Did You Know.....?

Did you know that the FDA approved Botox ONLY for use on the vertical frown lines between the eyebrows on the bridge of the nose? (We call them "Worry Lines")

Did you know that light therapeutic lenses may relax facial muscles and many have reported the disappearance of 'worry lines' with their use?

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We came across this unusual letter which we post not as an attack on anyone but rather as a commentary on today's health care world's legal concerns. Notice how the health institution appears to be the bad guy but then the writter states that 'sadly they are right!'. Also note how he can only tell a patient about alternatives if 'asked' especially if asked what he would do personally if he had that same illness and wanted to treat himself.

Dear Dr. Mercola,

Your last newsletter discussed "trust." I'm there on the front lines, providing primary care in an urgent 
care setting since 1977. In addition to being a licensed health care professional, I've been a serious 
student of alternative and complementary medicine since 1980’s.

A few years back I saw a gentleman in the clinic with diabetic neuropathy who had no feeling at all 
below either of his ankles. His feet were OK, free of ulcers or infection. He was on the usual blend of 
mainstream medications which were not helping.

I'd known him for years, so I suggested that he try two supplements:

* Alpha Lipoic Acid: Standard of care therapy for neuropathy in Europe. In fact, in Germany, it's 
malpractice NOT to prescribe Alpha Lipoic Acid for a patient with neuropathy.

* Adaptrin (also available as Padma-Basic): This is an ancient blend of 18 herbs which has a 
remarkable effect on the microcirculation. In other words, it works in the capillaries themselves to 
improve blood flow and oxygenation. Among its numerous benefits, many neuropathy patients have all 
feeling returned to their feet after two weeks on this stuff.

He asked me to write them down, so I did, having every expectation that he would be better in two 
weeks. When he asked his daughter to get these items, she took the list and rushed over to 
administration and complained. Next thing you know, I'm defending myself in a professional review 
action. I was condemned, in my own handwriting, by the suggestions I'd written down for the 
gentleman.

The issue was not the efficacy of the supplements. The committee didn't care whether they worked or 
not. Alpha Lipoic Acid may be the standard in Europe, but it's NOT the standard here. Their concern was 
that any deviation from the official mainstream published "standards of care" exposes the facility to 
liability. And Dr. Mercola, the sad part is, they're right.

By agreeing to stick with the "standards of care" in the future, they decided not to terminate me. I was 
officially counseled to NEVER discuss that "homeopathic stuff" with any patients. As a result of this 
experience, when I'm on the clock, I'm totally mainstream.

The take-home lesson of this experience is this: Trust works both ways. All it takes is one complaint 
from a patient or a family member to shut down an alternative provider. Even praise will do you in. If a 
patient tells another doctor, "Boy, that Sambucol really works. I never catch a cold." I'm in trouble 
again.

I'm not totally shut down. If a patient ASKS me about some alternative therapy, I will give them an 
honest and well-informed answer. But if you don't ask, I cannot tell. Another suggestion for a patient 
is to ask something like, "If you had my illness, what would you personally use to treat yourself." 
That I can answer honestly, because I'm not telling you to do anything.

Very few of the 38 percent of American adults that use complementary medicine ever show up here.
The reality is that patients who go to mainstream clinics expect mainstream care.  That's just the way
it is.  And I have to meet their expectations.  The bottom-line is this: When you're a seeing person in 
a blind world, it's unwise to rearrange the furniture.

[Name and position withheld by request]