Philosophy of Medicine by David E Allen MD
The best remedies are the eight nature remedies. They should always be used and will be sufficient alone for healing in the majority of illnesses. Pure air, sunlight, abstemious from harmful substances, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power,--these are the true remedies. Every person should have a knowledge of nature's remedial agencies and how to apply them. It is essential understand these principles involved in the treatment of the sick.
The cause of the illness should sought for and treated. If for example someone's diabetes is caused by obesity the proper treatment is weight loss, exercise and a proper diet. If the diabetes is caused by an immunological destruction of the pancreas and little or no insulin is produced, insulin injections are the rational treatment.
I find it useful to follow a hierarchy of remedies when considering a treatment approach. Using only #2 when #1 has been considered/tried first etc..
Hierarchy:
1. Rational remedies without toxicity
2. Rational remedies with
infrequent mild toxicity
3. Rational remedies with infrequent but
serious toxicity
4. Rational remedies with predictable toxicity
5.
Relief of Pain and Suffering.
Let us briefly review this:
1. Rational remedies without toxicity,
These would be the eight natural remedies.
2. Rational remedies with
infrequent mild toxicity such as thyroid hormones, charcoal, water
soluble vitamins, mineral and certain herbs, etc.
3. Rational remedies
with infrequent but possible serious toxicity: antibiotics, insulin,
diuretics, Digoxin, antihypertensive medications, etc.
4. Rational
remedies with serious predictable toxicity ; Prednisone, Interferon,
etc..
5. Relief of Pain and Suffering.
Most illnesses can be treated with rational remedies without toxicity but because of the effects of disease/age/heredity we will need to make use of the other rational remedies at times. We must always weigh the potential risk against the likely benefits. It must also be pointed out that if a remedy is given for a inappropriate illness it becomes irrational, not a remedy and probably harmful. (Antibiotics for a non bacterial infection i.e. a cold.) Also if a effective remedy is withheld for irrational emotional reasons and a ineffective remedy is given without knowledge of it effectiveness it become irrational and generally harmful.
The simpler remedies are less harmful in proportion to their simplicity; but in very many cases these are used when not at all necessary. Even though simpler remedies( thyroid medication, ulcer medication, minerals, herbs and vitamins, etc.) do not carry the risk of addicting drugs, their use should be considered only when there is;1. A rational base for believing it might help 2. A knowledge of the potential risk. 3. Evidence for its stated benefit.
Our life and destiny is dependent on the choices we make. We, to a great extent, are what we have chosen to be. Current medical research has documented that certain medications effect our ability to make moral choices. Moral inhibitors have been available for thousands of years in the forms of alcohol, opium and others. Now we have a great variety of sociably acceptable moral inhibitors classified as tranquilizers, narcotics, and sleeping pills (hypnotics). Solomon said, "It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; Lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted." Proverbs 31:4+5
Dr. R. Binder MD. (Department of Psychiatry university of California, San Franciso) published case reports of "Behavioral Disinhibition" resulting from the minor tranquilizer lonazapam (Klonapin). Behavior Disinhibition refers to inability to control ones actions. In these cases the typical manifestation was uncontrolled anger. Similar results have been reported with the tranquilizers Alprazola (Xanax) (1), Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) (2), Diazepam (valium) (3), and Oxazapam (Serax) (2),. This obvious violent sporadic disinhibited behavior is common to nearly all antianxiety drugs and has been blamed for some violent "disinhibition" phenomenon (which is relatively infrequent), but these tranquilizers commonly impair our ability to make moral choices.
To every person choices are made that decide their destiny. We must not be a nation taking moral inhibitors if we expect to make moral decisions. Some people are guilt ridden because of the corruption and immoral decisions which they have made. They go to their physicians with anxiety, guilt, and psychosomatic symptoms and they give them "moral inhibitors" (Valium, Xanax etc) or they turn to the "over the counter" moral inhibitor - Alcohol.
The concern in the use of antianxiety drugs (tranquilizes), narcotics, and other mind altering drugs should be as much with its effect on our ability to make good choices as it is with our concern for addiction.
In conclusion, let us consider thoughtfully the cause of the illness, elimination the cause when possible. Let us strive to do no harm. We need to become knowledgeable in methods of assisting the natural processes of healing created by God. We are to consider the risk vs. expected benefit in any remedy proposed. We need evidence for a proposed remedy's benefit not just a testimony or theory.
References: 1. Gardner DL, Cowdry RW: Alprazolam _ induced dyscontrol in borderline personality disorder. Am J Psychiatry 142: 98-100,1985 2. Gardos C, Dimascio A, Salzman D, et al : Differential actions of chlordiazepoxide and oxazepam on hostility. Arch Gen Psychiatry 18:757-760, 1968 3. Hall RCW, Joffe JK : Aberrant response to diazepam: a new syndrome. Am J Psychiatry 129: 738 - 742, 1972
See also: Gardos G: Disinhibition of behavior of antianxiety drugs. Psychosomatics 21: 1025 - 1026, 1980