Are Alternative Medicine treatments really effective

1. 77

   jimmythejockposted 13 years ago

   Are Alternative Medicine treatments really effective
   
   or are the just producing the placebo effect

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2. 76

   Moon Daisyposted 13 years ago

   Hmm, that's hard to say.  How can you tell, yourself, if you're feeling a placebo effect?...   I have tried several forms of alternative medicines for various things.  Homeopathy didn't work for me and nor did reflexology or reiki.  Acupuncture may have worked if I hadn't have jumped and tensed up at every needle, lol!  The only one so far that's worked for me is chiropractic.  This helped me a lot with my neck problems.

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3. 66

   funrideposted 13 years ago

   Hi Jimmy! I`m not sure which alternative you`re thinking about but I will give you my opinion anyway... hopping there`s nothing wrong with your health or your family. The placebo effect happens every time you Believe in what you are being told and what some treatment will do for you... only then it works! Problem is trying to find those treatments that you can Believe on... better said, one must find those who are truly committed in helping others (not for money, not for recognition, just for the sake of the self being health)... that`s why there are still very good doctors practicing common medicine (they haven`t found a better way yet). Otherwise no one would believe in medicine nowadays... common and/or alternative.
   
   Personally, I don`t believe in any kind of practice as being the only one. I try to Be my on "doctor", choosing to be calm in the present moment, doing things that make me happy, being aware of my words and actions as well as their consequences for others, conscious of what has brought us till now... mistakes had/has to be made in order to better understand our self and "grow". Every doctor is also a patient... we are all tiny little cells trying to understand what we have been doing wrong.
   Meditation as been my number one treatment... works for me every time!

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4. 41

   ChristinSposted 13 years ago

   Most "alternative" health practices have been around a lot longer than Western medicine.  I have been a believer in both, but turned solely to natural medicine when I saw how bad a lot of the FDA approved drugs are.  They are pushed through too quickly (for profit) and often end up killing a great deal of people.  I was one that was almost killed by a prescription that was later "black listed" and should never have been given to me. I was a 32 year old healthy woman at the time.  At that point I switched over to all natural medicine and taking care of my health through strict vegetarian diet and healthy habits like being active etc.  All is well now.
   
   Have you ever seen some of the side effects listed for some of these drugs? I remember one that was for eczema that has since been pulled most likely because the commercials aren't on anymore.  The "rare but serious side effects" included seizures and death.  Really? I think I'll keep the skin rash thanks ... but people will believe in stuff and take it without question and they put their lives and health at risk for a supposed "cure". 
   
   Western medicine is all about chasing symptoms and having a pill for everything.  Keeping people chronically unwell while making great profits at doing so.  Alternative medicine tends to focus more on "whole being wellness" which in turn leads to healthier lifestyles and better chances at addressing the underlying issues rather than just chasing symptoms.   I will take what has worked for thousands of years over "modern" medicine in most cases - although both do certainly have  a place.  For example modern surgeries (when needed) some dentistry etc.

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5. 60

   marywandersposted 13 years ago

   I have had good luck with several forms of alternative medicine, #1 chiropractic has REALLY helped me over the years. Using Aloe Vera on my nose that had gotten frost bite one day and sunburnt the next  started my love for aloe and many other uses for it, that is one of my topical standbys.  Eating certain things like onion, garlic and other spice/herb things I cook with on a daily basis kept a friend of mine from getting sick the winter we were room mates, she usually gets  seriously sick 3 or 4 times a winter.... she was shocked she didn't get sick.
   None of that even speaks of things like the benefits of flax seed... many of the homeopathic stuff are just things we need to keep our selves healthy

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6. 80

   loveofnightposted 13 years ago

   I honestly don't believe that you can come across any form of medication that was not a homeopath remedy first. Rather than tell a women to stop consuming so much caffine because she had  urinary tract infection doctors will give you a perscription or tell you to get something over the counter.Everything that we need I believe comes from the earth; just as most medicines made come from the ground.MEDICINE IS A MONEY MARKET LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE. That is not to say that doctors have no purpose because they do....But it is a medical practice and I believe that they are catching up to the old wives tales of remedies of the past. BUT THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION.I believe that alternative medicines are the way to go. That is why they have PHDs working in the field of medicine and  more and more clinics and hospitals than ever. If the placebo effect can heal you then your body is probably stronger then you know.And agin I say that it is just my opinion.....Be Well

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7. 82

   mikejhcaposted 13 years ago

   Yes, a lot of alternative medicine is effective.  It is not alternative because it does not work as well.  It is just a different method.  Some of the alternative methods have been in use for a very long time.  I have used meditation and healing exercises like yoga, tai chi and qigong to improve my health.
   
   In places like Canada and the United States people take a lot of pills.  I can fix or prevent a lot of common problems by meditating and doing healing exercises.  I even cured my seasonal allergies so I do not need to pay for allergy medicine that made me tired and only reduced the symptoms.

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