Marino Center?

[evinza.livejournal.com]

I am in the market for a new doctor in the area, and wondered if anyone has had any experience with the Marino Center for Progressive Health.  I want a doctor who is open to prevention, natural/alternative health remedies, etc., not someone who is just going to hand me a prescription after talking to me for 2 minutes.  Any input would be great.  Thanks!

Comments

[keshwyn]

I've been to three different doctors at the Merino Center, two as my PCP (one of them left to start a practice in western MA, so I just transitioned to a different doctor) and a third when my PCP was on vacation. All of them have been professional, and all of of them have been very much of the "Well, I could write you a scrip if you want, but from you describe, that would be overkill. Here's a list of homeopathic and herbal remedies you can try first, and if that doesn't work, come talk to me again."

So yes, they are definitely about prevention and natural remedies.

[mattdm.livejournal.com]

Note that homeopathic has nothing to do with natural. There's a widespread perception that homeopathic medicine is an ancient, time tested healing art. Not really -- instead, it was invented in Europe in the early 19th century, based on a competing theory to the idea of germs. The whole-body part is all well and good, but the remedies are, quite simply, fraudulent.

I don't have anything against anyone who wants to take the stuff and feels like it makes you feel better. But, since most of it is quite literally sugar pills (by definition, homeopathic products contain none of their alleged active ingredients), I *do* have a problem with people selling the claimed "remedies" for anything over the cost of sugar pills or water.

Likewise, I'd be a little skeptical about a doctor whose first line is "try this placebo, and come back if that doesn't work". I'd rather they'd just be honest and tell me that they don't think I need medicine for whatever the problem is.

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

Thank you. That was a very well-written response, and much less flame-tastic than I would've been.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

I have seen an increasing tendency in advertisement and printed discussion to use the word "homeopathic" when the actual intent is "naturopathic".

Including bottles of things at CVS that have listed active ingredients.

So I have made the complaint of yours many time, but now I add this caveat. Herbal remedies does not equal homeopathic.

I think people just like the sound of the word, honestly.

[evinza.livejournal.com]

Agreed! I do think there is a lot of vocabulary confusion around this topic. I personally have had much success with natural remedies in the past (as well as much harm with prescription drugs) and want a doctor who is at least open to the discussion of the different options available to me.

In any event, I thank everyone who replied, and welcome more replies.

[beezy515.livejournal.com]

I agree. There seems to be some general confusion in the public between the terms "naturopathy" and "homeopathy." I went to the Marino Center for several years for allergy treatment and found them to be very good. I saw a dietitian and a nurse practitioner, both of whom were very open to alternative treatments.