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October 29, 2004
Alternative or Traditional Medicine?
Sometimes people wonder if this site is more into traditional medicine or if it favors alternative medicine. All I can say to that is that it is neither. It is meant as a neutral place where people of all inclinations can share their health stories. Somebody who is completely against traditional medicine might think the site is biased towards traditional medicine because there are diaries written by people undergoing traditional treatments. Somebody who thinks all alternative medicine is "quackery" might think some of the alternative topics are silly. I don't feel like it should be either/or. There are some wonderful things that modern, traditional medicine has come up with. It's all well and good to say you're against all traditional medication, but for those with illnesses such as Parkinson's Disease or epilepsy, these medications can significantly improve quality of life. On the other hand, many doctors over-prescribe medication and refuse to look into alternative options for their patients. The American Cancer Society now regards acupuncture as an effective treatment for pain and nausea. Still, many doctors and scientists continue to laugh at the idea and won't recommend it to their patients.
This site is not here to pass judgement on any therapy or treatment, but to allow people to tell their stories. Whether they are going the strictly traditional route or are trying alternative methods, there is a place for their stories here. You may not agree with the things everyone here is doing to improve their health, but there are other sites out there that just provide one viewpoint and one way of thinking.
There are so many different paths to health and wellness. Every single person who is contributing a diary to this site is on a journey of discovery. They may try traditional medicine with no luck and then try an alternative treatment with great success, or vice versa. They are exploring and learning, and for this reason this site cannot be classified as alternative or traditional.
Health Diaries is about health. Nothing more, nothing less.
Posted by Tracy on October 29, 2004 02:12 AM
