“ Smart physicians know ...
alternative treatments should be considered and evaluated on a " case by case " basis . " Total health " for a patient , includes their entire portrait of health ... diet , exercise , and other lifestyle factors that extend beyond prescriptions and office visits .”
The Conundrum Where alternative medicine and treatment starts to become an obstacle for physicians is when they lack the concrete scientific evidence to support their healing or therapeutic properties . Complicating the data is that alternative treatments range substantially one from another , and while some have been proven beneficial as a supplement to conventional medicine , others don ' t stand up as an adequate treatment alone .
Further muddying these matters are the false and sometimes “ miraculous ” health claims made by those selling or marketing alternative treatments . A quick scroll through your Facebook page will probably yield multiple posts from friends touting the success and health benefits of the latest oil , supplement , or drink . Another quick scroll on those friends ’ profiles will most certainly show that they have no medical education or training . Despite these friends lack of formal medical education , they are friends , and to many , what your friends say , especially when it comes to health , is emotionally appealing .
What Can Physicians Do ? Smart physicians know that these alternative treatments should be considered and evaluated on a " case by case " basis . " Total health " for a patient , includes their entire portrait of health , including their diets , exercise routines and other lifestyle factors that extend beyond prescriptions and office visits . Yet , when and ( more importantly ) how a physician can express themselves on the matter of alternative treatment should be approached with care .
Physicians in the United States maintain a rigid divide on their positions when it comes alternative medicines , with some open to the prospect of integrating them into the conventional medicine sphere and others who regard them as little more than marketing buzzwords and bunk . While neither position is inherently " wrong ," there are approaches that can land working physicians in front of the medical licensing board or undergoing costly litigation .
Advocating too strongly for an alternative medicine or treatment , one that lacks sufficient data to substantiate medical treatment or prescription , can leave physicians vulnerable to malpractice lawsuits or accusations of exaggerated claims . On the opposite end of this spectrum , vehemently opposing alternative medicines can alienate adherent patients who are already using alternative treatments subsequently causing them to feel less inclined towards transparency when sharing their medical histories , and less compliant in their treatment regimens later on .
Don ' t Underestimate Them When asking for a patient ' s health history , well-meaning physicians may opt to skimp on patient inquiries about alternative medicines . Perhaps this is to avoid making patients feel uncomfortable , or because they see most alternative treatments as harmless derivatives from plants and herbs ( i . e . natural sources .) Indeed , many herbal supplements are harmless , but this doesn ' t mean they can ' t pose a threat to patients . The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database has identified over 1,600 potential interactions between natural products and conventional drugs . Additionally , a recent JAMA Internal
“ Smart physicians know ...
alternative treatments should be considered and evaluated on a " case by case " basis . " Total health " for a patient , includes their entire portrait of health ... diet , exercise , and other lifestyle factors that extend beyond prescriptions and office visits .”
Dylan Chadwick
Medicine article reported that 51 % of all United States FDA Class I recalls from 2004-2012 involved alternative supplements . Though many alternative supplements aren ' t harmful , they can interact with other drugs and medications a patient takes , so a little background checking is crucial .
When patients follow or adhere to any kind of purported medical or health advice from an alternative care provider , questions of licensure and credentials come into play . Chiropractors and massage therapists are required to be licensed in the particular state they ' re practicing in , but other alternative care givers don ' t have to follow the same rigid requirements . Medical doctors , as trained specialists in a field of medicine , are inclined to know of any patients lifestyle activities or behaviors , particularly in cases where harmful care advice has been given .
Don ' t Overestimate Either ... All that being said , physicians shouldn ' t be too quick to sound any alarms over a patient who seeks alternative treatments . In many cases , the efficacy of these treatments exist largely in the form ...
Read the rest of this and other articles at www . PhysiciansOfficeNews . com
35