Dad Uses Alternative Meds, Girl Ends up Braindamaged

JeanneSager — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:29:00 GMT

The doctor who finally got to look at a little girl after weeks of her father trying alternative medicines to treat an infection of her heart said she was as ""sick as the sickest person I've ever seen in 35 years." That's saying something.

The man's eleven-year-old daughter now uses a wheelchair to move around and has serious cognitive impairment. Prosecutors who secured six months in prison to punish the father say he distrusted modern medicine.

The man apparently opted to feed his daughter Mannatech, a supplement promoted round the world as a means to "enhance the body’s cell-to-cell communication and improve overall health." Last year, the company was charged by the Texas Attorney General for operating an illegal marketing scheme. Attorney General Greg Abbott says his investigators found claims of the supplement's health benefits were being exaggerated to "exploit" families.

In Australia, the father of the sick girl had reportedly given her so much it was stuck between her teeth and clogging her mouth when she was finally brought into the hospital, unable to walk and hallucinating. Her mouth was black and peeling, according to court documents, and the rest of her body was pale. The mother apparently pushed for traditional medicine, but said she was afraid that her estranged partner would deny her access to her children if she pushed further.

Although Hannah's report on a study that shows more families are using alternative medicine to treat their kids' illnesses gave me some hope that some parents will finally stop rushing to their pediatrician demanding a round of antibiotics for every bump and hiccup, this sort of story is just what I was afraid of.

Raised in a househould that is highly supportive of traditional medicine (my mother's in the health field), I can admit there are alternatives that are beneficiary. Think saline mist to clean out the sinuses, a long sitz bath to soothe the sting of chicken pox, that sort of thing. These are options not only for parents who are uninsured or underinsured but those of us who are lucky enough to have insurance, but don't want to be throwing pills at everything. Sometimes the old-fashioned remedies have passed the test of time - which can be as hardy a test as anything the FDA has up its sleeves.

Should these so-called "health supplements" really be considered alternative medicine? Where does one draw the line?

Image: News.com.au

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Greenhouse: Baking Soda is Wonder Stuff

Amy Kuras — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:03:00 GMT

I'm not exactly the world's most fabulous housekeeper, but I do feel better when the house is clean. I just hate all the hard work required to do it. So I tend to turn to harsh cleaners that get the job done fast, all the while worrying about the effect it may have on the baby I am carrying or the air quality in the house for the people and pets that are already living here.

So I love coming across tips for inexpensive, nontoxic, green cleaners (because while I am totally Method's bitch, the cost mounts up). Like these tips for baking soda. I already knew it was a wonder substance, but I didn't know it could do things like put out small kitchen fires, kill roaches, and deodorize your hands (I'm assuming after chopping onions or garlic). And to keep drains clear, pour baking soda and vinegar down them once a week, which sounds like a chore my daughter and husband would fight for.

My favorite baking soda use is as a deodorizer for stanky gross laundry. When my daughter was in the "frequent accidents" phase of potty training, I'd throw a bunch in with any load that had her stuff in it and it came out smelling fine – I'm guessing it would work well on cloth diapers too. Plus I use it on sheets and towels; we all have sensitive skin and this helps soften and freshen them without giving us rashes.

Not only is it Earth-friendly, it's cheap. You can find it in giant bags at Costco and frequently find generics at the dollar store.