Diet and natural remedies

Hello Natalie,

I might be wrong, but I think that Red Dragon, newly diagnosed, is still struggling to come to terms with the new reality and is still thinking "but, but...". Or maybe he is the type of person who naturally questions facts that are presented as the only possibility. I am an analytical sort of person. I am a "but" sort of person. I can understand the need to question things and come to ones own conclusions. 

Of course, I could be totally wrong. I could be talking tripe. I often do talk tripe.

I think you under-estimate the quality and training of western doctors and medicine.  Most research is carried out in the western countries and brilliant advances have come about.  We here do not rely on elephant tusks and rhino horns etc. and complementary medicines as treatments.  These have been well examined in the west and found wanting.  I and many others are extremely grateful to the medical services here for the expertise and skill of medical staff and practitioners.  Isn't it a fact that many students from the east come to the west to gain skills in all aspects of study and training.  If you feel so strongly about western medicine why did you not seek your treatment with the eastern medical services?

Hello again Red Dragon, 

Firstly, this website was created by doctors who were working in general practice and that fact,  combined with the fact that most people attend a regular GP's surgery offering standard medical answers, is going to make the bias of most people here in favour of traditional western medicine.

Seondly, if you go to the home page on this website you will find an opportunity to look at a forum devoted to Alternative medicine. You may find that there are like-minded souls on that forum although the chances of any of them having polycythaemia are likely to be vanishingly small.

I have no fixed views on either system. We all just try to find solutions and answers in whatever way we can.

Not sure how this discussion came about, I have no grudge against western medicine. My focus lies on optimizing my health, specifically regarding Polycythemia Vera. If traditional medicin can help me; wonderful! If holistic medicin comes to the aid; amazing! Eastern medical services literally saved my life in the 90's. Tomorrow, my Haematologist team might equally improve my life quality. A forum like this should have an unprejudiced approach and I have no reason to believe it doesn't.

Alternative medicine and treatments have never to my knowledge, been advanced as any cure for PV and it is well documented that so far, this does not exist.  If a cure existed anywhere then we would all learn of it. The defective gene causing the difficulties was first identified only ten years ago and since then some excellent treatments have been discovered and information distributed, but not an effective cure.  I am sure your haematologist will be aware of all the facts and offer the best treatment available.

This will only be recommended following certain tests you will be required to undertake, and the treatment offered will be for you only .  PV is a progressive illness and you will need to understand and relate to your specialist in the future.  I quite accept that citizens in eastern countries adopt different practices to those in the west but many of these do not find acceptance here generally.  They have obviously served you well in the past.  I wish you well with your meeting tomorrow and that the outcome will prove satiisfactory.   There is much help and advice to be found on this forum if needed.

With "tomorrow" I meant in the future to come. Yes, my "haematologist will be aware of all the facts and offer the best treatment available". But this forum is not that place, so when I am here, I will seek other peoples opinions and investigate possible alternative ways of recovery. I titled this thread "Diet and natural remedies", so that is what I will keep talking about.