chronic diseases and present meds

August 7, 2004

After some more thinking about our current situation a few things

occurred to me: A large % of chronically ill patients that

practitioners see are on multiple meds. They come to us and we clean

up side-effects, and make them feel better. I think it is real easy to

say that if they weren't on those meds things would be much better.

(and also if they ate right and exercised years ago and never went on

the meds they would be much better off), but unfortunately they are on

them. Now to deal with the present (and not- whatifs), the disease

looks somewhat calm. And we tweak them and they feel better. If you

start getting them off meds then you can really see what a mess you

have to deal with and the shit hits the fan. Suppressed symptoms

rage, and one can see that these chronic diseases are not as passive

as one may come to believe while treating so many people on meds). One

can blame whatever one wants, lifestyle, WM, society, but the fact

remains people are messed up. To completely take over these chronic

illnesses and get these people off everything (esp. with just

acupuncture) can sometimes almost be impossible. Many times we can

get people 100% meds, and we feel great and they feel great. But as a

profession we are too young, IMO, to think that we can start doing

that with the majority of cases out there, and this is where the black

and white line gets blurred. We must work in conjunction with WM.

But of course I agree that it is better not to go on the majority of

meds, but unfortunately it is too late…

So in a perfect world we (and the public) would know what is treated

best with WM and what is best with CM. Everyone would start from

ground zero and have zero meds in there system. But this is not

reality. We cannot (IMO) just start saying look at all the ADR's, the

meds are soooo bad, we can do better, well this is a slippery slope.

(hopefully someday we can, but I doubt it yet, we are just too

under-trained)

Agree or disagree?

-

August 8, 2004

I have a small but strong network of medical experts who I refer to on a

weekly basis.Often after sometimes spending half an hour or more with a

patient it will become obvious to me that THIS person needs the help of WM

so I refer them on WITHOUT charging them a cent, they are USUALLY very

grateful some are disappointed but its up to them to take my advice or not.

I can give many examples but wont bore the list with these unless asked.As

Jason has said the sign of maturity is to KNOW if not your medicine's

limitations at least your own at this time.I am not AGAINST WM or Doctors in

general,I have helped many who are interested in acupuncture over the years,

who have come to watch and improve their understanding and skills.Even

though this does not represent " proper " training,they were performing

acupuncture every day after only very short courses.I did so because they

are doing it anyway and would continue so better to help IMO(if nothing else

for the public)these Doctors have often referred later their most difficult

patients,working with their patients who are often " loaded " with medications

has been some of the most challenging times.

Here in Australia at least I have seen some positive changes.Firstly,Doctors

SEEM to have stopped giving anti-biotic for " a virus " although it still does

happen it is fading out,they now know that its useless.Secondly,many many

Doctors will now recommend their patients,take acidophilus,or some other

similar product to re-establish beneficial flora in the gut after a course

of anti biotic.Naturopaths have been going on and on about this for years

Doctors have seen the light and its not because of research IMO as that has

had mixed reviews.It is because the public are and have asked QUESTIONS as

to why they were NOT told about a simple thing which they have found helped

them immensely.Doctors are now recommending vit C for the immune system but

the " research " jury is still out on that one too.

The question is Why? The answer is that because some things work very well

despite " research " the sheer numbers of people finding out these things

individually creates a collective community agreement that Doctors CANNOT

ignore as they see the results with their own eyes.Doctors need to keep

going down this track and patients NEED to keep ASKING informed(often by

us)questions.The public have money and votes two powerful aspects for some

leverage and THEY are starting to vote with their feet and wallets,this is

creating an opportunity for WM to have a good look in the mirror. Ahhh..What

about Placebo...well that plays a part but I don't think it is the WHOLE

picture,that is another story....

An interesting aside which gave me a good smile yesterday was a new patient

who told me her WM doctor(who has no training in either

acupuncture or herbs )sold her a bottle of " pills " for stress and that is

all he gave her.I asked her what they were,she then pulled them out of her

bag and to my surprise it was a good ol bottle of XIAO YAO SAN available in

Chinatown for $3 her payment .....$25 nice profit.I know this is rare but

all I could say is WOW!

Regards Ray Ford

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Chinese Medicine

Sunday, 8 August 2004 2:50:37 AM