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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by charlie99 on October 9, 2001, at 1:35:32
Does anyone have any experience, positive or negative, of Chinese medicine or other alternative therapies used in conjunction with antidepressants?
Posted by Gracie2 on October 9, 2001, at 12:01:19
In reply to Chinese medicine, posted by charlie99 on October 9, 2001, at 1:35:32
When I was in Hawaii I started having panic attacks, I don't know why, maybe because I was so far outside my "comfort zone". It was ruining my vacation that I had saved up so long for. My sister, who lives there in Oahu, said that the natives are very spiritual and maybe I should go to a holistic practitioner for a massage. IT WAS WONDERFUL. Granted any massage is wonderful but it was somewhat different than your Western-type massage. He concentrated on pressure points in the hands and feet, and you can practically feel the tension and depression leaving your body. Then he waved his hands over me to "balance my chakra". I asked him if he had any advice for me to stay relaxed and he said drink a lot of water and take milk thistle to cleanse the body, and also to practice breathing correctly because shallow breathing will mess you right up.
I don't know if this is the kind of advice you were looking for but it sure helped me and I would have a holistic massage every week if I could afford one.
-Gracie
Posted by Krazy Kat on October 9, 2001, at 16:25:11
In reply to Re: Chinese medicine, posted by Gracie2 on October 9, 2001, at 12:01:19
I'm glad this subject has been brought up. It seems as if every time it has been touched on previously, the poster was pushing alternative versus meds. So, what about alternative + meds as you've asked?
Personally, I'd love to do both but am wary of interactions, and though I'm lucky to have Dr.'s who prescribe things such as Ginko and Dong Quai, they aren't into the full gamut.
How can one combine the two while being safe?
(If you get "attacked" for bringing this up on Psycho Babble as it pertains somewhat to meds, somewhat to lifestyle, bring it on over to Psycho Social - would be a great subject there. I don't know why, but this has happened lately.
- K.
Posted by charlie99 on October 10, 2001, at 2:33:30
In reply to Re: Chinese medicine-charlie99, posted by Krazy Kat on October 9, 2001, at 16:25:11
But why should it not be part of the main group? It is no whimsy that the neurotransmitters which trouble us so much are made from proteins which we eat. Where else could they come from? Therefore any treatment which attempts to harmonize the process by which these brain chemicals are made surely warrants consideration. There are certainly some theories of depressive states of mind which highlight their linearity and posit that if they can be bumped back into resilient chaos then a cure might be effected - for that to happen surely the body must help the brain. I can't see why these two systems of medicine should be opposed any more than art and science should.
> I'm glad this subject has been brought up. It seems as if every time it has been touched on previously, the poster was pushing alternative versus meds. So, what about alternative + meds as you've asked?
>
> Personally, I'd love to do both but am wary of interactions, and though I'm lucky to have Dr.'s who prescribe things such as Ginko and Dong Quai, they aren't into the full gamut.
>
> How can one combine the two while being safe?
>
> (If you get "attacked" for bringing this up on Psycho Babble as it pertains somewhat to meds, somewhat to lifestyle, bring it on over to Psycho Social - would be a great subject there. I don't know why, but this has happened lately.
>
> - K.
Posted by Cindylou on October 10, 2001, at 14:06:34
In reply to Re: Chinese medicine-charlie99, posted by charlie99 on October 10, 2001, at 2:33:30
I'm so glad to see this topic here! I haven't gone the "Chinese medicine" route, but have visited a chiropractor who is kind of an "alternative medicine celebrity" where I live -- he does lectures each month and packs out the auditorium -- has people visit him from miles around, etc.
Anyway, the problem I have with him is that he is SO AGAINST any type of "regular' medicine. He is very outspoken, and will make comments to his assistants when he's in the room with me like, "Do you see what they have this poor girl on?? Prozac, wellbutrin and klonapin!! Klonapin is only for grandpas who have seizures all the time! No wonder she feels crazy!" Stuff like that.
He's put me on a lot of natural vitamin B, protein shakes, and something for my Adrenal Glands. It hasn't really made much of a difference. He also gave me some herbs to try, but I am still not ready to give up on traditional meds, so I don't want to mix the herbs with the meds. I just started Lamictal.
Anyone else out there on a combo of traditional vs. alternative medicine? I'd love to hear more ...
Thanks charlie for bringing this up,
-cindy
> But why should it not be part of the main group? It is no whimsy that the neurotransmitters which trouble us so much are made from proteins which we eat. Where else could they come from? Therefore any treatment which attempts to harmonize the process by which these brain chemicals are made surely warrants consideration. There are certainly some theories of depressive states of mind which highlight their linearity and posit that if they can be bumped back into resilient chaos then a cure might be effected - for that to happen surely the body must help the brain. I can't see why these two systems of medicine should be opposed any more than art and science should.
>
>
> > I'm glad this subject has been brought up. It seems as if every time it has been touched on previously, the poster was pushing alternative versus meds. So, what about alternative + meds as you've asked?
> >
> > Personally, I'd love to do both but am wary of interactions, and though I'm lucky to have Dr.'s who prescribe things such as Ginko and Dong Quai, they aren't into the full gamut.
> >
> > How can one combine the two while being safe?
> >
> > (If you get "attacked" for bringing this up on Psycho Babble as it pertains somewhat to meds, somewhat to lifestyle, bring it on over to Psycho Social - would be a great subject there. I don't know why, but this has happened lately.
> >
> > - K.
Posted by charlie99 on October 10, 2001, at 19:13:31
In reply to Re: Chinese medicine-charlie99 » charlie99, posted by Cindylou on October 10, 2001, at 14:06:34
A consistent theme running through every thread is 'poop out' or else years of wrong prescription. I see very few indications of long term success or cures. Most of the threads are about continual adjustment or experimentation with new combinations of medications. Now, in the 24th century the doctor will wave the tricorder over us, measure precisely and readjust our chemistry (less emphasis on conditions and stories & more on measurement as new ways of measuring are discovered) - but surely even then we will not have separated our brains from our bodies. I'm lucky to have found Wellbutrin = for me everything cured with no, repeat no, side effects. Because it's the right medicine for me I haven't lost weight, I've gone from 9 stone to 10 stone in one month and am exercising, not smoking, not drinking too much because all these things feel natural for me to do. That's good for now. But there is an art to science and a science of art. Ten years of trying hard did nothing for me, but three days of Wellbutrin did it all. But without some kind of backup what do the next sixty years hold for me? No-one has taken any antidepressant for that long so far as I know, so no-one can claim to have the answers. Humility and open-mindedness are the only way to find the truth.
Posted by susan C on October 11, 2001, at 19:14:12
In reply to Re: Chinese medicine-charlie99, posted by charlie99 on October 10, 2001, at 19:13:31
mmmmmmmmm, I think the Mayo Clinic and other places now have 'integrative medicine' clinics, where Every thing, Accupuncture, Chiropractic, herbs, EVERYTHING...are put together...lots of studies being done. The main critsisum i have heard of herbs is that they are not a clearly defined single thing...so you don't know what is really doing the job. Plus, the dosage can vary. And we all know, anyway, milage may vary. The whole concept of Wholistic medicine, East meets west, are coming together...I would be very cautious about some one who 'has the answer' and puts down regular medicine...
Personally, The Accupuncturist I tried for accident but did not feel better after a point (no pun intended) it didn't make any difference and more times than not it really hurt. I have a regular chiropractor, am trying out a Naturopathic Doctor, when I can, I get a massage, I feel exercise and water and good diet are a must but dont always do that and will try anything twice. If I could stay creative, but not be on a rollercoaster...I hate rollercoasters. But I like Ferris Wheels.
It is only a matter of time, money and thorough study.
mouse with a testtube
susan C> A consistent theme running through every thread is 'poop out' or else years of wrong prescription. I see very few indications of long term success or cures. Most of the threads are about continual adjustment or experimentation with new combinations of medications. Now, in the 24th century the doctor will wave the tricorder over us, measure precisely and readjust our chemistry (less emphasis on conditions and stories & more on measurement as new ways of measuring are discovered) - but surely even then we will not have separated our brains from our bodies. I'm lucky to have found Wellbutrin = for me everything cured with no, repeat no, side effects. Because it's the right medicine for me I haven't lost weight, I've gone from 9 stone to 10 stone in one month and am exercising, not smoking, not drinking too much because all these things feel natural for me to do. That's good for now. But there is an art to science and a science of art. Ten years of trying hard did nothing for me, but three days of Wellbutrin did it all. But without some kind of backup what do the next sixty years hold for me? No-one has taken any antidepressant for that long so far as I know, so no-one can claim to have the answers. Humility and open-mindedness are the only way to find the truth.
This is the end of the thread.
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