<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Conventional and alternative medicine can be used effectively together in a lot of cases. Frequently it is not a case of one or the other treatments, but a combination. --Betsy, Texas ------------- If it were not for alternative medicine, heaven alone knows where I would be, or my 28 year old son either. I have not been tested, as the gastro suspects I have always been Celiac, and I refused to go on gluten long enough to even bother with the blood test (I had blood drawn, and the results never came back), or have the biopsy, as the gastro told me that the only real thing would be the gluten free diet. My son had 3 very bad seizures, and follow-up EEG, MRI, etc, and we were told if there was epilepsy it would show, well NOTHING showed, so on further investigation, he had the blood work done, and the naturopath phoned him and told him he was definitely Celiac. He is now on anti-seizure medication for life, if he cuts back or quits it, he has to give up his driver's licence for a year. And we have done a lot of research and found that Celiac can cause seizures. Does the medical profession know this? Who knows? The family doctor has yet to call and inform him that he is even "wheat intolerant", plus lactose intolerant. And we can pinpoint the seizures to him taking Lactaid the day before the two worse ones, so he could have a milkshake. And Lactaid (or generic brand thereof) has gluten in it, like thousands of other things that as far as we are concerned do not need it as a binder. My medical doctor does not know what my bowel problem is, (and does he care?), I have diverticulitous, anal fissure, spastic colon, IBS, and had my gall bladder out and if I tend not to eat regularly, the bile will still be produced and cause diaharrea. Great fun, yes, but the naturopath suggested (not prescribed) a lot of, yes expensive, items but my gut is now healed and I can deal with it. I had the best year last winter that I have had in probably 30 odd. A bit of a flare-up sometimes, but nothing I cannot handle. My doctor when I see him (not for over 2 years now) says the bowel is behaving, I say yes, thanks to the naturopath. I also have low thyroid function and am dealing with that also through the health food store, I refuse to go ask to have it checked as the last time the doctor told me it was fine. Well, I live within this body, so I know when it is fine and when it is not. Anyway, I am going to forward your email to my son, and see what he thinks of it. Very interesting, very valuable information, and well worth taking the time to investigate for yourself. Joan ------------ [The following is an exchange I had with Ron Hogan, co-author of "Dangerous Grains." [Valerie:] So glad to hear that. I couldn't fail to mention you & your co author. [Ron:] Thank you. I forwarded your post to my mom in Kelowna, BC. [Valerie:] What's so funny about this whole thing is being called "alternative" in the first place For some folks, "alternative medicine" conjures up images of pyramid crystals, insense and other generally useless stuff. [Ron:] I know. I must admit that I was as guilty as anyone before my diagnosis and subsequent improvement. [Valerie:] It's so crazy now days that anyone who recommends diet changes instead of patent prescription medications for solving health problems is now considered an "alternative quack." Gimme a break. It's just good old common sense and frankly good medicine. [Ron:] Agreed, but these ideas run quite contrary to conventional medical training, as you know better than me. I'm getting a lot of supportive responses from the list members. [Ron:] I'm very pleased to hear that. ... I'd be interested in addressing that more directly..... I'm dealing with a similar perspective here in Calgary. In fact, I have stopped writing for the Calgary Celiac News because they insisted on titling all my articles under the heading: "From the Fringes". I felt that was somewhat discrediting, so I refused to write any more articles until that is changed. -Ron ---------------- Congrats to you and your son. It is unfortunate that some of today's medical doctors cannot see beyond what they consider "true medicine" and consider the alternatives. It is also a great success story, and one that tells how devestating, as well as complex, celiac disease can be. All the best to you both. Barb --------------- Unfortunately poor handling of celiac disease is not the only condition which is poorly treated by conventional medicine. I'm an RN with a conventional medicine background and I've learned through the years the MOST illnesses are poorly treated by conventional medicine and most patients would be healthier & happier if they sought out, accepted and practiced the recommendations of "alternative" physicians. I worked conventional medicine for 10 years. The patients just got sicker & sicker through the years while being layered with more and more expensive, largely useless and often harmful drugs & surgeries. But, I worked only briefly for an "alternative" MD. In a few months time, I literally witnessed miracles. I saw people recover from chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, various crippling forms of arthritis, serious spinal injuries that didn't respond to surgery, cirrhosis of the liver, etc. It was amazing to witness. I never saw anything like that in conventional medicine. I understand and appreciate those who question the validity of EnteroLab, but often waiting for peer review & approval destroys the work of a real healer that has a significant contribution to make. I'm grateful for the doctors who break out of the box and defy convention to help the sick. ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! * Visit the Celiac Web Page at www.enabling.org/ia/celiac/index.html *