"What eibren may not have noticed is that effective countermeasures against MRSA, programs to decrease transmission of infections in hospitals and other means of preventing illness (including vaccination) have all come from the medical and scientific community." That's not especially true, as we can see from Ladyplumb's post, as well as my recent observations regarding the stupid way SARS was handled on the local medical level. "They're not being provided by homeopaths and other "alternative" practitioners, some of whom are even in denial that bacteria and other infectious agents cause disease. Bizarre as it seems, there are many alt med supporters who claim that Pasteur's germ theory was wrong. Some of them are AIDS denialists as well (arguing that HIV doesn't cause AIDS). As this link mentions, it's odd that some of the same people who criticize docs about hygiene (and point to Semmelweis as their hero), at the same time don't believe in the germ theory themselves." I don't personally know of any people in alt med who do not believe in "germs." However, I would not choose to totally discount anything said by anyone who had practiced any form of healing and was honest about their observations. Although their interpretations of results might be skewed, that would not necessarily invalidate their results. As for the use of an argumentum ad hominum (wrongly applied) and a smearing of the whole by an overly broad brush which you have just used, these are tactics which I believe you, yourself objected to as logical flaws in another thread. I find it interesting, though, that you choose to be on the attack in this thread over a quibble when there were several openings presented earlier, by me, for a person with greater medical skill to follow up with useful information. It leaves me wondering just what your motivation is in posting here. It begins to apear to me that at least two of the most dedicated posters in this forum have little interest in herbalism, or healing of any sort, but only in discrediting the points of others and making the discussion disagreeable at every possible turn. The result: Many of the finest posters this forum has had have been driven away in disgust. Was that result the intended one? I begin to suspect that it was. You rail against those who pop in here to push their herbal products. Is it possible that you should be also be railed against, as one paid by Big Pharma to do PR to allow them to totally take over and regulate the herbal industry? Your behavior on here is certainly suggestive of that. You totally ignore or discount the input of almost everyone else on here. Instead of expanding discussions, you contract them. You don't allow a full discussion of anything; your focus is on junking up threads with argumentive gobblydegook. You ruin the harmonious atmosphere in a thread that could lead to healing for a person who has failed to find succor from her medical practitioners. Ladyplumb's story is horrifying, yet you failed to even acknowledge it. The resentment and lack of compassion she experienced from the ER that transmitted MRSA to her is truly horrible, but matches your own. It is no wonder the medical profession is subject to so many lawsuits. It is no wonder that so many of us need another place to go to recuperate from our encounters with medical practitioners. This Forum should be such a place, but you have done your best to destroy that possibility. What I said to BB above also applies, to only a slightly lesser extent, to you. This is a systems concern, not a personal attack. I am aware that you and Brendan at times make valuable posts. However, if you are both here as paid interlopers to destroy this forum, as you begin to appear to be, you should not be here. Even if you are unpaid, could there be a professional perc awaiting you for what you do here? A "political payback" of some kind? Possibly, a good laugh with your fellow philistines, and a chance to gain further recognition in your chosen field? Is that what it takes nowadays in the medical field to get ahead--taking over more and more turf? Taking over the placebo effect, even though few of you are equipped by personality or availability to pull it off? Let's go for that last 10% of the medical dollar...let's not allow people to find a way to do that themselves.... The people in GardenWeb have a right to have a peaceful place that they can come to, where the cultivation and uses of herbal plants can be cooperatively discussed, without being constantly pulled into mechanistic modernistic medical argumentation. There are ways of presentling your points that will not be as offputting. As long as you continue to wreak havoc on this Forum, do not be surprised if resentful posts continue to be made about the state of modern medicine, because you are a constant reminder of everything that is wrong with it.

This is one of those cases where the child needs special attention. Attention that goes further than a teacher/child relationship. From what I understand, this kid doesn't just bite, he hits, pushes, grabs things from the other kids, destroys projects that the kids are working on, etc. He has physically hurt children as well as the adults, and doesn't have any compassion for the children when they cry and beg him not to do this. His parents have been to the school to go on field trips, and such. They seem like they are trying to work with this kid, but there is something about him, that just isn't right. He seems to enjoy making the other kids cry, or he wouldn't be smiling when he does this. Also, from what I have heard, he gets plenty of attention, he demands it. More attention than any other kids in the class, so it can't be that he feels neglected by the staff and kids. I know that my son likes to make friends, he doesn't like to make people cry, in fact he'll go out of his way to help you stop crying. He likes to share, and he would never intentionally harm anyone like this. If you would have seen what this kid did to my baby, you would have called him evil too. Jainie

Am finally back after a lot of sleeping, and once again, many thanks for your replies. It all helps! Your suggestions sent me back to the internet, so I learned more about tactics for this battle/skirmish. Jlc - I was surprised to read of young people commonly having this, but actually I know you are right - the dang thing is everywhere now. And I will ask my doc (when he's back from his ill-timed vacation lol) about a nutritionist; am sure he'll know someone. Never thought of myself as being immune-system compromised, but now it's a fact, isn't it. Deee - I'm sorry that your relative has this. It really is an odious thing to have, not just on one's body, but also in the back of one's mind. I've filed manuka honey; it apparently is only for open wounds, but sounds good. I would much prefer a natural remedy anyway. Probably I should have some in the house jusr in case. And I understand about taking care with ordering from Amazon; I would stick to a name recommended by someone I kmow. Annie - Am also filing your article about essential oils; I know people who swear by certain ones. Lemongrass oil on one's hands and feet sounds lovely! Regarding meditation, it's something I've daydreamed about for years, as I also have about yoga. I know that you have extolled its benefits here often. It would need to be something I could do by myself, as am dreadful at attending classes that do not lead to a degree > : > ), but am pretty good about schedules at home. Am a bit of a hermit that way. Will look for something online! Localeater - I am sorry that you had to learn about this because of your son. Those years must have been a nightmare. Our DS1 had ten years of catastrophic asthma and was on and off pred for the whole time. Back then there wasn't much being done on "Integrative Medicine", and pred did save his life more than once. Side effects barely came into consideration. Today he is much better, no more pred, takes good care of himself and does employ elements of oriental medicine. I'm glad that your boy is also better! I will check online for NCOLIS. And will have to think of a tactful way to ask my doc about alternatives! Kwsl - Will look for thyme oil as soon as I finish this and add it to the file! It sounds like something good to use in the bathroom. One could top it off with a thyme candle! Thanks! Neetsiepie - Welcome back! You are sounding happy, and it's wonderful to read about your childrens' successes, especially about your son! But I am sorry to read that you have staph/mrsa in addition to other maladies. Yes, have gotten the message about cleanliness, have a bottle of Hibiclens in the kitchen and one in the bathroom, and am dutifully laundering the linens in hot water, the towels almost every day, really beating them up, don't like doing that. But I appreciate your many suggestions, especially your admonition to take it easy and rest, which removes the guilt from curling up and watching Law & Order marathons. Take care of yourself, too! Neetsiepie - One more thing. Saw the picture of your beautiful new cat. He's what the British call an orange marmalade. They have a reputation, especially the males, for wild high energy. We "baby-sat" two over the years and it was like having a hyperactive 3-year old in the house. Constant motion! Enjoy him! Thank you again, everyone - Sable

Thanks all for checking in. The "volcano" has reduced a lot and the swelling in the leg has gone down and the redness has faded quite a bit so the antibios seem to be doing their job. However, it seems I have a rash on top of it...looks to be poison ivy or poison sumac as I was weeding out both at the time. I also have some on my arms. The itch can be annoying, but cold compresses and benadryl cream seem to help. But by the looks of it, this is going to take some time to heal. clearwaters, I've had a *lot* of experience ticks of various kinds and sizes and this was not a tick...no legs.