How much do you trust alternative medicine practitioners?

[bisous]

MIL goes to an acupuncturist who trained in China for many years. He works out of an office with an MD. The MD prescribes medications for patients and the acupuncturist will suggest herbs and exercises in addition to acupuncture, I think MIL mentioned he was trained in qi gong (sp). MIL swears by him. So do many other women in my acquaintance, many of whom I respect very much!

I've been considering going to see this specialist for my problems during pregnancy with edema and varicose veins. I am otherwise VERY healthy and don't have problems with pre-eclampsia or anything. I just get very uncomfortable and traditional medicine doesn't have much for me.

I'm considering doing a consult with this man to see if he has specific recommendations for exercise, diet or lifestyle or has herbs that he would recommend to help me (but I'd be cautious and do lots of research with those) with my circulatory issues. In addition to his reputation, I've also heard that qi gong is all about energy pathways in the body and it seems like something like poor circulation would fall directly under this category.

Anyone have any experience in this area?

TIA!

[FTMLuc]

I have done acupuncture in my teens and it completely got rid of my debilitating migraines for a good long time. I have also heard from a lot of people who have done things through alternative medicine and have been happy. Definitely do a consult, and then proceed from there, see how you feel about him, his manner, etc.

[brittone2]

Do you have anyone who does integrative medicine in your area?

[hellokitty]

My brother is a MD and has considered getting training in acupuncture. It's definitely an alternative med that western medicine recognizes as complimentary medicine.

[almostmom]

I have had great experience with acupuncture and herbs. When I was on a UTI/yeast infection cylce, and antibiotics were not doing anything, herbs and acupuncture did the trick. It can be slower than taking a pill and having symptoms go away, but it is very holistic and I have been very satisfied with my experiences.

I also had acupuncture during my first labor, and acupressure during my second.

[crl]

There is a pretty good body of research supporting acupuncture for various things, so I am more open to that than other alternative medicine. For herbs, I would be very careful to research and cross check with my OB while pregnant.

Catherine

[123LuckyMom]

You absolutely should give it a try! I know many people who have had great success with acupuncture. It is really a quite well proven therapy. Certainly it will not hurt you, and it might help significantly.

[nupe]

I totally trust my Acu. I saw her during pregnancy too. I don't have experience with herbs. I personally have reservations regarding potential contaminants in herbs.

[sste]

I think "alternative" medicine is great for certain things and more and more mainstream medical centers are offering acupuncture, mindfulness training, etc. The one thing about acupuncture or massage (and massage by a "bodywork" provider not just your typical person at the spa may be another good option for you) is that I personally give it two sessions to feel some improvement. I have known people with acupuncture to end up paying for 6-10 sessions without any effects but the promise that it takes time. However, other practitioners have told me you should feel some effect within 1-2 sessions and if not try a new provider.

I would be extremely careful with herbs and I would consult with a medical doctor and in particular your OB. My DH has personally treated people in liver failure from herbs. To be fair, he has also treated people in liver failure from Tylenol, etc. The difference being that there is more information and clearer package warnings about liver damage from OTC medicine. Sometimes herbs can feel "safer" to people on the theory they are natural but your liver does not care if they are natural or not!!

[LizLemon]

For herbs, I would be very careful to research and cross check with my OB while pregnant.

Catherine

:yeahthat:

There seems to be a popular conception that natural remedies don't have side effects, which is completely untrue. Herbs could potentially affect the fetus or placenta, so definitely keep your OB in the loop. My other concern is that herbs are completely unregulated by the FDA, so you want to, as crl says, do your research and try to ensure you are getting them from a trustworthy source.

[Indianamom2]

I don't have any real experience, but I tend to be pretty cautious in general. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to do the acupuncture and have considered it for my migraines. I would be pretty hesitant about herbs for the reasons that others have mentioned. Definitely at least double check with your OB.

[flashy09]

I never believed much in alternative medicine, which has become very popular in the horse world. I kind of thought it was more a placebo effect if it worked with humans. But I went ahead and had a acupuncturist come out and work on a pony before a huge show. He did his thing and I went to turn the pony out and he was totally non weight bearing lame on a hind leg. This was a pony that was fine beforehand and I was just looking for an "edge" and maybe some help with his lead changes - but he was a sound pony. I was horrified, furious and scared out of my mind (it was an expensive sale pony about to go the pony finals) and got the acupuncturist back to the barn within minutes. He said the "chi" must not have been released, which I thought was voodoo magic and was practically in tears....however, he stabbed the pony with a needle, blood flowed, and the pony was completely restored and sound.

Kind of a weird story, but it proved to me those tiny needles actually do something, even if I don't understand how. Plus the pony did improve. So I am kind of a believer now. I would not use alternative medicine in place of traditional medicine, but definitely alongside it.

[Reader]

I had acupuncture in 2 out of 3 pregnancies, and I was never given herbs, just acupuncture. I'd guess most practitioners would be cautious about dispersing herbs to pregnant women. The kid I had acupuncture with from conception to birth is the healthiest of my 3 (other 2 have similar chronic health issues), but I have no idea if it has anything to with the acupuncture. I used acupuncture to help conceive and later for managing stress and blood sugar. Traditional Chinese Medicine is thousands of years old. I think there are some complete quacks in alternative medicine, but I have run into my share of incompetent MDs over the years, so I think buyer has to be beware no matter who you are entrusting with your health. After we moved it took me about 4 tries before I found an acupuncturist I liked, but now I'd choose her for a variety of health issues from back pain to respiratory infections. Good luck!

[queenmama]

My acu is also my chiro. As far as that goes, I trust him completely.

Alternative medicine in general, it sounds like I am way more relaxed than the lot of you! I didn't have cause to take herbs when I was pregnant, so I never considered the safety, but I do take them on a fairly regular basis otherwise. Garlic and olive leaf when I feel a cold or sore throat coming on, colloidal silver for a multitude of things, tei fu or lobelia for a fever, etc. I know this goes against the BBB grain, but I trust natural remedies and would go that route before traditional medicine when possible.

ETA: I use natural thyroid and bioidentical hormone (progesterone) cream because I wasn't getting what I needed from MDs, NPs, or endos... However, my doctor is a former OB/GYN, so I do feel 100% safe with his treatment.

Lara