From: rkaplan@netcom.com (Richard Kaplan)
Subject: Re: Asthma, adult onset
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 04:49:25 GMT

In article <1ha9jcINN4uf@grapevine.EBay.Sun.COM>
 greg@antizen.EBay.Sun.COM writes:


>What is your official position regarding whether or not homeopathy
>should be allowed to be practiced in this country?

My opinion (which, as with all my postings, is my personal
opinion and not necessarily that of my employer) is
that homeopathy should be allowed but that any
substances dispensed (1) should be legal, uncontrolled 
substances and (2) should be accompanied by a statement
of data (or lack thereof) documenting any therapeutic
effect claimed.

That said, I am concerned that homeopathy may cause
some patients to delay more traditional and possibly
more effective treatment.  But I also strongly 
believe in freedom of individual choice and minimalist
government, so I believe the above is a reasonable
compromise and addresses the most serious danger of
homeopathy: fraud.

>I won't try and grapple with someone so much more educated than myself,

No, feel free to do so.  I am not posting here to 
blindly promote allopathic dogma.  I believe there
may well be some good in homeopathy, but I am
concerned that it is difficult to tell the good from
the fraud.  In addition, if I ask you for data to 
support homeopathy then I must be willing to provide
the same for allopathic medicine.  So fire away
and expect to be fired upon in turn (in good
nature, of course). 


><seriously>. I have been using Ventolin anywhere from 6 to 10 times

Currently accepted practice is to use inhaled steroids as a
first line and to use Ventolin only as needed on
top of that.  And 6 to 10 times per day for Ventolin
is quite a bit.... you may well become refractory to 
its effects.  But of course, speak with your own doctor
first.

>rainy weather where bronchial infections usually occur.  I have
>intentionally but reluctantly avoided the use of steroid
>inhalers but sometimes use Cromalyn Sodium

Cromalyn generally is recommended as a preventive agent
and not as a first line for acute asthmatic attacks.  More
importantly, why are you avoiding steroid inhalers?  if it is 
because of fears of steroid side effects, the side effects
are actually quite minimal with this form of administration...
and certainly less than the side effects of the oral or IV
steroids you will need if your disease gets worse.  (Again,
discuss this first with your own doctor.)  


>As an MD obviously opposed to homeopathy, what would you possibly have to 
>offer me that would bring with it the promise of correcting my asthma?

As I mentioned above, I am not necessarily opposed to
homeopathy.  I am an open-minded skeptic.  I am 
also opposed to health fraud in all forms, whether
by M.D., D.O., D.C., homeopath, etc.  

I am not a primary care physician managing asthma so 
I probably could not directly offer you any medical
care which would change your medical situation.  However,
I would recommend that you visit an allergist or 
pulmonologist familiar with current treatment strategies
for asthma.  From your brief electronic medical history
above, it appears that either through your choice or
through your physician's choice you may not be following
optimal allopathic treatment for your asthma.  If you
wish to use asthma medication which is non-standard
or suboptimal, that is your right, but it is unfair
for you to then turn to homeopathy and claim alternative
medicine is more effective than traditional medicine.
I suspect an up-to-date allopathic M.D. could help 
you to control you asthma quite well.

-- 
Richard Kaplan M.D.           Medical Software Exchange BBS
806 2nd St. SW # 104          (507) 281-1989 14,400 HST
Rochester, MN  55902          (507) 281-1689 Voice
PP-ASEL-IA     N4VRB          rkaplan@mayo.edu|netcom.netcom.com  
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative