3 ms·

I thought that was the parent's point -- Western medicine has done superb work for acute diseases and injuries, but doesn't have solutions yet, and may not even

by dgordon 16y ago

I thought that was the parent's point -- Western medicine has done superb work for acute diseases and injuries, but doesn't have solutions yet, and may not even have the right approach, for chronic ones.

philwelch 16y ago
Western medicine works pretty well for a lot of chronic diseases, actually. A few blood tests and a daily pill are all I have ever needed to take care of mine. Show me a working alternative treatment for not having a functional thyroid gland and I'll reconsider my opinion.[1] A lot of Western treatments for chronic conditions aren't that great, but is there anything that's been proven better? It's not exceptionally pleasant for people with sleep apnea to have to wear masks and have pressurized air blown into their breathing passages at night, but at least they get some real sleep. Living with diabetes still sucks, but wouldn't it suck more without the treatments scientific medicine has developed? [1] "Western medicine" is really a bad name for it. My specific condition was first discovered by a Japanese doctor, hence the name Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
- hariis 16y ago
  While I cannot address your particular conditions since I am not qualified, what I can tell you is that alternative treatments generally require you to change your lifestyle along with the pills - and it is mandatory and not optional and hence the results vary from person to person. Hence it cannot be proven in a way a pill alone can be. Examples of lifestyle change would be reduce your anger, be more understanding, take walks in the nature etc. In essence, The treatment is a guide while you fix yourself. Are you getting me? This is the underlying philosophy of all the ancient treatment modalities of every civilization.
  - philwelch 16y ago
    Any doctor would recommend most of those as well. The effects of exercise and reduced stress on overall health are very well documented, along with the effects of eating properly. Of course, that's not going to accomplish anything if my immune system has decided to destroy my thyroid gland, or if a stray gamma ray or two has turned a lump of otherwise-useful tissue into a malignant tumor, or if my breathing passages are shaped in just the right way to obstruct my breathing at night.

by dgordon 16y ago

philwelch 16y ago

Western medicine works pretty well for a lot of chronic diseases, actually. A few blood tests and a daily pill are all I have ever needed to take care of mine. Show me a working alternative treatment for not having a functional thyroid gland and I'll reconsider my opinion.[1] A lot of Western treatments for chronic conditions aren't that great, but is there anything that's been proven better? It's not exceptionally pleasant for people with sleep apnea to have to wear masks and have pressurized air blown into their breathing passages at night, but at least they get some real sleep. Living with diabetes still sucks, but wouldn't it suck more without the treatments scientific medicine has developed? [1] "Western medicine" is really a bad name for it. My specific condition was first discovered by a Japanese doctor, hence the name Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

hariis 16y ago
While I cannot address your particular conditions since I am not qualified, what I can tell you is that alternative treatments generally require you to change your lifestyle along with the pills - and it is mandatory and not optional and hence the results vary from person to person. Hence it cannot be proven in a way a pill alone can be. Examples of lifestyle change would be reduce your anger, be more understanding, take walks in the nature etc. In essence, The treatment is a guide while you fix yourself. Are you getting me? This is the underlying philosophy of all the ancient treatment modalities of every civilization.
- philwelch 16y ago
  Any doctor would recommend most of those as well. The effects of exercise and reduced stress on overall health are very well documented, along with the effects of eating properly. Of course, that's not going to accomplish anything if my immune system has decided to destroy my thyroid gland, or if a stray gamma ray or two has turned a lump of otherwise-useful tissue into a malignant tumor, or if my breathing passages are shaped in just the right way to obstruct my breathing at night.