RE: Using pills/drugs that have been tested on animals

Veganism is a philosophy and lifestyle of compassion and reverence for life. However, it does not require vegans to be heroes or martyrs and sacrifice our mental or physical health for our beliefs. We each are part of the larger circle of life, and if we exclude ourselves, the circle is incomplete. In fact, if we are incapable of finding compassion for ourselves, we will have a difficult time showing compassion for others.

Susan, this is part of an article from Joanne Stepaniak, the rest can be read [link= http://www.vegsource.com/jo/qa/qaprescriptions.htm ]JUST HERE.[/link] . She puts things so well.

Fortunately I rarely got ill. No doubt other members of healthy pages would be able to advise a natural alternative to many over the counter drugs, maybe in the Natural Remedies forum perhaps.

Theres also a fair amount of suppliers of alternatives in the animal free shopper. If theres an alternative use it, if not, don't beat yourself up about it.

Hope that kind of helps. See you at the xmas without cruelty fayre. [sm=wave.gif]

RE: Using pills/drugs that have been tested on animals

Hi AV

Thanks for your response - it was put in a brill way!!

I think you are right in saying we are not martyrs as I think I dont try to be!! but I just wondered what other people felt?

See you on the 4th December!! 😀

RE: Using pills/drugs that have been tested on animals

as a veggie, I try to avoid anything tested on animals, yeah I would try alternative treatment . . homeopathy or chinese medicine
xx nev

RE: Using pills/drugs that have been tested on animals

Can I just add that these treatments should not be considered alternative, but rather complementary. Just thought I ought to make this clear.

June

RE: Using pills/drugs that have been tested on animals

yeah i see what you mean, I will be more thoughtful with my words next time

RE: Using pills/drugs that have been tested on animals

hi susan, i personally try to avoid all medicines if i can. i only hv antib's when i really really need them but i do take quite alot of pain killers due to getting lots of headaches. i dont however use all the new drugs that come out i just stick to the same one all the time that way at least i know i am not more involved in it all than i need to be.
i really hate it though when i need some tabs for some reason or another and they only come in capsules. of course they r always geletine ones so i have to open them and boy do they taste awful as well! [:'(]
its the same with household products, i try to use the same (eco friendly) brands as much as poss for the same reasons or go to sainsburys and co-op who have fairly good testing ethics as far as supermarkets go.

i once said to my vet i didnt want the new drugs for my cats for the same reason, he said but they r testing on behalf of yr cats!!! some people just dont get it do they!

RE: Using pills/drugs that have been tested on animals

Hiya,

I've been vegan about 18 months now. Veganism to me means doing everything that is practically possible to avoid using animal products and by-products. All of the food and clothing my partner and I buy is vegan (my partner, Ruthie, is 'Vegan Heart' on this forum). All the vitamins, household cleaners, cosmetics and toileteries we use are also vegan. We try to, as far as possible, source products ethically (i.e. fairtrade) and keep an eye on the environmental impact of our purchases. However, the cat food we buy is not vegan (we have tried vegan cat food containing taurine but they aren't interested and are unsure of imposing our veganism on them) and the diesel car we run is not the most environmentally friendly or vegan machine (i hope to be able to get rid of this a.s.a.p. but need it for the job i currently have!). I myself have to take prescription medication which has been tested on animals and probably will have to for the rest of my life. I am not happy about it at all. But I do as much as I can to campaign for animal rights and to stop animal testing. I am trying to help out at a local animal sanctuary too.

We have been to several vegan festivals around the UK over the past couple of years and have met a guy called Geoffrey Thomas from The Dr. Hadwen Trust which is a campaign for non-animal testing methods of medical research. He gives talks on this issue and has spoken in parliament before. We have been lucky enough to hear him talk. Geoffrey is blind and campaigns for non-animal testing methods of medical research. He does not have a guide dog because he is unsure as to the ethics of that. BUT he needs to take prescription medication for his condition which has been tested on animals. He readily admits this. He is not happy about it but is continuing to campaign and do everything he can to stop animal testing.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Lisa x

RE: Using pills/drugs that have been tested on animals

I agree with Lisa (hello Lisa!!)

I think as vegetarians or vegans or whatever the 'label', you can only do your best.
When I was a vegan, I still used to take the contraception pill (it had lactose in it).
I figured that I was doing as much as I could but to stop taking the pill that had suited me for years and to try another form of less safe contraception was crazy.
Just do what you feel you have to and dont feel guilty about it!
After all, you are the most important thing on this planet[sm=hug.gif]

Tx

RE: Using pills/drugs that have been tested on animals

Veganism is a philosophy and lifestyle of compassion and reverence for life. However, it does not require vegans to be heroes or martyrs and sacrifice our mental or physical health for our beliefs.

I couldnt agree more. I'm not a vegan, nor am I vegetarian but I do strongly disagree with animal testing (for anything!). I do the best I can, Even though I eat meat I try my best to at least buy free range organic, I try to use complimentary therapies for medical problems, my cosmetics are all cruelty free. My refusal to take an antibiotic won't bring back all the poor animals killed unnessesarily (sp!)in experiments. I can do more if I am alive to help educate others that medical experiments are at best useless and at worst actually hold back medical progress.

And my new years resolution? I'm going to try my best to turn veggie next year 😉

RE: Using pills/drugs that have been tested on animals

It isnt "what" we do that matters rather "how" and "why" we do it that makes a difference.

If none of the crackpots from the 1500s and 1600s exhumed corpses to cut them open and play with their innards then we would never have realized the potential of modern day medicine which despite its consumerism has still its advantages like vaccinations and such.

Some things are merely too risky to be given to humans without first realizing the dangers through sacrifice.

The question is how are we testing on animals and why ? Im certain the majority of it falls under the catagory of completely unnecessary *Coughs sarcastically* Proctor&Gamble! *Clears throat* but this doesnt mean that what we do should be banned or avoided all together, just proves all things in moderation and that people should be more cautious and observant and mainly more compassionate.

Regardless of all this, there is a time and a season for all things....even things that just shouldnt be, according to us.