Common Questions About the Use of Herbs and Homeopathic Remedies
in the
Sheely Chiropractic Clinic
How are herbs used in a modern health-care facility? Herbalism should be
viewed in a new light, one different from standard medicine. Herbalism embraces
the principles of holistic medicine. This means it most holistic practitioners
are not interested and simply replacing a drug with a handful of urban. The
holistic approach takes the whole person into consideration... to all
complaints, no matter how minor or unrelated they may be. Research is proved
over Andover that emotions to effect or health. The best way to achieve deep and
lasting healing, instead of just relieving your symptoms, is to treat the
causes. The aimed at the proper use of herbs is not only to address the media
problem but to strengthen the system to prevent further attacks. In reality, the
proper use over herbs does not really treat a disease but they strengthened the
bodies natural defense system in order to overcome many situations which may
cause symptoms in an individual.
What sort of differences are there between herbal therapy and homeopathic
remedies vs conventional medicine? Properly prescribed herbs and homeopathic
remedies almost always work best with other complementary therapies such as
acupuncture or acupressure, massage, and lifestyle changes, particularly with
regard to nutrition exercise, and chiropractic care which provides expert manual
therapy techniques. No use of herbs, homeopathic substances or Chiropractic care
for that matter can make up for a poor diet or sedentary lifestyle. This
approach means you have to take more responsibility for your own health, and may
require you change her life in certain ways.
Herbs have been described as inherently health promoting, rather than
disease-killing: "With herbal remedies, it is not so much a case of total
blocking a reaction in your innocent, as, for example, with cortisone or
chemotherapy. Herbal preparations serve very often to regulate and stimulate the
organism to promote self healing tendencies." as stated by a herbal researcher
Hildebert Wagner, Ph.D., of the Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology at the
University of Munich. The actions of many herbs can be compared to a tap on the
shoulder, whereas the effects of drugs may be compared to a kick in the pants.
How would you describe the use of homeopathy? Homeopathy is a scientific
system of health-care that activates the body's own process to work gently and
naturally. Homeopathy is a natural pharmaceutical science that uses small doses
of substances from all realms of nature. It activates the body's nervous system
to initiate the healing process in both the physical and mental/emotional
levels. It is based on the scientific principal "let likes be treated by likes",
in pharmacology, the law of similars. It's a natural alternative that provides
healing in a safe, non-toxic environment. Homeopathic remedies are compatible
with nutrition, foods and medicine, and are among the safest preparations known
to medical science.
Why are people even interested in herbal therapy or homeopathic remedies with
the availability of powerful new drugs? People looking for other ways to
help bring and their bodies to optimum health without the sole use of drugs or
surgery. The Environmental Protection Agency EPA says that a 125,000 Americans
die each year because they take prescribed medicines incorrectly. Some studies
indicate that as many as half of all pharmaceuticals are not been taken
correctly.
One in Five Medication Doses in Error Answering 20% of the questions
wrong on tests taken in school is generally considered better than average,
earning a student a B or C letter grade. But when it comes to hospitals
providing medication to patients, would you consider dosage mistakes made 20% of
the time acceptable?
Thirty-six hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
Healthcare Organizations, nonaccredited hospitals, and "skilled nursing
facilities" in Georgia and Colorado were observed for medication errors in a
study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Fifty day-shift
doses per hospital unit, or all doses for a single medication pass, were
examined by a research pharmacist, with any medication errors reaching patients
recorded.
One in five doses were incorrect; 7% of all dosages (or nearly 40% of errors)
were deemed potentially harmful to the patient. In order of likelihood, the most
frequent errors were: drugs given at the wrong time; omission of the correct
medication; incorrect dosages; or unauthorized drugs given.
Nobody's perfect, but is this rate of drug errors acceptable? The authors of
this study estimate that at an average of 10 doses per patient per day, each
patient would be administered approximately two incorrect medication errors each
day.
Reference: Barker KN, Flynn EA, et al. Medication errors observed in 36
health care facilities. Archives of Internal Medicine 2002:162(16), pp.
1897-1903.
Getting sicker or even dying appears to be a high price to pay for not
understanding instructions. However, there continues to be a huge group of the
patient population that want their pain gone completely today in time to play
golf with their friends on the weekend. Conventional medicine may never have to
worry about losing business because of the "I want it done now syndrome".
Incidentally, many family medical physicians are clearly aware that their
patients are desiring care with herbal therapies. Many medical physicians know
that the use of herbs complement traditional therapies which is where the term
complementary comes from.
Why have you added the use of herbs or homeopathic remedies in your
practice? Have been in practice since 1980 focusing on the use of natural
therapies. I have advised patients on the use of vitamins, herbs and homeopathic
substances since beginning practice, even when it was not popular. Recently,
with all of the many different ways to purchase the products, I decided to make
the best ones that I was aware of available in my clinic to my patients. All my
past clinical experience and now all the recent scientific literature has shown
that appropriately recommended vitamins and natural substances can help
strengthen the body to allow the person to naturally overcome many situations
which can cause symptoms. The use of vitamins in my practice have been used in a
holistic and complementary way to my focus on making sure that the
neural-muscular-skeletal- system is balanced with the use of Chiropractic care.
What training do you have as a herbalist or a homeopathic physician? I
want to make it clear that I do not hold myself out as a homeopathic physician
or a herbalist. I am a chiropractic physician. However, since 1980, I have made
a study of all nature things that would help my patients. I have many patients
that either can't take drugs or prefer not to and they want my suggestions on
what they can do. Over the years I have learned a great deal about natural
substances including vitamins, herbs and homeopathic remedies.
I have taken numerous post graduate studies on these natural therapies which
include applied kinesiology, Chinese acupuncture which I use in my practice in
the form of acupressure. I have taken several post graduate studies that relate
to natural forms of healing which include the use of herbs and homeopathic
remedies. I have recently found some new lines of products that are sufficiently
scientifically researched and gives me the confidence in them that I need to
offer them to my patients.
The past few years my patients have brought more questions to me on herbs and
homeopathic remedies that an anytime in my practice since 1980. I feel that it
is best to use my expertise to provide appropriate recommendations for these
therapies as an alternative to obtaining the information from a salesperson at a
retail store that may not have the best information for my patients.
Really, how popular is herbal therapy or homeopathic remedies? The truth
is only about 15 percent of the world's population had access to Western style
health-care services most people in the world still rely on herbal treatments.
As public opinion begins to sway from complete faith in drugs, interest in herbs
is increasing. In China, for example, traditional medicine that includes herbs
is fully integrated into the nations health-care system and natural remedies are
used in nearly half of the cases treated there. We are even seeing the topic
used as major story themes on popular medical television programs. It is my
belief that by the time you make to TV at that level, many people have already
determined that it is worthwhile to implement into their heath lifestyle. I
probably don't even need to mention that there are local hospitals that have
seen the major trend towards natural therapies and have greatly promoted the
benefits of utilizing their services. These are some of the same services that I
have provided my patients for the past 19 years! I am glad to see that more
people understand the benefits of the care that we provide our patients.
Does every patient that comes here leave with some sort of vitamin, herbal or
homeopathic product? Absolutely not! Patients are treated on an individual
basis based on they are specific needs. Many patients come to me because they
understand that I am an expert in the use of natural therapies. I suppose it's
similar to win people go to orthopedic surgeon they understand that he is in
expert in surgery on joints. Most people understand the type of treatments that
would be suggested by different types of practitioners. Many patients come to me
because they know that I will give them a credible second opinion on their
condition. If I think a patient needs to have a referral for a health provider
that provides medicine or one that provide surgery I will not hesitate to tell
them.
I have many medical physicians that refer to me because they understand what
type of care that I will recommend to their patient. Using natural food
substances to strengthen the body's natural immune systems is not the practice
of medicine. Since I was 11 years old, after having been in a car accident with
my family and seeing the benefits of chiropractic care, I had a burning desire
to become a chiropractor- the best one I could be. My state chiropractic license
allows me to use vitamins and natural substances to assist my patients with
their health concerns.
I believe it's time for the public to understand that most Chiropractors are
experts in holistic and natural therapies and in use them daily in their
offices. This is not something new to them in anyway. The principles behind
chiropractic care have to do with helping the body to heal itself. These
principles are naturally compatible with the use of vitamin, herbal or
homeopathic products.
In what types of diseases do patients come to you for that you might
recommend vitamin, herbal, or homeopathic remedies? This may sound
confusing, but I don't really treat diseases. I talk with my patients about how
they can help raise their body's immune system so that their own body can fight
against disease. Many of my recommendations to patients include preventive
health-care suggestions. I talk to them about prevention of vascular problems
for instance. I talk with them about natural ways and substances that will help
them obtain and maintain an optimum weight. Many people are looking for natural
ways to loss weight and to reduce their cholesterol and risk of a heart attack.
Many patients are interested in a natural approach to prevent health
conditions or symptoms may have experienced in the past. Obviously, my
chiropractic care treats patients with a variety of symptoms many in an acute
state. Recommendations to patients for vitamin, herbal, or homeopathic remedies
can help the patient buildup internal protection from environmental stresses.
Many patients have asked my advice on dealing with stress, sleep disorders
digestive disturbances, menstrual cycle symptoms, and several other symptom
producing conditions that respond well to lifestyle changes which include
exercise and nutritional changes in their life.
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