Do you see a move to more natural medicines happening?

[Astrid]

At my last osteo visit, the osteo put forward an interesting theory. She believed that as GP fees are going up and as they are getting harder to get into that more people would be turning towards more natural/alternative methods such as osteopathy, acupuncture, naturopathy etc.

I have been thinking about this and I tend to agree with her, especially since some over the counter medicines are now going to require a prescription. I have found that I really like the personal approach of alternative methods, they seem to get to know you, rather than barely giving you 5 minutes after a 2 hour wait. Don't get me wrong I have had some fabulous GP's in the past and am in fact very sad to have left a great one behind, but they are hard to find. I can see myself seeking out more preventative measures for my family (well maybe not DH, he can be stubborn about these things ).

So what do you see yourself doing in the future? If it is getting harder to see your GP, will you seek alternatives?

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Ooooh what a good topic.

I think it's important to have an understanding of the basic philosophy of alternative or natural therapies. Without this i think it's probably a lot harder to trust in their treatment and a lot of people will dismiss the possibility and continue seeing their GP. For example, the majority of patients don't have knowledge of the essential difference between a chiropractor and an osteopaths work, even though they do relatively the same things.
Although I could be wrong here, last time i was researching it was four years ago so I am a bit vague.

As for myself I'm hopeless at even going to GP's as it is, so I can't see myself jumping on the preventative bandwagon, however much i want to.

[Indadhanu]

I agree, I think it has a lot to do with research which confirms how effective certain natural therapies are. Though I do tend to approach it with a certain degree of scepticism (sp?), as I think most people would until they try.

I've been looking at private health insurance and most offer some really comprehensive natural therapies packages with basic GP/western medicine and hospital cover which i think just about sums it up. I think even pharmacists are also turning towards natural medicines, because they tend to steer me (even before being pregnant) towards the natural remedies and preventatives.

[Laranna]

Good topic Astrid. I think more people are open to the idea of natural therapies especially since more of them are being covered under private health insurance. I agree about people looking for other options because of less bulk billing by GPs and increasing charges and more difficulty in getting appointments.

I think that natural therapies work towards preventative care and maintenance and allow people to have a better quality of life and feel healthy, whereas traditional medicine focuses on a cure. Of course, neither will wipe the other one out because there can be a need for both and they can work together.

[LimeSlice]

I am probably not the best person teo comment, as I only see a GP about once a year, and thats only for my pap smear and referral to U/S a breast lump every 6 months....

...BUT I have always found western medicine challenging. I think the very methods of the doctors and pharmaceutical companies, the way they are always so quick to prescribe the pill of the months, has always driven me closer to natural medicines. Any option that saves me giving ANY money to pharma companies is worth it!
Methods and treatments that have been proven of thousands of years, as a opposed to tested on rats for 2 , are ALWAYS going to get my vote first and foremost.
The other thing I love bout natural therapies the holistic approach to health that is so sorely missed or ignored by modern western medicine.

Oh, and the 2 hour wait at the Dr. office is a PITA (especially hen they charge you if you miss an appointment, but still charge you $80 when they are late ...**shakes fist**

[Astrid]

I had forgotten that 15 years ago I did have a great pharmacist who also dealt in natural methods. They must have kept records of purchases, as after my 2nd purchase of ural, he made me up some natural tonic instead, which was just pure magic. Same with thrush, they gave me handouts on what foods to avoid and sold me garlic and acidophilus tablets. This was well before I had heard about natural medicines etc

It is great the health funds now fund alternatives. I was seeing physio for pelvic instability, then switched to an osteo and happy to find out that my health fund covered me.

[widdly]

its interesting to see this thread here today, as i was asked a sorta similar question by a journalist this morning. She asked me to comment on kids cough medecines being made a prescription item, my response was that it is a great thing as i believe that too many parents over medicate their kids with these types of drugs just cause they don't know any better. They dont realise that cough medicine often doesn't do any good anyway for a small child. I often wonder what on Earth kids cough medecines contain too, to look and smell they way they do.

I admit that in the past there have been several times that i, a sleep deprived PND mother of an unwell child, have walked into a chemist and bought whatever i could over-the-counter to help my child get some sleep, even though i knew it wasn't the best option, i was desperate for a break. So, if the medecine was prescription only, then mothers in this position just wouldn't be able to as readily dose their kids up on drugs, and maybe it would encourage parents to research alternative options.

Even the last 2 nights my almost 2 year old has been impossible to get to sleep and in the end i have given him a dose of Panadol just in case he is in pain and thats why he wont sleep, now how ridiculous does that sound??!! So this morning i went and bought a bottle of Brauers Calm, i was VERY sceptical, but i gave some to DS before his afternoon sleep and instead of bashing the bedroom door and hysterically screaming, he is happily chatting to himself in bed, no over the counter drugs needed.

I think i have actually gone way off topic, sorry, but yes i am certainly researching alternative methods and im hoping that others will too, i think it will make for a much healthier society.