Guest guest Posted February 21, 2008 Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 This floated in today, a paper in the AJM explaining to doctors how they should deal with patients using " diet supplements " as alternative medicines. It has a number of good links to studies of supplements at the bottom. Here is a curious excerpt: " The reasons for the popularity of supplements are numerous. A general theme underlying a majority of alternative therapies is their emphasis on natural modes of healing. Dietary supplements are easily accessible, relatively inexpensive, “natural” substances that are purported to improve or prevent a number of conditions. Herbs and vitamins are assumed to be milder and safer than human-derived medications. For many patients, the use of supplements represents an effort to take charge of and be instrumental in their health care. In some cultures, herbs and “traditional” or “folklore” medicine are integral aspects of normal everyday life, and may be the framework within which health in general is viewed. Some patients may also turn to supplements to fill the void created by the dearth of available preventive medications, while others see them as a quick, hassle-free cure to an underlying problem. This “cure” can potentially be obtained without the need for practitioner visits, lifestyle changes, or unpleasant procedures. Thus, patients have exerted more autonomy with regards to their health care. The distrust of the traditional medical system that has developed over the recent past has likely served as an impetus for seeking out such autonomy. " http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(07)01136-9/fulltext Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2008 Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 brilliant. no one wants this dysfunctional system, I'm tellin' ya. I found this very interesting. Gracia > This floated in today, a paper in the AJM explaining to doctors how they > should deal with patients using " diet supplements " as alternative > medicines. It has a number of good links to studies of supplements at > the bottom. Here is a curious excerpt: > > " The reasons for the popularity of supplements are numerous. A general > theme underlying a majority of alternative therapies is their emphasis > on natural modes of healing. Dietary supplements are easily accessible, > relatively inexpensive, “natural” substances that are purported to > improve or prevent a number of conditions. Herbs and vitamins are > assumed to be milder and safer than human-derived medications. For many > patients, the use of supplements represents an effort to take charge of > and be instrumental in their health care. In some cultures, herbs and > “traditional” or “folklore” medicine are integral aspects of normal > everyday life, and may be the framework within which health in general > is viewed. Some patients may also turn to supplements to fill the void > created by the dearth of available preventive medications, while others > see them as a quick, hassle-free cure to an underlying problem. This > “cure” can potentially be obtained without the need for practitioner > visits, lifestyle changes, or unpleasant procedures. Thus, patients have > exerted more autonomy with regards to their health care. The distrust of > the traditional medical system that has developed over the recent past > has likely served as an impetus for seeking out such autonomy. " > > http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(07)01136-9/fulltext > > Chuck > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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