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Working hand in hand:
Conventional and non-conventional medicine
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See more health stories in our 2008-2009 Medical and Wellness Directory
By Virginia L. Clark
Most Taoseños have received a massage without realizing they are also treating themselves to a “complementary” medicine technique. Increasingly over the past 20 years, massage and acupuncture treatments have become so commonly sought-out and physician-referred in many places like Taos, as to be an unquestioned self-care routine, almost as common as brushing your teeth.
Now called Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or CAM, some non-conventional medicine is not only taught along-side traditional therapies in American medical schools, it’s integration and research is government-mandated in the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), part of the U.S. government’s National Institutes of Health.
Notably, one of the more significant functions of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is to integrate scientifically proven non-conventional practices into conventional medicine. Nurses, physicians, physical therapists and other health workers frequently combine non-conventional with conventional medicine treatments.
There is a distinct difference between complementary and alternative medicine approaches.
• Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. Examples of complementary medicine are aromatherapy or relaxation therapy.
• Alternative medicine is used instead of conventional medicine, such as using a special diet to treat cancer rather than using surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.
Chiropractic manipulation and massage are deeply rooted Complementary medicine approaches, as are the herbs, supplements and so-called biologically-based medicines.
Expanding sphere of influence
Chair of the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Board of New Mexico, Caroline Colonna, DOM, of Willow Clinic in El Prado, finds the scope of practice of Oriental medicine in New Mexico continually expanding.
“Besides acupuncture we’re injecting hormones and treating many other systems,” Colonna said, and added that Taos pharmacists applaud the expanded community access to biologics that many doctors of Oriental medicine provide.
Once considered incidental, support groups and cognitive-behavioral therapies are now mainstays for overall improved outcomes of conventional medicine. Cognitive therapy teaches that thoughts determine how we feel at any given time.
“Energy” medicine is the flashiest of New Age trends, yet it is also as ancient as mankind itself. Officially considered Alternative medicine, with an entire philosophy underpinning its practice, “energy” medicine in the US deals with energy fields, both the measured and yet-to-be measured:
Other non-conventional medical approaches are Chi Gong, diet, meditation, homeopathy and therapeutic touch (such as Reiki, polarity therapy, Johrei and vortex healing).
Alternative and Complementary Medicine therapies range from symptom-based treatments to complete systems of theory and practice, such as traditional Oriental and Ayurvedic medicine, which, together with conventional Western medicine, offer Americans the best of all worlds. The “twain” between East and West has indeed met and better health for all is the promised outcome.
Notably, one of the more significant functions of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is to integrate scientifically proven non-conventional practices into conventional medicine. Nurses, physicians, physical therapists and other health workers frequently combine non-conventional with conventional medicine treatments.
Big difference
There is a distinct difference between complementary and alternative medicine approaches.
• Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. Examples of complementary medicine are aromatherapy or relaxation therapy.
• Alternative medicine is used instead of conventional medicine, such as using a special diet to treat cancer rather than using surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.
Biologically-based medicine
Chiropractic manipulation and massage are deeply rooted Complementary medicine approaches, as are the herbs, supplements and so-called biologically-based medicines.
Expanding sphere of influence
Chair of the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Board of New Mexico, Caroline Colonna, DOM, of Willow Clinic in El Prado, finds the scope of practice of Oriental medicine in New Mexico continually expanding.
“Besides acupuncture we’re injecting hormones and treating many other systems,” Colonna said, and added that Taos pharmacists applaud the expanded community access to biologics that many doctors of Oriental medicine provide.
Mind-Body medicine
Once considered incidental, support groups and cognitive-behavioral therapies are now mainstays for overall improved outcomes of conventional medicine. Cognitive therapy teaches that thoughts determine how we feel at any given time.
Energy medicine
“Energy” medicine is the flashiest of New Age trends, yet it is also as ancient as mankind itself. Officially considered Alternative medicine, with an entire philosophy underpinning its practice, “energy” medicine in the US deals with energy fields, both the measured and yet-to-be measured:
Other non-conventional medical approaches are Chi Gong, diet, meditation, homeopathy and therapeutic touch (such as Reiki, polarity therapy, Johrei and vortex healing).
Greater choice, greater success
Alternative and Complementary Medicine therapies range from symptom-based treatments to complete systems of theory and practice, such as traditional Oriental and Ayurvedic medicine, which, together with conventional Western medicine, offer Americans the best of all worlds. The “twain” between East and West has indeed met and better health for all is the promised outcome.
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| Taos midwives: Compassionate, nurturing, safe | 'Boil water order' lifted for El Prado |
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of The Taos News.
linda bence wrote on Jun 24, 2008 5:59 PM:
" Anyone who is relying on the diagnosis of an Eastern or a wholistic practitioner is playing Russian Roulette with their lives. Cancer, cardiac problems, diabetes and other common serious illnesses plaguing our country are best diagnosed by the x-rays and lab work of TRAINED medical doctors.
The very idea that they are non-physicians and injecting hormones into people is out-and-out scary and should be investigated. What kind of hormones are they injecting? Where do they get them? A lot of wholistic practitioners prepare salves and potions out of ingredients out of folk lore and medicine and they should be regulated. That's why you can't go into a drug store and purchase a medical preparation without a prescription.
If Eastern or wholistic medicine were legimate and a real cure, insurance companies would be reimbursing for their services. "
The very idea that they are non-physicians and injecting hormones into people is out-and-out scary and should be investigated. What kind of hormones are they injecting? Where do they get them? A lot of wholistic practitioners prepare salves and potions out of ingredients out of folk lore and medicine and they should be regulated. That's why you can't go into a drug store and purchase a medical preparation without a prescription.
If Eastern or wholistic medicine were legimate and a real cure, insurance companies would be reimbursing for their services. "
LydiaG wrote on Jun 26, 2008 12:29 PM:
" Linda Bence write, "That's why you can't go into a drug store and purchase a medical preparation without a prescription."
That only applies to the United States. In most of Europe and Canada you can but pharmaceutical grade medications without a prescription.
ANY time you visit a doctor or seek medical treatment, you are, in fact, a guinea pig. Medical science is far from exact and often can't fully rely on empirical analysis because people and conditions differ enough to make this a fuzzy area. "
That only applies to the United States. In most of Europe and Canada you can but pharmaceutical grade medications without a prescription.
ANY time you visit a doctor or seek medical treatment, you are, in fact, a guinea pig. Medical science is far from exact and often can't fully rely on empirical analysis because people and conditions differ enough to make this a fuzzy area. "
RandyNason wrote on Jun 26, 2008 3:50 PM:
" One refers to Eastern "medicine" as alternative medicine, passed down through generations. It's not science and it hasn't been measured. But, it is traditional knowledge and much of it is still practiced today.
The truth be known, long before corporations were established to synthetically produce prescription medications, doctors and scientists went out into the jungles to gather herbs. They (herbs) hold the oldest and most pure form of healing properties there are, many with very few side-effects. The big difference between prescription drugs and herbal remedies is that unlike powerful drug companies, the shamans and "witchdoctors" are pretty bad, in fact, have no interest whatsoever, at lobbying in Washington for special interest. Before one talks about alternative medicine as scarey and evil, one should look at how the market promotes the information that they choose to share with us. Many corporations would prefer the people remain ignorant of the truth and what is out there to know. "
The truth be known, long before corporations were established to synthetically produce prescription medications, doctors and scientists went out into the jungles to gather herbs. They (herbs) hold the oldest and most pure form of healing properties there are, many with very few side-effects. The big difference between prescription drugs and herbal remedies is that unlike powerful drug companies, the shamans and "witchdoctors" are pretty bad, in fact, have no interest whatsoever, at lobbying in Washington for special interest. Before one talks about alternative medicine as scarey and evil, one should look at how the market promotes the information that they choose to share with us. Many corporations would prefer the people remain ignorant of the truth and what is out there to know. "
Flying Elk wrote on Jun 30, 2008 8:48 AM:
" True medicine is neither complementory or alternative people heal on the inside if it works it works. Science has proven over and over again in drug test that a significant percentage of the control group heals because they have come to believe that they will. This is called the placebo affect. It suggest that the sugger pill is the most universal medication there is. In my practice I strive to help individuals reproduce the placebo affect within themsleves. They can continue with western medicine as well if they chose. Healing is not dependent on the coarse of action it always takes place within an individual. "
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taos_mesa wrote on Jun 24, 2008 1:00 PM:
Medicine is defined as "the science and art dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease".
Eastern "medicine" is not, was not, and never was based on "science". It was based on traditional beliefs, many of which are irrational, limiting and destructive.
The Chinese never understood what "bacteria" is nor did they account for it's disease causing properties in their models of "disease" based on "wind, fire, wood, metal, water" or "yin/yang".
So far to date, not one scientist has isolated "chi" in the lab.
This is the 21st Century.
Isn't it about time we cease to believe in "evil spirits" and started to believe in actual science? "