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This article related to last week’s posting of It’s A Pain In The —-!. Before you answer the question, consider there maybe a difference of opinion among people. The trend of an open mind through society’s pressures can only be replaced with ‘caution’ for one’s own protection. Personal experience, maybe? In our culture today, it may be more doable to use discrimination. You can’t be too careful these days with all the scams and misleading advertisements in the social media. Recently, I came across an article in the local newspaper relating to natural, homeopathic foods, which have proclaimed “healing” factors for both physical and medical ailments. The article discussed further the controversy that a person can be overly open-minded. I found it fascinating that this young woman sought a natural approach to medicine, finding traditional methods noneffective. She had reoccurring migraines for ten years and was seeking an “alternative” treatment. She went on to say that she is only talking about her particular experience with this practitioner and have sought counseling with other naturopaths over the years. She heard this practitioner on the AM radio health show and that she was a renowned expert in the field of treating hormonal migraines in women (according to her website). Since the young woman lived in another part of the county, she spoke to the practitioner over the phone. This was $100 and only the initial phase. After an interview, she sent her a 16-page questionnaire that asked her for everything except what’s in the toilet. The practitioner transformed her vegetarian diet with meat twice a day, and avoiding wheat, sugar, and refined carbs. She also purchased expensive tablets, which she took twice daily. The surge of protein should cure the headaches right away. The word ‘should’ is nonexistent and after 5 weeks, the migraines worsened. Then came a second phone conversation. The practitioner had lost the 16-page questionnaire and asked her to fax it to her. She couldn’t recall the nature of her complaint but said they would go to Phase 2. The practitioner said she needed to begin doing organic coffee enemas. She would send her follow-up instructions through email and a list of supplies, such as tubing, stamps, etc. The young woman wrote down what the practitioner advised her over the phone. “You need to give a substantial fecal sample, best done during a full moon. That’s when parasites become more active and detectable.” The young woman replied, “Let’s see, you want me to shoot Folgers up my ass and deposit a ‘Baby Ruth’ in a bag during a full moon so the creepy crawlers can come out to play?!” The practitioner said, “Have I lost you here?” The young woman replied, “You lost me when you lost my 16-page questionnaire.” She ended the phone conversation and in her mind, officially closed the matter. Afterwards, she went for her annual physical exam the next week. Her traditional medical doctor tested her blood cholesterol and reported it was considerably high. She felt it was the amount of protein from the animal meat and tablets she consumed. She showed the tablets she had purchased to her doctor. He said the tablets are given to those in third-world countries to prevent starvation. They are made of desiccated animal organs. After several months, she went back to her doctor to retest her cholesterol. It was down to normal again. Bare in mind, keeping an open mind is essential and beneficial in this modern era, however, we need to be more selective. Having an excessively open mind collects too much garbage, especially in this age of informative and communicative overload.
Alternative medicine is 90% crap… 10% gamble
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I have a very open mind. It’s so open that few things remain in it, particularly info from social media where it is almost impossible to get accurate information about a contributor’s qualifications. In regard to medical info, I sift it all on my ladder and what stays on the rungs, I research further. Whilst social media, facebook etc can be fun, the content can also be dangerous. I recommend caveat emptor,’ let the buyer beware’. This blog of yours certainly reinforces the dangers. Good for you.
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Thank you for this response. I must say my health has depleted somewhat just by using facebook alone. Dang, you want to hear someone’s news and updates and be there for them and then you have to sift through a massive wealth of memes and files and share-this, re-post that (or else). Plus, the horror stories and “if we behave like robots with the information it will change *everything*”. Yikes!
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Thank you and well said. ‘Let the buyer beware’ is always the best policy, as buying a car. Whether new or used, once purchased, it is yours no matter what. Alternative medication is a new territory for me so not much prior knowledge on the subject. Thanks for the response. 🙂
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My pleasure.
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Trust no one.
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I’m the same way. I’ve learned too many lessons in life. 🙂
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Being open minded should not be confused with being gullible. Being open minded means being prepared to consider other positions that are different to yours. To look at the merits (and de-merits) of another point of view, analyse, consider and then decide what to do with that piece of information, knowledge, idea etc. We all have opinions. Not all opinions are equally valid. We all have ideas, not all ideas are good. Our way of doing things is not always the best way, it is certainly not the only way. Being open minded does not mean being prepared to accept all positions, but it does mean being prepared to listen to reasonable positions and points of view that may be different to your own…
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Good points. 🙂 Thank you for the feedback and visiting my posts. I look forward to reading more of yours.
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Oh, my gosh. I was wiping out from a long walk of errands with my chap, so I sat down to your blog on my tablet in the recliner to give you some more focus. This one… ohhhhhhhhh… ewwwwwlll. And I was actually a little hopefully the lowering of carbs would help as it’s helped me (although I do make more attempts to hit the dark leafy greens more than just the protein alone, my goodness!). Then the poor lady is going down hill worse and I felt so bad for her. Then the Folger’s and what not, good response! “You lost me when you lost my 16-page questionnaire.”
It’s reminding me of once when my chap looked online for what happened to the Bronte siblings. Bad things were afoot with the water supply because it was somehow running through the nearby cemetery. My cousin and I shouted out a massive and long, “Ewwwwwlll!” and, as my fellow is so good at, he blinked in surprise at our mutually strong reaction to that. (Sometime I’ve worried that I married a Vulcan.)
But yes, I’m hip to some alternative medicine but not the weird extremes too much. I’m more on the idea of nutritional remedies, something in your system your not getting enough of, usually vitamins and nutrients. And everyone’s different. I notice I can’t seem to get enough potassium if I’m taking a supplement of it, it has to come from a food source. So it’s a juggle of careful tests, and a lot of research to make sure what you try will be correct. I do use some Western medication for things, but for most part I’ve had bad results from them.
I actually stated in one of my podcasts, “If we were all the same we’d all have the same allergies and we don’t.”
Thanks for the read, and the warning! 🙂
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After recently experiencing extreme pain in my right side I went to a local medical clinic as my regular GP was on holidays. After a series of ultra sounds and a CT scan nothing serious was found except a significant hole in my wallet. The relieving GP suggested the pain was from muscle spasms and cramp and recommended a two week intensive course of magnesium aspartate. More expenditure. After two weeks the pain had gone and I went to my regular GP. Told him what had taken place. His reply,’ I wouldn’t have suggested taking magnesium aspartate for two weeks, I’d have told you the pain would be gone in a fortnight’.
You have to trust professionals!
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Maybe I need to try that. Any helpful information and advice much appreciated. My mother showed me an article today about cancer being caused by a poor autoimmune system, which in my case is true unfortunately. Confirmed four years ago through my doctors. My pain is in my joints and when I see my doctors, they tell me it’s due to the autoimmune issues I have. My blood work shows spikes in b/p and white blood counts due to my disease. This is the reality of it but I’m feeling better these days. Thanks again for the information.
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