Welcome to Debate Club! Please be aware that this is a space for respectful debate, and that your ideas will be challenged here. Please remember to critique the argument, not the author.

Why are most mfp users against holistic nutrition?

1235728

Replies

  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    edited October 2017
    megpie41 wrote: »
    megpie41 wrote: »
    I suppose I fall somewhere in the middle as to holistic being able to treat disorders. There are some disorders/illnesses that should be treated with medications/antibiotics. Strep throat for example. Could this be treated holistically? I'm sure it could and has been, but having that holistic remedy fail can lead to serious complications (rhumatic fever etc). A simple course of antibiotics could take care of it.

    Those antibiotics can lead to their own set of issues though, such as oral thrush and/or poor gut health due to killing off the good bacteria. In this instance I feel diet and a holistic approach can help this issue of re-establishing the body's balance and normal flora.

    If traditional medicine isn't helping a condition, I don't see anything wrong with trying a different approach.

    The thing is, you don't need pseudoscience for that (let alone pseudoscience aimed at clearing your pockets). You don't need to be told you have candida overgrowth, which you may not have. There are several species and strains in the gut and the imbalance may have nothing to do with candida, which is the only thing a holistic practitioner would narrowly jump to. I would be interested in research on supplementing with specific probiotics with or after specific antibiotic use and if that could be part of the treatment if there is merit.

    Take it from me, and I won't even ask for their asking price ($99.99 should be enough): eat your vegetables and yogurt and you will hopefully be okay in a couple of weeks. And I didn't even need to study chakras to come up with that!

    I think I might have mis-understood the way in which "holistic approach" is being used. When I said a holistic approach could be used to restore gut flora, I meant exactly what you described (eating yogurt, fermented foods, probiotics etc). Isn't that considered a holistic approach (seriously asking)?

    I guess I specifically meant paying money for sound common sense advice sandwiched in fringe ideas and imaginary illnesses where you go in for advice about post-antibiotic care and come out with advice about post-antibiotic care (that may or may not be valid) plus a host of other unsubstantiated diagnoses and unnecessary treatments and a lighter wallet.

    What you're describing is like a psychiatrist who prescribes medications for a certain issue then encourages the patient to include exercise a few times a week as a prophylactic measure when weaning off the medication if no longer needed. Or someone with a mild case of diarrhea making sure to drink enough water to rehydrate. Sound advice that doesn't involve medications but doesn't come attached with all sorts of pseudoscience and a large bill.

    If you meant health supporting non-pharmaceutical practices, then I'm with you. There is nothing wrong with those (as long as they're not fully replacing real medical care or introducing/removing substances for which safety is unknown).
  • megpie41
    megpie41 Posts: 164 Member
    megpie41 wrote: »
    megpie41 wrote: »
    I suppose I fall somewhere in the middle as to holistic being able to treat disorders. There are some disorders/illnesses that should be treated with medications/antibiotics. Strep throat for example. Could this be treated holistically? I'm sure it could and has been, but having that holistic remedy fail can lead to serious complications (rhumatic fever etc). A simple course of antibiotics could take care of it.

    Those antibiotics can lead to their own set of issues though, such as oral thrush and/or poor gut health due to killing off the good bacteria. In this instance I feel diet and a holistic approach can help this issue of re-establishing the body's balance and normal flora.

    If traditional medicine isn't helping a condition, I don't see anything wrong with trying a different approach.

    The thing is, you don't need pseudoscience for that (let alone pseudoscience aimed at clearing your pockets). You don't need to be told you have candida overgrowth, which you may not have. There are several species and strains in the gut and the imbalance may have nothing to do with candida, which is the only thing a holistic practitioner would narrowly jump to. I would be interested in research on supplementing with specific probiotics with or after specific antibiotic use and if that could be part of the treatment if there is merit.

    Take it from me, and I won't even ask for their asking price ($99.99 should be enough): eat your vegetables and yogurt and you will hopefully be okay in a couple of weeks. And I didn't even need to study chakras to come up with that!

    I think I might have mis-understood the way in which "holistic approach" is being used. When I said a holistic approach could be used to restore gut flora, I meant exactly what you described (eating yogurt, fermented foods, probiotics etc). Isn't that considered a holistic approach (seriously asking)?

    I guess I specifically meant paying money for sound common sense advice sandwiched in fringe ideas and imaginary illnesses where you go in for advice about post-antibiotic care and come out with advice about post-antibiotic care (that may or may not be valid) plus a host of other unsubstantiated diagnoses and unnecessary treatments and a lighter wallet.

    What you're describing is like a psychiatrist who prescribes medications for a certain issue then encourages the patient to include exercise a few times a week as a prophylactic measure when weaning off the medication if no longer needed. Or someone with a mild case of diarrhea making sure to drink enough water to rehydrate. Sound advice that doesn't involve medications but doesn't come attached with all sorts of pseudoscience and a large bill.

    If you meant health supporting non-pharmaceutical practices, then I'm with you. There is nothing wrong with those (as long as they're not fully replacing real medical care or introducing/removing substances for which safety is unknown).
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    megpie41 wrote: »
    megpie41 wrote: »
    I suppose I fall somewhere in the middle as to holistic being able to treat disorders. There are some disorders/illnesses that should be treated with medications/antibiotics. Strep throat for example. Could this be treated holistically? I'm sure it could and has been, but having that holistic remedy fail can lead to serious complications (rhumatic fever etc). A simple course of antibiotics could take care of it.

    Those antibiotics can lead to their own set of issues though, such as oral thrush and/or poor gut health due to killing off the good bacteria. In this instance I feel diet and a holistic approach can help this issue of re-establishing the body's balance and normal flora.

    If traditional medicine isn't helping a condition, I don't see anything wrong with trying a different approach.

    The thing is, you don't need pseudoscience for that (let alone pseudoscience aimed at clearing your pockets). You don't need to be told you have candida overgrowth, which you may not have. There are several species and strains in the gut and the imbalance may have nothing to do with candida, which is the only thing a holistic practitioner would narrowly jump to. I would be interested in research on supplementing with specific probiotics with or after specific antibiotic use and if that could be part of the treatment if there is merit.

    Take it from me, and I won't even ask for their asking price ($99.99 should be enough): eat your vegetables and yogurt and you will hopefully be okay in a couple of weeks. And I didn't even need to study chakras to come up with that!

    I think I might have mis-understood the way in which "holistic approach" is being used. When I said a holistic approach could be used to restore gut flora, I meant exactly what you described (eating yogurt, fermented foods, probiotics etc). Isn't that considered a holistic approach (seriously asking)?

    I would distinguish between the idea of a holistic approach (focusing on lifestyle), which I think is great and few would argue with, and what OP is asking about -- so-called "holistic practitioners" who diagnose things like candida overgrowth or adrenal fatigue or leaky gut that medical doctors don't recognize at all, and that supposedly requires "detox" and a special diet and often some very sketchy and expensive supplements.

    Note: by special diet here I don't mean a sensible, healthy diet or focusing on how eating particular ways makes you feel.

    Thank you both for explaining. You both explained what I was trying to say much better than I did.
  • megpie41
    megpie41 Posts: 164 Member
    I think for some people (not all) they turn to holistic medicine when western medicine fails to cure them (some refuse western medicine all together from the beginning). They may have tried the western medicine approach with no success, and out of desperation/lack of alternatives they try the holistic approach.

    I'm not one to shun traditional medicine. I do think antibiotics and other medications are over prescribed as a whole, but they are necessary in many cases. If I exhausted the western medicine practices, I can't say I wouldn't try the holistic approach.

    I can't say whether the OP is being scammed or not. Only she can really determine that. I don't think I'd pay for those courses when much of that information seems to be readily available online and reading of books (unless of course she is trying to become "certified").

  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    This is the kind of holistic practice I can get behind.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3702459/

    It’s allowing traditional practice concurrently with conventional medicine.

    To be fair to your doctor, mention all supplements you are taking.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Interestingly when the native bands signed treaty with Canada at the turn of the 19th century, they insisted on a “Medicine Chest” clause.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_6

    To me this speaks to the native recognition of the value of western medicine.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Very interesting @CSARdiver . If this is how mortalities are recorded, I imagine old age drugs would get too many hits. Like BP meds, blood thinners, diabetes meds, angina blockers and the like.

    I’m hating fentanyl right now.
  • This content has been removed.
  • jgnatca wrote: »
    The only holistic approach that may have merit in my view is an intensive review of a person's blood-work including allergy tests then micro-adjusting the person's lifestyle and diet with supplements.

    ALL of the subjects you mention have been debunked.

    You can still be cautious about your diet and your health. Avoiding misinformation like this requires also a healthy dose of skepticism. There are authoritative sites you can look at for yourself to sift out the truth from belief.

    Here's one example. Quick google search.

    https://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm447204.htm

    While I agree there is no scientific support for most of those things - has the gut biome thing been debunked? Out of the whole list that is the only one I that I thought still had some scientific support.
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    megpie41 wrote: »
    megpie41 wrote: »
    megpie41 wrote: »
    I suppose I fall somewhere in the middle as to holistic being able to treat disorders. There are some disorders/illnesses that should be treated with medications/antibiotics. Strep throat for example. Could this be treated holistically? I'm sure it could and has been, but having that holistic remedy fail can lead to serious complications (rhumatic fever etc). A simple course of antibiotics could take care of it.

    Those antibiotics can lead to their own set of issues though, such as oral thrush and/or poor gut health due to killing off the good bacteria. In this instance I feel diet and a holistic approach can help this issue of re-establishing the body's balance and normal flora.

    If traditional medicine isn't helping a condition, I don't see anything wrong with trying a different approach.

    The thing is, you don't need pseudoscience for that (let alone pseudoscience aimed at clearing your pockets). You don't need to be told you have candida overgrowth, which you may not have. There are several species and strains in the gut and the imbalance may have nothing to do with candida, which is the only thing a holistic practitioner would narrowly jump to. I would be interested in research on supplementing with specific probiotics with or after specific antibiotic use and if that could be part of the treatment if there is merit.

    Take it from me, and I won't even ask for their asking price ($99.99 should be enough): eat your vegetables and yogurt and you will hopefully be okay in a couple of weeks. And I didn't even need to study chakras to come up with that!

    I think I might have mis-understood the way in which "holistic approach" is being used. When I said a holistic approach could be used to restore gut flora, I meant exactly what you described (eating yogurt, fermented foods, probiotics etc). Isn't that considered a holistic approach (seriously asking)?

    I guess I specifically meant paying money for sound common sense advice sandwiched in fringe ideas and imaginary illnesses where you go in for advice about post-antibiotic care and come out with advice about post-antibiotic care (that may or may not be valid) plus a host of other unsubstantiated diagnoses and unnecessary treatments and a lighter wallet.

    What you're describing is like a psychiatrist who prescribes medications for a certain issue then encourages the patient to include exercise a few times a week as a prophylactic measure when weaning off the medication if no longer needed. Or someone with a mild case of diarrhea making sure to drink enough water to rehydrate. Sound advice that doesn't involve medications but doesn't come attached with all sorts of pseudoscience and a large bill.

    If you meant health supporting non-pharmaceutical practices, then I'm with you. There is nothing wrong with those (as long as they're not fully replacing real medical care or introducing/removing substances for which safety is unknown).
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    megpie41 wrote: »
    megpie41 wrote: »
    I suppose I fall somewhere in the middle as to holistic being able to treat disorders. There are some disorders/illnesses that should be treated with medications/antibiotics. Strep throat for example. Could this be treated holistically? I'm sure it could and has been, but having that holistic remedy fail can lead to serious complications (rhumatic fever etc). A simple course of antibiotics could take care of it.

    Those antibiotics can lead to their own set of issues though, such as oral thrush and/or poor gut health due to killing off the good bacteria. In this instance I feel diet and a holistic approach can help this issue of re-establishing the body's balance and normal flora.

    If traditional medicine isn't helping a condition, I don't see anything wrong with trying a different approach.

    The thing is, you don't need pseudoscience for that (let alone pseudoscience aimed at clearing your pockets). You don't need to be told you have candida overgrowth, which you may not have. There are several species and strains in the gut and the imbalance may have nothing to do with candida, which is the only thing a holistic practitioner would narrowly jump to. I would be interested in research on supplementing with specific probiotics with or after specific antibiotic use and if that could be part of the treatment if there is merit.

    Take it from me, and I won't even ask for their asking price ($99.99 should be enough): eat your vegetables and yogurt and you will hopefully be okay in a couple of weeks. And I didn't even need to study chakras to come up with that!

    I think I might have mis-understood the way in which "holistic approach" is being used. When I said a holistic approach could be used to restore gut flora, I meant exactly what you described (eating yogurt, fermented foods, probiotics etc). Isn't that considered a holistic approach (seriously asking)?

    I would distinguish between the idea of a holistic approach (focusing on lifestyle), which I think is great and few would argue with, and what OP is asking about -- so-called "holistic practitioners" who diagnose things like candida overgrowth or adrenal fatigue or leaky gut that medical doctors don't recognize at all, and that supposedly requires "detox" and a special diet and often some very sketchy and expensive supplements.

    Note: by special diet here I don't mean a sensible, healthy diet or focusing on how eating particular ways makes you feel.

    Thank you both for explaining. You both explained what I was trying to say much better than I did.

    So, basically stuff like ginger tea for nausea instead of OTC meds, but fully intending to see a medical professional if the symptoms don't clear up in a reasonable amount of time. Got it.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    megpie41 wrote: »
    I think for some people (not all) they turn to holistic medicine when western medicine fails to cure them (some refuse western medicine all together from the beginning). They may have tried the western medicine approach with no success, and out of desperation/lack of alternatives they try the holistic approach.

    I'm not one to shun traditional medicine. I do think antibiotics and other medications are over prescribed as a whole, but they are necessary in many cases. If I exhausted the western medicine practices, I can't say I wouldn't try the holistic approach.

    I can't say whether the OP is being scammed or not. Only she can really determine that. I don't think I'd pay for those courses when much of that information seems to be readily available online and reading of books (unless of course she is trying to become "certified").

    Yeah this seems totally reasonable to me.
  • megpie41
    megpie41 Posts: 164 Member
    megpie41 wrote: »
    megpie41 wrote: »
    megpie41 wrote: »
    I suppose I fall somewhere in the middle as to holistic being able to treat disorders. There are some disorders/illnesses that should be treated with medications/antibiotics. Strep throat for example. Could this be treated holistically? I'm sure it could and has been, but having that holistic remedy fail can lead to serious complications (rhumatic fever etc). A simple course of antibiotics could take care of it.

    Those antibiotics can lead to their own set of issues though, such as oral thrush and/or poor gut health due to killing off the good bacteria. In this instance I feel diet and a holistic approach can help this issue of re-establishing the body's balance and normal flora.

    If traditional medicine isn't helping a condition, I don't see anything wrong with trying a different approach.

    The thing is, you don't need pseudoscience for that (let alone pseudoscience aimed at clearing your pockets). You don't need to be told you have candida overgrowth, which you may not have. There are several species and strains in the gut and the imbalance may have nothing to do with candida, which is the only thing a holistic practitioner would narrowly jump to. I would be interested in research on supplementing with specific probiotics with or after specific antibiotic use and if that could be part of the treatment if there is merit.

    Take it from me, and I won't even ask for their asking price ($99.99 should be enough): eat your vegetables and yogurt and you will hopefully be okay in a couple of weeks. And I didn't even need to study chakras to come up with that!

    I think I might have mis-understood the way in which "holistic approach" is being used. When I said a holistic approach could be used to restore gut flora, I meant exactly what you described (eating yogurt, fermented foods, probiotics etc). Isn't that considered a holistic approach (seriously asking)?

    I guess I specifically meant paying money for sound common sense advice sandwiched in fringe ideas and imaginary illnesses where you go in for advice about post-antibiotic care and come out with advice about post-antibiotic care (that may or may not be valid) plus a host of other unsubstantiated diagnoses and unnecessary treatments and a lighter wallet.

    What you're describing is like a psychiatrist who prescribes medications for a certain issue then encourages the patient to include exercise a few times a week as a prophylactic measure when weaning off the medication if no longer needed. Or someone with a mild case of diarrhea making sure to drink enough water to rehydrate. Sound advice that doesn't involve medications but doesn't come attached with all sorts of pseudoscience and a large bill.

    If you meant health supporting non-pharmaceutical practices, then I'm with you. There is nothing wrong with those (as long as they're not fully replacing real medical care or introducing/removing substances for which safety is unknown).
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    megpie41 wrote: »
    megpie41 wrote: »
    I suppose I fall somewhere in the middle as to holistic being able to treat disorders. There are some disorders/illnesses that should be treated with medications/antibiotics. Strep throat for example. Could this be treated holistically? I'm sure it could and has been, but having that holistic remedy fail can lead to serious complications (rhumatic fever etc). A simple course of antibiotics could take care of it.

    Those antibiotics can lead to their own set of issues though, such as oral thrush and/or poor gut health due to killing off the good bacteria. In this instance I feel diet and a holistic approach can help this issue of re-establishing the body's balance and normal flora.

    If traditional medicine isn't helping a condition, I don't see anything wrong with trying a different approach.

    The thing is, you don't need pseudoscience for that (let alone pseudoscience aimed at clearing your pockets). You don't need to be told you have candida overgrowth, which you may not have. There are several species and strains in the gut and the imbalance may have nothing to do with candida, which is the only thing a holistic practitioner would narrowly jump to. I would be interested in research on supplementing with specific probiotics with or after specific antibiotic use and if that could be part of the treatment if there is merit.

    Take it from me, and I won't even ask for their asking price ($99.99 should be enough): eat your vegetables and yogurt and you will hopefully be okay in a couple of weeks. And I didn't even need to study chakras to come up with that!

    I think I might have mis-understood the way in which "holistic approach" is being used. When I said a holistic approach could be used to restore gut flora, I meant exactly what you described (eating yogurt, fermented foods, probiotics etc). Isn't that considered a holistic approach (seriously asking)?

    I would distinguish between the idea of a holistic approach (focusing on lifestyle), which I think is great and few would argue with, and what OP is asking about -- so-called "holistic practitioners" who diagnose things like candida overgrowth or adrenal fatigue or leaky gut that medical doctors don't recognize at all, and that supposedly requires "detox" and a special diet and often some very sketchy and expensive supplements.

    Note: by special diet here I don't mean a sensible, healthy diet or focusing on how eating particular ways makes you feel.

    Thank you both for explaining. You both explained what I was trying to say much better than I did.

    So, basically stuff like ginger tea for nausea instead of OTC meds, but fully intending to see a medical professional if the symptoms don't clear up in a reasonable amount of time. Got it.

    Pretty much, yes. I'm all for treating (some) conditions "naturally" but after a reasonable amount of time, or severity warrants it, I'm all for going to the doctor/medical professional.

    Case in point: a few years ago I got a case of strep throat. Happened on the weekend so I couldn't get to the doctor until Monday. In the meantime I tried a holistic remedy of gargling with different concoctions etc. Needless to say, it didn't work. By Monday the strep progressed to scarletina/scarlet fever. Needed 2 courses of antibotics to get rid of it...then that lead to oral thrush from the antibiotics. Used a combination of Rx for that and "natural" remedy and diet to clear that up.

    So depending on the condition people are trying to treat holistically, I agree that it can be harmful. I think people need to use their best judgment, but often times it is lacking.

    I don't think it's bad for people to seek holistic medicine when they've exhausted traditional medicine, but it is harmful when they start with the holistic method and refuse traditional medicine if/when it doesn't work.
  • JustRobby1
    JustRobby1 Posts: 674 Member
    QUESTION......if a holistic "practitioner" treats someone and they die because they prescribed them something be that diet or supplementation that ultimately killed them could they be sued for malpractice with their "certification" and everything??

    id be devastated if I said someone had some "woo illness" and what I did contributed to their death/critical injury because i was wrong

    Holistic practitioners are not often successfully sued because they are not committing malpractice in the legal sense when they kill or injure someone. They are not doctors, nor are they bound by the same scope of stipulations.

    They are not successful held legally accountable very often for the same reason priests aren't. Religion was brought up in an interesting story earlier in the thread, but it ironically has some similarities. If you prayed at mass on Sunday to be cured, and you were not in fact cured - would you be able to hold the priest responsible? People that seek out these nut case "holistic" types do so of their own volition. Just like with the priest, they "believe" it will help them, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that it has no medicinal value at all.
  • JustRobby1
    JustRobby1 Posts: 674 Member
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    JustRobby1 wrote: »
    QUESTION......if a holistic "practitioner" treats someone and they die because they prescribed them something be that diet or supplementation that ultimately killed them could they be sued for malpractice with their "certification" and everything??

    id be devastated if I said someone had some "woo illness" and what I did contributed to their death/critical injury because i was wrong

    Holistic practitioners are not often successfully sued because they are not committing malpractice in the legal sense when they kill or injure someone. They are not doctors, nor are they bound by the same scope of stipulations.

    They are not successful held legally accountable very often for the same reason priests aren't. Religion was brought up in an interesting story earlier in the thread, but it ironically has some similarities. If you prayed at mass on Sunday to be cured, and you were not in fact cured - would you be able to hold the priest responsible? People that seek out these nut case "holistic" types do so of their own volition. Just like with the priest, they "believe" it will help them, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that it has no medicinal value at all.

    It'd be kind of like someone going to a casino and be told they were going to win big money if they bet there rather than investing and when they in fact lose a ton of money they try to sue the casino. That isn't going to stick and neither is suing someone for giving you an alternative treatment that isn't successful even if they as suggested you avoid the common treatment. I don't think a court would side with either that that was somehow a rational decision to make.

    Now if a holistic doctor gave something to someone and that thing literallly killed them then yeah, could sue there. But pretty sure that is a major reason they don't actually give people active ingredients.

    Also a good analogy, and yes, we can be thankful they can't prescribe meds. There have been certain rare situations where modern medicine has intervened with a court order and taken a patient into medical custody when the practices of the deranged endangered a life ("faith healing" cases come to mind), but speaking generally people can make their own decisions on such matters, no matter how medically ill advised.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    edited October 2017
    JustRobby1 wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    JustRobby1 wrote: »
    QUESTION......if a holistic "practitioner" treats someone and they die because they prescribed them something be that diet or supplementation that ultimately killed them could they be sued for malpractice with their "certification" and everything??

    id be devastated if I said someone had some "woo illness" and what I did contributed to their death/critical injury because i was wrong

    Holistic practitioners are not often successfully sued because they are not committing malpractice in the legal sense when they kill or injure someone. They are not doctors, nor are they bound by the same scope of stipulations.

    They are not successful held legally accountable very often for the same reason priests aren't. Religion was brought up in an interesting story earlier in the thread, but it ironically has some similarities. If you prayed at mass on Sunday to be cured, and you were not in fact cured - would you be able to hold the priest responsible? People that seek out these nut case "holistic" types do so of their own volition. Just like with the priest, they "believe" it will help them, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that it has no medicinal value at all.

    It'd be kind of like someone going to a casino and be told they were going to win big money if they bet there rather than investing and when they in fact lose a ton of money they try to sue the casino. That isn't going to stick and neither is suing someone for giving you an alternative treatment that isn't successful even if they as suggested you avoid the common treatment. I don't think a court would side with either that that was somehow a rational decision to make.

    Now if a holistic doctor gave something to someone and that thing literallly killed them then yeah, could sue there. But pretty sure that is a major reason they don't actually give people active ingredients.

    Also a good analogy, and yes, we can be thankful they can't prescribe meds. There have been certain rare situations where modern medicine has intervened with a court order and taken a patient into medical custody when the practices of the deranged endangered a life ("faith healing" cases come to mind), but speaking generally people can make their own decisions on such matters, no matter how medically ill advised.

    I'm assuming that happened only in a situation where the patient couldn't provide consent wither due to being underage, incapacitated or mentally deranged and ruled unfit.

    Honestly if a consenting adult ends up choosing that route and die of a preventable disease, that is on them. I don't believe the state should intervene. Ability to consent though being the keyword.
This discussion has been closed.