If so, which ones, and what do they do? If not, do you have an opinion on them or are you indifferent to them?

I'll go ahead and put a disclaimer on this topic: DO NOT USE ANY ANSWERS IN THIS TOPIC AS MEDICAL ADVICE. Or if you decide to, don't blame me if something bad happens. That is all.

-- ann monroe (monroe@chorus.net), June 18, 2000

Answers

Echinacea works wonders. I spent many years without insurance, and echinacea was a lifesaver. It cured a swollen gland in my throat and a ear infection. I use St. John's Wort for my clinical depression and it works just as well as the perscription stuff ever did-only without so many side effects. One of the parents at my preschool gave her grandson china gold to cure a cough. However-I heard on NPR that giving herbs to kids in dangerous because of all the childhood allergies that you could not know they have. I never had any problem with them, so I'd recommend them for adults.

-- AJ (joijoijoi@hotmail.com), June 18, 2000.

Historically, haven't pay much attention to herbal remedies and other "alternative" health care treatments. Being an "open-minded skeptic," I am not easily persuaded by any treatment that's clouded by a heavy "New Age" woo-woo factor or that seems to be about as clinically valid as astrology or entrail readings.

However, I'm the Senior Writer at a prominent health care dotcom, and much of my writing for the public involves info from one of our staff physicians -- a terrific fellow who is a great promoter of herbal remedies and other alternative treatments. So as my education in the subject has increased, so has my willingness to pay attention to genuinely sound info regarding the benefits of herbal remedies and other non-traditional forms of self-care (though my jury is still deliberating "energy work" and similar so-called treatments). Of the herbal remedies that I've tried (ginseng, St. Johns Wort, and assorted other easy-to-find items), they seem to have done their jobs reasonably well -- certainly they've done me no harm.

If I desire to explore alternative treatments further, I'm in a good place for it. Portland (Ore.) is a very open environment for non- traditional health care (not to mentiona non-traditional relationships, reading material and footwear). A "college of Eastern medicine" is not far from my house. I can, if I so choose, fill my exotic herbs pantry, have an acupuncture session, join a meditation group, and have my chakras aligned all in one afternoon and still have time to catch an indie flick while clutching a cup of wheatgrass tea.

-- Mark (mbourne@sff.net), June 24, 2000.