I've never been a fan of standard western allopathic medicine, and certainly not of the pharmaceutical industry. They are the biggest lobby in Congress, and the influence they have over our elected officials, and over the entire field of medicine, is quite twisted and obscene.
"The pharmaceutical and health products industry has spent more than $800 million in federal lobbying and campaign donations at the federal and state levels in the past seven years, a Center for Public Integrity investigation has found. Its lobbying operation, on which it reports spending more than $675 million, is the biggest in the nation. No other industry has spent more money to sway public policy in that period. Its combined political outlays on lobbying and campaign contributions is topped only by the insurance industry." http://www.publicintegrity.org/2005/07/07/5786/drug-lobby-second-none
It would not be an exaggeration to say big pharma often get away with murder. Many of their FDA approved drugs have caused serious health problems and some have even killed people.
Pharmaceuticals are something I try to avoid, because every time I take a pharma drug I'm guaranteed to have at least some adverse effects. Homeopathic remedies, on the other hand, don't do much of anything for me. I gave it my best shot to find one that would make a difference, but after so many failed attempts, I gave up. In my case Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture have been the best option so far, with the least side effects and the most tangible results.
I am glad you have found something DB that has helped you. In my book by Alison Adams it states "It is unclear exactly how 'conventional' medicine earned that epithet since Traditional Chinese Medicine is believed by some to have been around for 12,000 years and 'conventional' medicine probably only for the last century or so!
For this reason, conventional or orthadox medicine will be referred to as Allopathic ...
The two main thrusts of Allopathic medicine are to remove the offending body part (surgery) or to 'block' the symptoms of disease chemically using pharmaceuticals. This dominant allopathic view is imposed by law in many instances..."(p12)
Whilst language is constantly in a state of flux, I think the term Allopathy best captures that branch of medicine - I suppose it could be called unholistic , but I prefer to use the clear and widely used term Allopathy.
All you can do is give a treatment your best shot...
But with '*Adverse reactions to properly prescribed pharmaceuticals killing more than 10,000 people each year in the UK and more than 100,000 a year in the USA. This costs the NHS in the UK nearly half a billion pounds a year.
*Pharmaceuticals are, by definition, TOXIC - they have to be to get a licence! The 'safe' dose is calculated from the lethal dose, which kills 50% of the laboratory rats (LD50)
*All pharmaceuticals work by suppressing symptoms temporarily and all pharmaceuticals have unwanted side effects that are often mistaken for other conditions and treated with....more pharmaceuticals! The interests of pharmaceutical companies are very well served by having lifelong customers dependent on their products.
(p14)
Herbs however, I respect.
The Vet I will be seeing in fact, is an expert in Homeopathy, Herbs, Acupuncture, Chiropractor(y!), bach flower remedies plus a few other things. He was initially a long term Allopathic Vet - but had experienced that world and moved away from it. He found he gets excellent results with Holistic medicine. (I may have a dash of everything).
I think there are a lot of problems with some Homeopaths...and of course there are additional problems..
For example there are Allopathic Doctors who have done a short Homeopathic course and they think they are homeopaths. They then prescribe an armful of drugs and perhaps a Homeopathic remedy... Perhaps this is for a homeopathic reason, perhaps it is for an Allopathic placebo (to keep the patient happy, or as an additional special treatment, or perhaps its just a way to make more money by selling another product...
I am happy if that helps a certain group of people - but this isnt the type of Homeopath I would want. And so its worth thinking about the Homeopath you choose.
I have chosen a Vet with excellent clinical results because I think he will be good at getting past shallow judgements at my inability perhaps to communicate effectively my symptoms (which happened with one of my homeopath experiences - i was unhappy with) ...
And so the wrong remedy is prescribed. I have had some remarkable success with Homeopathy and my animals - but not so much me!
I am going to put it to him all the theories and include the Lyme info too. See what he says. I think he does several branches of Homeopathy so thats good too.
A G.P. was the best Ancupuncture experience I ever had! He was amazing. It was on the NHS.
I think it was a hobby of his. He did tge acupuncture whilst he saw a couple more patients for their Allopathic consultations, and came back in to see me. It was noticeable how it helped.
However I tried Chinese Acupuncture with about a million needles in my back and it did not help.
Years later again a Nurse did Acupuncture and I swear she was enjoying hurting me. It did really hurt too. I went back as well! But it did not help.
Bizarrely though, I think Accupressure is VERY helpful and I do gain relief from it. Also Ear Acupressure can be heavenly.
(self applied and FREE)
So that is all contradictory really.