to be outraged by "intuitive healer" who has advised Mum to increase her salt intake?

[Piglett]

Long story that needs abridging but my mother has MND which she refuses to accept. She now consults an intuitive healer who she whole heartedly believes in and shuns all conventional medicine. The latest gem offered by this woman is that to kick start her healing process my Mother has to increase her salt - eat lots of salty soups and add lots to her food (wtf?). Mother believes that as the latest carer looking after her for the last three weeks doesn't add salt to her food that she is responsible for the decline.
Pointing out the risks of heart disease in high salt diet has won me no favours with mother but I am so annoyed that anyone would encourage a post menopausal woman to increase her salt intake!!!
That anyone would take the word of someone she hasn't met (all done via e-mail and telephone) over established thought annoys me still. This woman is exploiting the vulnerable and I could gladly swing for her - rant over thankyou

YANBU - this sort of alternative bollocks is just witchcraft. I could rant for Britain on the subject.

The fact that she shuns all conventional medicine would be a big worry to me Piglett.
Most people will work alongside with conventional medicine and make it very clear that it is to compliment not to replace.

I don't know what MND is - for a mo I thought it was Weapon of Mass Destruction but that's dyslexia for you - but can you have a word with your mum's gp?

Intuative healer???WTF?

fucking arse!

Motor neurone disease?

I think the only time people may be advised to increase their salt intake, is if they have very low blood pressure.

But that is for A GP to decide, not an intuitive healer who charges!! There is NO WAY she would know this by email or telephone.

I hope this industry is regulated soon, as it is just selfish people taking advantage of the vulnerable.

can you find out who this woman was?

YANBU. It seems that we can't turn around now without bumping into someone who is going to make you better by giving you herbs, reading your aura, chanting, rearranging your furniture. Leaving out gifts for the bad spirits and even prayer ffs. Healthcare should be left to the professionals.

Ta mb.

Piglett sounds like a word to the intuitive healer's community psychiatric nurse might be a good plan too.

I would also be concerned about why your mum has chosen to shun conventional treatment in favour of some lunatic possibly sponsored by Saxa.

If it is MND, it isn't uncommon to have people want to try 'alternative' therapy, since there is no cure known.

Would it help for your mum to talk to other people with MND, do you think? People who might guide her to less harmful areas of 'alternative' treatments that will at least do her no physical har, and might, like say aromatherapy, help her sense of mental well being?

I agree with MB. Acupuncture might help alleviate some symptoms, for instance.

Wow - never posted an unreasonable before and amazed at the quick response. I knew in my heart that I was not being unreasonable about this but it is nice to have some back up. Also think I should have name changed - ohhps! It is a tragic situation and mother is refusing to see the neurologist or even GP until she gets better (which given the diagnosis is unlikely). The state of denial she is in is really strong and to be honest we have all gone along with it as it is her illness and up to her how she deals with it. She has come increasingly under this woman's spell and gets upset with me when I tell her it I think it is all mumbo jumbo and this exacerbates her feelings that she is struggling alone with no support and motivation. I have sent mother an e-mail telling her that I am worried by this recommendation and that the previous diagnosis that this lady gave (apparently mother has a para-thyroid problem (?)) and the sodium levels could be checked out by simple blood test and if this woman is worth her salt (sorry couldn't resist) she should encourage her diagnosis being checked out and backed up - probably now facing three days cold shoulder but can't let it go!

Unfortunately as we are all pretending we believe she hasn't got MND suggesting she talk to other sufferers would not work. She has accupuncture, massages etc which I completely agree with her having. Anything that will make her feel better I endorse wholeheartedly it is just crackpot and potentially dangerous treatment that I object to.

Could you not email the healer and really let rip, tell them your mother is ill, has mnd and that they are taking advantage of her and if they have ANY further contact, even one more email to say goodbye or anything, or if ANYTHING happens to your mother, you will direct the police to them?

I realise your mother is an adult, but it sounds like she is not thinking rationally and sometimes you have to overrule even an independent adult to act in their best interests when they are not doing so themselves and the consequences of their behaviour is harmful.

Piglett

How long since her diagnosis, and does her GP know that she is this far in denial?

Do you think that she would be prepared to talk to someone other than this woman about her illness....possibly a counsellor?

I'm not sure what you can do but YANBU and I feel for you.

My Mum shuns conventional medicine too and just cannot be persuaded that there is any illness or condition that warrants a trip to the doctors. She flits from one dodgy practitioner to another and worhips the ground they walk on. Fortunately she hasn't had anything seriously wrong yet but I live in dread of something going undiagnosed and/or untreated.

Under the new consumer laws bought out in April. I think you can sue an alternative healer, if they haven't explained that there is no proof to back up what they doetc

I am a Reiki practitioner (similar to spiritual healing / laying on of hands) and this 'intuitive healer' makes me

Does she have shares in Saxo Table Salt?

Complementary practitioners are just that, we are NOT doctors and we CANNOT diagnose. Even if I got a very strong 'intuitive' feeling that someone had this or that condition, I would only recommend that they see their GP for a check up.

Just wanted to stick up for those of us who work in 'non-conventional' medicine, but are not, in actual fact, barking mad.

YANBU. I too get mad when people like this 'healer' exploit vulnerable people like your mum...

Just to put another side though.... Obviously the advise she is giving is potentially harmful. However strong denial like your mum is experiencing is a normal part of the process of coming to terms with a terminal illness. SOme people barely go through it but others like your mum do and actually gain great comfot from their denial. Sooner or later she will come through this phase - if it is sooner rather than later then she will hopefully see for herself that what this healer is parrotting is bollocks? Maybe try and bite your tongue for a couple of weeks and see if she comes around to this herself? Afterall at the moment the healer is causing a massive rift between you and your mum which is far more devastating given the circumstances.

Just a thought.... Certainly don't disagree with anything else said here but another persepctive...