At 09:37 PM 05/21/2000 -0700, you wrote:

>I'm afraid I have to agree with that. I am fortunate to have found
>a doctor in my area who specializes in nutritional treatments. He
>is quite adept at Chinese herbal medicine, as well, and my limited
>experience with it so far suggests that it is light years ahead of
>the Western variety.

        I have heard in China that one does not pay their doctor if they become
sick. A little too socialistic for me but gives one something to contemplate.

>
>In general, I have found the following general rules helpful:
>  1) *Always* consult a doctor.
>     They have the best diagnostic techniques and equipment
>     on the planet. If you are faced with a critical, life-
>     threatening emergency, or a mechanical procedure like
>     setting a broken arm, go with the recommended protocol.
>     Otherwise, understand as much as possible about the
>     condition by talking to the doctor and then:
>
>  2) Always fill the prescription, if there is one.
>     Then read the information that comes with it carefully.
>     If provides symptom relief, ignore it (unless you
>     really, really need that relief). If it is addressing
>     the *cause* of the problem, understand what it is doing
>     and why. Also:
>
>  3) Understand the recommended treatment, if any.
>     Do they want to cut, radiate, or drug the thing into
>     submission? *Maybe* that's the best approach. Or maybe
>     not. So, for any chronic, long-term condition:
>
>  4) Look for natural alternatives!!
>     Natural alternatives generally produce a better, more
>     long-lasting result, typically with no side-effects.
>     And they tend to lead to fully restored health, rather
>     than a mere cessation of one problem, with other problems
>     looming ahead.

        Take a look at www.ritalinfraud.com and what type of BS is pushed on the
public. Unfortunately, many doctors know virtually nothing about the drugs
they are prescribing and are getting much of the "informative" literature
from the drug company reps. Major conflict of interest.
        Eating a paleolithic diet isn't going to make the pharmaceutical companies
any money unless of course they follow their reductionist philosophy and
try to distill out of whole foods one ingredient that can "treat" a symptom
of a disease of which they have invented millions.

Dave