I agree with much of what you're saying Jimbo

> So what did you do? I ask, because the rest of your statements are kind of
> odd for someone who's worked in clinics, hospitals, or around other
> medical equipment.

Jimbo,I have worked in hospitals and clinics. I started out working as a house orderly, a surgical orderly and a nurses aid. I then went into the Air Force and was trained as a medic with additional training in allergy and immunology. I was an allergy technician for several years in the military and working with physicians in private practice. I then went back to school and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Like the question about "we don't know how asprin
> works." Forgive me, but that's just plain silly. We do and have known
> how it works for years http://health.howstuffworks.com/aspirin3.htm -- and
> as for studies about its effectiveness, how in the heck did you miss the
> clinical trials on all the things like excedrin, Alleve, and so on and so
> forth on what kinds of pain and what they're good for

> I only worked in hospitals for a few years, but even back then we knew how
> asprin worked.

You are absolutely right and I stand corrected. I meant to say Acetaminphen and not aspirin. There is a difference. There are theories and preliminary studies but the mode of action of acetaminophen is not entirely confirmed. Go to http://www.medicinenet.com/acetaminophen/article.htm.

> There's a lot of statements that you're making that I see repeated by MLM
> proponents -- but they are NOT some of the real criticisms I've heard
> about medicine from nurses and emergency medical support technicians and
> other kinds of people working in hospitals and clinics. I see marketers
> who wouldn't know a Foley from a frog's bottom come in and pontificate
> about the "unreliable" of "medicine" and then wave
> their fake nostrums and their snake oil and shriek bad data and dance
> around saying that if you'll make them rich, they'll cure all your ills.

I have no affiliation with any MLM groups whatsoever. I am neither for them nor against them. The information that I offered was only intended to show that Western Medicine does not have all the answers. Many times we are led to believe that they do and that all other forms of treatment are quackery. You are right, there are many other criticisms that I have also heard from my colleagues that I chose not to address in this forum. I also share your observation about the lack of medical knowledge that most marketers who sell pills, potions and lotions have. If you will look back on my post again you will see that I clearly agree that MLM fraud exists with regard to the health industry. I just happen to think that there are two extremes here and that logical answers can be found in the middle. As I said earlier, on one hand you have the medical elitists who would like nothing better than to monopolize the industry and keep the pharmaceutical machine running in high gear and on the other side you have the medical quacks(including those that distribute products through MLM or other sources) who don't give a rat's back side who they hurt as long as they make a buck. I happen to think that there is manipulation on both sides here. You will also recall that I stated that one DOES need to diligently research each company, their product or services, and any medical claims that they make. I happen to think that it is wise to look at a variety of sources when making a decision of this sort. Unfortunately, it seems easier for many folks to immediately believe one side or the other without researching all the facts first.

> And as for the misdiagnosis... you should see how bad the record is for
> the folks who didn't ever bother to go through eight years of medical
> school.