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Originally Posted by DaveMatrix
And while homeopathy does appear to be quite the joke, taking a water placebo would seem to be better than mixing 10 different prescription medications.......
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Should I tell my specialist this?
Granted, I'm only taking four prescriptions currently. I will be starting a fifth in the near future, but before I do so I need to consult with another doctor. Y'know, to discuss side effects and make sure there won't be any negative interactions from mixing various prescriptions. I depend on those prescriptions to function on a daily basis. I know exactly what each one does, what the potential side effects are and why I'm taking it. Without any one of them I would be in much worse shape; possibly not here at all.
Herbal remedies have their place. I'm a big fan of aloe for burns; when I was a baker I kept a plant at home for the purpose and would've kept it in the store if not for concerns regarding food contamination and such (those ministry folk, they're sticklers). However, thinking that because there are some effective herbal remedies out there one should use them in place of established medicine is dangerous, to say the least. The FDA has made a few mistakes in the past; I personally don't know how many drugs they test every year, but it would seem that since life expectancy and general health have been improving over the last several centuries and that most people today put their trust in their doctors and the pharmaceuticals they prescribe, the system as it stands works for the overwhelming majority of cases. If one forgoes such treatment in favour of herbal (or worse, homeopathic) remedies, one is denying oneself the best possible avenue to better health.
Also, assuming that something is safe because it's natural is a fallacy. Arsenic occurs naturally. Asp venom could be considered organic. Personally, I'm not in any hurry to down a glass of either. By all means use the stuff in conjunction with what the doctor gives you, but make sure the doc knows you're using it, y'know? And do your homework.