RE: RE: Re: Chiropractors

["Kathy Mayeda" <kathy_mayeda@atce.com>]

Yes and no.  I think this article was just a defensive posture by
the vets.  Since more of their client base is regularly
using alternative medicine (and not talking to their regular vets
about it), and most vets really don't know squat about alternative
medicines, this is a retroactive approach to "catch up" to their
clientele so that they can maintain a little more control.  I don't
think this is a bad thing at all.  Then they could advise their
clientele if the alternative treatment is beneficial, contraindicated,
or just phooey witch doctor stuff.

I hauled my horse to the vet clinic for some blood work, and he just
happened to have a fox tail in his eye.  I was rummaging around my
tack compartment looking to see if I had any opthalmic ointment.
I had some moxa (a Traditional Chinese Medicine herb used at accupuncture
points) fall out of the box.  The vet, who was completely new to me,
smiled and said "oh, you have some moxa!"  So there is starting to
be some acceptance of alternative treatment in the vet population anyway.
Some even like alternative medicines!  Incidently, she is just out
of vet school.   I like young farriers and vets.  They are eager for
knowledge and change; not quite as set in their views as the old fogies.

Incidently, my human chiro always says if I have an injury that requires
treatment to see the medical doctor first.  The equine massage
school I went made it very clear that if their was any injury
or disease in the horse, that the veterinarian needs to okay
the use of massage.  I don't view alternative treatments as a conflict
with regular veterinary medicine at all.  If I need a vaccine or blood work,
I go to the vet, I don't feed herbs.  (I don't feed herbs anyway!!!)

The "lameness expert" vet gave me a diagnosis for the upward fixation
of the patella.  But he never addressed the structural assymmetry in
my horse that may be a contributing factor in his muscle/ligament
disfunctions.  I needed to go to the equine chiropractor for that.
Incidently,
Dr. Nancy Elliott used to work in his practice before she became a
back care specialist.  And this vet is very open to having Nancy
work on my horse, in fact he says he does refer clients to her.
So there is no conflict here that I see.

I think that the conflict is in your mind, and maybe you just don't
understand how alternative medicines can work IN CONJUNCTION
with regular medical care.

Kathy










-----Original Message-----
From: Duncan Fletcher [mailto:dfletche@gte.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 8:19 PM
To: Kathy Mayeda; CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com; Tivers@aol.com;
kadence@ix.netcom.com
Cc: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: Re: RE: Re: Chiropractors


And implicit in that article are some of the problems with alternative
medicine. Vet says use a conventional drug, the herbalist says no, use this
drug (he claims it isn't a drug but an herb), and the chiro says no drugs.
There are some inherent conflicts in the underlying theory of various
alternatives. So the poor horse gets a little bit of everything.

Duncan Fletcher
dfletche@gte.net


----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Mayeda"
>
> http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/sep00/s091500b.asp
>
>
> I think this article from the Veterinary Journal will
> cause the werewolf in Tom Ivers to come out!!!!
>
> Kathy
>