From: v129nlgw@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (PAUL HOWARD)
Newsgroups: alt.society.civil-liberty,alt.politics.usa.constitution,alt.drugs,talk.politics.drugs,alt.psychoactives
Subject: Re: The FDA can't be criminal, can they?
Date: 13 Oct 92 00:58:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Oct5.024153.13797@spdcc.com>, dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) writes...
>In article <BvMDI2.73J@acsu.buffalo.edu> v129nlgw@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (PAUL HOWARD) writes:
>>What's wrong with herbalism?  At least 40% of all "orthodox" medicines are
>>plant extractions or synthetic versions of what used to be plant extractions.
> 
>That's known as pharmacognosy, not herbalism.

Kind of picky, eh?

> 
>>In many cases, herbal treatments are better.  Take poison ivy treatment, for
>>instance.  The conventional method for treating it is by rubbing 
>>corticosteroids on it.
> 
>No, that's not the conventional treatment.  Topical corticosteroids
>are not particularly useful for treating poison ivy.
> 
Well, that's what my parents and I have always been prescribed, and we 
are extremely sensitive to poison ivy.

>>This works by lowering the immune response, and 
> 
>Is that right, doctor?
> 
According to my professor in Licit and Illicit Drugs.

>>takes around a week to work.
> 
>In other words, as long as it takes to do nothing, which is in fact
>the only real treatment for minor poison ivy.  Severe cases can be treated
>quickly and effectively by oral corticosteroids, but you don't want to do
>that unless it's necessary.  However, such short term systemic use isn't
>associated with too many problems.
> 
Actually, for a while here at school, not too long ago, in fact, I had poison 
ivy and was without either medication or jewelweed.  I had a rash which spread
from place to place for about three weeks, until I finally found a local source
of jewelweed.


>>In addition, the medicine is very expensive.
> 
>Depends on the steroid.  A potent topical steroid (which usually will
>be expensive) is a waste of money.
> 
The ones that work have been expensive.  Jewelweed is free.

>>One common herbal method, a poultice of the common herb, jewelweed, works 
>>in 2-3 days, and is much safer.
> 
>>I would much rather go to an herbalist for treatment than to a doctor.
> 
>Well, I hope you have the strength of your convictions when you get
>something more serious than poison ivy.  
> 
Let me tell you about a condition my teacher (the naturalist) had 13 years
ago.  He had eczema all over.  I mean _everywhere_.  He said he had a severely
restricted range of motion due to the skin condition, and he couldn't even
turn his neck.  He left a trail of skin wherever he went.  
	
None of the conventional medical treatment he had been getting was helping his
condition.  He was taking cortizone pills, which couldn't have been very good
for him.  

At the time he was teaching herbalism basically as folklore, and decided that
he might as well try it.  He had to change his diet and use a number of 
herbal remedies which were supposed to remove the problem thereby treating the
symptoms.  The change was gradual, but within a year he no longer had eczema.

His roommate, also by changing his diet and using herbal remedies, cured
his chronic bronchitis.



So, while I'm not a doctor, and expect to get flamed by people who are, I
know a good thing when I see it.  It's just too bad that the our government,
in protecting the income of doctors, has outlawed the practice of herbalism
in all but a few of our states.  I have no choice but learn all I can  and 
treat myself.


peace,
Paul
Newsgroups: alt.society.civil-liberty,alt.politics.usa.constitution,alt.drugs,talk.politics.drugs,alt.psychoactives