Doctors Who Are Anti-Herbs

As a patient, I have been treated by 3 types of docs, they are:

1.  Ones who know nothing about herbs and say so, but don't say anything negative about them.

2.  Ones who do know a little about a few common herbs and have a "if it works for you, good for you" attitude, and don't knock them. 

3.  Ones who are openly nasty about herbs; yet, truly know nothing about them.   

The most common thread I've heard from docs who are afraid to support herbs, but are not nasty about them, is that there are no long term studies on them to make them feel comfortable about advocating their use. 

I respect that opinion because it at least has some merit.  Doctors are basically scientists; thus, of course they want studies.  I get that.  I don't agree, but I get it.

I don't agree because they all support writing prescription drugs when they believe that the benefits outweigh the risks.  But...

The truth is that long term damage such as organ failure and other equally horrible diseases that result from taking prescription medications isn't necessarily predictable as to which (non-predisposed) patients will suffer them.

Thus, just because the benefits APPEAR

to outweigh the risks, doesn't mean

that some of their patients aren't going

to develop the worst case scenario risks,

and even die, as a result from taking

a prescription drug as directed.

Thus, in my non-scientifically trained mind,

I can't help but think/believe/ask:

Is the risk of no studies,

really so bad as to warrant

not giving herbs

already taken by billions successfully, around the globe, for thousands of years,

a chance

when the long term use of prescription drugs (that have only been around for about 120 years!)

isn't entirely known either until it is often too late

and horrible irreversible damage,

or even death,

is the result?

Additionally, many Rx's are plant based!

I would be remiss if I didn't point this indisputable fact out for consideration as well: there are many "studies" you will find in western medicine where the group size is 11 or 21 or some other equally infintessimal number!  Seriously?

Over 7 billion on this planet and doctors are okay with studies as long as the equivalent of 1 teaspoon of water from all the oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, dams, ponds in the world, is studied?  Come on.

As "advanced" as America is in healthcare compared

to many, we are behind in the conservative approach of starting out with natural options and then ramping up to prescriptions. 

Which, given my superior clinical training, is ironic

because MD's taught me, back in the day,

that they are taught in medical school to always

exert the least effort for the best result, and then, ramp up efforts accordingly when the desired result is not attained. 

(This of course does not apply to

emergency medicine/urgent health situations.)

Albeit, certain health issues don't warrant starting out

with herbs and/or conservative measures.

But as someone who was on up to 10 Rx's

for several years for chronic pain, inflammation, nerve damage, muscle damage, spinal cord damage, depression, anxiety, and insomnia, I am empirical evidence that a person

can successfully transition to herbs as the daily rule!

Also, thanks to the bromelain in my turmeric and bromelain supplement, when I did have to resort to Rx's again as the rule in 2014 and 2015 due to a severely degraded lumbar disc, I found that even on horrid pain days, I was able to get by on 2 pain pills vs. 3 thanks to the digestive enzyme bromelain allowing for maximum absorption of my opiates, which made for better and LONGER LASTING pain managment!

I appreciate Western medicine and have

deep respect for the doctors who have helped me

immeasurably throughout my pain journey,

and prior, for general health needs.

I am not anti-Western medicine;

I shall always need it at times.

I just no longer feel the need to turn to it first for pain

and its byproducts that I have done so well managing

herbally, since early 2012!

I was never at risk of becoming addicted to my pain meds,

but given how many do, I should think that right there

is a solid reason for docs to research and support natural anti-inflammatories such as Turmeric; which works even better when taken in concert with Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme derived from all parts of the fresh pineapple. 

Please see box on left below for more. 

Thus, in this world of instant news from all corners of the globe, we'd know by now if Turmeric and other herbs, caused horrible reactions and/or death. 

You CAN get a DUI/DWI

driving under the influence of pain pills and other mind altering prescription drugs; but when is the last time you heard of someone getting one for driving while on Turmeric/Bromelain?  NEVER.

Or Holy Basil Extract?  NEVER. 

These are the main herbs that I credit with getting me back 2 good as naturally as I could! 

Please read my Herbs home page

for more information on these.

I hope many doctors read this page (and entire site)

and realize that a lack of studies is not indicative of a lack of efficacy and that the lack of organ failure and death should indicate a lack of a need to be so hesitant to support supplements and herbs such as those I tout on Spinal Trap.

I am not a doctor; I'm not even the genius who figured out that these common herbs and supplements that I take yield the wondrous, safe, effective, low cost benefits that they do! 

I simply have the compassion to take all that I learned from the sheer hell of my injury circumstances, (of being alive without living for over 6 years!) and put it in this site to motivate and educate others who want to live their best quality of life DESPITE permanent damage, pain and their vast limitations and by-products. 

The reality of great results speak for themselves and beat the hell out of theory and even studies; which in and of themselves, are not even guaranteed to be 100% accurate...seriously anti-herb docs, open your minds!

You want empirical evidence? 

I AM EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE. 

My mind, body and spirit

has never been better

since going God, herbal and

using music meditation to manage my pain, depression, anxiety, insomnia, etc...

Doctors: you've already invested as much as 13 years (depending on speciality and if they get board certified) and 6 figures in your education to get your medical degree. 

Thus, getting educated on herbs

for pain, spasms, depression, anxiety, and insomnia and adding this natural modality to your repetoire of patient options

is going to benefit you and them.

Please, read my herbs and testimonial pages

and if after you read about what something

as simple, cheap and effective as Turmeric & Bromelain and Holy Basil Extract have done for my pain and its related issues as well as that of those who cared enough to write their own stories to inspire others,

you still choose to ignore this practical advice,

well then, I feel sorry for the limitations that you

are putting on your success as a practitioner

and MORE IMPORTANTLY,

on your patients quality of life. 

You need to realize that your patients pain, insomnia,

depression, anxiety, etc...

is about them and their needs not you.

After all, these herbs didn't just all fall off of a turnip truck yesterday! They have all been around for thousands of years!

You know, thousands of years more than pharmacies...

Speaking of which, I believe in God and He gave us every herb we needed long before He let man gave us pharmaceuticals!

Speaking of which, many Rx's are plant based...

Thus, really, why do so many medical professionals hesitate to add this healthier alternative treatment

path to their practice? 

In this day and age where so many savvy patients

want natural options in lieu of and/or in addition

to Western medicine,

it will draw you a new patient base and revenue.

I have not read this entire site but its home page speaks well to my point:

http://www.medicinehunter.com/about-plant-medicines

Again, make sure that your dr. knows enough about herbs to give you a FAIR and ACCURATE opinion! 

If he/she doesn't, consult one who does and/or check with your pharmacist to see if there are contraindications for your desired herbs and specific medications. 

After all, if you have high blood pressure, you don't go see a foot doctor for it; thus, don't take advice from a doctor uneducated on the topic of herbs, who knocks them! 

A doctor worth his/her medical license,

who is untrained in a specialty,

wouldn't dare give an uninformed professional opinion to a patient on another western medicine topic. 

He/she would state that it is not their area and

that you should consult a specialist of it.

Conversely, I've met (too many) docs who have

no hesitation in giving a strongly negative opinion on herb, and yet, are just as untrained on this topic. 

To give an uninformed negative opinion on herbs

is every bit as irresponsible as it would be to speak out of turn on any health topic in which they are

not well read since patients just expect that doctors

only speak of what they know/are trained in. 

Unless your doctor tells you that he/she knows what chronic pain is like, or depression, or anxiety, etc...from their own challenges with it, they don't truly know what you suffer as a result of just one of these conditions, let alone, the combination of them, that is so common due to the domino effects of chronic pain. 

NO ONE DESERVES TO LIVE WITH

ALL OF THESE CHALLENGES AND

THEN BE SET UP FOR ADDITIONAL SYSTEMATIC SYSTEMIC FAILURES, THANKS TO NUMEROUS PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. 

Don't even get me started on the mental/emotional toll that JUST ONE pain Rx takes on a person,

let alone multiple mind and mood altering Rx's such as Flexeril, Tizanidine, Xanax, etc... 

So, here is a friendly reality reminder:

Remember that

a negative opinion

is not necessarily

an informed opinion.

Bottom line:

If you live with chronic pain, and/or depression, anxiety, insomnia and are on multiple mind and mood altering Rx's, you don't live in peace, you live on an emotional roller coaster ride from hell. 

I know, I used to be you.

There's actually a medical term for it, it's called "emotional lability". 

You can't help it but you can help yourself get back 2 good by getting off, or at least, reducing your usage by going herbal safely and successfully. 

Please talk with knowledgeable doctors and your pharmacist for help on what to take and how to do so. 

I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR HERBALIST.