Modern or Complementary Medicines ?

[Baileys No Ice]

Recent articles in different publications (newspapers and reputable magazines) plus bits and pieces I've come across during research for my own studies, have raised issues about modern medications vs so-called Complementary medications, including stuff about Vitamin C to cure cancer, the omega-3 debate and some of the more heavyweight stuff like Oxycontin vs Morphine for pain killers.

As a nurse, I come across patients bringing into hospital over the counter (OTC) meds on a regular basis and we have to get them checked out with the pharmacist just in case the OTC meds interact with the meds they're receiving while in hospital. Some of the patients are resistant to this, thinking we're going to stop them taking their OTC meds, but that doesn't actually happen very often as most of the OTC stuff is fairly benign.

I've never actually had a patient refuse to take their hospital-provided meds in favour of their OTC ones...does anbody here have a preference...and why?

Does anyone use, for example, a Naturopath instead of, or as well as, their own GP?

And what about immunisations? Chemotherapy or radiotherapy? Antibiotics? Homeopathy?

All interesting stuff

 

[Tuffdisc]

I thought vitamins and minerals were supplementary rather complementary

 

[Baileys No Ice]

In my experience, and based on what I've read, more people are taking them as complementary and as their only treatments these days.
It's led to some unfortunate results.
There are a lot of unscruplous people out there taking advantage of the vulnerable and naive, many who have gained their info from the net.


That's not to say that 'modern' medicine is without it's faults. Some of the drugs given have awful side-effects, but there is more choice now and there is also scientific research to back the drugs. It all comes at a financial cost though, to the individual and the health system.

 

[Tuffdisc]

I agree that people should be aware of the consequences for using vitamins as a complementary is very dangerous. It goes without saying. There are warnings on the package in this country that vitamins are supplementary to foods that people don't necessarily take in too many of the vitamins that are healthy

 

[Baileys No Ice]

Recent case here of an Iridologist who was 'treating' a woman who has a cancerous growth on her head. The woman had a phobia of needles and hospitals and the Iridologist told her not to see a Dr, that she (the Iridologist) would fix the cancer.

Long story short, the growth becomes so deep and painful that the womans family eventually convinced her to seek medical help. The hole in her head was deep enough to see the brain!! She had complex surgery but died a year later.

The Iridologist is still 'practising'

 

[hart]

I also know of people who end up taking so many medications from so many different people that when wheened off a lot of the medications their symptoms go away-their symptoms were FROM some of the medications they were taking...... Bailey-I'm curious, have you had many dealings with Scientologists?

 

[Woobeewoo]

Sadly, when people are desperate they try every method to solve their situation, scientifically valid or not. I don't like the term "complementary medicine" because it legitimizes an unscientific and dangerous method, with the risk of appealing to a gullible (or uninformed) person with unfortunate results. Sure, some treatments have side effects, but at least they have been peer reviewed and can show an excellent success record, unlike homeopathy, iridology and similar hullabaloo methods.

 

[MyDigitalpoint]

I have no preference about medication, whether if provided by the hospital or doctor, over the counter medicine, alternative medicine and even acupuncture or home remedies.

What I feel scammed about is about health care providers. My father had prostate cancer and was prescribed with a medication that seemed to help but eventually he developed cardiac problem that later required a heart bypass surgery.

Some time after the surgery, I found on the Internet that the medication he was prescribed was already banned in many countries do to side-effects, including cardiac problems, which my father never had but after receiving this medicine.

From then onward, I have a fixation about health care providers qualifications thinking that most of them may go wrong and misdiagnosis could be worst than self-medication.

So that, I'm actually avoiding health care providers as hell :eek

 

[dreamseer]

I am a firm believer in complimentary and alternative medicine. NOT as an alternative to regular allopathic medicine, but in addition to it. I practice Reflexology and Herbology, but I would never tell someone not to see a doctor! I think all of these complimentary practices are better for keeping someone healthy, than for curing anything.