Conference back40::soapbox

Saw palmetto?

      Our medical system is largely fried and there is a lot to say
      as per the benefits of herbs.  I've been hearing amazing stories
      about the benefits of pycnogenol for example.  (Pine bark extract.)
      Truly amazing stories.
    
      I take some herbs.

Maybe it's those herbs he takes.  Do you inhale?

    re: .3
    
    While I believe there is no question about the advances
    in medical science prolonging our lives, I believe that
    the focus of care has shifted from you having power over
    and understanding of your treatment, to simply blindly following
    doctor's orders.  A solid understanding of herbal medicine
    and the properties of herbs (many of which, by the way, are
    used as ingredients in modern pharmaceuticals) can go a long
    way in giving you understanding of the diagnosis and treatment
    of your illnesses.  Blind use of herbs, without understanding,
    is equally dangerous, and can be fatal.  
    
    Mary-Michael

    
    I tried moxibustion once.  I don't seem to be cured.

>    I tried moxibustion once.  

Doesn't this grow hair on the palm of your hand?

TTom

    
> Doesn't this grow hair on the palm of your hand?
    
    
    That *would* give one pause, would it not?
    
    (paws, geddit?)
    
    Erhem.
    
    Moxibustion is the practice of burning resinous 'erbs
    on an acupuncture needle.  The fumes of the 'erbs
    form one component of the treatment, while the
    heat transferred to the acupuncture point is the
    other component.
    
    

    
    re: .1
    
    Yep... that's what the article said it was... "saw palmetto"... 

      Re: .Mr Topaz
    
      The average male Seventh-Day Adventist who strictly adheres
      to the diet set forth by a certain person lives ~15 years
      longer than the average population.
    
      Your 4 to 5 years doesn't mean a whole lot to me.
    
    						Tony

Tony, how does the life expectancy of said SDA compare to that of a similar
SDA 25 years ago?

      I don't know.
    
      The main point, to me, is how medically we are still so geared
      toward fixing symptoms and also problems whose basis could have
      been prevented in the 1st place.
    
      For example, the average MD takes 3 credits in nutrition.  That
      to me is incredible!
    
      How many people have had heart bypass surgery to correct a pathetic
      diet (oftentimes) when they could have avoided the surgery and had
      much better lives had they just eaten and exercised right?
    
      I know of people now who have such bad hearts, they can hardly walk.
      One person was on 300 units of nitro (I think its a month).  He's
      been taking pycnogenol and is down to 3.  The doctors basically 
      waited for him to die.  Now he is quite active and far from it
      (dying).
    
      Look at some of our old people's medicine cabinets.  A litany of
      fixes for this ailment and that.
    
      I stand by what I said.  The underlying philosophy behind our
      medical system is baked.  It may be getting better, but its so far
      from the ideal that its incredible.
    
      We don't prevent.  We foster a lifestyle that can't help but make
      many of us to be in real bad shape and then we just fix all the
      inevitable results.
    
    							Tony
                         

    
    If I remember correctly, the saw palmetto was used in correcting/curing
    impotence... 
    
    
    Thankfully, my interest is soley with the ginkgo...
    

    Chamomile tea, works wonders for woman.
    
    
    Lynne

    
    >> Thankfully, my interest is soley with the ginkgo...
    
    
    Sure, sure 8^).
    
    

>    >> Thankfully, my interest is soley with the ginkgo...
    
    
        So Krawiecki twin #1, you have a thing for small green lizards,
        hmm?
        
        &y
            
    

    
    Chamomile tea helps impotence in women ????
    Chamomile tea causes impotence in men and thereby helps women ????
    I'm confused ..... %-{
    
    Dan

>    	http://www.webcom.com/~lef/texts-2/prostat1.html

How did we ever miss having that in the Interesting WWW Pages topic?

>    Well I woulda put it there but it's a 'guy' thingy

So's 87.65.

    I drink chamomile tea to settle my stomach and nerves; didn't know
    it was supposed to be doing anything else for me.
    

    re: .23 and others
    
    Chamomile should not be used by people with heart conditions.
    Since it slows down the system it can cause irregular heartbeat
    or palpitations in people with heart problems.
    
    The same I think can be said for foxglove, which I believe is
    where digitalis comes from.
    
    

    That's DECtalis (TM)

 :-)

    If the AMA and FDA weren't in cahoots many new forms of medicines would
    have been discovered by now that would benefit mankind. This is a slow
    process because the AMA labels everything new as quackery and the FDA
    makes the development of new medicines cost prohibitive. All this to
    the detriment of human health.
    
    ...Tom

I am having positive results from ginseng, surprisingly. I am
skeptical about everything, btw.

Peet

  what is "positive reults" ?  Not dead yet ?

  bb

No, but I usually worry about the placebo effect, and I am now sure
that I am not suffering from that. I *do* ahev more energy, my sex
drive is stronger, and I *feel* healthier and like doing things to
reinforce that feeling.

Like, Martha Stewart would say, "It's a good thing."

Pete

Why worry about placebo effects?

Often, a so called "placebo effect" can be more effective than a lot of
clinically proven treatments.  If the result is that you feel better, then
it's an effective treatment, placebo or not.

(Just speaking as someone who's actually been taught to capitalize on
placebo effects whenever possible.)

Sounds like a good marketing gimmick for placebos.