Erin K Costello Those in the alternative medicine racket often claim they are in favor of safe and effective medicine, only they want that medication to be as natural as possible. Many of them insist to have the ability to provide their customers with products are all natural, safe, and just as effective as modern medicine. Alternative medicine providers will almost always claim to have the health of others as a top priority. Many, like MAM, also assure her readers and customers that everything she studies, and everything she creates through Earthley is done with her own children at heart. If she can trust the health of her children to her products then surely you can trust her products with the health of your children, right? I am not too sure, in fact, I flat out disbelieve most of what she tells her customer base. One such product I cover here. However, MAM is not the only one who comes across as disingenuous. In actuality, sadly, to say, most of these new aged neutered apothecaries are most noticeably motivated by your average capitalistic greed.. That being said, it does appear as though some may be inspired by a personal reason, just not a familial one. Among the anti-vax community, the alternative medicine markets, and new age practitioners there is this universal distrust and blatant hate of the medical community. This hate and lack of trust extend to all reaches of modern medicine; physicians, nurses, hospitals, medical scientists, pharmacists, pharmaceutical companies, health insurance companies, educators, medial schools, government health agencies, regulating bodies, even radiologists and phlebotomists aren’t spared from their criticism and all they do is take imaging and blood. For most who throw shade on the medical community it is often obvious to be only an act to attract customers who have been left disgruntled by the medical community, and are more likely to hand their money over to the anti- MSM (mainstream medicine) companies. Though this greed does also appear to exist in Kate Tietje, her hate of MSM borders on an obsession to harm the entire practice of modern medicine. If MSM were a person, it would look as though that person shot her dog, slept with her husband, and pissed in her cornflakes with the amount of vitriol she spews in their direction every chance she gets. Examples of this are plentiful on her Kate Tietje and Earthley Facebook pages, as well as in her Facebook group Modern Alternative Mamas!, but I will simply focus on the most recent posts and comments MAM has made on Facebook. I thought this first image would be a great place to start. This is a shortened post regarding a group rule that forbids the mention of any RX, OTC (over the counter) medications, ER visits, urgent care visits, or calling of a doctor. The only thing members are allowed to offer as advice are natural remedy suggestions. There is a much more detailed version of this in her Facebook group’s files, though this post here covers the rule well enough. Only in cases of emergency are you allowed to suggest MSM options, though in the long version MAM adds that admin can advise you on what’s considered emergent, even though none of the admin have any medical training. Even then, in an emergent situation, if you are allowed to make such a suggestion, you must word it in a way that doesn’t trigger MAM. What stands out to me in every post she makes about this rule is that no where does she ever mention a concern about what’s best for the person asking or for the child they are seeking advice on their behalf. This rule of not mentioning MSM suggestions always applies, no matter what may be in the child’s or OP’s best interest. MAM’s group is not about taking care of one’s health if by doing so means upsetting MAM by choosing treatment by her archenemy; modern medicine. This post featured here grabs my attention with the line, “So in their opinion...we need to do as we’re told. Or else.” This was posted in response to the WHO declaring anti-vaccine advocates to be one of the greatest health risks of 2019. They simply analyzed upcoming health risks for the year and explained what they were and why they were a threat. There was no mention of “do as you’re told. Or else.” There wasn’t even a “do as you’re told.” Also this threat isn’t coming from adults choosing whether or not to vaccinate themselves, it’s largely due to adults refusing vaccines for their children. Therefore it isn’t primarily MAM’s body or the bodies of her readers, it’s about the bodies of those they are responsible for and the rights those bodies have to remain healthy. In this screen shot MAM blames on-line trolling for being the reason why she doesn’t trust MSM; “When people in the medical field resort to trolling others who won’t worship them, is it any wonder we don’t trust them?” "Worship them?” I have known a few physicians to have a bit of an ego, and even a few nurses, though I have never been given the impression they desired my worship. I also question her claim about being trolled by the medical community. It’s the internet, I have no doubt there are some who work in health care that have felt compelled to tell MAM who grossly inaccurate her statements are about many health related issues. This doesn’t mean the medical community is trolling her, however. I know a few people named Erin who have commented to MAM on several platforms, this doesn’t mean that “Erins” are out to troll MAM. What is most alarming about this post though is how she admits that it isn’t because of science or medicine on why she doesn’t trust MSM, it is because of her feelings. I think this admission could be Freudian slip. This image is good example of how she routinely assumes that this isn’t about vaccines or the health of others but is really about the “status quo” being upset about MAM’s noncomformity, and about her possibly influencing others to join her in “sticking it to the man.” She acts as though her choice to grow a garden, raise chickens, home-school, avoid doctors, make her own toiletries, and to deliver a child in her home are just too extreme for our government and therefore she must be named an enemy of the State. All I have to say to this is, “No one cares what you do, MAM. No one cares!” Lastly, It SHOULD be about credentials, expertise, and evidence. However, sadly, MAM and her lot have continuously ignored all three of these time and again, and now the people most worried about the effects of her vaccine claims are trying the equivalent of distracting them with something shiny and pretty, like celebrities, in hopes these turnips will come to their senses. I laugh at this picture every time I read it. If you have to go all the way back to 1849, 170 years ago, to find a reason as to why we shouldn’t trust MSM today, you’ve already lost this battle. This tactic reminds me of the popular right wing argument that points out how Lincoln was a Republican and the democrats voted in favor of slavery. Sure, that’s historically true, and I’ll even agree that Pelosi is a greedy corrupt politician who needs to go away already, but don’t sit there and try and tell me she helped form the kkk and every democrat wants a slave so we should have them all removed from office. In comparison; sure, MSM made it’s fair share of mistakes in the past and administered dangerous procedures or protocols, but don’t tell me today’s MSM is running around performing lobotomies and removing uteri to cure “hysteria” and therefore we can’t trust them. This mercury based treatment she refers to is most likely merbromin, or also known as “monkey’s blood.” It was basically the original and home made version of thimerosal. It was used by moms to treat burns, scrapes, and minor lacerations. It was an effective treatment though it wasn’t a very safe treatment. This is why it hasn’t been used in the US in about a century, and instead we use things like Neosporin or bactracin. Regardless, no one was treating ailments with elemental mercury. The next few images are all from the same post made in her group on January 29, 2019. She begins by asking if it’s time to stop having a doctor because really, what are they good for?. I could go on to list the myriad of reasons why one should routinely see a doctor, but instead I’m just going to point out how MAM is not a doctor, nor is she medically trained in any way, so why would anyone listen to her medical advice over that of a doctor’s? Why would MAM believe she could better help you decide your health care choices than a doctor could? This one, I think, is one of my favorite comments by MAM, "People are bullied into seeing doctors even if they don't necessarily want to just to avoid "getting into trouble."" Who is getting in trouble for choosing to avoid seeing a doctor for themselves? Is CPS or social services showing up to inspect the health care regimens of adults who are capable of deciding such things on their own? Of course not. The only time anyone is pressured to visit a doctor is on behalf of another person. Whether that person be a senile parent, mentally ill sibling, or minor child, if you have medical responsibility over another person then you have an obligation to take this responsibility seriously and act in that person’s best interests. If you don’t? Then yes, the government will very likely become involved on that person’s behalf and you will possibly lose this privilege that had been entrusted to you. OK, let me remind you that MAM lives in the state of Ohio, which is in the US. Which is a country that has a for profit health care system. How does she come to the conclusion that the government has a monopoly on western medicine? Ignoring the fact that no one calls it “western medicine” anymore and we all just simply call it “medicine,” how does the government own western medicine, let alone all the western medicine? Where’s the monopoly? I’m guessing this was one board game she often lost as a child since she doesn’t seem to know what it means to have a monopoly, thus missing the whole goal of the board game. Our government supports the use of other types of health care, or what is now referred to as integrated health care. Even state/federal insurances like medicaid and medicare support the use of some types of integrated health care. In some areas massages are covered, acupuncture, chiropractic care, even gym memberships, among some others. I personally am covered by the ACA in NYS and I have these options available to me under my health insurance. I wish I didn’t have some of them available since it is largely a waste of money, but nonetheless they are still options for me. Let me go back to the for-profit part of US health care for a moment. If they don’t cover these types of services then it would be because they have evidence they are a waste of money. If any of these options were proven to work, meaning they prevented a need for future or more intense medical care for whatever ailed you, then health insurance companies would cover the cost of these services in a heart beat. They will not pay for claims for procedures that serve no medicinal value. They will only cover services that work. Physicals are now the new get rich scheme of the government sanctioned health care monopoly? She keeps using that word monopoly but….. you get the point here. Now, for some context in this screen shot, MAM is referring to schools requiring a physical before enrollment. As for her claim of demanding a specific type of doctor, the only demand that exists is that an actual MD perform this physical and not a “not a doctor” naturopathic provider Also, it isn’t the government that demands this, it’s the school that demands this. Schools, day cares, some places of employment, sports, and life insurance policies will demand this as well. There are several reasons for this though liability is probably the biggest reason. These places need to know if and what a child’s limitations are, and day care, for example, needs to know if the child has special requirements, or if there is a health problem, known or unknown, just in case something horrible were to happen and it ended up being a result of said health issue. Without this knowledge the day care could be falsely accused for injuring the child. Then there’s the ever present horrible reason for requiring such physical exams, such cases of abuse. Surely MAM doesn’t wish to protect the perceived parental rights of abusive parents, right? Of course SHE doesn’t believe it’s medical neglect to never take your child to a well doctor’s visit. It’s not HER medical needs being neglected. By avoiding the pediatrician, this means that MAM has no idea whether or not her children would test positive for lead, let alone by how much, or if one has an irregular heartbeat, or is showing signs they could be at risk for any number of health issues. Were or are they ever checked for scoliosis? What about that part of a health exam when the doctor shines the light in your eye? I may not know what that part of the exam is for but I know it isn’t to check my vision. What about dental care? Have they had routine vision and hearing tests? If you can’t be bothered to address every one of these possibilities or preventative measures, then you are absolutely neglecting your child’s medical needs. Even if your children show they never needed such exams by growing up to be fine, you still neglected their care because you didn’t care enough to make sure they didn’t need medical intervention while growing up. ’m going to address MAM personally for a moment. MAM, you say healthy kids don’t need a doctor? That’s true, until it’s not true. You are not qualified to determine what children are health and what children are not. You. Are. Not. A. Doctor. And there you have it, Kate. I said it. I’m calling you out on your threat. I am suggesting that not doing well visits is medical neglect and that you are in fact neglecting your children’s medical needs. Now, come on. Come fight me. In this one, MAM finds the law mentioned here to be abusive and upsetting to a child as young as 12? I’m willing to bet child abuse victims disagree with her here. Also, I’m willing to bet kids who know their parents are wrong about vaccines, and wish to be vaccinated, also disagree with her here. Isn’t that what this is all about though? The right to make one’s own medical decisions? Let’s be honest, she doesn’t care that young teens being vulnerable. If she did then she’d monitor her children on-line and social media instead of arguing with group members how doing so is an invasion of their privacy and rude to your child. Vulnerability isn’t her concern at this age. MAM’s concern is the likelihood they’ll begin to think for themselves and hear what other people have to say on such matters. Her concern is her losing her control. On this last screen shot I just have to ask something, is she not existing or sharing already? Has someone taken away their permission for her to exist or share? What rules exactly is she refusing to adhere to? Who do these rules belong to? “No matter how creative we have to get.” Omg thank you! I would love to finally see something creative come out of MAM. Even if is sucks, it will still be better than these tired cliches I hear mimicked in every post. I have to add that no one is manipulating “what they show.” I’ve heard this claim before when she went on her censorship tirade so I am sure she’s referring to what is shown on-line, specifically in Google search results. She doesn’t realize that all this information is just as available on-line as it has ever been, even in Google search results. You see, I am guilty of making this same mistake that MAM makes, and that is forgetting that search results have additional pages besides the first page. Maybe she and I are just lazy, or maybe we have been spoiled to where we didn’t have to click that number “2” at the bottom of the page, I can’t say for sure. However, I do know that if she were to utilize her digitus secundus for an additional mouse click on that number ‘2” or higher, she’d find this elusive information. I’m going to wrap this up by making a suggestion for MAM, or anyone reading this who finds themselves agreeing with much of MAM’s opinions on matters of health or even with her views on MSM. If you don’t want to have the privilege of speaking to medical experts on behalf of the health and well being of your children, then don’t speak to them. Let your children speak to them instead. You don’t get to deny your kids their right to medical care, or the privilege of speaking to those who specialize in this field. If you feel all doctors are under-qualified to care or treat your children, then become qualified to treat your kids yourselves. I realize becoming a doctor is a tall order to ask or even suggest so I’ll make a simpler suggestion instead, audit a couple college courses on-line in health and medical related sciences and discover how much you really do or don’t understand about medicine and the human body. Dozens, maybe even hundreds, of universities and colleges offer class auditing on-line for free. Almost every undergrad class offered by such schools can be found on-line for auditing. Most of these courses are offered to be completed at your own pace, though if you’re anything like I am and do best with a little structure and with deadlines then you can also find some that are to be taken and completed according to the instructor’s schedule. You will not receive credit or course hours for completing a class, however, since you are only auditing the course. However, the information you learn is all the same. If you need to first take refresher courses in math because, again like myself, you have forgotten everything you learned in high school, many colleges offer these as well. I found that MIT was one institution offering remedial math courses on-line and I took full advantage about 4 years ago If you’re going to act as though you know more than doctors, then you should at least learn some of the same information as doctors. After all, what is it MAM always says? When you know better, you do better? So, go know better.
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