Summary: Alternative therapies One of my medical students sent me a marvelous spoof about the use of homeopathy in ED (attached). What is the place of alternative therapies? First thing to be remembered is that many conventional therapies are based on natural remedies - morphine is still extracted from opium poppies, some antibiotics come from bacteria. Adrenaline, or epinephrine, is a copy of an natural hormone/neurotransmitter. A lot of the argument against complementary medicines is that they aren’t well researched in radomised controlled trials but unfortunately we are finding that so much of current conventional medical research now is corrupted by the pharmaceutical industry that many of us have little faith in it. Most people would agree that anaphylaxis, injuries from a severe car crash, life threatening pneumonia require conventional medicine. Many of us believe that drugs are not the answer for anxiety, depression and insomnia and that alternative therapies are more likely to be beneficial in the long term. For many of us there is a big grey area in between these two extremes. Personally I have good genes, meditate, self hypnotise and occasionally use some conventional and some alternative treatments on myself. I encourage each of you to educate yourself about conventional and alternative therapies and to work with your patients to help them to find what will work for them. Very very rarely, those of us working in the medical model are required by our society to overrule an individuals choice about which mode of therapy they want for themselves or their loved ones. But generally the patient is best served by allowing them to chose their own mode of treatment. Personally I have worked with conventional therapies and a little alternative medicine for years. I now use conventional medicine but keep my eyes open for opportunities to share my experience of meditation and self hypnosis. For me these methods are the most effective for reminding patients of their own ability to be vital and alive. I encourage each of you to find you own way. A way that is true to your inner self, a way that you know best serves your patients and you. When we do this we are satisfied with our work and get the best possible results for our patients. Download audio
