Alternative medicine

[BNJ1878]

I had an ear infection around 3 months ago caused by some trapped water that basically stagnated. (I had clear discharge that genuinely smelled like rotten meat lol)

Anyway, I went to see the ENT. He basically hoovered it out, gave me some drops and sent me on my way.

The problem was, it still felt like there was a bubble in my ear, and if I tried to clear it by pinching my nose it wouldn't equalise, the other ear was fine.

Over the next several days it was feeling worse and my hearing also suffered. The worrying thing was I was feeling increased pressure all over my head, but particularly in the upper quarter around the effected ear. It was so bad it felt like that part of my head had a numbing injection and it felt all fuzzy, but if I applied any pressure it sent shooting pain.

So, back to the ENT who stroked his beard and looked up my nose and said:

"Ahhhh, I think the ***** tube (connects your nose and ear, forget the name) is blocked, I'll give you some tablets and a nasal spray. Use them for 10 days and it will clear up."

Anyway, it didn't. Back again for a third visit and I can tell by now he's floundering:

"Have you changed your diet lately?"
“Are you getting enough sleep?"
“Maybe you have developed Hayfever!"

Anyway, he orders a full bloidtest, obviously hoping to find something glariningly obvious but my test came back smack in the middle range for about 20 measurements.

Anyway, the good lady (who is Chinese/Swiss) suggested I go to her 'Doctor.'

I'm a massive skeptic when it comes to hocus pocus like that, but I was at my wits end so I agreed.

6 sessions of acupuncture, 4 sessions of 'cupping' (Not my balls, glass bulbs that create a vacuum through heat) and a powdered potion that looks like it came from the Mersey but tasted OK.

I feel brand new.

I genuinely believed it would be a waste of time but it seems not.

Have any of you tried treatments that would be scoffed at by Western medicine? If so. What was the treatment and why did you try it?

 

[chrismpw]

Eustachian tube.

Probably your immune system git to grips with it in the end and the coincidental use of alternative medicines gets the credit.

Having said that- science doesn't have all the answers and our established medical set up has been financially crippled by the tories and the pharmaceutical giants more ontetested in acquiring our money by madking symptoms than by curing. Maybe alternatives at all we have left.

 

[davids]

I had an ear infection around 3 months ago caused by some trapped water that basically stagnated. (I had clear discharge that genuinely smelled like rotten meat lol)

Anyway, I went to see the ENT. He basically hoovered it out, gave me some drops and sent me on my way.

The problem was, it still felt like there was a bubble in my ear, and if I tried to clear it by pinching my nose it wouldn't equalise, the other ear was fine.

Over the next several days it was feeling worse and my hearing also suffered. The worrying thing was I was feeling increased pressure all over my head, but particularly in the upper quarter around the effected ear. It was so bad it felt like that part of my head had a numbing injection and it felt all fuzzy, but if I applied any pressure it sent shooting pain.

So, back to the ENT who stroked his beard and looked up my nose and said:

"Ahhhh, I think the ***** tube (connects your nose and ear, forget the name) is blocked, I'll give you some tablets and a nasal spray. Use them for 10 days and it will clear up."

Anyway, it didn't. Back again for a third visit and I can tell by now he's floundering:

"Have you changed your diet lately?"
“Are you getting enough sleep?"
“Maybe you have developed Hayfever!"

Anyway, he orders a full bloidtest, obviously hoping to find something glariningly obvious but my test came back smack in the middle range for about 20 measurements.

Anyway, the good lady (who is Chinese/Swiss) suggested I go to her 'Doctor.'

I'm a massive skeptic when it comes to hocus pocus like that, but I was at my wits end so I agreed.

6 sessions of acupuncture, 4 sessions of 'cupping' (Not my balls, glass bulbs that create a vacuum through heat) and a powdered potion that looks like it came from the Mersey but tasted OK.

I feel brand new.

I genuinely believed it would be a waste of time but it seems not.

Have any of you tried treatments that would be scoffed at by Western medicine? If so. What was the treatment and why did you try it?

Some aren't scoffed at but because they are cheap you're not likely to be prescribed. Melatonin and Niacin worth Googling their benefits. If you have trouble sleeping Melatonin works for me at least. And for those prescribed Statins,Niacin is a much healthier option.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

Horse gel.

Cleared up my piles brilliantly.

Not really.

The whole question of effective medicine is fascinating. Quite often what is considered ineffective is due to it not having been studied to a particular standard. Which in the UK usually means an RCT and health economics evaluation to make it into NICE guidelines.

One of the most popular (and well marketed) 'alternative' medicines are cod liver oil, glucosamine, and chondroitin. Often aimed at those with chronic knee, hip or hand pain. Sold all over the shop. But harmless. Not in the NICE guidelines for osteoarthritis because the evidence is not there for effectivness. Arguably all they do is make someone else money. But, some folk swear it helps them, so is it an issue of if they are happy to pay it is okay? I don't have the answer on this, it's a grey area.

The really shady stuff for me are the cases where alternative medicines are promoted as cures or amelioratives for cancer and the like. It's a different ballpark and is strongly argued to do more harm than good.

 

[davids]

Horse gel.

Cleared up my piles brilliantly.

Not really.

The whole question of effective medicine is fascinating. Quite often what is considered ineffective is due to it not having been studied to a particular standard. Which in the UK usually means an RCT and health economics evaluation to make it into NICE guidelines.

One of the most popular (and well marketed) 'alternative' medicines are cod liver oil, glucosamine, and chondroitin. Often aimed at those with chronic knee, hip or hand pain. Sold all over the shop. But harmless. Not in the NICE guidelines for osteoarthritis because the evidence is not there for effectivness. Arguably all they do is make someone else money. But, some folk swear it helps them, so is it an issue of if they are happy to pay it is okay? I don't have the answer on this, it's a grey area.

The really shady stuff for me are the cases where alternative medicines are promoted as cures or amelioratives for cancer and the like. It's a different ballpark and is strongly argued to do more harm than good.

Cod liver oil these days sadly is like taking a spoonful of mercury.

 

[kev]

Most things tend to sort themselves out over time.
It's been 3 months, so the chances are it would have cleared up by now even without the three visits to ENT, six sessions of accupuncture and four cuppings.

 

[Brett Angell Delight]

Eustachian tube.

Probably your immune system git to grips with it in the end and the coincidental use of alternative medicines gets the credit.

Having said that- science doesn't have all the answers and our established medical set up has been financially crippled by the tories and the pharmaceutical giants more ontetested in acquiring our money by madking symptoms than by curing. Maybe alternatives at all we have left.

Hmmm. Ontetesting.

 

[chrismpw]

Hmmm. Ontetesting.

*interested

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

Cannabis/cannabinoids and magic mushrooms/Psilocybin are also interesting examples of 'alternatives' transitioning to sanctioned, or potentially sanctioned, treatments.

​

 

[Chewbacca]

I’m with Dara O’Brian on this one

 

[magicjuan]

Cannabis/cannabinoids and magic mushrooms/Psilocybin are also interesting examples of 'alternatives' transitioning to sanctioned, or potentially sanctioned, treatments.

​

I'm a great believer in the heali g and medicinal qualities of plants and especially herbs.
I always use honey, lemon and cinnamon in the winter as a cure all, with added Drambuie for completely medicinal reasons.
'Witches' were burned for practising medicine with plants and herbs and they invented beer

 

[BNJ1878]

Probably your immune system git to grips with it in the end and the coincidental use of alternative medicines gets the credit.

Maybe, but the improvement was very apparent from the very first visit.

I wouldn't believe it myself if I hadn't experienced it first hand. (It's clearly 'A load of old nonsense.')

My default will always been my regular Dr, but I'm not using her again if they're stumped.

 

[Nymzee]

6 sessions of acupuncture, 4 sessions of 'cupping' (Not my balls, glass bulbs that create a vacuum through heat) and a powdered potion that looks like it came from the Mersey but tasted OK.

I feel brand new.

I genuinely believed it would be a waste of time but it seems not.

Do you believe you feel better because of the treatments or have you convinced yourself the treatments worked? Always interested in the distinction.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

Do you believe you feel better because of the treatments or have you convinced yourself the treatments worked? Always interested in the distinction.

I once attended a presentation by a very eminent clinical academic who presented evidence that patient outcomes are almost always better when they get their prefered treatment. No one knows why, but it is certainly a thing.

 

[Nymzee]

I once attended a presentation by a very eminent clinical academic who presented evidence that patient outcomes are almost always better when they get their prefered treatment. No one knows why, but it is certainly a thing.

I mean the brain is a marvelous thing isn't it. I think we can will our way, or convince ourselves, into better health. When I'm happier I get ill less for example.