This is all so very interesting Gena. Reading yours and Roy's additions brought to mind other possible reasons why many may avoid alternative therapies. The following sound, and maybe are, very controversial in our quest for health freedom. <br>
<br>(My residence is in upstate New York - between Delaware & Otsego Counties. The below patient experiences are with doctors that are from one health care facility / hospital. Though there is another large health care facility / hospital in our area, they too continue to avoid supporting or recommending herbal / alternative therapies. However let me add this. In the last year, I've personally met 3 doctors and a nursing director at one of our large hospitals that are forging ahead and making demands (gently b/c they don't want to lose their job) on getting more alternative minded doctors and treatment options for their patients. Two of the doctors took the time after medical school one to study chinese medicine and acupuncture and the other nutrition.)<br>
<br>A few years ago friends, family and clients began telling me of sensational type stories when visiting their doctors. Here a 3 that sum it up.<br><br>One medical doctor told a patient that - 'he is unable to advise them at all on herbs b/c he was not educated in this area'. Which is true, but most doc's are required to update and re-educate. Interestingly, on one occasion this same thing happened to me. I was very curious because this particular doctor and I were in a clinically directed herbal medicine study group 10 yrs prior with 8 other allopathic and alternative medicine practitioners (it was Tierona Lowdog's herbal medicine modules). I reminded him of this and he then proceeded to tell me that his hands are tied. That either his patients are unable to afford the herbs or their insurance companies may not pay for their services. And, this is out of his area of expertise and may be 'liable'. <br>
<br>Another person was told that if they chose to refuse an allopathic medicine, opting to use an alternative therapy for a specific health problem instead, the doctor would have to 'report' their decision to their insurance company. <br>
<br>And another, a young mother of 3 children, had refused to give her children immunizations for several years without any repercussions. Not to mention choosing alternative methods for their care. Around the time of her 3rd child she received a letter from their pediatricians office. The entire office, that is, the doctors, physicians assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses with their signatures, stated that since her children were not immunized she was no longer allowed to bring her children into their office any longer as they posed a danger to the other (immunized) children in the office. They would??? Wouldn't these other children be protected? They're immunized. <br>
<br>A lack of confidence on herbal safety is definitely a big issue. Which, as a nurse-herbalist I definitely understand. I've seen many herb-drug, herb-disease <u>and</u> herb-constitution interactions. Yet, the above stories detail the insidious nature of things here. The infringement of our right to choose the type of health care we want for ourselves. <br>
<br>So we may have to be the one to educate ourselves on the plants (or other alternative therapy) we want to use, so we can 'educate' the doctors and nurses.<br> <br>And we may just have to keep searching for that doctor that will work with us. <br>
<br>Yet, I'm optimistic Gena. I know some day we will honor a diversity of views. <br>And utmost, to be stewards for our earth. <br><br><br>Sincerely, <br><br>Marguerite <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 9:39 PM, Gena Fleming <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:genafleming@gmail.com">genafleming@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>Thanks, Marguerite and Bob, for your comments.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It is important to recognize the origins of herbal knowledge coming from systems which respected Nature as sacred, and contemplated the intricate organization and delicate relationships found there, seeking to work in accordance with them.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Because what I am seeing is renewed interest in botanical medicine (or medicine of botanical source), but insufficient understanding of the epistemologies of indigenous science that enlighten appropriate use of these plants. I am hopeful that we will one day have a truly pluralistic medical society.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>As economic interest broadens for medicinal plants, we will need to contemplate how best to direct this. Historically, the interest of the pharmaceutical industry has been in isolating compounds for drug development. Doing this in the laboratory still left the natural source alone. But now the interest extends to genetically engineering the medicinal plants themselves to become drug factories. In other words, nature herself is being altered to manufacture drugs. Because genetically engineered plants can contaminate non-modified plants, this threatens the continued existence of the original species.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Medicine figures within a cultural context and can not be separated out. Medical philosophy parallels agricultural philosophy. In order to assure the continued existence of unmodified medicinal plants, we will need extensive, local, sustainable, organic cultivation of medicinal plants. Hats off to Jean Giblette's group for working on this with Chinese medicinals.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>For an example of some of the medicinal plants that had already been genetically modified ten years ago, see:</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Transgenic Medicinal Plants by Y.P.S. Bajaj, published in 1999. Available for preview on Google Books. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<div dir="ltr">"The plant species included are Ajuga reptans, Anthemis nobilis, Astragalus spp., Atropa belladonna, Catharanthus roseus, Datura spp., Duboisia species, Fagopyrum spp., Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Lobelia spp., Papaver somniferum, Panax ginseng, Peganum harmala, Perezia spp., Pimpinella anisum, Phyllanthus niruri, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Scoparia dulcis, Scutellaria baicalesis, Serratula tinctoria, Solanum aculeatissimum, Solanum commersonii, Swainsona galegifolia, tobacco, and Vinca minor. "</div>
<p>Link to preview:</p>
<p><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=qQ2OY9GF41wC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false" target="_blank">http://books.google.com/books?id=qQ2OY9GF41wC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false</a></p>
<p><br>best regards,</p>
<p>Gena Fleming</p>
<p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><br> </div>
<div class="gmail_quote">2009/7/31 Bob Beyfuss <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:rlb14@cornell.edu" target="_blank">rlb14@cornell.edu</a>></span><br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">With hundreds of thousands of adverse reactions to prescription and over the counter drugs each year including thousands of deaths (acetaminophen, aka Tylenol, amoI ng other brand names, alone is responsible for more then 400 deaths each year) is it any wonder Americans are looking for alternatives? Read the label of almost any prescription drug or even just watch the TV commercials that list common "side effects" some of which include death and you might wonder why more people are NOT looking at alternatives, particularly herbs with long history of folk use.<div class="im">
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Green Blessings, <br>Sincerely <br>Marguerite<br><br><br>May our walk be soft and gentle<br>as we gather our roots once again.<br><br>Marguerite Uhlmann-Bower, R.N., Herbalist<br>
TheHerbalNurses™<br>10517 Turnpike Rd. <br>East Meredith, NY 13757<br>(607) 278-9635<br>