The Homeopathic Treatment Of Bipolar Disorder Is Unethical And Dangerous

[HuckleB]

http://www.naturopathicdiaries.com/homeopathic-treatment-of-bipolar-is-unethical-and-dangerous/

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I am not arguing that the current evidence-based treatment protocols for managing bipolar disorder are perfect. They are not. This is precisely why there is a market for alternative bipolar therapies. But the shortcomings of pharmacology does not mean we should allow outright unethical practices, like using homeopathy to “cure” bipolar, to persist. Patients’ lives are literally at risk.

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I am expecting to get slammed for this article. I am going to hear critiques about psychiatry, in general. Many readers have written to me stating they believe that the fields of psychology and psychiatry are quackery, and will I write about these fields, too? (No, I won’t.) I have also heard many arguments that psychiatric intervention involves the swapping of drug side effects for mental illness symptoms. These folks argue that simply “medicating away” mental symptoms is not real treatment.

Fine. But here is the key difference for me, distilled down perfectly by Jane. One group of symptoms, specifically the drug side effects, are annoying and bothersome, but tolerable given the tremendous benefit. The other group of symptoms, which include delusions, dangerous behaviors, suicidal thoughts, and depression, are not. She’d rather risk kidney failure due to lithium, than risk her life due to bipolar disorder.

I’m with Jane. The risks associated with bipolar are too great to not demand anything but the safest, most effective medical care. In the interest of doing no harm above all else, naturopaths should be prohibited from treating bipolar disorder.

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The article begins with an anecdote about a Naturopath who claims to be able to treat bipolar disorder, seizures, rheumatoid arthritis, and other things with homeopathy.

This is just so bloody sad.