If you are really feeling ill, do you use "alternative" therapies, stick with "established Western medicine" or use a combination?

Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
For instance, if you hurt your back, would you go to your MD or DO and then do Physical Thereby and meds, or would you try acupuncture, Chiropractic, Naturopathy "medicines", etc?
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
I would use only "standard Western" (MD/DO) medical treatment.
panthercat23 , gsfanatic , kev , hanjonatan , invisiblehat , atryonix , dv8 , Allstars316
8
I would start with Western medicine, but try alternatives if I got no relief.
- Kira - , Bethy Cassatt
2
I would try all kinds of therapy,
Beaners , amplified to rock , Sera26 , Willowe , PeaceToTheMiddleEast , Sirena , sweetpea12 , deltalima , GONE! , darkr , PropertyOfPotter , LavenderSkies , Lildrummrgurl7 , kdlt , Living Doll , padmeamidala
16
I would start with alternative (non Western) treatment.
Taylor , spiced , butts , kdlt , Dear Ruby
5
other.
Bethy Cassatt , Cat E.
2
Total votes: 33 (31 voters)
Poll is closed
12/04/2012
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Contributor: Beaners Beaners
I usually go with Western medicine when something is very wrong, like an infection. But if I have a bad cold or the flu, I usually go for more natural methods.
12/04/2012
Contributor: Taylor Taylor
I go with whatever is least invasive first to try and solve the issue before moving on to more invasive medical treatment. Like if I had headaches that weren't going away I would probably see a massage therapist or chiropractor before I went to the doctor to get medication or find out if something else was going on.

Now obviously if it is something like a broken arm I would go to the emergency room and see a western doctor before doing an alternative treatment.

I've generally got a pretty good idea of what is wrong when I need treatment especially when it comes to aches and pains since I am a PT assistant and a massage therapist.
12/04/2012
Contributor: Willowe Willowe
For most things I usually go for natural methods, and then western medicine if things don't get better. For more severe things I almost always just start right off with the western medicine, just to be safe.
12/04/2012
Contributor: PeaceToTheMiddleEast PeaceToTheMiddleEast
Right now I am in therapy for my back and they have a Chiropractic there as well. I do the exercises they give and before I leave the Chiropractor adjusts my back. I have tried Acupuncture as well thru another Therapy place and liked it.
12/04/2012
Contributor: Sirena Sirena
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
For instance, if you hurt your back, would you go to your MD or DO and then do Physical Thereby and meds, or would you try acupuncture, Chiropractic, Naturopathy "medicines", etc?
I believe in trying it all. There is too much proof in certain holistic medicines to deny their effectiveness, but I know when it is time to call on Western Medicine.
12/04/2012
Contributor: panthercat23 panthercat23
I tend to stick with western techniques.
12/04/2012
Contributor: sweetpea12 sweetpea12
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
For instance, if you hurt your back, would you go to your MD or DO and then do Physical Thereby and meds, or would you try acupuncture, Chiropractic, Naturopathy "medicines", etc?
I would try anything
12/04/2012
Contributor: deltalima deltalima
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
For instance, if you hurt your back, would you go to your MD or DO and then do Physical Thereby and meds, or would you try acupuncture, Chiropractic, Naturopathy "medicines", etc?
Anything that works.
12/04/2012
Contributor: - Kira - - Kira -
I usually start with pills. If they start recommending things beyond that, I try other stuff. Or if the pills don't work. I take pills for many things, but I also go to acupuncture every other week. So it's a combo.
12/04/2012
Contributor: gsfanatic gsfanatic
I'm a western medicine kind of guy. It's done well by me, so I'm sticking with it.
12/04/2012
Contributor: gsfanatic gsfanatic
I'm a western medicine kind of guy. It's done well by me, so I'm sticking with it.
12/04/2012
Contributor: Bethy Cassatt Bethy Cassatt
I like western medicine, but I will try new things with a little bit of research.
12/04/2012
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
I will try ANYTHING when I'm really sick.
12/05/2012
Contributor: spiced spiced
For back problems, I go straight to the chiropractor and I don't bother at all with what passes for 'regular' health care in the US.

In general, I avoid our so-called health care system unless it's something like a broken bone. In my experience, natural medicine is less expensive, safer and more effective. I especially like the emphasis on 'holistic' health (ie health of the entire person in mind body and spirit) and healthy living to maintain health and prevent the need for treatments after the fact.

Too many side effects with chemical pharmaceuticals, too little testing and too many problems with 'medicines' which turn out later to be toxic. Too much 'defensive medicine' by doctors afraid of being sued for not prescribing some medication or treatment.

I agree with Ben Franklin that prevention is the way to go. Your mileage may vary.
12/05/2012
Contributor: Eugler Eugler
If I have a cold or something like this I don't do anything but drinking orange juice. If I have anything else I stick to academic medicine.
12/05/2012
Contributor: kev kev
Western medicine
12/05/2012
Contributor: butts butts
I use herbal and homeopathic medicine, rarely ever western. I've been fucked over by western medicine too many times, herbal and homeopathic has never harmed me, and it's always helped.
12/05/2012
Contributor: darkr darkr
Depends on what the ailment is
12/05/2012
Contributor: LavenderSkies LavenderSkies
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
For instance, if you hurt your back, would you go to your MD or DO and then do Physical Thereby and meds, or would you try acupuncture, Chiropractic, Naturopathy "medicines", etc?
I'd be open to trying all forms.
12/05/2012
Contributor: Master DarkWolf Master DarkWolf
Definitely alternative, and choose Western only if none of them worked.
12/07/2012
Contributor: DreamWolf DreamWolf
Quote:
Originally posted by Master DarkWolf
Definitely alternative, and choose Western only if none of them worked.
Definitely!
12/07/2012
Contributor: invisiblehat invisiblehat
I'd go with Western first.
12/08/2012
Contributor: kdlt kdlt
If I'm only minorly ill, I'd go with some 'alternative'/homeopat hic medicine. But if I was seriously ill, I'd go with Western meds or treatments.
12/08/2012
Contributor: atryonix atryonix
Standard western meds for me
12/08/2012
Contributor: Allstars316 Allstars316
Standard for me. I hurt my back and doing the same.
02/20/2013
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
I prefer evidence based medicine.
02/20/2013
Contributor: Living Doll Living Doll
I would try whatever seems most likely to successfully treat the problem.
02/20/2013