Interesting subject.

I am probably classified as a fence straddler here. Over the years I have seen things work that made little or no sense and seemingly should never have worked at all. On the other hand, I have seen people stick with alternative treatments without consulting traditional medical doctors long past the time they needed to and have in several instances reached a stage where their condition was now too severe to be cured or aided by any means.

I'm neither condemning or condoning medical solutions or alternative therapies, but I am certainly not endorsing anyone jump into either without a full diagnosis and knowledge of what their situation is. As an additoin to traditional care, alternative therapy may be an asset but in other cases, it is simply wishful thinking. Aine recently underwent a surgery for removal of disc cushion material which had to be done to alleviate the pain caused by a herniated disc. While some back problems can respond favorably to chiropractic or other treatments, a herniated disc will not.....period. If that diagnosis can be confirmed through CAT or MRI testing and if the disc material is pressing on a nerve, then NO alternative will work.

Sister Connie is a big believer in natural and holistic treatments but also not one to underplay the role of modern medicine. She works a lot with her traditional docs in telling them things she has read and investigated including diet and herbal treatments for a range of problems and has done quite well with them in putting together a treatment program that has worked for her in several chronic conditions she has. Importantly though, the chronic conditions have a confirmed medical diagnosis.

I see too many people willing to guess at what may "probably" be happening and not really knowing what IS happening. Yeah, the medical profession is full of below average doctors and others, but it is also full of excellent and highly trained professionals and the key is finding them.

Very few seemingly healthy American males will want to admit that something may be wrong with them and especially something wrong with their heart. For two years prior to my having a quad by-pass I undoubtedly suffered a series of mild heart attacks which I "wrote off" as heartburn and stomach problems.   I tried a number of things which did relieve many of the symptoms for awhile and yet I could not stop the "attacks" all the time. Had they been any more severe or my heart not as strong as it was in terms of the muscle itself, I would have been dead. As it was, it was a near thing and I did additional damage to my heart in the process, some of it irreversible. The need for a new mitral valve was a direct result of that insanity. Now my heart is quite strong with the aid of a few new parts and the docs are amazed that things look so good...and quite happy with the outcome too...as am I. But had I gone in and discussed this with my doctor and gone through the testing years before, I would have had far fewer problems in the long run.

Investigate all possibilities. Never rely on an alternative treatment especially when you really don't know what you're dealing with. Make use of all the resources at your disposal including the technology and advances made medicine.

Spaw