Do you use Homeopathic "remedies"? Do you understand just what it is you are taking?

[laundry_queen]

171. LOL

That is more true than you know.

I've tried homeopathy and I had friends that said it was wonderful. It never did a darn thing for me. Although I'm not opposed to others using it - if it causes a strong placebo effect and makes then feel better, then who the hell cares?

I've tried acupuncture too (administered by my family doctor, no less, who also has a degree in chinese medicine) and it did shit. We were actually trying to 'induce' me naturally when I was pregnant. He told me he'd never done the treatment and not delivered a baby within 48 hours. We did 3 treatments over 3 weeks. I went 2 weeks overdue. Ended up with a c-section because no labor and he was going out of town (remote area, only anesthesiologist, so no maternity services, couldn't be induced b/c of previous c-section blah blah blah). So much for his acupuncture. Although he was a wonderful anesthesiologist and doctor so I can't be mad. I've never tried acupuncture again though.

I do use herbal remedies - I find most of them work pretty well, although I've had duds. I also used to go to a chiropractor off and on - I know a lot of people who think it's quackery, but as a teen I had hip pain to the point I could hardly walk. My mom took me to different doctors and even the orthepedic surgeon I saw for my scoliosis. All they did was take x-rays, and give me powerful muscle relaxants, pain killers and anti-inflammatories and a script for physio that made it worse. After months of this, and of shuffling around like an 80 year old, my desperate mom took me to a chiropractor. He took one look at my walk, and said, "Oh, that's just blahblahblah" and positioned me and popped my hip. It was like INSTANT pain relief, like he had just released some kind of jam or something. I walked out of there like a teen instead of a senior citizen - and totally pain free. Ever since, whenever I feel that pain starting in my hip, I go to a chiro and it's fixed. I don't know how or why, all I know is western medicine had nothing to offer and the chiropractor fixed it.

So I agree that some things don't have 'scientific basis' but I also don't see the harm, so long as people don't subsitute it for ALL their medical care. I will say I hear stories about people who 'take herbs' instead of getting cancer treatment, but I've never met any. I had many, many friends who were heavily into homeopathic medicine and I don't know one who wouldn't take their kid to the doctor if it was necessary. I think most people understand those remedies are for minor things.