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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 5 myths of alternative medicine By Dr. Elizabeth Smoots Herald Columnist Dietary supplements. Meditation. Chiropractic manipulation. Acupuncture. These are just a few of the alternative approaches that are gaining popularity. What do they have in common? All take advantage of your body's innate ability to heal itself using the mind, body and spirit. And many of the practices are quite promising. Few, however, have been rigorously or extensively studied using scientific techniques. Hence, the name complementary and alternative medicine, defined as products and practices that lie outside of conventional medicine. Growing numbers of people are using alternative medicine to prevent and treat disease. A nationwide government survey shows that nearly half of adults have tried it at some point in their lives, and 36 percent reported using it in the past year. Especially likely to turn to complementary treatment are people with acute and chronic medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, back pain and depression, according to government data. Here I'll try to dispel five common myths about alternative medicine. Myth No. 1: Natural means safe. Fact: This is not necessarily true. Think of mushrooms that grow in the wild. Some are safe, others poisonous. The safety of many such treatments isn't known because it hasn't been studied thoroughly. All treatments can have side effects, and alternatives are no exception. For example, the herb kava has been linked to liver damage. And bitter orange or ephedra supplements can contribute to heart attack, stroke or irregular heart beats. Lack of regulation of dietary supplements is another issue. Some products are tainted with contaminants or toxic substances. Other products may not contain the amount of substances listed on the label. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration does not require that they be listed at all. Instead, it's left up to the manufacturers to monitor themselves. Myth No. 2: You don't need to tell your doctor you use alternative therapies. Fact: Letting your doctor know about all the treatments you're using is an excellent idea. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines as well as all complementary and alternative medicine treatments and therapies. Keeping your doctor well-informed allows for fully integrated care and helps minimize the risk of harmful interactions. It also helps you stay in control and more effectively manage your health. @1. Body Copy Bold Lede-in Name:Myth No. 3: Alternative approaches have no effect on conventional medicine. Fact: Alternative treatments can interact with conventional ones. Taking the herb St. John's wort, for instance, can make certain prescription medications less effective. Likewise, some herbs interact with anesthetic drugs given during surgery. Myth No. 4: The best product will claim to provide a quick fix or miracle cure. Fact: Such statements are a sign of an unrealistic or false claim. You should regard with suspicion any promise for a quick cure, miracle cure, cure-all, exclusive product, innovative product, new discovery, magical discovery or secret formula. Myth No. 5: Alternative therapies are a poor substitute for drugs. Fact: Scientists originally derived the heart-drug digitalis from the foxglove plant. Such therapies provide innovative approaches for addressing illness, and some may offer fewer side effects compared with conventional options. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, supports research on alternative therapies. Until more is known, it's a wise idea to take precautions. Carefully research each remedy before you buy. Only purchase products made by reputable companies. And be sure to keep your doctor in the loop. For more information: National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine, www.nccam.nih.gov. Contact Dr. Elizabeth Smoots at doctor@practicalprevention.com. Before adhering to any recommendations in this column, consult your health care provider. © 2008 Elizabeth S. Smoots

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