Thank you, Michael J. Fox

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=n7RaRPQ5WU8

And from that place and at this time and mutually energized by those people, there also came The Mysterious Anuket, who will re-formulate various national health policies in new directions in the decades to come. The White House is not yet aware of that, but she is on her way.

There is a petition going around to enable naturopaths to be considered primary care providers in obamacare land. this would open so many doors making the health care system not only cheaper but BETTER

Health care for many illnesses doesn't have to be so complicated and expensive unless one takes too many drugs too soon too fast. I would guess there are a lot of pwpers (unmedicated) who can be helped with many noninvasive techniques - first do no harm.

Sure would like to see the MJFF include more of the integrative and complimentary medicine approaches - we are spiritual beings in human clothing . New paradigms in the science community such as epigenetics embraces the role our consciousness plays in our health. I take some comfort in thinking that my chance to evolve out of this condition is through love.

md

But naturopaths are good at stimulating a mostly placebo effect, which may be accompanied by immune system positive responses in SOME people, but for the most part, they dont have a scientific leg to stand on. So they should be careful in who they accept as the true keeper of the keys, in any expensive medical reform. However, I haven't seen the medical community come up with nothing more than invasive, toxic, marginally advanced therapies for PD in over five decades, so I think that I'd rather go to an "alternative care" healer, who may just convince me that I can have a positive effect on PD symptoms, by rallying my physical condition, on my own. Not science, but if science can't help me, I'll at least give diet,supplements and hypothetical advice gained through serendipity over time, at least a consideration.

The "scientific leg" wholistic care stands on is that of quantum mechanics unlike the Newtonian model which reduces everything to particles without regard to the field which organizes them.

If you like "evidence" (perhaps "outcome" would be the term you would accept because these texts are based on observations using scientific methodology...) based medicine check out the extensive and exhaustive homeopathic materia medicas listiing drug effects or the stem cell work done by Dr. Bruce Lipton.

Having said that, I would suggest you already benefit from placebo as we all benefit from pursuing that which our subconscious dictates. Nocebo is the negative belief and works just as well as placebo so in the end we all do what is within us .
I don't think it has to be either or thus I used the terms complimentary and integrative.
Cheers!!
md

moondaughter,
everyone is entitled to their opinion. i don't know what the mjff budgets for alternative research but with limited funds, i would prefer if they devoted all their money towards disease modifying and disease preventing research which will have the greatest good. i sincerely believe that there are things we can do that can improve the quality of our lives that don't involve medications, or use those medications more wisely that most md's/neuros don't feel is their job to recommend, but the funds that could be freed up for society as a whole that are being spent on caring for pd patients if current pd'ers could be "cured" and/or the disease be prevented far outweigh any benefit from what naturpaths could provide. so with limited funds, my vote would be go for the homerun. i hate to say it but i doubt donors want their money used for small steps.

...reality exists but just where we focus!

It is a tough time to be a Newtonian. All these Cheshire cats grinning at you.

So, when it comes down to it, your belief influences and perhaps even determines your Universe (not the same as my Universe). Positive thinking? What a bunch of Rubes! Until we found that pesky epigenetic response to belief. Little genes snapping on and off like a roller coaster full of Parkies.

Placebo is big juju! Don't believe it? You just confirmed it as your disbelief influenced your reality.

My gawd - I'm channeling Bob.

Merry Xmas all!

Y'all be the finest collection of dudes and dudetts to ever share an incurable disease. I am lucky that for once I got on the bus instead of getting run over by it.

so glad you invited Anuket to the party Bob

prevention, modify, cure......well starting with cure (the homerun) i would ask the question of whether we can truly achieve a "cure" without including the spiritual evolution of our brains? no matter the drug the gene what would "cure" be devoid of the element of grace? All our struggle for what purpose? prevention and modification are already realized with venues such as massage diet and exercise -vital elements for maintaining health.

there already exists some very good research archived at the NIH such as the work of Dr. Sandyk which a fraction of the funds needed for drug development could do a LOT of good towards....prevention and modification.