Ancient Chinese medicine

[genko_b]

I went to an Ayurvedic doctor for a while. Ayurvedic is the ancient Indian system of medicine. They use things like turmeric for joint inflammation, and have done a lot of work on diet and overall health. I still follow the Ayurvedic guidelines for diet for my type, and find them to be the best approach to food for me. Ayurvedic also has specialized oil massages which really help to relax your body.

The doctor was trained in Ayurvedic in India and also had some medical training in the US, and he would tell me to go get treatment from a "regular" doctor when he felt the Ayurvedic was not what was called for.

Both the Chinese system and the Ayurvedic system consider the person as a whole, not just individual symptoms and body parts, and just that overall care can make one feel better.

Genko

[malew/sjogrens]

I tried Ayurvedic with a naturopath. She had me taking 30+ supplements in the morning, afternoon and then still more in the evening. She put me on an elimination diet where I lost 33 pounds in a month. I stopped going to her as impossible for me to swallow all of those pills with Sjogren's. Doctor said I did not look good losing all that weight and it is not healthy for anyone to lose so much weght in a month. I think it was a cash cow business with all of the supplements she put me on. One of them was also tumeric. She wanted me to go on this GAPS diet. NOt able to eat any grains for two years. This includes rice and any of the gluten free substitutes for grains. She said that I needed to heal my gut as this is what is causing the inflammation. I am now very skeptical of naturopaths and alternative medicine.

[Joe S.]

The cash cow issue is why I advocate everyone do their own research on everything they take no matter what the source is.

Ayurvedic is another CAM therapy system.

[genko_b]

Dear Male w/sjogrens:

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with Ayurvedic. My doctor prescribed just the turmeric, diet, and fennel tea to settle my stomach (it really helps); and the diet is not near as extreme as what you are reporting. I guess the quality of practitioner really varies. As Joe says, it is important to do our own research.

Genko