Please dont misunderstand

[Guest guest]

Hi all

after getting a few emails asking me why Im so negative or against everything be

it drugs or herbs I feel that I have been misunderstood.

Informing of the risks, and the possible contraindications, along with

suggesting that doctors or other professionals be consulted for some of the

riskier substances, is NOT the same as saying " Don't take them " .

I have seen ( and experienced myself) situations where one has wished they'd

known more.

I am a VERY big proponent of information and especially " informed consent " . Most

of us agree that the pharmaceutical giants do us a disservice when they hide

negative data, indeed the Vioxx victims Im sure wish theyd known. Well, in MY

opinion, the same should be true for anything we are exposed to.

Whether it be ingested ( herbs, supps, drugs, etc) ; inhaled ( polluted air,

fumes, etc); cutaneous,...you get the picture...we should know WHAT the

substance is, what it CAN and/or MAY do to us and what if any may be the

individual risks we face. This means how our own health status, what we are

already taking or eating...how all this will affect us.

MANY of us ( myself again included) are desperate and end up on our own trying

to heal from various chronic illnesses. Some of us have science or medical

backgrounds. Others of us have had to take " crash courses " or become self-taught

for survival. Still many others simply follow blindly what others are doing. ALL

of us need to be mindful of the possible risks, and have ALL the information

available so that we can at least make INFORMED, intelligent and hopefully SAFER

choices.

I know that I couldnt sleep nights if someone were made more ill or worse simply

because they didnt have all the info about a substance they used and I was the

one who didnt take the time to provide the info I could.

Many is the time Im feeling crummy, or have ZERO interest personally in a

particular subject...BUT if I think there is even the slightest chance for harm,

I feel compelled to provide more info ; Hoping others would do ( and have done)

for me!!

So please, I dont post as a naysayer or a " chicken little " as Ive been accused.

Everything is NOT bad for us...but MOST things are bad for a few of us given our

fragile health state--if we were perfectly healthy we wouldnt be on these

boards..and we ALL have the right to know ALL the info before we expose

ourselves or loved ones to anything and everything.

If after reading the warnings and risks you still feel its worth it, or the

possible gains will outweigh the risks, or that you cant be bothered to get

professional advice, that is your right and I respect that. But then at least no

one can say " why didnt anyone tell me " or " I wish Id have known " .

Thanks for hearing me out, and for trying to understand why I often feel

compelled ( despite my own infirmity) to take the time, energy?and look up info,

and report possible risks even when its something that I would have no interest

in.

Be well

Finette

________________________________________________________________________

More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -

http://webmail.aol.com