Guest guest Posted February 23, 2000 Report Share Posted February 23, 2000 I would agree that Dr Weil's info is limited (I'd say useless for me too) and pricey. I am a strong advocate for vitamins, minerals, natural everything--I have RA 9 years and haven't used DMARD's yet (alternative all the way). But I have found his info to be pretty useless except perhaps to someone that knows nothing about alternative options and it's limited there too. << This is what they say about Dr Weil at that site. Dr. Weil's Vitamin Adviser http://cgi.pathfinder.com/drweil/vitaminprofiler/ A well-known physician uses his fame to sell unnecessary herbs and vitamins to healthy adults without adequate nutritional information. Dr. Weil's Vitamin Adviser, based on the author's best-selling books, Spontaneous Healing and 8 Weeks to Optimum Health, asks you a series of questions online to determine your vitamin, supplement and tonic needs. Im surprised they dont have the rheumatic site listed as unreliable site too. Probably just dont know about us yet! >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 In a message dated 8/2/04 8:05:41 PM, broot@... writes: But I also know that if I hadn't followed the conventional path of aggressive treatment for the past 5 1/2 years I would be severely crippled by now. Well said. If there was a homepathic or holistic remedy to halt RA, we all would be on it by now.. unfortunately, I do not thing such a remedy exists (for now). Pris Bored pig? ANY age pig can learn tricks and obedience the EASY way! Or, even become a star. "Potbellied Pig Behavior and Training" book www.valentinesperformingpigs.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 I think in general he provides good advice for anyone on the place of and importance of diet, exercise and relaxation/yoga/meditation in life. The advice specifically for RA patients may be ok for those with mild cases, but don't seem realistic for many of us. The herbs etc that he recommends are anti-inflammatories, but there's nothing in there that works against the disease activity. I guess if you have a mild case and your RA isn't active you may be ok doing this, but many people could end up with irreversable joint damage from postponing more aggressive treatment in favor of following this advice. Don't get me wrong - I have great respect for alternative medicine and feel it's very useful for many things. But I also know that if I hadn't followed the conventional path of aggressive treatment for the past 5 1/2 years I would be severely crippled by now. Beth > what do ya'll think of this from dr. andrew weil? > > > Lifestyle changes can moderate autoimmunity, and other strategies can help you control > the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Here are my basic recommendations: > > Follow a low-protein, high carbohydrate diet; minimize consumption of foods of animal > origin. > Eliminate milk and milk products including commercial foods made with milk. > Avoid all polyunsaturated vegetable oils, margarine, vegetable shortening and products > made with partially hydrogenated oils of any kind. > Increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids by eating more cold water fish, walnuts or fresh > ground flax seeds. You may also want to consider taking a fish oil supplement to help > keep your protein intake low. > Get regular aerobic exercise (swimming is best for those with rheumatoid arthritis). > Practice relaxation techniques. In addition, visualization can help moderate autoimmune > responses; psychotherapy can help you change emotional states that keep the immune > system off balance. > Try hypnotherapy or guided imagery Look for a therapist willing to take on an > autoimmune disease. Meditation and yoga can help, too. > Avoid health care practitioners who make you feel pessimistic about your condition. > Eliminate or reduce intake of coffee and tobacco as both have been liked to an increased > risk for rheumatoid arthritis. > > > > Here are specific recommendations for rheumatoid arthritis management: > > One at a time, eliminate the following categories of food for two months: (1) all sugar > except natural fruits; (2) all citrus fruits; (3) wheat, corn and soy. At the end of each trial > period, restore the eliminated items to your diet. You may find that one or more has an > influence on your arthritis symptoms. > For symptomatic treatment use aspirin and other over-the-counter anti-inflammatory > drugs. > Take feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) for its anti-inflammatory effect; one to two > capsules twice a day > Use anti-inflammatory herbs Ginger and turmeric are particularly effective. I recommend > Zyflamend, made by New Chapter Company, which includes both. You can continue to > take these herbs indefinitely. > Experiment with traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, homeopathy, Native > American medicine, and healers. > Try long term fasting in a facility staffed by experienced health professionals. For > additional information on fasting, check out www.dmoz.org. > Investigate apitherapy (bee-sting treatment); a local bee keeper should be able to advise > you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 > what do ya'll think of this from dr. andrew weil? I tried almost everything on Weil's list (couldn't find an angry bee though) in my journey toward a diagnosis, and nothing seemed " strong enough " to have an impact on my symptoms. I still use many of his suggestions in conjunction with DMARD therapy: acupuncture, massage, yoga, meditation, Qigong, ground flax, walnuts, a near-vegetarian diet, supplements, swimming, etc. I'm a big fan of Dr. Weil's but I agree wholeheartedly with Beth about the importance of DMARDs. Sierra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 I think RA is not a single disease with a single cause but a syndrome of symptoms that can result from many causes. One treatment does wonders for some people and nothing for others, while another treatment has the opposite effect. We don't have the diagnostic tools to find out what treatment will work for what people so we have to determine that experimentally. Some benefit from diet and nutrition, others from antibiotic therapy, others from Chinese medicine including acupuncture, and others from Western medicine. Most patients in the Western world start with Western medicine and if that doesn't work, they they try some alternatives. Also the recommendations of Dr Weill are usually helpful for general health and can be used along with any of the other methods for treating RA. Food alergies are one cause of the RA syndrome and diet and nutrition wll help with them but not with some other causes of RA. Likewise bacteria can be another cause of the RA syndrome and antibiotic therapy helps there. Other treatments work on intermediate steps in RA rather than the real cause. We need more research to find as many root causes as possible for the RA syndrome and develop tests to determine what treatments will work for a specific root cause. My opinion only and I haven't heard this anywhere else. God bless. ----- Original Message ----- From: H. Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 7:54 PM Subject: dr weil what do ya'll think of this from dr. andrew weil?Lifestyle changes can moderate autoimmunity, and other strategies can help you control the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Here are my basic recommendations: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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