Naturopathy . . . :S

trudijoy
trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
in Food and Nutrition
. . . I went to pick up a supplement yesterday (dealing with a symptom of my thyroid disorder) and the woman basically started listing things she could 'tell I needed' by looking at me. Went on to say I was too stressed (duh, I know that) and that because I have A+ blood I should be a vegetarian.

Now I'm all about a bit of natural therapy, but at which point does that line between helping your body achieve it's functions and simply taking things for the hell of it become blurred? I walked out with what I'd come in for but was left wondering if should be taking the 5 other things she thought I should be.

I've always been pretty in tune with what my body needs when I'm living healthy and I was 100% right about which supplement I should have been on yesterday....

So my point for discussion is this:

Do you buy into naturopathy, and to what level - are you taking the cocktail of herbals? The main one I take is kelp which is brilliant for my thyroid when the med levels are stable.
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Replies

  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    I support naturopathy only so one institution doesn't have a monopoly on health.
  • msarro
    msarro Posts: 2,748 Member
    There are certain things I do buy into, and others I don't. I think it depends a lot on the person and what their tolerances are.

    I take two herbal supplements because after years of taking prescribed meds, they actually worked. Herbal supplements make sense because our whole medication system is based on chemicals, and herbs are just plants which contain certain chemicals. That makes sense to me.

    But I lose all interest when people start talking about how "taking vitamin X cures cancer" or "eating only raw foods while praying to Vishnu on the third full moon of the year" saved them from a brain tumor. If some magical herb really made cancer vanish, trust me, there would be peer reviewed studies.

    I think it's something you really have to decide yourself.
  • micheleb15
    micheleb15 Posts: 1,418 Member
    I tend to be more homeopathic in my decisions. I go to my acupuncturist and she is amazing. Helps pain, allergies, stress, etc. Every once in a while she will give me an herbal supplement, but I never notice too much of a difference to continue on with them.
  • PhattiPhat
    PhattiPhat Posts: 349 Member
    There are certain things I do buy into, and others I don't. I think it depends a lot on the person and what their tolerances are.

    I take two herbal supplements because after years of taking prescribed meds, they actually worked. Herbal supplements make sense because our whole medication system is based on chemicals, and herbs are just plants which contain certain chemicals. That makes sense to me.

    But I lose all interest when people start talking about how "taking vitamin X cures cancer" or "eating only raw foods while praying to Vishnu on the third full moon of the year" saved them from a brain tumor. If some magical herb really made cancer vanish, trust me, there would be peer reviewed studies.

    I think it's something you really have to decide yourself.

    This. I have friends that as soon as they start using the word "Big Pharma" my eyes glaze over.
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member


    I think it's something you really have to decide yourself.

    absolutely, and i know where *i* stand on it, but i was quietly fascinated by the range of potions and things on offer, for fairly high prices considering, and wondering how much of it is truly necessary.

    In addition to the kelp i'm on a psyllium/prebiotic/probiotic and i picked up some rescue remedy, but other than that I don't want to pummel money into something I feel like I can achieve with nutrition and fitness, personally. Maybe I'm cheap lol.

    Homeopathy cured me of several food intolerances, by the way, but couldn't budge my big one (seafood)
  • msarro
    msarro Posts: 2,748 Member
    Well, for the probiotic you can eat yogurt, or if you're feeling daring, make it yourself. It's not hard!
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    Well, for the probiotic you can eat yogurt, or if you're feeling daring, make it yourself. It's not hard!

    not for the reason i need it for (digestive imbalance due to a change in thyroid medication) . Once that comes right the yoghurt will be enough but I need the extras for a bit.
  • DesdemonaRose
    DesdemonaRose Posts: 190
    I don't buy any of it. I don't even take vitamin suppliments unless I'm feeling really under the weather, like I might becoming ill. Then I just take some VIt. D. I've been taknig CoQ10 but sort of out of habit from when I was more into that stuff and it was claimed to be such a great thing. I've read enough to figure a lot of it is just dreams and wishes. I eat lowcarb and look to Paleo/Prmal groups for food ideas, but even then I'm not hardcore with it. I am in a challange now just to see if I can do it, but when the month is over I'll go back to my usual "a little bit of everything with lots of vegis" diet. I have a lot of dibetics in my family which is why I choose to skip a lot of fast burning carbs. Maybe it will help me avoid it, if anything it does help keep the weight off because I eat less calories!

    I like things with a more scientific basis, but I also do like that some people question the "main stream." You just have to be logical with it and not jump on all the latest bandwagons because they sound great. Even if person A, B, and C thinks that XXX cured them there is always a fascniating thing called the placebo effect... or even the nocebo (or is it noplacebo, I forgot which) effect. Sometimes it's just random chance and a person gets hella lucky that their cancer or whatever went away. It happens for people on ****ty diets with no herbal benifits as well.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    but at which point does that line between helping your body achieve it's functions and simply taking things for the hell of it become blurred?

    In my opinion,

    That line becomes blurred the moment you walked into a naturopathy building.
  • SrJoben
    SrJoben Posts: 484 Member
    I try not to come down to absolutist in either direction.

    But there's' a joke I like:

    "What do you call Alternative Medicine that's been proven to work?"

    "Medicine"


    A lot of the fringe stuff is fringe for a reason. Either because no one has proven it works. Or because it's been conclusively disproven. Often repeatedly. By lots of different people.
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,749 Member
    I actually do take a "cocktail" of herbal supplements because I believe that you can not get every vital nutrient that you need through food alone.

    There is a lot of good in supplements. They can help support your immune system. I hardly get sick and when I do the time that it lasts has been severely diminished. Where as I would get a cold and it could hang around for 2+ weeks it lasts a few days. When it starts to hit me hard I take a day off and sleep and it's virtually gone the next day. I chalk it up to the amount of vitamin D I take (7000 IU's) -- which if you're not I HIGHLY recommend you take that. It fights a plethora of diseases and colds.

    I have actually been toying with finding a natural/homeopathic type of doctor; someone who knows about supplements and isn't prescription happy.
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    I like science. And people who have had medical training from accredited colleges. And the most up-to-date information possible so that I don't get told to do something silly like stick leeches on me to bleed out the bad bile.

    So no, I don't do naturopathy.

    Except for ginger root pills to help with nausea. Mythbusters gave it a thumbs up. I trust those guys.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member


    Except for ginger root pills to help with nausea. Mythbusters gave it a thumbs up.

    Pubmed gives it a thumbs up too =)


    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10793599
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11275030
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19250006
  • Will_Thrust_For_Candy
    Will_Thrust_For_Candy Posts: 6,109 Member
    I believe that there can be validity to many different theories/concepts; there are many cultures that rely on purely natural elements rather than the "drugs" and products of modern medicine.

    I think that where the difference comes in is if you are dealing with a reputable "professional". The health industry is big money and just like anything else, everyone wants to make a buck. I think there are reputable, trustworthy naturopaths out there....but I'm sure there are some quacks too....just like you would find in any profession.

    Exercise good judgement, proceed with caution, listen to your body and if all else fails, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member


    Except for ginger root pills to help with nausea. Mythbusters gave it a thumbs up.

    Pubmed gives it a thumbs up too =)


    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10793599
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11275030
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19250006

    ok, folks, I am gonna just say that a large portion of medicines used by "big pharma" come from plants.

    Robitussin? From tussilago farfara
    aspirin? from salix spp.
    digitalin? from digitalis spp.

    a lot of herbs can be really useful- there are times when a clove of garlic will do you better than an antibiotic.
  • jleach
    jleach Posts: 38 Member
    There are an awful lot of quacks out there and they all think they know best what you need. I'm always interested in ideas but I never take anyone's word for it. If it sounds interesting, I come home and do the research myself. There are many natural options for people and I don't mind trying some things out but I'm pretty cheap myself. If you ask for information in any shop, they're going to try to sell you. At the moment, all I take is a multivitamin, calcium and I'm a vegetarian so I take B12.
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    . . . I went to pick up a supplement yesterday (dealing with a symptom of my thyroid disorder) and the woman basically started listing things she could 'tell I needed' by looking at me. Went on to say I was too stressed (duh, I know that) and that because I have A+ blood I should be a vegetarian.

    Now I'm all about a bit of natural therapy, but at which point does that line between helping your body achieve it's functions and simply taking things for the hell of it become blurred? I walked out with what I'd come in for but was left wondering if should be taking the 5 other things she thought I should be.

    I've always been pretty in tune with what my body needs when I'm living healthy and I was 100% right about which supplement I should have been on yesterday....

    So my point for discussion is this:

    Do you buy into naturopathy, and to what level - are you taking the cocktail of herbals? The main one I take is kelp which is brilliant for my thyroid when the med levels are stable.

    aint that just the million dollar question? =/
    I'd sure like to know....I'm taking chromium gtf, bitter melon, konjac root, biotin & Vit D (vit d is prescribed, but whatevs) all in an effort to lower my BG. I have cinnamon pills & apple cider vinegar tabs too that I just can't bring myself to add to the plethora of nutraceuticaIs I take.

    Having lost 20#'s by cutting carbs to less than 30 g per day & taking the above listed assortment has me to the point where I'm doing a trial of 1/2 my Metformin dose. I never had problems with it's known side effects till I hit 18#'s lost.

    I still can't figure out the lesser of 2 evils, a bunch of otc unregulated stuff, or a honkin' mother of a horse pill that's been in use for 50+ years with plenty of known info. Shrug.
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member
    all that being said in my previous post, there is a lot of crap out there, too.... anyone who says you need x,y, and z "just from looking at you" from behind the counter at a shop is just trying to sell you crap.

    I have a good friend who is studying naturopathy and if you are talking about an actual naturopath who actually went to school to become a licensed naturopath, I'd be more inclined to listen.

    http://www.bastyr.edu/academics/areas-study/study-naturopathic-medicine/about-naturopathic-medicine
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    I actually do take a "cocktail" of herbal supplements because I believe that you can not get every vital nutrient that you need through food alone.

    There is a lot of good in supplements. They can help support your immune system. I hardly get sick and when I do the time that it lasts has been severely diminished. Where as I would get a cold and it could hang around for 2+ weeks it lasts a few days. When it starts to hit me hard I take a day off and sleep and it's virtually gone the next day. I chalk it up to the amount of vitamin D I take (7000 IU's) -- which if you're not I HIGHLY recommend you take that. It fights a plethora of diseases and colds.

    I have actually been toying with finding a natural/homeopathic type of doctor; someone who knows about supplements and isn't prescription happy.

    My mom's a nurse & she knows I'm on Vit D....she's big on cocktails of herbal supplements too.
    She told me a story recently about one of her Doctor's patients getting non reversible kidney disease from supplementing with too much Vit D....I'd look it up to see what that's all about.

    My Vit D level was checked as part of my bloodwork, so when my doc told me to supplement, I felt pretty good about it. My mom on the other hand, had been supplementing because she thought she was doing something good for her body, but upon hearing about her Doctor's patient, she's having her bloodwork done so she can see if she really needs to supplement.

    Not trying to scare you or nothin' :flowerforyou:
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,749 Member
    I actually do take a "cocktail" of herbal supplements because I believe that you can not get every vital nutrient that you need through food alone.

    There is a lot of good in supplements. They can help support your immune system. I hardly get sick and when I do the time that it lasts has been severely diminished. Where as I would get a cold and it could hang around for 2+ weeks it lasts a few days. When it starts to hit me hard I take a day off and sleep and it's virtually gone the next day. I chalk it up to the amount of vitamin D I take (7000 IU's) -- which if you're not I HIGHLY recommend you take that. It fights a plethora of diseases and colds.

    I have actually been toying with finding a natural/homeopathic type of doctor; someone who knows about supplements and isn't prescription happy.

    My mom's a nurse & she knows I'm on Vit D....she's big on cocktails of herbal supplements too.
    She told me a story recently about one of her Doctor's patients getting non reversible kidney disease from supplementing with too much Vit D....I'd look it up to see what that's all about.

    My Vit D level was checked as part of my bloodwork, so when my doc told me to supplement, I felt pretty good about it. My mom on the other hand, had been supplementing because she thought she was doing something good for her body, but upon hearing about her Doctor's patient, she's having her bloodwork done so she can see if she really needs to supplement.

    Not trying to scare you or nothin' :flowerforyou:

    :smile:

    I get my blood work done every year and adjust what I take when necessary. Summertime my vitamin D is obviously higher because I am out in the sun but in the winter even with the amount that I take I'm usually low.
  • xstarxdustx
    xstarxdustx Posts: 591 Member
    bump.
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    The only supplements I take are creatine and an occasional iron tablet. I get plenty of nutrition from the foods I eat, though I should do a better job of consuming fish, nuts and avocado as I tend to cycle through times of paying attention to that and not. The supplement industry is mostly a morass of quackery and I wouldn't even consider seeing a naturopath.
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    but at which point does that line between helping your body achieve it's functions and simply taking things for the hell of it become blurred?

    In my opinion,

    That line becomes blurred the moment you walked into a naturopathy building.

    In NZ, where I live, most pharmacies have a natural section and naturopathy often lies alongside medicinal remedies. Plus...I'm open minded. If it works, why not??
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    but at which point does that line between helping your body achieve it's functions and simply taking things for the hell of it become blurred?

    In my opinion,

    That line becomes blurred the moment you walked into a naturopathy building.

    In NZ, where I live, most pharmacies have a natural section and naturopathy often lies alongside medicinal remedies. Plus...I'm open minded. If it works, why not??

    If you are able to decipher what works from what is a crock of BS, would you have made this post to begin with?

    I'm not saying this to insult you, I want to be clear on that since it's hard to convey "tone" when writing.
  • DeeDel32
    DeeDel32 Posts: 542 Member
    I'm of the mind that we can obtain all the nutrients that we need from the food and liquids we ingest.

    Maintain a varied, healthy diet and you should be okay in the nutrient category.

    I personally take a daily multi vitamin, but even so I question it's effectiveness. A little placebo never hurt anyone, right? ;)
  • kganc001
    kganc001 Posts: 317
    I don't buy it. And I'm cheap. I take a daily multi and a b-complex vitamin. I know I don't get enough nutrients in my food and my dentist has been bothering me to take a multi for the calcium.

    But honestly? I don't feel any different when I take the multi than when I don't. But the b-complex? If I miss it for a couple days, I feel a little sluggish. But nothing serious. They're cheap and give me the little burst I need to say no to a soda. :)
  • katejkelley
    katejkelley Posts: 839 Member
    If the woman worked there, she was probably trying to upsell. Make sure you discuss any herbal medicines with your doctor. Some can have adverse effects with different kinds of medications. I am into natural remedies when I can, but I also take prescription allergy medicine daily. I've suffered with my symptoms too long to play around with them.
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    but at which point does that line between helping your body achieve it's functions and simply taking things for the hell of it become blurred?

    In my opinion,

    That line becomes blurred the moment you walked into a naturopathy building.

    In NZ, where I live, most pharmacies have a natural section and naturopathy often lies alongside medicinal remedies. Plus...I'm open minded. If it works, why not??

    If you are able to decipher what works from what is a crock of BS, would you have made this post to begin with?

    I'm not saying this to insult you, I want to be clear on that since it's hard to convey "tone" when writing.

    It was a musing. I was intrigued not as to whether or not there was Merit to what someone decided I needed based on a 5 minute consultation at the end of a work day, but as to other peoples perspectives on it. I'm reinventing mybody and health and pretty happy with where I am, but as I said I'm open minded and this place has a wealth of people who have looked into things independently as part of their journey to being healthier.

    Your 'If you are able to decipher what works from what is a crock of BS, would you have made this post to begin with?' IS insulting, because it assumes that I am incapable of knowing what works for me, and trust me, that is not the case. I believe that you didn't intend to be insulting and I'm not offended, but I think you're being a little narrow-minded personally. I have the same range of doubts about many prescribed medications and in fact, the thyroid meds issue I referred to in my OP was a locum error that I picked up and corrected before my GP did and now we are simply dealing with fallout.

    If you have no interest in this as a topic you're welcome to leave your contributions there. If you want to join in, go for it. But don't for a second assume I'm asking a messageboard what I should put into my body.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    but at which point does that line between helping your body achieve it's functions and simply taking things for the hell of it become blurred?

    In my opinion,

    That line becomes blurred the moment you walked into a naturopathy building.

    In NZ, where I live, most pharmacies have a natural section and naturopathy often lies alongside medicinal remedies. Plus...I'm open minded. If it works, why not??

    If you are able to decipher what works from what is a crock of BS, would you have made this post to begin with?

    I'm not saying this to insult you, I want to be clear on that since it's hard to convey "tone" when writing.

    It was a musing. I was intrigued not as to whether or not there was Merit to what someone decided I needed based on a 5 minute consultation at the end of a work day, but as to other peoples perspectives on it. I'm reinventing mybody and health and pretty happy with where I am, but as I said I'm open minded and this place has a wealth of people who have looked into things independently as part of their journey to being healthier.

    Your 'If you are able to decipher what works from what is a crock of BS, would you have made this post to begin with?' IS insulting, because it assumes that I am incapable of knowing what works for me, and trust me, that is not the case. I believe that you didn't intend to be insulting and I'm not offended, but I think you're being a little narrow-minded personally. I have the same range of doubts about many prescribed medications and in fact, the thyroid meds issue I referred to in my OP was a locum error that I picked up and corrected before my GP did and now we are simply dealing with fallout.

    If you have no interest in this as a topic you're welcome to leave your contributions there. If you want to join in, go for it. But don't for a second assume I'm asking a messageboard what I should put into my body.

    I'm sorry that you do not like my opinion on this.

    Good luck with your fitness goals.
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member


    Good luck with your fitness goals.

    Thanks.

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