment for cancers.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Apr 24, 2004

Do you mean herbal medicine or the whole complementary medicine thing...accupuncture, meditation, etc? I've had accupuncture and I know it worked for me. I am more cautious with herbs because they are not regulated in their manufacture. They're "dietary supplements" so why can't the FOOD and drug admin check into them?

At this point in time I do not have confidence that there is a cure for cancer on a web page on the internet....and that all you have to do is follow their advice. I do believe there will be a cure or at least a manageable treatment for cancers.

crankyasanoldma · Apr 24, 2004

I'm not a fan of "alternative or complimentary" medicine because there is so much fraud and hyperbole involved.

You have already hit upon one of the problems in which many varied claims are made (cures everything from acne to HIV to cancer), but the only evidence is a bunch of personal testimonials. Really, anyone can claim anything and not be required to prove it if it's sold as a 'dietary supplement' or whatnot.

Another issue I have is when 'alternatives' is when the ads use a bunch of sciency-sounding words or explanations that don't make real sense. Sometimes it just sounds like they are making the stuff up. My fave is here 'energy'. It's hard to quantify or prove 'energy' in the alt-med sense.

Frequently, alt proponents claim that the "medical-pharmacological-industrial complex" is just out "to get" them and that's why they have to be so secretive- it's pretty paranoid. people with nothing to hide make their ingredients, methods, and studies known.

I do think alternative medicines in particular should be investigated and this is being done, not by alt-med practitioners, but by the US government. Here is a link: http://nccam.nih.gov/

And you can check http://www.quackwatch.com for some pretty alarming storied of alt-med fraud and deception. More importantly, this site also has information on how to evaluate health claims and determine if you are being BS'd.

crankyasanoldma · Apr 24, 2004

I'm not a fan of "alternative or complimentary" medicine because there is so much fraud and hyperbole involved.

You have already hit upon one of the problems in which many varied claims are made (cures everything from acne to HIV to cancer), but the only evidence is a bunch of personal testimonials. Really, anyone can claim anything and not be required to prove it if it's sold as a 'dietary supplement' or whatnot.

Another issue I have is when 'alternatives' is when the ads use a bunch of sciency-sounding words or explanations that don't make real sense. Sometimes it just sounds like they are making the stuff up. My fave is here 'energy'. It's hard to quantify or prove 'energy' in the alt-med sense.

Frequently, alt proponents claim that the "medical-pharmacological-industrial complex" is just out "to get" them and that's why they have to be so secretive- it's pretty paranoid. people with nothing to hide make their ingredients, methods, and studies known.

I do think alternative medicines in particular should be investigated and this is being done, not by alt-med practitioners, but by the US government. Here is a link: http://nccam.nih.gov/

And you can check http://www.quackwatch.com for some pretty alarming storied of alt-med fraud and deception. More importantly, this site also has information on how to evaluate health claims and determine if you are being BS'd.

crankyasanoldma · Apr 24, 2004

I didn't check your link until after I posted. Let me give you the NIH CAM link for cancer: http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/9_14.htm

and also Qigong is addressed at quackwatch here http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/acu.html

crankyasanoldma · Apr 24, 2004

I didn't check your link until after I posted. Let me give you the NIH CAM link for cancer: http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/9_14.htm

and also Qigong is addressed at quackwatch here http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/acu.html

mrdoc2005 · Apr 24, 2004

I was in chiropractic school for 2 years(4 years for BS and then 2 of the 4 required for the DC degree). So realy I was in school 6 years. I was at Life (the largest chiropractic school) and they lost the acceditation so off went my credits. I moved home and decided to do nursing. I had always concidered it in the past.

Now Life has its acceditation back and I could go back but I love nursing.

So, I do believe in somethings like chiropractic and accupunture.

I think it is possible for herbs to cure. After all most drugs contain things from nature. However since their is no regulation in that industry it is buy beware. Plus it seems that most people think if 1 is good then i should take 3.

mrdoc2005 · Apr 24, 2004