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Health and Health reform
Sep. 15th, 2009 08:46 pmI don't really have anything personal to say. I've been fighting a tiny (itsy-bitsy) flare for the past week (including small fever which Babe actually diagnosed: "Your forehead is warm, Momma!" 'Oh, duh,' thinks I, realizing that's why my joints were hurting), but resting and avoiding gluten and refined sugar has been helping tremendously. Well, that and the probiotics, milk thistle and distilled water. Still not home free, but better.
Speaking of flares, however, this article in the Huffington Post was good. It's all about the need to get rid of the heavy metals in the body to help cure autoimmune diseases. One of the commenters says it's hogwash, but if you look at the link he's posted, it assumes that mercury fillings are to blame, which is not the usual way that most people become contaminated with heavy metals in reality. I'm pretty sure that my so called painting career is to blame for a good deal of the heavy metals in me. That and CT scans (gotta love radium!).
Another commenter had a good link giving ten ways to detox the metals. The thing that makes me not want to repeat the link, however, is that all of the ways listed require ingesting stuff, and anything powerful enough to detox heavy metals is a powerful drug, and drugs really do have to be used cautiously. I'm pretty sure that my naturopath has not put me on any of the heavy-duty detoxers yet because my body isn't strong enough for them. Detoxing is stressful, and stress is a killer. Literally. But here's the link, anyway, for informational purposes, only, of course. Besides, I found it very interesting that cilantro (coriander) is listed. Perhaps that's why I love the stuff so much. (Onions and garlic are also both listed, but everyone knows that they're good for you!)
Yet another commenter, the first one I read, pointed out that the methods that Dr. Hyman presents as helpful are not exactly cheap, especially for the un(der)insured.
Which brings me to my usual soap-box. However, this time it's to present a "fair and balanced" view of what all of the proposed plans so far have NOT been: socialized medicine.
Believe it or not, I'm not really in favor of socialized medicine. I AM completely in favor of socialized insurance (Medicare for all, dammit!), but that is very, very different from socialized medicine.
However, I have more or less given up on this government making any changes that are actually going to be useful. Mandating that everyone except the very poorest get insurance is a stupid, stupid idea that, while I understand where they're coming from (providing insurers a sop while forcing people to be fiscally responsible), is something this country will not accept. Nor should it. Providing people with affordable options and then leaving the choice to them, saying, "Hey, if you choose not to buy into this because you think you're invulnerable/immortal or you need that new wardrobe/car/boob job and then you get into an accident, it is your own damn fault and don't expect us to bail your stupid ass out."
Granted, that is the current system, all except the affordable bit. No current option is actually affordable, except maybe medicaid/medicare, which is *gasp* socialized insurance.
But really, it's all about priorities. Do we give the DOD billions upon billions of dollars to make better weapons (which, granted, does employ a good chunk of the American population with very well-paying jobs), or do we help all the other citizens, including the soldiers? Do we cater to Wall Street, or help out Main Street?
The GOP's agenda has been pretty clear for a good long while, but the Dems aren't exactly rocking the boat, despite all the names the GOP has been throwing at them.
I'm tired of it, though. I give up. It's a barbaric country run by bankers and drug dealers, and I don't see it changing anytime soon. Obama has already proven he's a liberal moderate at best, meaning that the scale of power in this country runs from Conservative to Scary-Ass-Neo-Cons. On a global scale, that is. Because, really, most civilized countries do consider the Democrats pretty damn conservative. And rightly so.
Speaking of flares, however, this article in the Huffington Post was good. It's all about the need to get rid of the heavy metals in the body to help cure autoimmune diseases. One of the commenters says it's hogwash, but if you look at the link he's posted, it assumes that mercury fillings are to blame, which is not the usual way that most people become contaminated with heavy metals in reality. I'm pretty sure that my so called painting career is to blame for a good deal of the heavy metals in me. That and CT scans (gotta love radium!).
Another commenter had a good link giving ten ways to detox the metals. The thing that makes me not want to repeat the link, however, is that all of the ways listed require ingesting stuff, and anything powerful enough to detox heavy metals is a powerful drug, and drugs really do have to be used cautiously. I'm pretty sure that my naturopath has not put me on any of the heavy-duty detoxers yet because my body isn't strong enough for them. Detoxing is stressful, and stress is a killer. Literally. But here's the link, anyway, for informational purposes, only, of course. Besides, I found it very interesting that cilantro (coriander) is listed. Perhaps that's why I love the stuff so much. (Onions and garlic are also both listed, but everyone knows that they're good for you!)
Yet another commenter, the first one I read, pointed out that the methods that Dr. Hyman presents as helpful are not exactly cheap, especially for the un(der)insured.
Which brings me to my usual soap-box. However, this time it's to present a "fair and balanced" view of what all of the proposed plans so far have NOT been: socialized medicine.
Believe it or not, I'm not really in favor of socialized medicine. I AM completely in favor of socialized insurance (Medicare for all, dammit!), but that is very, very different from socialized medicine.
However, I have more or less given up on this government making any changes that are actually going to be useful. Mandating that everyone except the very poorest get insurance is a stupid, stupid idea that, while I understand where they're coming from (providing insurers a sop while forcing people to be fiscally responsible), is something this country will not accept. Nor should it. Providing people with affordable options and then leaving the choice to them, saying, "Hey, if you choose not to buy into this because you think you're invulnerable/immortal or you need that new wardrobe/car/boob job and then you get into an accident, it is your own damn fault and don't expect us to bail your stupid ass out."
Granted, that is the current system, all except the affordable bit. No current option is actually affordable, except maybe medicaid/medicare, which is *gasp* socialized insurance.
But really, it's all about priorities. Do we give the DOD billions upon billions of dollars to make better weapons (which, granted, does employ a good chunk of the American population with very well-paying jobs), or do we help all the other citizens, including the soldiers? Do we cater to Wall Street, or help out Main Street?
The GOP's agenda has been pretty clear for a good long while, but the Dems aren't exactly rocking the boat, despite all the names the GOP has been throwing at them.
I'm tired of it, though. I give up. It's a barbaric country run by bankers and drug dealers, and I don't see it changing anytime soon. Obama has already proven he's a liberal moderate at best, meaning that the scale of power in this country runs from Conservative to Scary-Ass-Neo-Cons. On a global scale, that is. Because, really, most civilized countries do consider the Democrats pretty damn conservative. And rightly so.
