On Jul 27 16:27 96, TRACY WIRS of 1:3615/81 wrote to JERRY SCHWARTZ:
JS>> 1.      Have you ever met anyone who was addicted to Ritalin?
TW> No, I haven't.  (Btw, I *am* K'tir; I goofed up and uploaded the wrong
TW> packet to the wrong name.)
Nor have I, nor have I ever heard from or of one.  All I've ever heard are 
bald statements that Ritalin is addictive, said with disparate degrees of 
conviction and proof.
JS>> 2.      Why would a natural/herbal remedy (e.g., opium, cocaine) be
JS>> less addictive than a chemically produced one, assuming equivalent
JS>> potency? 
TW> Because it might work better with me.  Remember that I said what was in
TW> my record --that medications may *not* work with me?  That's true; I 
und
If you find you are sensitive to various medications, then you should be 
leery of natural/herbal remedies.  Some apples are sweeter than others, some 
coffees more acidic than others, etc.  Simple logic suggests that the potency 
and perhaps actual composition of herbs will vary: experienced herbalists 
(especially well-trained Chinese doctors) rely upon their judgement to vary 
the strength of their potions accordingly, but I doubt that you'll get that 
kind of treatment from a health food emporium.  The reason that physicians 
use "artificial" versions of natural medications such as digitalis, curare, 
and so forth is because it lessens the guesswork about dosage and lessens the 
danger of side effects from byproducts and contaminants (and keeps them out 
of moonlit graveyards).
There might indeed be something in the world of herbal medicine that would 
work on you, but if you tend to be sensitive you just might find yourself 
flipping around on the carpet like a stranded fish, in the throws of an 
allergic reaction.
TW> Also, I've made a compromise with Mom:  go on a trial of Ritalin and see
TW> what happens.  It *could* be the same drug that made me a zombie (Mom's 
TW> wording) so long ago when I was first diagnosed, but then..... 
Even if Ritalin doesn't work for you, there are others to try: and at least 
you won't have to worry about them being contaminated with ergot, insect 
parts, and other garden miscellany.  I know that I sound rather harsh about 
the natural remedies, but while I'm well aware of nature's bounty I'm also 
well aware of nature's capriciousness.
Jerry Schwartz
--- MsgedSQB 3.30.01
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