Ill admit im not a fan of holistic/herbal nonsense, but if it makes a person feel better and is COMPLETELY HARMLESS it wont bother me a ton (ok yes it still will, except for pain management in which case it doesnt as much)
But lately ive seen a ton of nurses spreading this CRAP via social media
A list of "truth" about fighting cancer. Now despite the fact that its fake and actually isnt by John Hopkins at all whatsoever, it bothers me when nurses who are supposed to be healthcare professionals start peddling dangerous nonsense that can KILL people.
Some of the stuff in the article is true, or even general and vague. But then it goes on to "insinuate" that chemo/radiation is bad, and all this nonsense about becoming a vegan, getting rid of sugar, aspartme and scifi herbal remedies and what not.
And just makes me worry that people who dont have health science backgrounds see this crap coming from a nurse and having that lend credibility to its claims.
Maybe im nuts for having it bother me so much, but I just find it wildly irresponsible and quite honestly dangerous.
I knew a nurse who was anti vaccine. Strongly anti vaccine. She would tell anyone who would listen how there is no SIDS in the UK because they vaccinate differently, ect. She also did vitamin mega dosing, using IV infusions for Lyme disease. I assume/hope under a doctors order. She also loudly advised vitamin infusions to cure cancer, an would tell stories about patients who were cured of their terminal cancer. There are defiantly nurses who propagate questionable or just wrong information to the general public.
I use my phone, to type, I work at night, and I'm a bad speller. Pick any reason you want for my misspellings
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I think the OP meant that nurses were sharing this on Facebook, not that nurses wrote it originally.
I'm just wondering why the OP has so many freaky hippy nurse friends in his FB friends list that believe in "herbal nonsense" when he's made it quite clear what he thinks of THOSE types of people.
"You know what they call alternative medicines that work? Medicine."
I'm just stirring the pot lol
In all seriousness though I don't condone spreading pseudo-science. People are going to believe whatever fits for their own life. And really if you are terminal what's the harm of trying to feel a little better or live a little longer. Looming death can make a person desperate.
How about instead of criticizing people you just let it roll off your back? Who cares what people want to believe?
I am actually extremely interested in nutrition as medicine and have done a ton of research on it. I certainly don't think that medication and chemo/radiation are bad things by any means, but I think a lot of chronic health problems can be prevented and even reversed by eating a clean, whole plant-based diet. I've seen several people who have changed their eating habits and have come off their medication completely. So as a nurse, I definitely advocate this lifestyle.
HOWEVER, I do believe medicine has it's place and regarding terminal illness/cancer, I certainly wouldn't try to convince someone not to get treatment.
I am huge into alternative medicine and nutritional medicine. However, I do accept the limits of these treatments and I would never promote it as a "Nurse". If I am talking to friends or family about my opinion, absolutely. But I would never suggest it over traditional medicine, as I believe that is taking advantage of the Nurse-Patient relationship, and could be very harmful to someones treatment. I, myself will do what I wish with my body, and so far in my life it has worked perfectly for me.
I have a similar viewpoint. I don't care as long as it still promotes a healthy lifestyle. My BIGGEST pet peeve is the vaccination debate. I have had a few nurse "friends" post articles warning people of the poisonous vaccines that will harm their children. There is NO evidence to back up those claims. These people are presenting it as a member of the medical community even though they have no background on the issue. In my opinion it is dangerous and irresponsible.
I have a similar viewpoint. I don't care as long as it still promotes a healthy lifestyle. My BIGGEST pet peeve is the vaccination debate. I have had a few nurse "friends" post articles warning people of the poisonous vaccines that will harm their children. There is NO evidence to back up those claims. These people are presenting it as a member of the medical community even though they have no background on the issue. In my opinion it is dangerous and irresponsible.
You are right - there are many medical folks (although still a small minority) spreading stuff on social media. I get those links almost every day from family/friends.
One of the biggest is the anti-vax crowd and fortunately there has been an uprising against that with Nurses Who Vaccinate and Refutations to Anti-Vaccine Memes. Plus many other groups who use social media to counter the misinformation out there. Both the ones mentioned are on FB as well.
Obviously eating a more healthy diet and exercising and not smoking can all help. And no one here is saying at end-of-life if someone wants to try some "natural" potion, that they shouldn't do it. But the misinformation that is out there is aimed at folks who have a long time yet to live. Like kids.
Not wrote it, but have been sharing/promoting it via social media. People I've met from nursing school, clinicals, work and the like
Darn...I was HOPING that these were the sort of self-proclaimed "Nurse" we run into on the phone, trying to give orders for "their" doctor's practice, or interpreting X-rays, or who went to "nursing" school at Billy-Bob's Technical College and Full-Service LaundryMat Saloon! It was the best six weeks of their 23 year old lives!!
[no offense intended to MA's who do not pretend to be licensed nurses....]
I noticed that fellow students who brought new-age, magical thinking horsecrap up during, say a med surg lecture were quickly upbraided by professors.
However, once they got out of school, they went right back to it. I blame religion. If it is OK to believe in magical beings and supernatural cures in general, then it should be OK in nursing too right?
Well..... No, it isn't.
But if we as a society generally accept some supernatural concepts (angels, resurrection, miracles) and not others (Elvis being alive, Thunder is Zeus bowling, etc) then we really can't expect our nursing cohorts to always make sense and use evidence based thinking can we?
When my grandmother was dying of Stage IV cancer, they were graciously told to pursue hospice and comfort. My grandfather was in complete denial. There are companies who PREY on grieving family members. He spent the last couple months of her life vigorously researching and pouring money into these "alternative" treatments.
Now, I'm not saying it was a negative thing for him to have hope and to keep busy. But, there are companies who make false claims and give false hope just to take the money from those who don't know better.It is simply criminal.
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Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B
4 Articles; 857 Posts
I knew a nurse who was anti vaccine. Strongly anti vaccine. She would tell anyone who would listen how there is no SIDS in the UK because they vaccinate differently, ect. She also did vitamin mega dosing, using IV infusions for Lyme disease. I assume/hope under a doctors order. She also loudly advised vitamin infusions to cure cancer, an would tell stories about patients who were cured of their terminal cancer. There are defiantly nurses who propagate questionable or just wrong information to the general public.
I use my phone, to type, I work at night, and I'm a bad speller. Pick any reason you want for my misspellings