Natural Health Forum?

[MrPlum]

There is a large and growing community of people in the Industrialized nations who are seeking non-toxic, non-invasive and cheaper ways to improve or maintain their health. Understandably they are going to discuss and explore natural or complementary therapies.

As someone who takes a keen interest in such approaches it gets rather tedious having to defend every submission I make against those who feel somehow threatened by it. This is not just common to HHAD but to every Health Forum I've ever come across. I wonder whether it would suit all members to have a separate forum where natural remedies can be discussed without upsetting others?

If the moderators are open to the idea, I have made this a Poll question and invite comments. Please resist the urge to carry over disagreements from other threads.

[PeteC]

I agree. I think some of the information is of value.

However, there may be legalities concerning liability if someone heeds advice and becomes ill. Admin needs to comment on that. Not all readers would investigate further, but take things at face value which could be dangerous.

You Mr. P would need to back up some of the dialogue with links and reference.

The key to all of this, whether a sub-forum is created or not, is for readers to understand it is interesting alternative suggestion, not a prescription for what ails them.

If they want to try it and report results, great. It's up to them though, no one else. Pete

[lindosfan1]

prcscct
You are right in what you say. I would add that anybody giving advise should be qualified. Also qualified practictioners carry insurance.
We have a couple of people on here giving advise if it goes wrong do they carry insurance and if like most people you carry private medical insurance would it be invalidated by using unqualified people could be a minefield.
A forum run by qualified people excwllent idea.

[redzonerocker]

well i voted yes & to be honest i'm a bit disappointed/surprised to see 3 no's so far

i really can't see how any legal issues are involved.
if somebody suggests a certain remedy for whatever ailment or illness, it's down to the person if they take the advice & choose to try a natural remedy.

if it is sanctioned, it will be a matter of choice for individuals to visit the thread/forum & another option to try any of the natural remedies & potions that are suggested.

i'm all for learning about simple, natural alternatives to conventional medicine, not that i take any on a regular basis.

[Big Boy]

I voted No. However, the forum is a lot larger than just me.

I am happy with my current medics/medication - if it ain't broken, don't fix it.

Regarding the legal implications, surely if it's true for herbal medicine it must be equally as true for property advice, visa runs etc. If somebody gives gives some duff visa run advice, and somebody else gets locked out of Thailand as a result, nobody expects HHAD to be sued ............ do they?

If there are enough people out there wanting the forum, then IMHO they shouldn't be denied.

[caller]

I'm not gonna vote as I have no real interest, but surely those that have an interest will already be clued up about the appropriate websites that already deal in such matters, including Mr.P, as he alludes to. By his own admission, the arguments, with presumably more clued up folk, rage on?

So what are we seeking here? An arena where only those that have bought into the whole alternative medicine scene will just chat amongst themselves? It has some merit if it takes away the challenges that such threads can be subject to, if that is perceived as a good thing (1066 and all that will never be extinguished from my memory) and others can then ignore such posts and just get on with what they are interested in, but maybe it would just be easier (and better?) to redirect like minded folk to such websites in the first place?

[margaretcarnes]

You've got a point there Caller, but there are sub forums on Entertainment, Digital Realm and other specialist stuff. At least with a specific one for Natural Health, only those interested in a positive way would be likely to use it?
I CAN understand the fear of litigation these days, because it's something I have to be aware of in my work. The way advice is worded is very important - for example saying 'you should' rather than 'you will' or 'you can'.
But are forums in general exempt from these kinds of litigation risks I wonder? Surely it's only when someone is working in a formal advisory capacity that problems could arise?

[PeteC]

But are forums in general exempt from these kinds of litigation risks I wonder? Surely it's only when someone is working in a formal advisory capacity that problems could arise?

It's being tested as we speak Margaret. Someone is suing Google in the USA because of information he felt personally derogatory that was returned during searches. Usually not a big deal as a fist full of laws there to protect people like Google against things like this. However, it seems some loopholes have been found and the suit may perhaps proceed. Forums are not mentioned specifically, and of course this is Thailand. No idea what a court here would accept and how arbitrary their thinking. Pete

[margaretcarnes]

That's certainly one worth keeping an eye on Pete. Probably a 'test case' scenario which was bound to happen at some point, and if it helps to establish some principals all well and good.
People often assume that only specialist advice which is payed for carries legal protection against error, but in the UK this is not the case. Any organisation offering professional advice has a legal obligation to provide accurate and appropriate advice, even if the advice is free.

[ozuncle]

I voted yes.
It would be a section to ask questions and to provide information on a subject which is very popular.
I can't understand why people have voted no. Surely if it does not interest you, you don't have to read it.

[hhfarang]

I don't think the legal issue would be a problem as long as the proper disclaimer is put at the beginning.

I voted yes as I believe there can be a balance between traditional and natural medicine and feel that there are "remedies" in both that can be helpful (or harmful if used improperly or for some people).

Most medicine, after all, is experimentation and trial and error as I have found with my own health issues. It took two very well trained and respected physicians ten years of experimentation to come up with a blood pressure medicine that worked for me without (noticeable) side effects.

Everyone needs to educate themselves more on their ailments, and so called cures and maybe run short personal trials to see what works without doing harm.

I trust that MrPlum probably knows more about natural medicine than anyone I've ever known before, so I appreciate his willingness to share his knowledge with those of us who are interested. If not interested, one could just ignore that particular forum.

Almost every exercise program, natural or herbal medicine sold in the U.S. comes with a small print warning to check with your doctor before doing or using it. Part of that is for liability, and part is because your doctor may know a reason for you personally not to do something because of another condition or medication you are taking.

As my favorite U.S. President said... "Trust but verify."

I would hope the discussion forum proposed would not turn into a rant or argument against either traditional or herbal medicine, but rather an informational forum about what natural remedies may help with health issues being experienced by interested readers. Also, I would like it to contain follow up information, both good and bad, about the results of anything anyone tried for a particular malady (while also bearing in mind that the same thing may not work the same way for everyone).

[STEVE G]

If we have a natural health section, will I be allowed to post Issan cures like rubbing a dog’s paw on your throat if you get a fish bone stuck in it and touching your ear-lobe when you burn your finger?
Obviously such cures would require substantial warnings for legal purposes in case people who try them survive long enough to find a lawyer.

[hhfarang]

See, I could have used that "dogs paw" thing as I almost choked on a fish bone when I first came here.

[STEVE G]

This never occurred to me before, but I wonder if you can rub a fish on your throat if you get a dog's bone stuck in it; I’ll ask when I call later.

[lindosfan1]

I was not thinking about isurance for the forum although this is an interesting point, I was thinking more about people giving advise, I have seen on this forum smeone offering to make a tincture but they eould have to be weaned off of the medicine by a doctor, if this has an adverse effect what insurance cover has the person giving the advise got. All doctors have to carry medical insurance, therefore surely this should apply to all people who give medical advise, also qualifications should be declared.
If you had a ferrari would you take it to an unqualified back street mechanic in hua hin. QED