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EditorialAlternative And Complementary MedicineNiranjan Kissoon, M.D., Editor |
| The World Health Organization described health as
"physical, mental and social well-being" of the individual. Therefore, medical
practitioners must "do no harm" and promote health of body, mind and social well
being. Traditional ("western, modern or scientific medicine") is rich in science
and is now undergoing self-analysis to validate practices with evidence based medicine. At
the same time in its fascination with science and technology, medical practice has grown
shallow in the art and human side of healing. Miracles are now wrought by powerful drugs,
and by innovative and skilled surgeries, while doctors themselves rarely engage in
discussions of feelings and the human side of medicine. Alternative or complementary
medicine, on the other hand, emphasizes the body's ability to heal itself and combines
this with often mysterious and exotic techniques. More importantly, its backdrop is a
sympathetic and understanding approach that better fills the needs of those with minor
illness or chronic disease. Alternative or complementary medicine has been thrust into the limelight because of the information age which brings a store of vast information and choices to the attention of most people. Health care systems are interested in alternative medicine because it is a thriving billion-dollar industry that will grow at the expense of traditional medicine. Moreover, society is attracted to complementary medicine because of their perceived failings of western medicine. It therefore behooves all practitioners to pay attention and to evaluate and distill the good from both practices. It is well recognized that few alternative medicine approaches, including herbs, have been formally tested, and have yet to provide evidence of efficacy. On the one hand, traditional medicine has benefited from the drugs and herbs that were initially in the armamentarium of alternative medicine; however, there are instances of herbal remedies that lead to morbidity and fatal toxicity. There is no doubt that evidence of efficacy of procedures and practices in complimentary medicine will result in their incorporation in traditional medical practices, while lack of efficacy will result in loss of credibility and rejection by all. Traditional medicine therefore will benefit from alternative or complimentary medicine. It is good therefore to see that the National Institute of Health has set aside funds for the study of alternative medicine. The failure to achieve a satisfactory combination of scientific knowledge and the art of understanding people is one of the problems of modern medicine. It is too early for all aspects of alternative or complementary medicine to be welcomed fully into clinical practice. It is also probably too early to adopt any credentialing process and blindly embrace all its practices and practitioners; however, the time has come for us to evaluate and decide best medical practices. The best practice would include therapy based on sound evidence, good communication skills, caring, sympathy, understanding, and the old-fashioned "bedside manner". January 2000 / Jacksonville Medicine What's New
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Northeast Florida Medicine Journal ·
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