Month: October 2011

Fact: Emphysema, COPD, cancer, arthritis, and other diseases and adverse health conditions have in many cases been beaten. But why aren’t these countless successes acknowledged by mainstream medicine?

PREFACE

Alternative medicine is kind of an umbrella title for a number of different health or healing philosophies and approaches to medicine, health and healing. Included in alternative medicine are homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and natural remedies.

Many diseases and health conditions (i.e., emphysema, COPD, cancer, arthritis) have actually been beaten by alternative medicine and natural remedies. However, mainstream medicine has for years tended to not acknowledge these countless successes, apparently because they go against its established philosophies, methodologies, and are generally far less profitable than their mainstream treatments.

From my research and experience, and that of many highly qualified sources, many safe and effective alternative treatments and remedies have been ignored or even scoffed at for years by mainstream medical authorities and professionals. Mainstream medicine has labeled some alternative treatments as “unsafe,” “unproven”, etc. However, consider how many once “approved” mainstream pharmaceutical drugs, prescribed to millions of patients, have been recalled due to harm or death to patients? Consider the numerous potential side effects they list in their ads for their drugs still on the market. (Talk about “unsafe”! Yet, they can label alternative medicine and natural remedies “unsafe”?!)

Alternative medical, health and healing “testimonials” have also often been called “anecdotes” or “anecdotal evidence;” sometimes, as in a court room, such can be called “hearsay.” Some anecdotal evidence does not qualify as scientific evidence because its nature prevents it from being investigated using the scientific method. I’m not discounting the scientific method at all; it certainly has its place, and it is one of the single greatest strategies and reasons for humanity’s greatest advances in science, technology and medicine in the last two centuries.

There is truly “hearsay” and there is “anecdotal evidence.” Applying these labels too broadly, however, can shade or hide the reality of truly valuable and valid research and results. This terminology or labeling can be accurate (i.e., illogical conclusions), desirable and necessary in many situations. “Goat yogurt mixed with bananas and peanuts prolongs life. I heard of a man who ate this almost every day of his life, and he lived to be 112.” This would be a simplistic example of hearsay or anecdotal evidence; the conclusion is unreliable and does not follow the evidence. Such cases may hold some truth, but, by their nature, using the scientific method is not possible.

However, with many successful alternative treatments and natural remedies, I am asserting that there is often a much higher level of correlation linking them to health or healing, even though the scientific method may not be applicable. (Mainstream medical authorities have in the past tended to discount claims or research that wasn’t conducted with the scientific methodology). (Many celebrities, professional athletes, politicians, and other wealthy people are seekers and strong supporters of alternative medicine, natural remedies, etc. Such high performance people need, want and demand high performance supplements, practices and treatments for their minds and bodies. Why shouldn’t you and your family have the same? )

Objectivity is foundational to the value and integrity of the scientific method; however, in the area of medicine and healing, the subjective, human realities of the patient (i.e., belief, expectation, attitude, commitment, family or environmental support, etc.) have abundantly been demonstrated to play major roles in healing. But such real factors and dimensions cannot easily be incorporated by the scientific method; therefore, other methods of measurement, research and investigation are necessary.

Again, the scientific method is highly necessary and deserves glorious credit. But scientists, researchers, doctors, etc., need to have the wisdom to know when it is needed or applicable; they, and we, need to have the wisdom and integrity to not discount or discredit evidence simply because it has not or cannot be investigated by the scientific method.

With the human, subjective variables being very real, medicine, health and healing can be somewhat more complicated than, say, the aerodynamics of flight, or other areas of technology. It seems that to simply label evidence that doesn’t fit the strict western scientific methodology, simply because scientists can’t fully explain or predict a claim, or that its nature prevents such strategy, would be closed minded. Some factors, variables or dimensions of the human experience are simply broader than the scientific methodology allows.

As can be seen as you investigate alternative medicine—great results have been realized from alternative medicine, natural remedies, etc.; such results are undeniable.

Mainstream medicine places a high value upon being able to explain “why” a tested treatment works; if they can’t explain it or it isn’t predictable by their standards, they tend to discount or discredit the substance, treatment or practice. Yes, it is worthy to want to know why something works or doesn’t work. However, wisdom from positive results would seem to say, “Use it … as you continue to investigate the “why” of it.” (Again, consider the countless dangers and deaths that have resulted from mainstream “approved” drugs, treatments and practices … many of which the public seems to be little aware.)

The bottom line is—the alternative treatments and natural remedies I support and use have demonstrated a much higher degree of value and validity than simple “hearsay” or “anecdotal evidence.” A real “truth seeker” will not let fear, bias, ego or an agenda interfere with gaining truth and facts.    

In recent years millions of common people have been awakened to the value and validity of alternative medicine and natural remedies; now, even mainstream practitioners are opening their minds to them. Here are a few examples. For years, chiropractic care was basically scoffed at; but now chiropractic care is so widely embraced that many insurance companies cover it and countless people have benefited from it. For years, alternative doctors and health practitioners asserted that good nutrition and cleansing the body of toxins were crucial to good health and healing; yet mainstream medicine tended to downplay their importance. Now, after years of alternative medicine making progress, an increasing number of mainstream practitioners are open to these truths and even practice them personally themselves. This is good news! These mainstream medical professionals are to be appreciated for being forward-thinking!

A third example is that, for years, alternative professionals asserted that anti-biotics were way over prescribed by mainstream doctors. Now, in recent years, mainstream sources have come to acknowledge this, as some harmful microbes have become immune to the over prescribed anti-biotics. This has even been report on in mainstream media. Once again, alternative medicine revealed and proclaimed truth that is now being received. I am not attempting to discount or diminish the value and validity of mainstream medicine. It definitely has its place. And I definitely acknowledge and appreciate the truly dedicated mainstream medical professionals who both practice and advance beneficial methods of medical innovations. In my opinion, there is no better place to go for injuries or trauma than a mainstream medical hospital!

I’m just saying that, when it comes to general health and healing of diseases and conditions like emphysema, cancer, COPD, arthritis, etc., both mainstream and alternative treatments should be openly and fairly considered. This seems to be “common sense” wisdom. When you begin to look into the successes of alternative medicine, it will soon become apparent that the countless successes and testimonials cannot be denied. Five, ten or twenty success testimonials from a single source could be overlooked. However, a broader view will reveal that there are countless successes, from many diverse and highly credible sources of alternative medicine and natural remedies. Many such successes are from late stage patients who mainstream medicine had exhausted their limited treatments on, and sent them home to prepare to die. Yet, alternative medicine is credited with a good percentage of restoring the health of such late-stage patients, or at least extending their lives and allowing them to experience a higher quality of life in their final days (as compared to what they likely would have had under mainstream treatment or hospitalization).

At some point in one’s investigation of the subject, it becomes apparent that to discount or deny these many diverse successes would be ignorant and closed minded. One man, Jim, was told by his mainstream doctor that there was nothing else he could do for him, and that he would die in about six months from his emphysema and COPD.

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