Genuine question for those who follow a religion or school of thought where "conventional" medicine is not used

[BooHooo]

Hope that thread title makes sense. I would like to know how closely people stick to the "no to medical intervention" theory if it's what they believe in. albeit in a religious or parenting choice.

I was discussing ear infections with a good friend of mine. It was awful for DD and she was literally screaming in pain, refusing to be touched, really hight temp etc. I couldn't get the AB quick enough and it was a massive relief within 48 hrs to be so much better.

My friend agreed with how painful it was for her DS, but said she strapped a garlic clove to the back of his ear which she believed burned away the infection. I kept asking her how he was doing and she never responded. When he was well I asked again and again if she used AB but she never replied. I really wonder if she could have sat that through something so distressing just using these natural methods and would love to know if anyone eschews reguar Drs and if it works for them and their child/ren.

I speak as someone who really dislikes the idea of pumping babies full of meds but I feel where there is a nasty infection I have no choice whatsoever. DD is ill all the time and I feel AB sometimes contribute to her getting run down.

wow I thought S schools were a nice idea... I'd never looked into it in great detail, I now think v differently about them...

She is in love with the idea of S, hasn't had any real experience of them. Yes garlic is a wonderful herb and will help with a cold/ flu if you eat it raw but doesn't actually work on serious infections, esp if applied topically.

I never wanted to give DD AB, but she is prone to infections which just don't clear up. A bacterial fever will not go away however long you stick it out, the infection will just progress that is what I have been told.

Hi Boohoo, I hope she quickly realises the idea of S is very different to the reality, it may be useful for her to read this from a former pupil.

I had also fallen very hard for the idea of S, so it may be she won't listen (I wouldn't at the time) I now realise the schools are for the parents not the children, it is a front for a n t h r o p o s o p h y which in my opinion is more a dangerous self-development programme than a school.
(Please excuse the weird spacing, the movement plays the libel card if this gets seen).

my goodness a school of children none of whom are vaccinated, now that is scary!

DD had an ear infection once, and I did use garlic externally (although not a clove strapped behind the ear) and by the morning DD was much better. Never had another one. Have also used homemade calendula ointment on an infected splinter which worked beautifully. However, if i don't have anything suitable available and the kids have something that I don't think will sort itself out with a couple of days cooped up at home, then I have taken them to GP's. I did get a prescription for AB's once for DS who had an ear infection but didn't actually need to use it. The GP had said to use if it didn't seem better in 4 days. If they are in pain, rather than just feeling poorly, then I do offer something paracetomol-based, but DD prefers not to take anything usually as she hates the taste (always has).

I do research in developing countries where people don't have the same access to medicine that we do, and have to rely on traditional remedies. These are places where mothers really want antibiotics and vaccinations for their kids. There are high under five mortality rates, and there are few mothers who don't have at least one child who has died. While I also do research on African traditional medicine, and can see it has its place, the high death rates for kids in some countries where the health care budget is as little as £2 a year per person, rather puts all this debate into perspective for me.