Jonathan Alter writes about cancer and politics

A good article. (See: http://www.newsweek.com/id/138510 ). Since my dearly loved sister died of the same kind of cancer Ted Kennedy is now battling (in exactly the same place in the brain), and many other members of my family have died of cancer, I am most interested in which senators and representatives care enough to fund studies in the fight against this disease. I myself believe alternative types of treatment, along with positive thinking and good humor (of the type espoused by Norman Cousins), are likely to bring a cure sooner than the development of more harsh drugs.

I would truly like to see homeopathy taken more seriously in our culture. The AMA and Big Pharma took over the U. S. health market in the mid-1800s, shoving homeopathy out the door (too much work for the doctors to learn it -- and not enough compensation, since homeopathic remedies are readily available at very reasonable cost). Thank god we do have some dedicated doctors who, in seeing the almost miraculous recoveries of patients with homeopathic remedies, decided they would study it and bring it back in this country. (It is still used on a large scale in Europe.) It's been a long, hard struggle on their part, as they are facing the stronghold the AMA and drug companies have--and want to keep--on the American public.

A great introductory book on homeopathy and how it works has been written by Dr. Timothy Dooley, a family physician in San Diego. Entitled Homeopathy--Beyond Flat Earth Medicine: An Introduction for Students and Patients, it is available on amazon.com for those who are interested. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone who is curious and interested in treating the whole person, rather than just the disease--with non-toxic remedies that work. This book is short, readable, and to the point. In my opinion, it should be read by everyone, just to learn that other options are available and can be considered in health treatment. Homeopathic remedies are safe for children, too, and work almost miraculous cures on them for many illnesses, so it is worth a look at for parents who don't want their children on a steady diet of antibiotics, Ritalin, and other drugs now being prescribed all too readily by allopathic physicians. There is a place in our society for both allopathic and homeopathic medicine, which can complement each other. Hopefully, more doctors will become interested in holistic ways of treating illness as we head into the 21st century.