The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum My Experience with Alternative medicine

Through-out my Christian life I have been told about alternative medicine pro and con by both Christians and non-Christians alike. Some of the stories I was told concerning these alternative medicines were quite impressive. So many of these alternative medicine stories come from well meaning people who as far as I can tell are genuine believers.

I have even benefited from chiropractic care myself when other methods didn’t seem to help. A friend of mine fell off a horse and after seeing a chiropractor a few times, was almost completely pain free after a few visits. So, I am not one to say that in their place they may have some benefits. However, some of the claims of these practitioners’ cannot be proven scientifically and therefore should be viewed skeptically and perhaps are dangerous in some cases.

Concerning them not being scientifically proven, many chiropractors answer this by saying that at one time Louis Pasteur's science was questioned. That is partly true, however it seems to be a smoke screen masking the fact that some of the claims of chiropractors have been around for over a hundred years. Surely, if their claims were true they would benefit from proving them scientifically. Unless of course, they are afraid of the scientific results. Louis Pasteur, sure worked hard to prove his theories.

To better understand what I am talking about here are a few links.
http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-18664-heretical_healing.html
http://www.chirobase.org/index.html
Tom

1. "A man with an argument is to match for a man with an experience!" Thus, I wouldn't waste my time trying to provide scientific studies which debunk 90% of what is called "Alternative Medicine" today. The first article you provided does a reasonably good job of doing that anyway.

2. The idea that you have "been told about alternative medicine pro and con by both Christians and non-Christians alike.... And particularly your assessment that some of these people are "well-meaning... and genuine believers", has no weight with me whatsoever. Far too many professing, well-meaning Christians, especially in our day, are easily deceived into believing all kinds of heretical doctrines from ecclesiastical charlatans (aka: pastors/elders/teachers, etc.) and are easily convinced of bizarre claims due to a lack of biblical knowledge and or faith.

Therefore, I put no credence nor reliance in any of these alternative practices. Recognized medical science has enough of its problems, being it isn't an exact science, so I would be foolish, IMHO, to rely on something far less credible to heal some ailment the Lord has brought upon me. I'll put what guarded trust I have in someone else to provide medical care who is a trained medical physician and rely upon God to guide their hands.

Pilgrim
You are correct that Christians can be deceived. I know how true that is because I fell into the Word of Faith movement, hook line and sinker. I thank The Lord He didn't leave me there.
That however, was not really my point in mentioning it.
I was just relaying part of my journey in trying to undercover the truth of the issue.
I thought perhaps some might be helped by my mentioning it.

Lest I gave the impression that I don't think there is any benefit from Chiropractic medicine. I do believe there is something to the science behind chiropractors adjusting spine injuries. X-rays show how a good chiropractor can help in that area. However, some of the other claims they make as I mentioned earlier are unscientific and may be dangerous, even to the pocket book.

Tom