"Natural Cures"

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What do you all think about the book "Natural Cures They Don't Want You to Know About" by Kevin Trudeau? Is it a good book with good medical advice? What are the benefits of natural or holistic remedies over conventional medicine? I have yet to draw any solid conclusions, as I see benefits and drawbacks to both approaches.

Thoughts?

Agree with James Huffman. It's too bad that "alternative" and "conventional" practitioners are at such loggerheads. Wouldn't it make more sense to use whatever methods work for the patients, whether they are alternative or conventional? I spoke with a doctor in a clinicc who said that at one time, he was using a combination of herbs for his cardiac patients, and having successful results. He had to quit because his patients' insurance companies refused to pay for the herbs. We are held in thrall by the insurance and pharmaceutical industries.

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Herbs can be dangerous because the potency of the active ingredient cannot be assured. Depending on time of year herbs are harvested, growing conditions and the like, you will find great swings in potency. Also, the manufacturers are not regulated. Impurities abound and some contain NO active ingredients.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

When i read this thread, the image of a wooden wagon from 150 years ago, trolling the latest "cure" came to mind.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Trudeau's book doesn't even make for good toilet paper.

Birdcage liners?

Hamster bedding?

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Yes. Herbs certainly can be dangerous. They are potent substances. Which is why they shouldn't be used indiscriminately. However, pharmaceutical agents are dangerous too. Some researchers claim that 25% of hospital admissions are realted to complications from meds or treatments.

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Specializes in Pain Management.

Herbs can be dangerous and can interact with a pt's current medications. That is why is a good idea to see a licensed herbal practitioner. I'm not sure of the qualifications and boards that the botanical herbalists take, but the Chinese herbal boards can be difficult. Plus most Chinese herbal medicine programs include a class and pharmacology and a class on drug-herb interactions.

But most people take herbs after reading about vague signs and symptoms in a book for lay-people (not a strawman - I noticed this when I worked at various health food stores during my whorish-retail phase during my undergrad).

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Specializes in Pain Management.
Herbs can be dangerous because the potency of the active ingredient cannot be assured. Depending on time of year herbs are harvested, growing conditions and the like, you will find great swings in potency. Also, the manufacturers are not regulated. Impurities abound and some contain NO active ingredients.

There are some companies that import herbs from China, test for potency and impurities, then process the herbs using strict methodology. But it is very unlikely that the brands of herbs that can be found cheaply go through this process.

Double warning if you live in an area with a large asian population that has Chinese herbal stores - most of the brands are cheap (read: not tested) and if you get a "free" consultation, they will probably prescribe more expensive herbs (it is a buisness, remember). Plus, while the Chinese government deals very harshly with counterfeiters, but it is still a possibility to get a knock off product.

All the more reason for the average consumer to buy from American companies...or to see an experienced licensed practitioner that knows more about these details than could be discussed in the context of this website.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
There are some companies that import herbs from China, test for potency and impurities, then process the herbs using strict methodology. But it is very unlikely that the brands of herbs that can be found cheaply go through this process.

Double warning if you live in an area with a large asian population that has Chinese herbal stores - most of the brands are cheap (read: not tested) and if you get a "free" consultation, they will probably prescribe more expensive herbs (it is a buisness, remember). Plus, while the Chinese government deals very harshly with counterfeiters, but it is still a possibility to get a knock off product.

All the more reason for the average consumer to buy from American companies...or to see an experienced licensed practitioner that knows more about these details than could be discussed in the context of this website.

In Philadelphia, at one of the facilities, we routinely admitted many asian patients for liver failure.

Several of the "herbal natural remedies" that they were using were in liquid form and both alcohol and acetaminophen were mixed in. Adding to the problem, a disproportionate number of asian immigrants with chronic illnesses that were treated before entering the USA had hepatitis of one form or another (r/t medical practices abroad).

The problem with Kevin Trudeau's science, is that very little of it passes double blind studies/legimate examination. It is very simplistic and many of those that read it are unlikely to discuss it with legitmate medical practitioners. And if those practitioners voice any concerns over interactions between the patients medicines and this unregulated products, the patient is likely to blow them off, due to the attitude of "they don't want you to know about this cure".

I have no problems with legitmate CAM (complementary alternative medicine), and utilize in my life. But people like Trudeau give the legimate CAM a bad name.

I also have a problem with "conspiracy" theories of medicine, which he promotes.

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Specializes in Neuro, Acute, Geriatrics, Rehab, Oncology.

We have the book. I found it arduous to read. I am an optimistic skeptic when it comes to natural remedies. I would rather practice prevention and to treat minor ailments myself. Yes, medically we have come a long way BUT we have also fogotton basic common sense ways of dealing with our bodies see...the thread Most rediculous things people come to the ER for.There is a balance between high tech and simple care. It is too bad we have a man with a shaded reputation plastered all over TV spending 22 Million (yes I said 22 million) on advertising when he claims to be concerned with hungar control. sighs..another complex issue

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What you say has validity. More studies are needed to determine which alternative therapies are helpful and which are not. No one is willing to fund these studies because they don't profit the pharmaceutical industry or anyone else.

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Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

My sister is in all the natural way thing. She read the book too and even she said it was bogus.every now and again she will come up with things that would help someone, but she will be the first to tell someone that they need help from a medical person. She said there are limits to a natural cure. I have always said if you send her out in the woods with nothing but a stick she would come back out in 2 weeks healthy and gaining weight.

Any way, the book is vague and more fantasy according to my sis.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
What you say has validity. More studies are needed to determine which alternative therapies are helpful and which are not. No one is willing to fund these studies because they don't profit the pharmaceutical industry or anyone else.

Actually, no, there are plenty of groups to fund the studies - the herbalists, producers and manufacturers of the products, the creators of various therapy regimens. All of whom make money off of selling unregulated products

And Kevin Trudeau is making plenty of profit off of the issues.

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