Acne is a fairly common condition among teenagers, together with all the anxiety it implies. I recall about a dozen years ago, when my son was a teenager and was troubled by acne, his physician suggested he launch into a regimen of low-dose antibiotics to clear things up. How long should he take them? Indefinitely, the doctor said. What about changes in diet? Don’t bother, he said–diet doesn’t affect acne. I didn’t know much about the problems of excessive antibiotic use at that time, but my instincts told me that using any kind of strong medication for an extended period probably wasn’t a great idea.
My son, though, wanted to be rid of his acne, and I wanted to be a supportive parent, so he launched into the regimen. He took the antibiotics, and his acne improved significantly, but I always felt uncomfortable about the situation. After about a year on the medication, to my relief, he just discontinued using it. He tells me today, though, that when he had a wisdom tooth extracted a few years back, the oral surgeon showed him the tooth, and pointed out how the root had turned blue because of the antibiotics. I can’t believe that was a healthy sign.
I am reminded of that situation by the discussion we’ve been having here about government regulation of healthcare professionals like dieticians, along with a note from a friend updating me on her family. She writes in part: “ My 14-year-old daughter has been dealing with a case of acne and, of course, the dermatologist says diet has no effect on the skin whatsoever! Anyway, I’ve let him treat her topically, but not with the strong internal drugs available. We combined his topical treatment with a visit to a naturopath, who tested her blood for allergies and made radical dietary changes.
“The naturopath wondered how a doctor could say diet has nothing to do with a condition when what you eat makes up the cells of your body! The dietary changes (elimination of processed foods, wheat and dairy) seem to have worked and the good news is that now my daughter is acutely aware of the ingredients of everything she eats, an awareness that will serve her always.
"It is very difficult in our society to find a good balance of eastern and western medicine. The western doctors just want to medicate the symptoms…”
I am always amazed when I hear such tales about how incumbent it is on us to find our own way in the healthcare system. While there is certainly much more information available today than a few years back about alternative approaches to various healthcare issues, the pathways aren’t necessarily easy to navigate. Various groups and organizations, like the American Dietetic Association (ADA), carry out power plays to gain more control, and government agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seem to find ways to seek out new barriers against access to choice.
Clearly one thing that is going on here is that the “establishment”—big business, big government, and their trade associations—see big money in the public’s growing interest in alternative healthcare. These forces either want to grab a share for themselves (Wal-Mart selling organic products) or limit the public’s access so as to force people to use the conventional (the ADA).
As Suzanne points out in her comment on yesterday’s post, the FDA has issued "guidance" that could be interpreted as trying to restrict the public’s access to holistic products and treatments. I just read through the FDA document, and I’m not sure whether it is trying to restrict or just intimidate, but clearly, the emphasis is on more roadblocks rather than fewer roadblocks, more worry about legal intervention from Big Brother.
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