[Turvill (OP)]

Dear Fellow Naked Scientists…


I am a Masters level student studying Health Psychology at the University of Derby and am currently conducting my dissertation research regarding the beliefs and motivations of Complementary and Alternative medicine users. Over the past 30 years the use of complementary medicines has increased exponentially in western populations. As increasing percentages of society make this health selection it becomes increasingly important to understand some of the reasons which drive this choice.

I invite all users of complementary medicine both major and minor to take part in my study. Your participation is entirely voluntary, your responses are totally anonymous and all data is handled in concordance with the data protection act of 1998. Should you participate and later wish to withdraw, details of how this can be done are provided before and after participation, as are contact details for myself and my supervisor should any need arise. This study has been sanctioned by the University of Derby ethics committee and the administrators of this (the naked scientists) website.

Your participation would be very much appreciated, all further details are provided in the brief and consent forms prior to participation, and the questionnaire takes about 15 minutes to complete (but doesn’t need to be finished in one sitting).

If you wish to partake please follow the link below:

Thanks!

newbielink:http://turvill.limequery.com/54179/lang-en [nonactive]


ps, I am very happy to talk to people here about their individual reasons for making this choice should anyone want to start up a potentially interesting discussion....

[Turvill (OP)]

Hi again guys, really appreciate all those who have taken part!  still need about another 50 responses then its analysis time!

...I know surveys can be dull but if your reading this and trying to decide whether or not to fill it out, please click the link and help me out. will take bout 15 mins but i'll be forever grateful, I will also come and disseminate my results here on the message board, so keep eyes on this thread and you'll be able to examine the results from a study you participated in.

Tnx!

[CliffordK]

What about a discussion rather than a survey?

Personally I haven't been a big user of alternative medicine...  although perhaps not a big user of "medicine" either.

The Western approach to medicine is that everything can be cured with a pill...  if only we can find the right pill.

Unfortunately, that magic pill doesn't always exist.  And, what one often finds that people are prescribed a mix of medications, many of which are to cure the side-effects of other medications that were prescribed.

My niece has been dealing with some behavioral issues which have led my brother and his family to seek medical advice.  But, as of yet, no "magic pill".  So, they decided to take someone's advice and try some dietary modifications.  They are still experimenting, but seem to be impressed by the results so far.

What is obvious is that manufactured food often has many unwanted additives...  that are really hard to avoid.

For example, look at your boxed macaroni, and you find it contains Red Dye #40.  You buy the macaroni, and you get the red dye. 

It is pretty ubiquitous in usage throughout the prepackaged food.

What is it?



It is a pretty gnarly macro molecule.  And, thus one might expect it could have the potential for adverse effects in some individuals, either itself, or its metabolites interacting with unintended neurotransmitter receptors.

If you read the corresponding Wikipedia article...   

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allura_Red_AC#Potential_behavioral_effects

There have actually been researchers interested in that very topic.

So...
Should the answer be to look for the perfect pill to counteract all the junk we are being fed in our increasingly prepackaged diets...  or should we just go back to the basics with the diets?

I suppose this is why many people seek something other than a "magic pill" which isn't always what it is cracked up to be.