alternative health and healing

[momofmine]

I am not quite sure how to word my question here, but I'd really like some help in figuring this out. I am SO grateful for this wonderful forum, and for the chance to get opinions and information from like-minded mamas. However, when it comes to health and healing, posting on the health and healing forum will get you a very diverse, broad range of opinions and advice. There are many people who feel that "alternatives" like homeopathy or nutrition or TCM or Christian Science treatment, or whatever, are all well and good until you get something "serious" and then it's just like, well, then it's gambling with your child's life to not take the conventional route. "That's what it's there for", "Sometime you just need abx", etc, etc. I am not arguing that, and I am not saying that option should not be there for those who want it. However, for those who may want support for using alternatives, you often will not find it on the H&H forum. And then your confidence is shaken, which is the reason why you came here to MDC in the first place (for information and support). Examples include pneumonia and strep throat. Lots of people on the H&H forum will tell you, no, you just have to use abx then, as thought he other alternatives are "doing nothing". It's not "doing nothing" to make a different choice, especially when you are working with an HCP, but sometimes you still want support for that. And I just wish that there could be a place for support and information that was more open-minded, because to be honest, I have not found that to be the case on the H&H forum, esp when it comes to things like strep and cancer and things that people perceive to be more serious.

[JessicaS]

With the new rules in place for the health forums there should not be a lot of advice being given anymore.

Phrases like in my experience, you might consider, many find, research shows, studies find, some find xyz successful/helpful, you could try, etc. are all helpful ways to provide information and express personal opinion rather than personalized instruction.

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...ement.php?f=45

The Health and Healing boards are not support only, I do not anticipate a change in that.

This board do not endorse alternatives in all situations. You'll notice a section in the Health and Healing workshop regarding "when to call a Dr" http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=981218