Alternative medicine/Wellness -- Doctor recommendations?

[Wasatch Rebel]

So I'm getting tired of being put on medications for this, and meds for that. I'm looking for a doc in the Salt Lake Valley who isn't so quick to give you a drug for high blood pressure, for example.

I don't know--how do you feel about docs just using meds to treat everything? And if you have a doc who doesn't do that, share his or her name with me--privately if you'd prefer.

[uintahiker]

I've heard that this spot is a bit more into the natural healing sort of stuff. http://www.freedommedcenter.com/ They're down in Provo. I personally have no idea how they are though.

Personally, I don't like doctors or medication. I try to avoid them both.

[Spooky]

http://heartspring.net/_cms/_directory/Utah

I've been successfully treating several auto-immune conditions with omega 3's, alpha liproic acid, supplements, and a budwig concoction that enables omega 3's to permeate cells. I'll still get sick, as MS is progressive no matter what you do, but I'm doing better on natural stuff than I ever have on immuno-suppressants. Since starting this, I've been in the best remission I've had since 2003. :mrgreen:

[Wasatch Rebel]

Thanks for the help. I'm not necessarily into witch's brews and stuff like that, but I do want a doc that will at least consider other options--especially for my high blood pressure. The pills I've been taking have had some side effects I'd rather do without.

[Spooky]

Thanks for the help. I'm not necessarily into witch's brews and stuff like that, but I do want a doc that will at least consider other options--especially for my high blood pressure. The pills I've been taking have had some side effects I'd rather do without.

Deplete your potassium levels? Maybe try swapping Omega 6 oils in your diet for Omega 3's. Nothing witch brew about it...just eating different, maybe taking some supplements. My parents saw a large drop in blood pressure, resting heart rate and average glucose levels by going on a low glycemic index diet and adding a balanced form of Omega oils.

[Wasatch Rebel]

Deplete your potassium levels? Maybe try swapping Omega 6 oils in your diet for Omega 3's. Nothing witch brew about it...just eating different, maybe taking some supplements. My parents saw a large drop in blood pressure, resting heart rate and average glucose levels by going on a low glycemic index diet and adding a balanced form of Omega oils.

Yeah, I didn't mean that what you were saying in your previous post was "witch's brew", just that there are a lot of quack cures out there that don't really work. I like what you're saying about Omegas and supplements. My resting heart rate is already in the low 50s to high 40s (this morning it was 46 for example) so I'm doing well there with plenty of exercise. I think the supplements and eating different are going to help tremendously. What really got me thinking about dumping my doctor's advice and meds for high blood pressure were the side effects, and this article by Dr. Stan Gardner: http://www.meridianmagazine.com/healthyoutlook/100310blood.html. So I stopped taking the meds a few days ago, and it appears the side effects are gone. Now if I can eat more veggies and good stuff, less sugar and bad stuff, and get some of the right supplements, I think I'll be on the right track. That and getting a good licensed doctor who will support me in this. The doctor I'm seeing currently had to fill out a form for my driver's license renewal that stated my high bp wouldn't effect my driving. I don't know if the next time I have to do one of those, he'll sign it if I'm not on the meds.

[Cirrus2000]

Yeah, I didn't mean that what you were saying in your previous post was "witch's brew", just that there are a lot of quack cures out there that don't really work. I like what you're saying about Omegas and supplements. My resting heart rate is already in the low 50s to high 40s (this morning it was 46 for example) so I'm doing well there with plenty of exercise. I think the supplements and eating different are going to help tremendously. What really got me thinking about dumping my doctor's advice and meds for high blood pressure were the side effects, and this article by Dr. Stan Gardner: http://www.meridianmagazine.com/healthyoutlook/100310blood.html. So I stopped taking the meds a few days ago, and it appears the side effects are gone. Now if I can eat more veggies and good stuff, less sugar and bad stuff, and get some of the right supplements, I think I'll be on the right track. That and getting a good licensed doctor who will support me in this. The doctor I'm seeing currently had to fill out a form for my driver's license renewal that stated my high bp wouldn't effect my driving. I don't know if the next time I have to do one of those, he'll sign it if I'm not on the meds.

High BP: Salt, man, watch your salt. I'm sure your doctor went over that with you, but it really works. My blood pressure has been creeping up over the years, and when I moved into a much higher-stress work environment 5 years ago, it soon began to reach the hypertension levels (140/90). When I started paying attention to what I eat, my sodium intake was way too high. I was probably averaging 3000-3500 mg per day, easy. It is incredible how much sodium is in processed and fast foods. I started to keep a journal of my sodium and caloric intake, and quickly lost a bunch of weight, and 20 points off my BP, top and bottom. It takes a serious lifestyle and attitude change, but makes a big difference without medication.

Just for ideas on numbers, the US recommends 2400mg as the maximum per day of sodium. Canada and the UK recommend 1800mg. I have tried to make 1500 or less my goal, though I'm closer to 1800-2000 on average.

[Spooky]

My husband and son have type 1 diabetes (the auto-immune type) and we changed our diets entirely as a result. We eliminated processed foods altogether and went to whole grains only, fresh fruits and veggies, no vegetable oils except flax seed and grape seed oils, cut out nearly all salt and substituted herbs instead, and I also do a concoction called "Budwig" which helps with inflammatory issues. We eat a bit less red meat and use fish oil and flax oil supplements.

My resting pulse rate is in the 60's, my blood pressure 90/50. My bad cholesterol went from 201 to 85, and my husband's dropped to 50-something. My husband's average glucose levels dropped to 80. All that with no medication. It's been awesome.

The worst thing, I think, is the high fructose corn syrup found in so many drinks and foods, the added salt, and the hydrogenated oils. They'll kill you.

Honestly, I've been amazed at what a few dietary changes can do. When we added the supplements, I could literally feel improvements within a week, which surprised me. I thought it was all hype.

[Wasatch Rebel]

High BP: Salt, man, watch your salt. I'm sure your doctor went over that with you, but it really works. My blood pressure has been creeping up over the years, and when I moved into a much higher-stress work environment 5 years ago, it soon began to reach the hypertension levels (140/90). When I started paying attention to what I eat, my sodium intake was way too high. I was probably averaging 3000-3500 mg per day, easy. It is incredible how much sodium is in processed and fast foods. I started to keep a journal of my sodium and caloric intake, and quickly lost a bunch of weight, and 20 points off my BP, top and bottom. It takes a serious lifestyle and attitude change, but makes a big difference without medication.

Just for ideas on numbers, the US recommends 2400mg as the maximum per day of sodium. Canada and the UK recommend 1800mg. I have tried to make 1500 or less my goal, though I'm closer to 1800-2000 on average.

Thanks. That's what I mean about needing a new doc. When he told me I had high bp, I said, "well, I'd like to try some lifestyle changes before I consider any medication." He said, "well that doesn't really work, long term". That answer really bugged me, and I ran it by a med student I know and he kind of confirmed it, so I started taking the meds. But I don't like it and I'd like to try something else. I'm going to.