After a terribly painful and debilitating illness, Steve died. He had been treated for Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Disease with a series of intense therapies including German enzymes, American antineoplastins, Mexican naturopathy and Chinese Herbs, complemented by focused meditation, innumerable vitamins, extreme diet modification and acupuncture for severe pain. He fought the cancer with every ounce of his being, doing everything to survive, except the one thing that had an 85% chance of cure; chemotherapy.
I was struck this week by a comment on my website, which bemoaned the highly disorganized state of “alternative medicine” in this Country and in particular the “paltry sums” for alternative research funding by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The writer suggested that not only could the quality of health be improved with alternative medicine studies, but would go a long way towards saving health care dollars.
It seems to me that the idea that we need more Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) research goes right to the core of the confusion between so called “conventional medicine” and CAM. There is a major difference between the medicine practiced by board certified, classically trained physicians and that of alternative practitioners. That difference is research and data.
If an MD or DO is treating a cancer patient and that patient asks to see or understand the basic science and clinical studies which support the recommended therapy, that published data is readily available. Standard oncology treatment goes through 10-20 years of research, from the test tube, animal studies and through a series of supervised human multi-phase trials, until it is approved and offered to patients. Each step is refereed by competing and critical PhD and physician scientists and must be published in peer-edited journals for general review and criticism, all of which is public and transparent. Where it is not, and when people attempt to manipulate or falsify the system or data, massive blowback eventually occurs.
Alternative medicine, by its very definition, means that it is an alternative to this system of scientific analysis. Essentially, anyone can come up with an idea and without any of the above research steps, provide it to patients. If I decide that sunshine enhanced lemon juice can kill cancer because it is acidic and cancer hates acid, then I can start selling it in pill form tomorrow. If you look at a long list of CAM therapies, that is what they have in common … the shortcut from idea to bedside.
CAM treatments may have long respected histories. Some, like Chinese Traditional Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine of India, American Homeopathy or Acupuncture, are hundreds or even thousands of years old and have millions of adherents who believe it has helped or even cured them. Often the most vocal support comes from individual patients regarding their own experience with an alternative treatment. Scientists believe that individual case reports are poor substitutes for the objective analysis of hundreds of patients in experimental trials. All CAM therapies have limited or no published research to explain the science of these therapies or to prove they work any better than placebo.
When proper research is performed, certain alternative treatments are found to have value. Vitamin D (with calcium) seems to improve bone density. Acupuncture can treat migraines and prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea. Chiropractic is more likely than orthopedic surgery to return patients with routine back pain to employment. Exercise helps depression and decreases the likelihood that breast cancer will relapse. On the other hand, randomized trials have shown that laetrile (amygdalin) has no anticancer activity and that Vitamin C does not prevent or blunt upper respiratory infections any better than sugar pills.
A key question is that just because the research supporting CAM therapies is limited, does that make them bad? Not necessarily, but it does mean that when choosing such a method of care, patients need to understand they are making the decision based not on a step-by-step scientific process, but on unproven theory. It comes down to trust in the CAM practitioner, because no one, not the person providing the treatment, the patient’s primary physician, nor the patient, has any objective evidence to show that the therapy may help or hurt.
Patients have many reasons to choose alternative treatment instead of or in addition to conventional medical care. The most obvious is the powerful desire to do everything possible to fight the disease, to leave no stone unturned. The need to control one’s destiny, especially if confronted by doctors or a medical system, which seems impersonal, cold and uncaring, drives many patients to seek a different path. Many patients distrust conventional medical care, and most Americans believe conventionally trained doctors either deliberately or by ignorance fail to offer reasonable alternative therapies. For some there is deep mistrust in the objectivity of the “physician-medical school-pharmaceutical-government complex.” Traditional religious, superstitious and pseudoscientific reasoning support the CAM decisions of many patients.
Like most physicians, I have seen many patients hurt by CAM therapies. Some by obvious side effects, such as the woman whose breast fell off after receiving a poultice or the man who had such severe nerve damage that he never walked again. Others delayed life saving therapy with horrible result. Many spent their last dollars without benefit. Finally, other patients undoubtedly experienced side effects and perhaps increased cancer growth because we simply do not have the data on alternative therapies to understand what to expect.
CAM therapies are an alternative to conventional medicine. As we do research on each concept, it will not longer be alternative medicine, but proven or not will fall under studied medical science. I absolutely agree with the comment on my blog that we need to do more experimentation on any therapeutic concept for which there is a reasonable scientific base. Every hypothesis, every dream, every hope must be considered. Nevertheless, until ideas are subjected to the light of scientific scrutiny, each patient and family must understand that by alternative we do not mean a therapy which is proven, but out of the mainstream; by alternative we simply mean unknown.
James C. Salwitz, MD is a Medical Oncologist in private practice for 25 years, and a Clinical Professor at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He frequently lectures at the Medical School and in the community on topics related to cancer care, Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Salwitz blogs at Sunrise Rounds in order to help provide an understanding of cancer.
Categories: Uncategorized
What do you think about Aloe Vera plant? There is a role and benefits of alternative medicine?
I don’t even know the way I finished up here,
but I believed this post was once good. I don’t know who you might be but certainly you’re
going to a famous blogger when you are not already.
Cheers!
I’m amused that so many people respond as if you were actually supporting what is referred to as “alternative medicine,” when if one reads between the lines—or even just reads objectively—it’s clear that you’re trying to damn with faint praise. Your leading anecdote—while dismissing anecdotal claims made by patients of alternative medicine as worthless—illustrated your true agenda.
That was your anecdote. My anecdote is a heavy smoker with four tumors in the lower lobe of my left lung verified by a pulmonary oncologist who offered a horrifying treatment plan. I used homeopathy, herbs, and nutrition instead. Poof—they’re gone. Two decades later, they’re still gone. Only side effects—increased general health, stronger immune system, stronger nails, shinier hair.
On a personal level, I love the fact that conventional medicine is beginning to feel the heat. A 1997 study (Chez AR, Jonas WB) found Americans made 425 million visits per year to alternative practitioners—40 million more than to primary care physicians. And most had to pay out-of-pocket for it.
CAM is nothing but an attempt to sneak on the bandwagon. Get off and get out. You didn’t want anything to do with us back when I was a young woman and doctors were insisting that given adequate calories, nutrition had nothing to do with health. Oh yes, I remember that as well as how you advised anyone with heart disease to remain as inactive as possible. You have a very long history of VERY bad science that you conveniently fail to acknowledge, all the way back to refusing to wash your hands between patients because anyone who believed in germs was a kook and a quack.
You people and your toxic drugs are losing ground. The only things you have to offer are those that are yours solely due to politics, not knowledge. You are allowed to perform surgery, you are allowed access to hospitals and diagnostic tools, and so you claim superiority. But even with those huge advantages, you’re running on empty, and you’re beginning to wake up to that fact.
You’re crowing about how you have the bucks for scientific studies, but what are they worth to us—the public? You say you can show them to a patient. Well, if that patient wants to do some research on their own, in most cases they can come up with equal and opposite studies. Just visit any bookstore and you’ll find hundreds of doctors all writing books on their specialties, all giving conflicting advice, all insisting their opinion is backed by the best science and that anyone who disagrees is a quack.
In the meantime, your drugs are unspeakable. The only thing you can do with them is suppress symptoms while causing more damage. No problem—you just pretend it’s a new, unrelated disease and send the patient to your buddy down the hall who offers more toxic drugs which will destroy more organs and body systems.
The public is waking up. The party is over. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Alternative and complementary medicine should be mandatory in all medical schools. It has been proven that some types of alternative medicine are beneficial for those who use them. In fact, alternative medicine has become very popular for many different reasons like their use of preventative holistic care. It can also be more cost effective than conventional medicine. Although with alternative medicine, since it is not given by healthcare professionals, fakes can be marketed to the unsuspecting public. If doctors knew a great deal about it they could help patients seek reliable alternative medicine. On a different note, alternative medicine could be, in some cases, very dangerous–even though it is natural medicine. Doctors should be able to speak freely with patients about all benefits and concerns that may arise with seeking alternative medicine. They could then effectively create a safe care plan that includes all of the patients wants.
The Fraser Institute report revealed that Canadians used complementary alternative therapies nearly nine times per year on average. Alternative and complementary therapies are growing in popularity but traditional medicine should not be counted out.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada – More than 70% of Canadians regularly use complementary and alternative health careExternal link therapies such as vitamins and minerals, herbal products, homeopathic medicines and other natural health products to stay healthy and improve their quality of life. I agree that while alternative medicines have become a more popular means of treating health issues a patient should consult with their doctor to explore ALL of their medical options first, both the traditional and alternative types before making a decision.
There are some cases here in Philippines that alternative medicine cures cancers.
I like a information people present on your own content articles. Let me take note of a person’s weblog in addition to take a look at one more time here usually. I am slightly certain I am advised a lot of brand new things correct the following! Have fun for one more!
Yes, I agree that Alternative Medicine does not work for stage II and upwards as far as cancer is concerned. But there are many cases in India where 1st stage cancers have been successfuly treated by Ayurveda. Ayurvedic medicines are also known to alleviate some of the side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, so there is no harm in combining these modern therapies with Ayurveda.
http://freehealthadvice.blog.com
Thank you Jim. Finally more medical ‘professionals’ are breaking their silence and cutting loose from BigPharma and ‘the establishments’ restraints. There are any number of medicinal plants that we have been using safely and effectively for thousands of years. Almost every ‘patented pharmaceutical’ has it’s roots in the earth, but there is not nearly the profit to be made from these remedies. Up until 50 years ago cannabis was included in the Pharmacopeia and regularly prescribed for multiple conditions. If your PMD won’t even discuss it, get another one. He or she can pay for their own golf vacations disguised as seminars.
Patrick Monk. RN Hospice Case Manager. SF. Ca. USA.
Society of Cannabis Clinicians.
http://goo.gl/8OUwyv
CANNABIS MEDICINE.
The wall of denial are crumbling. As predicted the hordes of hustlers and hucksters are foaming at the mouth in anticipation of huge profits from patients in need. BigPharma is waiting in the wings with GMO cannabis.
In an effort to combat this we have formed a new group dedicated to freely sharing the collective wisdom and experience of many, and providing support to folks in need. The latest ‘fad’ is CBD only medicine, essentially a hype to capture a market.The true value of cannabis as a medicine lies in the entourage effect of the many cannabinoids present in the plant. Many profiteers are marketing extracts, tinctures, oils, sprays, edibles etc and making extravagant claims about the particular efficacy of their product.
In an effort to combat this we have just published the first in a planned series of articles designed to share centuries of healing wisdom, with a specific focus on ‘natural’ remedies, while also acknowledging the place of ‘conventional’ medicine. The ‘top seller’ right now is oral tinctures. We are not selling anything. If you visit our Facebook page at the enclosed link, click on ‘Files, and select EPSILON ESSENTIALS you will find a complete illustrated guide with instructions on how to safely and simply prepare this medicine in your own kitchen. Please remember to consult with a medical professional before making any changes to your existing medication regimen; start low and go slow.
Feedback and comments welcome. If you are interested in joining this group please email me at
Thank you. Be well. Take care of each other.
Patrick Monk. RN Hospice Case Manager. SF. Ca. USA.
Society of Cannabis Clinicians.
http://goo.gl/8OUwyv
That is what Complimentary Medicine is (The C in CAM is for Complimentary where the A is for Alternative). You are right though. We use a combination of traditional Western Medicine, Alternative medicine, and other “theories” that have shown promising results and we get great results from just about every one of our patients. We just try to keep it is natural as possible and make our patients get regular testing (at least every 6 months to a year depending on circumstance) to stay on our program. This is a critical part when making customizable programs for people to follow because every single person will react at least a little bit differently to each therapy. Hope this helps to answer your concern!
DEAFENING SILENCE CONTINUES
Skimming the responses here I find it revealing that almost without exception, no one, not even those who supposedly support complimentary/alternative medicine, have chosen to address what may be the next revolutionary advance in how we treat many dis-eases. There is a wealth of information easily accessible on-line for those truly committed to providing optimum health care.
One of those can be found at the following link. Much of it may be above my pay-grade but I’m gonna wade through as much as I can.
http://www.comingoutofthecannabiscloset.com/2012/08/28/granny-storm-crows-medical-marijuana-reference
The list can also be obtained by sending a request to:-
stormcrow@greenpassion.org
I have no personal connection to, or further information about, those responsible for this site. It is just one of the many useful resources I have found.
A HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER NEW YEAR?
Finally it looks like we may be making significant progress in repealing the prohibition against ‘marijuana’, and unlocking the potential of cannabis as a safe and effective medicine can become a reality. The curative and restorative benefits of this amazing plant have been known and utilised for centuries. Despite decades of denial and deceit it is now becoming increasingly difficult for the ‘drug warriors’ to continue this criminal and inhumane attack on our rights, freedoms and health. Independent research and studies; a few now even taking place in the US-Drug War Central; are confirming what many of ‘us’ have known or suspected for decades.
Hopefully Dr Sanjay Gupta’s recent conversion will give cover and courage to the thousands of medical ‘professionals’ who have so far been to afraid, or ignorant, to speak up and advocate for what may well be in their patient’s best interests, instead of being beholden to, and ‘persuaded’ by, the Pharmaceutical Industry. Cannabis preparations should be routinely considered as a component of any treatment regimen for any condition.
Just my 2c.
Patrick Monk. RN Hospice Case Manager. SF. Ca.
Society of Cannabis Clinicians.
Magnificent post! One common feature of all definitions of alternative medicine is its designation as “other than” conventional medicine. For example, the widely referenced descriptive definition of complementary and alternative medicine devised by the US National Center for Complementary and Altenative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), states that it is “a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine.” This definition has been criticized as, if an alternative therapy, both effective and safe, is adopted by conventional medical practitioners, it does not necessarily follow that either it or its practitioners would no longer be considered alternative. Thanks, keep up a good work.
In the presence of a life threatening condition I would do whatever it takes to live. I use alternative medicine more for prevention.
I completely agree with Jen – thank you for helping spread the word.
In the medicine industry- businesses always seem to get involved and it seems it causes even more problems- thanks for putting this post out there though! (:
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A treatment protocol that combine modern medicine with a holistic all natural herbal medicine that anient chinese and India physicians practiced for thousands of years may offer some promising results.
Ooops
http://www.exposingthetruth.co/cannabis-cancer/#axzz2qqv2gxh)
Looks like we’re the last two dogs in this fight. No blood drawn, enjoyed growling at you. In case any other strays come sniffing here’s a couple of ‘interesting’ links, one from a bat-guano site.
http://www.exposingthe truth.co/cannabis-cancer/#axzz2qqv2gxhO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54vD_cPCQM8
Fair winds and following seas.
Just for general information.
http://www.exposingthetruth.co/cannabis-cancer/#axzz2qqv2gxhO
Totally off topic but maybe another point of agreement.
The America’s Cup.
I believe we should go back to real boats; maybe made out of hemp like Henry Ford’s 1941 hemp built and powered one; These billionaire’s boy’s club plastic skipping stones can’t even put to sea if it’s blowing to hard, raining to heavily, or Larry the Looter wants change the rules mid contest because he’s losing.
Nope, only one windriven that I am aware of – it is the name of my sailboat. And I must say that Chrome failed me in failing to pick up those quotes which, incidentally, I’m happy to stand by. Vikram C. was talking out of his a$$ and, when provoked, I deliver scorn with glee.
“Again I invite you to avail yourself of the many links provided in the above mentioned books attesting to the efficacy and potential of cannabis as medication. ”
Why? I have no dog in that fight. Smoke it. Eat it. Knock yourself out. Just don’t make medical claims other than analgesia without some solid research. Beyond that I have no truck with cannabis.
“We need single payer. Guaranteed Health Care is a pre-requisite for Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
And here we again agree. I don’t much care if it is single payer or not so long as it is efficient, universal and evidence based. The mechanism of payment is a bookkeeping function. But everyone deserves basic medical care.
I can only assume there are two ‘wind-drivens’.
@vikram. Feb 13. 2013 @ 11.13am.
I leave it to you, dear readers, to decide for yourself.
FYI I have been involved in this and many other ‘change’ movements for over 50 years.
Again I invite you to avail yourself of the many links provided in the above mentioned books attesting to the efficacy and potential of cannabis as medication. As I’ve stated before most of the ‘official research’ published in the US was funded by those with a vested interest in upholding NIDA’s mandate to find negative outcomes, they failed, in much the same way as the war on drugs has been a disaster on many fronts.
You may be familiar with the reactionary position taken by SAM. While there is some merit in some of their pronouncements, they generally adhere to the ‘narcs’ party line. Their latest ludicrous, and largely refuted, claim that cannabis is ‘addictive’ is a case in point. It wouldn’t surprise me if a review of their portfolios revealed a deep ‘addiction’ to the dividends distributed by BigPharma and the like.
You are correct in pointing out how little bang for the buck US consumers get when compared to other countries. We need single payer. Guaranteed Health Care is a pre-requisite for Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Ah, Mr. Monk. The power of modern technology. I ran the “quotes” you provided in the Find feature of my Chrome browser. Nowhere in this conversation did I ask, “Did you pull that out of your backside or off some bat-guana-crazy website” or mention “squirrels chasing nuts.”
I made the faulty assumption that you were an intelligent and serious person eager to engage in serious debate about an important issue. Silly me.
It is frustrating that the world is as it is rather than the way we might like it to be. Science is the mechanism that we use to separate what is from what isn’t, what is sometimes unpleasantly true from what might be more pleasant but is nonetheless untrue. You have apparently chosen an important and honorable profession. I hope that you will grow to understand the difference between what is and what you might like to believe.
““Smoke Signals” also provides an ‘interesting’ critique on how our government and regulatory systems tackle many of the most pressing issues of import that threaten the health and well being of the people and the planet, especially when they conflict with corporate interests.”
Yup. The way government, its regulatory apparatus, and what you derisively call corporate interests influence health care delivery in the US leaves a good deal to be desired. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make magical thinking work. Join with many of us who are trying to change the system from the inside out.
Here are a couple of statistics you might find interesting. The WHO ranks France the best nation in the world for health outcomes, the US 38th. Yet France spends only $3978 per person for health care while we spend $8233. Imagine the breathtaking advances if we delivered health care for $3978 per person and spent the difference – $4255 per person – on medical research. Or even half the difference.
NONE SO BLIND AS THEM THAT CAN’T SEE
Interesting, “ad hominem insults and derision”. Guess you can dish it out but not take it. Lighten up.
“..chatter, chatter..”, “Did you pull that out of your backside or off some bat-guana-crazy website…”, “..squirrels chasing nuts..”. Methinks thou dost protest to much.
In addition to the book i referred to before, “Marijuana: Gateway to Health” by Clint Werner, another excellent and accessible treatise on the subject is “Smoke Signals” by Martin Lee. Even if you don’t ‘read the books’ the bibliographies should provide informative and useful links to even the most myopic, and give them pause to reconsider their programmed and prejudiced preconceptions.
“Smoke Signals” also provides an ‘interesting’ critique on how our government and regulatory systems tackle many of the most pressing issues of import that threaten the health and well being of the people and the planet, especially when they conflict with corporate interests.
Interesting. You counter polite, carefully considered argument with ad hominem insults and derision. In your world does that give added impetus to your arguments? In mine it has rather the opposite effect.
The wind that drives you is the gaseous emission from your nether orifice.
“I consider the use of ‘complimentary’ as opposed to ‘alternative’ medicines a more appropriate definition.”
A distinction without a difference. Both are marketing terms meant to confer the plausibility of medical science to something that doesn’t deserve it. Marketing is simply the art of monetizing credulity. CAM, however you choose to name it, is the epitome of that art.
“I don’t imagine there is any point in asking your opinion on cannabis.”
Perhaps not. I vote in one of two states where it is legal. I also voted in favor of legalization. Sorry to burst your bubble.
” While I acknowledge that allopathic medicine has made a great contribution it is just one of the arrows in the healer’s quiver.”
Here you and I disagree – and pretty completely. Allopathic medicine is the arrow, the quiver and the bow. Allopathic medicine, at least from a therapeutic view, is simply the sum of treatments that are proven to work. Pharmacognosy is a perfect example of this and acetyl salicylic acid – aspirin – is a useful case in point.
Willow bark has long been used by prescientific cultures for a variety medicinal purposes. But dosing was never certain. It took science to isolate acetyl salicylic acid and to carefully determine the ED and LD values.
“Unfortunately their work is to often appropriated by the profiteers who isolate, manipulate and patent the resulting concoctions.”
Here you tread dreadfully close to being a douche. You don’t work for free. Neither do the research scientists. Your 401(k) may well hold pharmaceutical or device stocks. You would not be happy if your 401(k) did not appreciate in value. The investments that your 401(k) and other investors make are made with the expectation that there will be a positive return on the investment.
So light up a doobie and chill. Magical thinking doesn’t cure disease, science does.
PS.
Two semantical but, I believe, important distinctions.
I consider the use of ‘complimentary’ as opposed to ‘alternative’ medicines a more appropriate definition.
I consider the use of the word ‘cannabis’ as opposed to ‘marijuana’ more appropriate when discussing this subject (I’m still adapting). The latter was a derogatory term popularised by the original ‘drug warriors’ decades ago when they began this failed and ludicrous war on drugs.
NUTS TO YOU.
I don’t imagine there is any point in asking your opinion on cannabis. You are probably as myopic and uninformed on this topic as you appear to be on others. While I acknowledge that allopathic medicine has made a great contribution it is just one of the arrows in the healer’s quiver. I applaud the work done by many of the medical researchers and scientists in their ongoing efforts to unravel and understand the miracle of life. Unfortunately their work is to often appropriated by the profiteers who isolate, manipulate and patent the resulting concoctions. Many of these are marginally effective at best, with dangerous side effects, some are actually promoting the development of even more serious and untreatable conditions.
Enough. I’m no pollyanna, I’m glad that morphine was available during my surgeries and I didn’t have to rely on a couple of tokes.
I assume you are aware that the vast majority of the few ‘official’ studies performed on cannabis in this country had the specific mandate to find the negative effects. Most were unable to find any. Many found the positive, though these were generally hushed up by the Feds, NIDA, DEA, BigPharma etc.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of peer reviewed scientific studies in the public domain. Open your mind and the truth may out.
“Some alternative medicine will work”
NCCAM, a unit of your federal government, has spent more than a billion dollars trying to demonstrate benefit from acupuncture, naturopathy, reiki, homeopathy and other bits of nonsense and superstition. The result to date is pretty much nada, zip, zero.
Medical science is the careful, structured process of unraveling the secrets of biology, molecular biology, genetics and proteomics that have led to treatments that save 2kg babies, replace diseased organs, bring the miracle of procreation to legions of formerly barren couples, eliminate scourges like smallpox and polio.
Alternative medicine is akin to a blind squirrel running willy-nilly in search of an acorn. While medicine has learned to replumb diseased heart vasculature, cure most digestive system ulcers, rescue babies with congenital heart defects and develop antibiotics and vaccinations that have brought a constellation of communicable diseases to heal, alternative medicine as accomplished … nothing.
Some alternative medicine will work. As science advances, it is always interesting to find out what pathways are involved and the reasons behind its effectiveness or lack thereof.
MEDICAL CANNABIS.
I will keep this short. In addition to centuries of use as a ‘medicine’, there are decades of research and study attesting to it’s efficacy, most of which has been conducted abroad. The vast majority of studies performed in the US have been funded by BigPharma and NIDA etc, and their mandate has been to look for the negatives. I highly recommend as a primer the book “Marijuana: Gateway to Health” by Clint Werner. Those truly interested in deeper research might want to start with the work of Dr Robert Mechoulam opf Hebrew University in Israel. There is increased ‘interest’ in the US and extremely positive results are being reported daily. Of course these studies are not being funded by those who control our lack of health care system. However even the ‘professionals in the Medical and Pharmaceutical are taking notice. They and their representatives in Congress have known for a long time what a potentially lucrative market this will inevitably become so watch out, here comes Merck, Pfizer etc, who will monopolise the market with sub optimal products in order to maximise their profits. Unfettered corporate control and political co-option is at the root of many of the ills of our society. The first step towards promoting public health and well-being is to overturn Citizens United. Just my 2c.
Patrick Monk. RRN. (Radical Registered Nurse). SF. Ca,
Another excellent point.
Killroy71
Will you just elaborate your point???
I hadn’t heard of the Natural Standard web site – but, on checking it out, it appears access to much of its content requires a fee – too bad, as it actually looked good – couldn’t even sign up for “free e-mail” without giving all sorts of info and “requesting a service rep to call”. Will try calling them Mon. to find out what the deal is – but it looks like it ain’t no “public service”
This why I don’t like the term alternative medicine because it makes it seem like it is the last choice or bad. Integrative therapy is a better word choice that shows respect to both traditional medicine and CAM. Not all CAM therapy is a sham. I do agree that the research quality and reporting needs to be better and that it is not as tightly regulated for safety and efficacy as traditional drug therapies. But on another token, someone can say the same thing about FDA regulated drugs. All of them have interactions, adverse events, and precautions for the most part. Instead of people being team CAM or team Pharmaceuticals, we need to realize that consumers are using both. Thus, physicians, even if they do not agree with the use of “alternative medicine”, should educate themselves on CAM and provide the best evidence/information to their patients. With that being said, healthcare professionals should be looking into Natural Standard as much as Pub Med because medicine is moving towards integrative therapy with or without them; consumer’s choice all the way.
When there is a new finding in the world of medicine, Serrapeptase has often been described as a cure for inflammation, pain, removing scar tissue. Serrapeptase is a naturally occurring enzyme that has shown proven results in treating a number of health concerns and ailments.
Peter – before you get too hung up on the “RN good, MD bad” routine, you might wish to consider another “division” – perhaps medicine turned from a healing to a business endeavor when men of the Western scientific tradition, realizing it to be a good source of wealth and prestige – excluded women from their ranks …
THE SILENCE IS DEAFENING.
Why are so few of the ‘experts’ in the medical and scientific community unwilling to openly discuss the potential medicinal benefits of cannabis. Based on a 1999 study “Cannaboids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants” the federal government in 2003 approved patent #6630567 for ‘cannabinoids and it’s derivatives’ and assigned it to DHHS. A recent report from the NCI in 2009 stated that cannabis “stops or slows the growth of certain cancer cells’. Decades of scientific peer reviewed studies, most from abroad – particularly Israel – attest to it’s efficacy.
We were not even aware of the endocannabinoid system untill it was ‘discovered’ in Dr Robert Mechoulam’s lab at Hebrew University in 1999.
Nearly all the funded ‘research’ in America has been focused on proving it’s deleterious effects, largely to support the abysmal failure known as “War on Drugs”, which has resulted in needless pain, suffering and premature death for possibly millions of patients who might have been helped. It has also contributed to the rise of the international drug cartels and the socio-economic disruption their activities have caused in countless communites, and the murders resulting from their lust for profit regardless of the human toll. However I contend that shocking as these ‘murders’ are, they pale in comparison to those committed by the ‘medical establishment’ and it’s ignorant, myopic, bottom line approach to caring for the sick. As RN’s we have our own version of the Hippocratic Oath, but maybe because we are the ones on the front line and responsible for the daily care and comfort of our patients, they are our bottom line. I can only assume that the Physicians version includes as it’s prime objective, ‘First do no harm to the Medical Industrial Complex, Big Pharma, Corporate interests and their shareholders; or engage in any activity that might threaten grant and funding sources, tenure, golfing vacations disguised as conventions, and the many other perks and kickbacks. The root and stem of most, if not all, of our ‘pharmaceutical’ products is from plant and animal sources. Coupled with our carbon based lifestyle we have now reached, or possibly passed, the tipping point which threatens our survival.
Remember that we had shamans, witch-doctors, wise women, herbalists etc, long before we had Doctors, PhD’s etc, and I contend that the environment of our planet then was far healthier for ALL species and life forms, animate and inanimate, and our survival did not hang in the balance. Who loves you baby – Mother knows best. We ignore and dismiss centuries of accumulated wisdom and knowledge at our peril. Anyone care to comment.
Patrick Monk.RN. Hospice Nurse Case Manager. SF. Ca, USA.