yin and yang
Recently Suzanne Somer released a book about alternative approaches to cure medical conditions as cancer. She went on TV explaining that traditional therapies -aka chemo and radiation- are not the only treatment available. She even went further declared that those show very dismal results and we should not call it a cure for cancer. Cancer is a serious condition that can be, in most cases, efficiently treated if diagnosed early and followed by a rigorous protocol. Cancer is nasty and in those circumstances you should apply a response equal to the treat: burly and potent.
Somer is right the drugs used against cancer have heavy side effects -even though it’s getting better and better. The actual treatments are based on the paradigm: kill the cancer before killing the healthy tissue. We are far from having won the war but we are winning battles. Doctors and scientists are working very hard to change the deal.Nonetheless this controversy made me think. As a scientist I’m trained to ponder all the aspects, both sides of the story – as in journalism. So I decided to see what was out there for those who want a alternative approach to medical conditions.
Here are the results of my journey…I decided to take advantage of all the potential of that multimedia journalism can offer: hope you will learn more about alternative medicine either by reading the post, watching the videos (bellow in the post), participating (answer the poll at the end), going to other websites to find more information or leaving a comment. Let be interactive and explore all the forms that information can take to inform you, my dear reader.
A center for an alternative
I started my journey wondering how “traditional’ medicine answers to those who doesn’t belive any more in it. As everyone I started by googling alternative medicine. I found that the National Institute for Cancer evaluates the impact, the efficiency of such therapies by conducting scientific studies. As a scientist working at UCLA I wondered whether UCLA had to offer: either to patients or by doing studies to establish the potential of such treatments.
UCLA has a Center for East and West Medicine. I went there to find out more about the center. Dr Malcom Taw and Suzie Lee answered my questions about the center and Eastern medicine. This center exists since 1993 offering Chinese medicine for those in pain, depressed, stressed or when traditional approaches have failed. The center is based on a combination of the best of both medicines. As Lee enlightened ” Eastern medicine needs western medicine and western medicine needs eastern medicine’. Like the Yin and the Yang. In order word medicine is entering a new word: integrative medicine is the way to go ie combining different approaches.
However she regrets that some patients may not be able to benefit from their approach, mostly those is financial difficulties as many health insurance companies don’t offer it. As Lee pointed out, “it should be a primary care. And not what people try after they tried everything else.” If you want to know more about the center: http://www.cewm.med.ucla.edu or if you want to find how and which insurances are covering Chinese medicine: http://www.daan.com/alternative-therapy-insurance-and-you/
The Center for East and West Medicine at UCLA the clinic of the last resort? Dr. Malcom Taw, M.D. Assistant Professor and Suzie Lee, nurse, both working at Center for East and West Medicine
Even though mentalities are changing referring patients to chinese medicine is still difficult. Dr. Meeyro Choe, M.D. fellow at UCLA, and her family employ Chinese medicine. However she still have conflicting thoughts when referring a patient.
Alternative medicine well named?
Meeyro Choe, M.D. fellow at UCLA.
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My Conclusion
After this journey I am convinced that other alternative exits,that the future of medicine lies in integrative medicine i.e a combination of multiple and different approaches. Everyone should found what works the best for each of us. But once again the key words: BE INFORMED when you take a decision.
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