Can we really trust mainstream medicine?

[Neblasian]

Good day,

I am writing this post out of frustrations that I have had with doctors. Over a year ago my blood pressure (BP) was elevated (142/90). So the doctor gave me norvasc. After a couple of more appointments she wasn't impressed with the results so she double the dose, then changed to another brand. I visited other doctors and the told me just stick with the medication. A couple months ago I started looking at energy work. After which, I was attuned to Reiki and also did a couple of chakra courses. I realise my elevated BP was the result of anger and fear I had stored in me. After a couple months of treatment and emotional relise my BP is now (122/63). I however, felt very much cheated by the doctors and wondered why they are so eager to push medication even though i am so young. And why are they so adamant against the use of alternative therapy. I did some research and realised that doctors are getting kick backs from pharmaceutical companies (And its friiggin legal). This is so immoral it isn't funny. Are a doctor's highest priorties their patients or am I living in a dream world.

[lasti]

I think you confuse two hypotheses:
- Mainstream medicine doesn't work
- Doctors of mainstream medicine don't want to help people

Surely there are doctors who really want to help people. Surely there are scams. That doesn't have to do with mainstream medicine.
Just because alternative mainstream helped you doesn't mean the people in your chakra courses wanted to help you.

For mainstream medicine: They try to heal you on a physical basis. They assume that all of your symptoms are results of physical problems.

There is a lot of alternative medicine out there but in reiki the assumptions are different: They think all problems are the result of energy problems.

So with a broken leg would you go to the mainstream doctor and wear a cast or would you go to the alternative doctor assuming the cast won't work, all mainstream doctors are scams, and your leg is broken because of an energy problem?

[Neblasian]

Originally Posted by lasti

I think you confuse two hypotheses:
- Mainstream medicine doesn't work
- Doctors of mainstream medicine don't want to help people

Surely there are doctors who really want to help people. Surely there are scams. That doesn't have to do with mainstream medicine.
Just because alternative mainstream helped you doesn't mean the people in your chakra courses wanted to help you.

For mainstream medicine: They try to heal you on a physical basis. They assume that all of your symptoms are results of physical problems.

There is a lot of alternative medicine out there but in reiki the assumptions are different: They think all problems are the result of energy problems.

So with a broken leg would you go to the mainstream doctor and wear a cast or would you go to the alternative doctor assuming the cast won't work, all mainstream doctors are scams, and your leg is broken because of an energy problem?

I'm not saying that mainstream medicine don't seem to work. It does have its place. It is good for diagnostics and physical ailment. However, to me it seem that there is a conflict of interest when doctors accept kick backs from companies. It just seems wrong in my opinion. I find it very supspicious when doctors are quick to give a patient medication rather than a holistic approach.



Regards

[bdp]

Tons of articles on this subject: Independent news on natural health, nutrition and more.

John McDougall MD has lots of information on this topic, especially in his newletters. McDougall Program & Dr. McDougall's Health and Medical Center

Also check out the books:
Reclaiming Our Health - John Robbins
Overdosed America - John Abramson
The China Study - T Colin Campbell

[Doku]

Personally, I would suggest that you look into changing your family doctor from an MD to a DO.

MD = Doctor of Medicine
DO = Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

In general:
MD will treat the symptom. A DO will treat the cause.
MD treats the illness as the illness. DO treats the illness as part of the person/system.
MD is reactive. DO is pro-active and does preventative care.

Here's a wikipedia article for more info:
Comparison of MD and DO in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[TooTicki]

Originally Posted by Neblasian

And why are they so adamant against the use of alternative therapy.

Because that stuff doesn´t do anything. No really, it doesn´t. There is absolutely no evidence of Reiki doing anything but emptying pockets. Most likely your doctor is just trying to keep you from wasting money on useless treatments.

And if you think doctors are immoral then how about the guy who makes his living selling bogus cures?

I suggest that if you are unhappy with your doctor, you find a good doctor you trust instead of buying into quackery.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by Neblasian

Good day,

I am writing this post out of frustrations that I have had with doctors. Over a year ago my blood pressure (BP) was elevated (142/90). So the doctor gave me norvasc. After a couple of more appointments she wasn't impressed with the results so she double the dose, then changed to another brand. I visited other doctors and the told me just stick with the medication. A couple months ago I started looking at energy work. After which, I was attuned to Reiki and also did a couple of chakra courses. I realise my elevated BP was the result of anger and fear I had stored in me. After a couple months of treatment and emotional relise my BP is now (122/63). I however, felt very much cheated by the doctors and wondered why they are so eager to push medication even though i am so young. And why are they so adamant against the use of alternative therapy. I did some research and realised that doctors are getting kick backs from pharmaceutical companies (And its friiggin legal). This is so immoral it isn't funny. Are a doctor's highest priorties their patients or am I living in a dream world.

Don't trust them. People get lazy the longer they do the same thing and the young think they know it all and don't. So, do the research yourself online. Talk to people with the same health issues examine message boards, etc. Never fully trust a doctor. There must be checks and balances.

[Dan.Linehan]

Short answer, no. Not at all.

Check out Natural News to stay up to date with the screwed up medical system here in the U.S.

Meanwhile, try eating a whole foods based, organic diet for six months or so, with at least 80% fruits and veggies and whole grains. I bet that will remedy most of your health issues.

Peace,

[carenkh]

Originally Posted by TooTicki

Because that stuff doesn´t do anything. No really, it doesn´t. There is absolutely no evidence of Reiki doing anything but emptying pockets. Most likely your doctor is just trying to keep you from wasting money on useless treatments.

Hmmm... that's not my experience with reiki, EFT, TAT... Those have all done quite a bit, for me personally, and for my friends.

Chiropractic was once seen as "quackery"; now it's practically mainstream.

Acupuncture was once seen as "quackery"; now it is not.

Heck - shortly after yoga made its way to the US, it was decried as evil, "black magic", and its practitioners were believed to be seducers and sex slave-lords.

You might want to take a look at who funded those "studies" that show reiki as ineffectual. More than likely, it is people who are deeply attached to keeping things the way they are.

[TooTicki]

Originally Posted by carenkh

Hmmm... that's not my experience with reiki, EFT, TAT... Those have all done quite a bit, for me personally, and for my friends.

Chiropractic was once seen as "quackery"; now it's practically mainstream.

Acupuncture was once seen as "quackery"; now it is not.

Heck - shortly after yoga made its way to the US, it was decried as evil, "black magic", and its practitioners were believed to be seducers and sex slave-lords.

You might want to take a look at who funded those "studies" that show reiki as ineffectual. More than likely, it is people who are deeply attached to keeping things the way they are.

Chiropractic is still considered quackery. At least the more traditional methods where they believe in invisible "subluxations". Scientific medicine holds that some chiropractic has uses for certain back-problems, but no general health effects. And if you want a good reason to save your money read this.

Acupuncture has no effect beyond placebo. Double-blinded studies comparing it to sham acupuncture and acupuncture with special retractable needles that didn´t even pierce the skin showed no significant difference. Unfortunately i don´t have the links right now. I´ll check if i can find it later.

And you should realise that the people who make studies that show the effiacy of reiki and other woo are the ones who have money to make from it. And that those studies are universally too small and/or poorly conducted. There is no magic healing!
Science has nothing against new ideas you should realise. In science, the truth wins in the long run. The sad thing is that no matter how obvious it is that reiki, homeopathy, faith healing or touch healing is bull, and no matter how many studies and experiments that show this, the true believers always find a way to rationalise it and keep believing what they want to believe.

[TooTicki]

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

Check out Natural News to stay up to date with the screwed up medical system here in the U.S.

Regarding natural news, you may find this interesting.

[Dan.Linehan]

Originally Posted by TooTicki

Regarding natural news, you may find this interesting.

Nice write-up. I was sort of wondering if anyone was going to call out Mike on his Tony Snow post. It was pretty harshly worded.

I'm not sure if Mike is right or wrong on the whole "Cancer can be cured by diet alone" idea. That's an interesting question. I do think there is lots of evidence to show that a nutrient dense, plant based diet will go a long way towards fostering good health and emotional well-being and fully preventing Cancer in the first place.


Check out these stats:

How frequently a heart-attack strikes in U.S.: Every 25 seconds
How frequently a heart attack kills in U.S.: Every 45 seconds
Most common cause of death in U.S.: Heart attack
Risk of death from heart attack for the average American man: 50%
Risk of death from heart attack for the average American man who consumes no meat: 15%
Risk of death from heart attack for the average American man who consumes no meat, dairy products or eggs: 4%

- The Food Revolution


I'd bet the rates for Cancer are very similar to those quoted above, it just hasn't been studied enough. As for Mike's unpopular speech, I fully support it.

[Dan.Linehan]

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

I'm not sure if Mike is right or wrong on the whole "Cancer can be cured by diet alone" idea. That's an interesting question.

Looks like the idea might have some truth to it. The veg diet and some basic exercise changed gene expression in late stage Pancreatic Cancer in a group of 500 men.

Ornish diet alters genes in prostate cancer patients

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

I'd bet the rates for Cancer are very similar to those quoted above, it just hasn't been studied enough.

Also, upon more research, the diet you eat can decrease your chances of getting Cancer by five to tenfold.

Cancer and the Vegetarian Diet

On Cancer and a Vegetarian Diet


So basically, go veg and avoid numerous types of Cancer, having a heart attack, diabetes, obesity, erectile dysfunction, prescription drug regiments, prion disorders, Alzheimer's, etc..

[reflections]

I've had my fair share of not so impressive experiences in mainstream medicine, enough to make me avoid GPs a lot of the time. Recently I did have the opportunity to visit a hospital for a minor injury that I created for myself in a moment of inattention.

The wait was long something like 5 hours or so, but it gave me the really positive opportunity to observe the professionalism of the nurses, orderlies and doctors. They were stressed and I heard that they were very understaffed on this day. However I immediately felt a feeling of being "looked after" when I was there. There was comfort in the curt no nonsense professionalism of the nurses and the doctor was direct, clear, knowledgeable and straight to the point.

I received exactly what I expected and in this case it was exactly what I wanted. An accurate diagnosis and x rays telling me that no bones were broken.

In general I roll in circles of people in non mainstream healing such as TCM, Naturopathy, Osteopathy, Reiki, Kinesiology and more, but in this case what I needed which was provided in the mainstream.

[Grandiouse]

My experience with modern physicians here in the US is that they are quick to prescribe medications for most illnesses or conditions. It can be due to what they were taught while going to medical school. Personally, I prefer treating something naturally, if possible.

[Joeschmoe]

Dr Mcdougall has a really good stance on doctors and the modern medical system.

He believes that hospitals in America are the best place to go if you have an acute problem, like a broken leg or a heart attack, but largely worthless for the diseases of privilege that we have today. You don't treat diseases that are caused by lifestyle with drugs, it doesn't work. Has anyone here seen anyone cured of heart disease, or diabetes with drugs?

If a person gets lung cancer from smoking you tell them to stop smoking. If someone has poor liver function from drinking too much you tell them to stop drinking. But if someone has heart disease, we don't tell them to eat better, we pump them full of drugs that don't work.

Proper diet can reverse heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. And can be beneficial in cancers, and MS.

<sigh>

[carenkh]

Originally Posted by TooTicki

Science has nothing against new ideas you should realise. In science, the truth wins in the long run. The sad thing is that no matter how obvious it is that reiki, homeopathy, faith healing or touch healing is bull, and no matter how many studies and experiments that show this, the true believers always find a way to rationalise it and keep believing what they want to believe.

I don't quote or read studies about reiki; I live it. That is all the truth I need. Rationalization? Quackery? It works. That's what I know. If in your world, I'm deluded, that's OK. I live in my world. It's quite large. Maybe someday you'll join me here!

[stevedevane]

My take.
Are traditional doctors too tied to big money drug companies? Many probably are.
Are all traditional doctors bad? No.
Are alternative methods helpful? Many times.
Are alternative medical practices a cure-all? No.
Do traditional medical practices have their place? Yes.
Do alternative medical practices have their place? Yes.
In short, it's not an either/or situation. Do the research and do what's best for you.

[Brutha]

Acupuncture has no effect beyond placebo. Double-blinded studies comparing it to sham acupuncture and acupuncture with special retractable needles that didn´t even pierce the skin showed no significant difference.

Acupunture is just about more than piercing skin. It's about stimulating certain points in some way.
doi:10.1016/j.pain.2007.10.004 Laser acupuncture has the advantage that you can do your placebo blind test better.
A study that got published in the respected journal Pain says about that form of acupuncture:

Secondary outcome measures headache severity and monthly hours with headache decreased as well significantly at all time points compared to baseline (p < 0.001) and were as well significantly lower than those of the placebo group at all time points (p < 0.001). We conclude that laser acupuncture can provide a significant benefit for children with headache with active laser treatment being clearly more effective than placebo laser treatment.

doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2008.02.013 Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Volume 61, Issue 8, August 2008, Pages 741-747 says: (a meta study)

Clinical trials demonstrate that acupuncture can affect outcomes and is distinguishable from a placebo.

Acupunture probably doesn't work on any condition but it seems to do something some conditions.

[ThoughtAddict]

In a lot of cases, it strikes me that alternative medicine isn't working in a mysterious, unseen way... the OP, for example, had high blood pressure related to stress, fear, and anger. Reiki worked because it reduced these unhealthy attitudes. Was Reiki the cure here? No. The cure was a healthy attitude toward the world. Reiki was one practice which led to the cure. Meditation may have worked. Massages may have. Heck, dancing and comedy could have, so long as they fixed the underlying issues.

I think part of the debate which is getting lost here is whether "mainstream medicine" means a physical, medication only perspective, or whether it means medicine based on empirical studies. As Brutha pointed out, mainstream medicine does seek to understand unconventional methods such as acupuncture. Increasingly, mainstream medicine is caught in a difficult position of trying to balance preventative medicine (which isn't good business) with high end pharmaceutical treatments. The better the doctor, the more they try to balance a lifestyle approach and pharmaceuticals.

One serious problem in the United States is that patients expect doctors to give them quick fixes to lifestyle problems...

[goodsamaritan]

I became a hobby healer by forced circumstances. Because all the doctors said my disease was incurable. I'm an engineer and I never believed in incurable diseases. I believe that out of the billions of people in this earth, a couple of people do know the TRUTH about REAL CURES.

So I became a hobby healer. See my signature? The Cure ALL Manual - Home Read up and you will be a hobby healer yourself. I don't sell anything there. I'm just glad to share and help cure people by educating them about the truth about health.

Originally Posted by Neblasian

Good day,

I am writing this post out of frustrations that I have had with doctors. Over a year ago my blood pressure (BP) was elevated (142/90). So the doctor gave me norvasc. After a couple of more appointments she wasn't impressed with the results so she double the dose, then changed to another brand. I visited other doctors and the told me just stick with the medication. A couple months ago I started looking at energy work. After which, I was attuned to Reiki and also did a couple of chakra courses. I realise my elevated BP was the result of anger and fear I had stored in me. After a couple months of treatment and emotional relise my BP is now (122/63). I however, felt very much cheated by the doctors and wondered why they are so eager to push medication even though i am so young. And why are they so adamant against the use of alternative therapy. I did some research and realised that doctors are getting kick backs from pharmaceutical companies (And its friiggin legal). This is so immoral it isn't funny. Are a doctor's highest priorties their patients or am I living in a dream world.

[Remiel]

I didn't read any of the posts inbetween so my appologies if this has already been stated. I think doctors have the quandry of having to have a physical reason for a problem. If you have a high blood presure then it must be a physical problem, not an emotional or psychological one. When taken in that light it rather makes sense that they misdiagnose things when the root cause is non-physical. Do you really expect them to be able to do more?