It's good for you....or is it?

Acrylic-bob · 06-06-2005, 05:59

Have you ever stopped to think about the ludicrous claims made by Cosmetic Companies for their products? Vitamins in shampoo for instance, what is the point of that if you are going to wash it off after two minutes? It makes your hair feel silky because of the silicon in it and for no other reason. And now we learn that excessive use of hair colourants can contribute to to the incidence of urinary cancers. On Saturday I was in Boots the Chemists and stood behind a young girl, of no more than eight or nine years of age, at the checkout and watched as she handed over ten pounds for a couple of very small bottles of scented detergent to wash her hair in. And I wondered why?

But it is not just the cosmetic companies who try to bamboozle us out of our hard earned cash, everyone it seems is at it. Not so long ago the soft drinks company who manufacture Lucozade launched a new product which claimed to be "more hydrating than water".

Snake Oil or Universal Panacea?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...642336,00.html

What do we think?

lettie · 06-06-2005, 07:08

Being trained to use conventional medicines, I am always a little skeptical about alternative therapies. I have had a free session of Reiki just to try it out. I have also had a free session of Reflexology. When you are openly cynical and work in health, people tend to offer you these things for nowt.

Apart from being relaxing these therapies did nothing for me.

I do think that there is a psychological aspect to treating illnesses. If someone believes that these therpies help them, then it gives them a sense of wellbeing, but doesn't necessarily cure their illness. Relaxing alternative therapies may also help a person to sleep. Sleep is the state where the body's systems refresh and mend themselves.

The beauty industry is a massive multi-billion pound rip off. Every face cream on the market claims to contain some scientific sounding agent which will get rid of your wrinkles, pump up your skin, get rid of spots, make you look younger etc. hair products are exactly the same. Often endorsed by top supermodels and hollywood actresses on their adverts these companies are worth a fortune.

The baby industry is quickly catching up with the beauty industry. With baby bath products, shampoos, lotions and potions, new mothers are made to feel bad when they don't have them. All a baby needs to clean its skin is good old warm water and nothing else. We have millions of children in this country with mild eczema type conditions. I sincerely believe that it is because of all the crap slapped onto their skin from a very young age.

entwisi · 06-06-2005, 07:12

With a 6 week old baby I can agree that the 'peer pressure' to buy all the top things can be quite overwhelming. The amount of stuff that is pushed on you is untrue. A visit to M/care can be very expensive if you aren't careful.

When we were brought up we didn't need all this fancy stuff. As you say, all you need to wash the little one is warm water. So why all these lotions and potions? because it makes them a fortune.

lettie · 06-06-2005, 07:21

Too true Entwisi. It is merely a money making concern. What bugs me is the company (which shall remain nameless) is claiming that 8 out of 10 midwives recommend their product. This is total bull.... The only reason they have got away with it is because when they surveyed some midwives, the midwives could name their products.

Myself and a couple of colleagues once had to vet a very similar advert for a similar company. When it came to them saying that midwives endorsed it we pulled the plug and said no. The advert was televised without the endorsement bit. Nurses and Midwives are not allowed to endorse any product for profitable gain.

WillowTheWhisp · 06-06-2005, 07:31

I agree with you to a point but I also know that if I don't put conditioner on my hair after I've washed it then it is almost impossible to brush and breaks very easily, so I always use a conditoner. I use one on my children's hair too because it's the easiest way to comb through and check for unwelcome little visitors which unfortunately seem to do th rounds of the schools in Hyndburn with alarming regularity.

I do think a lot of the overpriced cosmetics with "new improved" this that and the other are a big con but also a lot of the cheaper ranges are very unpleasant and greasy. It's probably a case of the Emperor's New Clothes with some of the claims. I'm not a great user of make-up though.

As for reflexology. I had a treat while in Tunisia and absolutely loved it. Maybe it was only a case of relaxing and soothing achy feet which had walked a lot but I do know it made me feels tons better afterwards.

Aren't theresupposed to be regulations to stop false claims? That's why we can't have ads like "Guinness is good for you" any more.

Acrylic-bob · 06-06-2005, 07:51

I had to laugh at the ad-service that Roy has added to the boards....

"Re: It's good for you....or is it? - Sponsored By:" Oh the irony!

WillowTheWhisp · 06-06-2005, 07:53

I think they just automatically home in on key words in the posts.

lazeeboy · 06-06-2005, 08:12

I read Lettie's comments with interest.
First I would like to say my wife is also a trained professional of 40 years. She did her basic training at Acc Vic. 1960's she qualified as a SRN. then, did Orthopaedics, Geriatrics, she taught, in the school of nursing in Worcester, she was still studying herself then over the years gained more qualifications taught nursing at UCE in Birmingham. She took an interest in Aromatherapy, and qualified as such, she later studied Indian Head Massage,
Reflexology, Crystal Healing, then Reiki, Later studying Sports injury massage.
I myself do Crystal Healing, Sports Injury Massage, and am also a Reiki Master.
The subjects my wife learnt she also Teaches. Her last qualifications were. Bsc., Msc. (nursing)

PLEASE DO NOT SAY THESE ARE ALTERNATIVE HERAPIES.

THEY ARE COMPLIMENTARY THERAPIES.

We do not ask you to refuse to take the treatment from your docor or health care person.!!!!

Please don't dismiss these therapies, they have been around longer than so called conventional medicine.

Surely if you go to the doctor with a bad back how often does he examine the area usually just take these pain killers and rest.

When you treat a person with any of the COMPLIMENTARY THERAPIES, First of all the client is relaxing, they know that someone has listened to you; the bodies endorphines are released, and improvements do happen.

It is not always about CURING some one, rather than making what is wrong, understandable/bearable, or just some respite for relief.

If anyone would like further information on any of these things, I would be happy to try to do so.

SORRY IF I'VE GONE ON A BIT, BUT I DO CARE.

WillowTheWhisp · 06-06-2005, 08:22

Some years ago I suffered an agonising pain in my hip and leg following excercise. My doctor prescribed pain killers which dulled the pain until they wore off and then it was as bad as ever. In fact it gradually got worse until I was finding it almost impossible to get on and off a bus. Then someone suggested I visit a chiropractor which I did. I don't know if that would be classed as alternative or complimentary therapy but I do know he solved the problem and got me back to normal again.

I'm also a great believer in old herbal remedies which my granny used and which I know have worked for generations. I'm just very sceptical about the scientific mumbo-jumbo of all the new improved facial products etc with "hypo this" and "cosmo that" included.

Does your wife practice Indian head Massage and Reflexology locally?

Debbie J · 06-06-2005, 09:07

[QUOTE=lettie]
I do think that there is a psychological aspect to treating illnesses. If someone believes that these therpies help them, then it gives them a sense of wellbeing, but doesn't necessarily cure their illness. Relaxing alternative therapies may also help a person to sleep. Sleep is the state where the body's systems refresh and mend themselves.

My 7 year old is an example of this. He has a short attention span & short term memory problems which makes school difficult, (though he is not disruptive). After hearing lots of good reports about omega 3 I thought I'd give it a try, so I gave it to him & told him what it was for. Two weeks into taking it his teacher told me he was much better for taking it. 5 weeks after she asked if I had stopped giving it to him when I replied no she said oh well its not working now! My point is that while it was new to him he made extra effort but once the novelty had worn off he went back to 'normal'. It may well work for others just not for him.

vorlon24 · 06-06-2005, 09:20

There is a lot to be said for 'complementary therapies', even if it is just the psychological effects.

I would rather try something like this first as an alternative to filling my body with chemicals, however extensively tested

Besides, if you want to find out what too many chemicals do to you, just check out my avatar...!

lettie · 06-06-2005, 09:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazeeboy

IPlease don't dismiss these therapies, they have been around longer than so called conventional medicine.

Firstly, I did not dismiss these therapies. I merely stated that I found that they did nothing for me except to relax. I also said that some people find them helpful, from a personal point of view I was not helped. Of all complimentary therapies that I would be likely to try, I think acupuncture would be the one. I have seen this used with great effect, but I don't think these therapies are suitable for all.

As an example,I have also seen someone in labour who brought a Reiki master with her. It did not work, did not relax her, cost her a few bob and she still demanded an epidural in very early labour.

You cannot deny the psychological aspects of health. If someone believes that they are contributing to their own wellbeing, in whichever way they choose to do it, then their feeling of wellbeing will be increased. If they don't truly believe that they are helping themselves, then they will continue to feel unwell, but I'm sure that you and your wife already know this.

vorlon24 · 06-06-2005, 09:52

My wife didn't have an epidural on either occasion, but then she bypassed the first phase of labour both times.

She was in labour for about 5 hours each time

pendy · 06-06-2005, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by vorlon24

My wife didn't have an epidural on either occasion, but then she bypassed the first phase of labour both times.

She was in labour for about 5 hours each time

Slight wander here, but how do you bypass the first stage of labour?

I found that my breathing exercises were enough to get me through without any pain relief - by the time it gets rough, it's nearly over anyway.

Billcat · 06-06-2005, 19:32

As far as the "more hydrating than water" claims are concerned, there certainly are certain things you can add to water to help the body to rehydrate more quickly and use the water in the beverage more effectively. Before I go any further, I would like to say that for most of use, water will do the job just fine and at far lower cost (and without the artificial flavors and colors made with god-only-knows-what chemicals).

BUT - there are certain cases where these "sports beverages" (as they are called here in the US) are appropriately used. Anyone involved in sporting activities like football (US or UK), long-distance running or cycling will probably benefit. Last year, during the Tour de France, I heard a sports medecine specialist and personal trainer discussing the use of these beverages. In those cases, more than just plain water is needed in order to maintain performance at a competitive level.

Like I said, most of us don't need them. But the companies that manufacture them know an opportunity to make big bucks when they see one, and they know very well that the combination of 1) a sickly sweet, biliously greed container of Gatorade and 2) endorsement by top atheletes is likely to provide some very sweet returns.

Just as an FYI, when they rehydrate by mouth infants who are dehydrated, plain water is rarely if ever the beverage of choice. They too, need some of those additives.

Let's see. Take some good water, add malt extract, hops and yeast, allow it to work and you might come up with a beverage worth drinking. Like I said, most of us don't need it, but......