What is the difference between Medical advice and Health advice?

[astral]

I see a post locked here b/c it was said to be asking for 'medical advice.' But medical problems are also health problems, and the topic of health is for this specific purpose -- to discuss health issues and what we believe to be healthy practices, isn't it?

If a person phrases their question, 'what have other people done,' or 'have you experienced this problem and did you find something that worked for YOU' -- or people posting answers phrasing them with, 'this is what worked for me,' 'this was my experience,' 'this is what I have heard,' or 'i know someone who did this and here was their results,' or something like that, is it then an acceptable discussion that won't get locked?

We of course do not want to discourage people from seeking medical advice, but this board is for discussion of health topics outside of that, unless of course people want to post about what their doctors are telling them to do, or if what their doctors are prescribing is working, or if they are choosing not to follow their doctor's advice.

Free exchange of information should be protected. The FDA has already blocked healthy supplement providers from describing what is good about natural plants and herbs for the human body (for example, the infamous cherry orchard debacle). Shall we be blocked from communicating with each other about those same items? I know a line needs to be drawn between appropriate and inappropriate posting, but I am failing to see where / why the line gets drawn here in practice and would like to see what the moderator(s) have to say about this topic.

Or anybody else too!

[MADem]

1. If I tell you "Take two aspirin and PM me in the morning" that is medical advice.

If people tell you to lance that boil with a used toothpick dunked in Listerine, that's medical advice.

If you talk in general ways about a topic, "Anyone have any information on what constitutes a gallbladder attack? How serious are they?" that's vague enough not to fall under the "medical advice" umbrella.

You can get around the rule--it's all in how the questions AND answers are phrased. "I am not giving anyone advice, but I did this" is one way to make it happen. "I don't want advice, but I'm just wondering about people's experience with...." is another way.

I don't blame the admins for being cautious. This is a suit-happy society.

I am not a moderator, nor do I play one on TV, but I do believe the rules (link at page bottom) do speak to this matter. And, AFAIK, the poor mods are simply tasked with thanklessly ENFORCING the rules--they don't get to make them.

[timeforpeace]

2. Probably like the "pornography, I know it when I see it" stuff, case by case basis.