William Penn Life, 2002 (37. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
2002-02-01 / 2. szám
Alternative measures p. An introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine y IN THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF THIS SERIES, we reviewed the five basic type of complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM): alternative medical systems, such as acupuncture, homeopathy and naturopathic medicine: mind-body interventions, such as meditation, art therapy and hypnosis; biological-based therapies, like herbal or orthomolecular therapies; manipulative and body-based methods, including chiropractic and osteopathic medicine; and energy therapies, such as qi gong, reiki and therapeutic touch. The number of people seeking better health through such treatments and health care practices is growing. More and more people are reportedly finding relief through CAM from conditions for which mainstream medicine offered no relief. Many more claim to be leading healthier, happier lives because of some form of CAM. If you are among those considering CAM, be wary. Despite the best efforts of watchdogs from government and the medical profession, there are numerous CAM practitioners making unsubstantiated claims-and making a lot of money by conning ill, and sometimes desperate, people. In this month’s installment, we offer suggestions for avoiding such medical con artists. What follows are guidelines for what you should consider before seeking alternative treatments. Tne decision to use complementary and alternative treatments is an important one. The following are topics to consider before selecting an alternative therapy: the safety and effectiveness of the therapy or treatment, the expertise and qualifications of the health care practitioner, and the quality of the service delivery. These topics should be considered when selecting any practitioner or therapy. Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of the Therapy Generally, safety means that the benefits outweigh the risks of a treatment or therapy. A safe product or practice is one that does no harm when used under defined conditions and as intended. Effectiveness is the likelihood of benefit from a practice, treatment, or technology applied under typical conditions by the average practitioner for the typical patient. Many people find that specific information about an alternative and complementary therapy's safety and effectiveness may be less readily available than information about conventional medical treatments. Research on these therapies is ongoing, and continues to grow. You may want to ask a health care practitioner—whether a physician or a practitioner of complementary and alternative health care—about the safety and effectiveness of the therapy or treatment he or she uses. Tell the practitioner about any alternative or conventional treatments or therapies you may already be receiving, as this information may be used to consider the safety and effectiveness of the entire treatment plan. Do some research For general, nonscientific information, thousands of articles on health issues and CAM are published in books, journals, and magazines every year. Articles that appear in popular magazines and journals may be located by using the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature available in most libraries. For articles published in more than 3,000 health science journals, consult the Index Medicus, found in medical and university libraries and some public libraries. Be an informed health consumer and continue gathering information even after a practitioner has been selected. Ask the practitioner about specific new research that may support or not support the safety and effectiveness of the treatment or therapy. Ask about the advantages and disadvantages, risks, side effects, expected results, and length of treatment that you can expect. Speak with people who have undergone the treatment, preferably both those who were treated recently and those treated in the past. Optimally, find people who have the same health condition as you and who have received the treatment. Remember that patient testimonials used alone do not adequately assess 6 William Pnin tiff, February 2002
