Mary, I wish to write the fml and support you in this issue of herbal /versus/ drugs. I live in a town that is supported by one of the biggest DRUG PEDDLERS in this country. ABBOTT LABORATORIES. . . why, does everyone want to work there? BECAUSE . . THE PAY IS SO GOOD why can they pay so well? BECAUSE: WE, THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY, SUPPORT THEM, BY USING ALL THE DRUGS THEY PRODUCE. WE ARE A DRUG DEPENDENT COUNTRY. I don't know all that much about herbal/versus/drugs, but i would prefer natural medications, and some one who knows what they are doing, to someone who (assumes). What do the physicians, who dispense these medications , really know, about the medications they so freely write scripts for? WE, the people have elevated physicians to the positions of "god" so to speak, FOR WE DO NOT QUESTION, them. They know what they do, but do they know the compositions, etc? That these companies support the physicians dispensing them, with free samples, AND, politics. . .(make your own judgement call on that,last remark) . It is like trying to get into Chrysler here, also, do, you, have to know someone to get a job with them? people, remember these physicians are educated, but they are just as human as you and i. I believe that they deserve, THE respect for that level of education, but i also deserve the respect, that i am a human/ferret/other animal lover, also. I need a little time to ponder this subject. I w/come up with some words of defense. Since i am only a lowly peon in society, i do not have much clout, per se, and base a lot of my (thoughts) on assumptions? But i, although i am not college, educated, i am neither ignorant, nor unknowing of the term : nepotism. Reading is a wonderful way to educate oneself also. Pick up a book today, and read something. Sometimes we just need to instead of dispensing drugs, to assist people in overcoming their fears, and dealing with their lives, ie; antidepressants, (just for reference) maybe more of a humanistic? interest, in helping them deal with what life has dished out to them, and showing them a way to face their challenges would be more beneficial, than to masque them over with drug medications? ie, educating them? A former president of ours finally got the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, that he deserved, and the recognition for his work, his, interest in helping those of lesser means. I have taken antid's before, only to find that after a week on them, i would rather face lifes challenges head on, with open eyes, than with rose colored glasses. Granted everyone has their sad days, and i have had plenty of them, but a natural theraphy, is more of my choice, for then it is something that i am not dependent on with body, but spirit? I don't want to be a walking zombie, the blood that flows through my veins is pure? Well . . .drug free ? We have refined so much in our lives for convenience sake, that our bodies can no longer function properly, without having to depend on something else, to counteract that which damages we have caused, by our abuses? Instead of the industries telling us the TRUTH about all the refined foods WE ingest daily, they would rather TOUT the fact that they taste so good. Consider all the advertising, that industry is making money and the company paying the advertiser is making money, what about the people using the product? What are our, true benefits, long term? More medications? This is supposed to be a country, where we are free to make our own choices, then why not do the physicians offer the choice of natural / versus /manufactured medications. I am probably going to eat a lot of my words, if i post this, but i have to say something. granted , there ARE, prescription medications out there that i am thankful that have been available for me, to utilize in healing my self, antibiotics, ie; ointments and internal meds, but... there are also, available , HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES. It boils down to us making those choices for our own lives, and that also of our children/animals, until they, can make those choices themselves. respectfully Mary, i am going to send this one anon, i don't know if there are subscribers who work for Abbotts, or otherwise, but those who do, will know. I don't care if i work there or not, it would be my conscience, versus, doing what is right for the good of mankind. humantiarians /VERSUS / ? COMMENTS AND FLAMES WELCOMED . [DD] [Moderator's note: This is getting a little far from debating the best type of medicines for ferrets -- comments should be related somehow to ferrets, please. BIG] [Posted in FML issue 3934]