You can't take the sky from me

[brightlotusmoon]

An article saying that applying honey to diabetics' foot wounds can help prevent amputation and speed healing.
An article saying that drinking several cups of tea a day can help lower skin cancer risk and limit UV radiation damage.
An article saying that neem in any form can help protect against certain forms of bacteria, viruses, germs, and fungi.
An article saying that sea buckthorn oil can absorb UV radiation and prevent and heal sun damage to skin.

They are publishing things I have known for many years, and while part of me is happy that these "alternative treatments" are being acknowledged, the rest of me screams for it to be ignored, go back into hiding; no, no, it's just a plant, it's just an oil, it's just a food, it can't do anything. After the FDA's announcement last month, I don't know what to think. I feel as though I need to be protective.

I am a huge advocate of alternative medicine, of course, but I am also an advocate of combining traditional chemical based medicine with alternative natural medicine. However, there needs to be a certain balance, a respect, a knowledge, a line drawn. I don't want to see the day when giant corporations -- or governments -- declare loudly that, for hypothetical example, no individual can have an organic skin care shop, a medicinal tea store, a shop that sells immune boosting supplements and herbs; without said corporation or government directly involved and feeding off the profits and controlling the products.
If triphala and ashwagandha work for me better than a prescription medicine, then leave me and my supplements in peace. I learned, happily, that Trileptal, a chemical prescription drug, helps control my epilepsy better than omega-3 supplements and bacopa supplements. But I still take omega-3 and bacopa every day, because I personally believe it still helps.

Just random floating thoughts.

Comments

[suzanna-o.livejournal.com]

On the bright side, these articles have been published for many years, too. :)

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is a bright side! I'd forgotten. :)

[flyingshaman.livejournal.com]

I do agree with you in principle, even if these articles are old. I like these "underground" or home remedies that work, sometimes, better than any over the counter or prescription drug, and don't have nasty side effects. It's horrible when the FDA or other corporation gets their hands into them.

[scyllacat.livejournal.com]

IAWTP.

So completely that I seem to have nothing to add. I take tryptophan and Effexor, so I know what you mean.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

Do you take the tryptophan as 5-HTP or just tryptophan supplements? I find that I have gastrointestinal distress if I take 5-HTP...

[scyllacat.livejournal.com]

5-HTP at bedtime if I've had a bad day or trouble sleeping. It tends to give me wonky dreams, so it's being the backup right now.

Tryptophan as such was restricted due to contamination issues (as I understand) a decade or so back. Whatever the reason, it was taken off the market and came back as 5-HTP.

If I come up with anything better I'll let you know. :)

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

Yes, there was a very deadly disease going around due to the contamination. I know that you can buy trytophan by itself online in certain places, but they all come with assurances that the pills are not contaminated.