Alternative Therapy.

(Or, as some prefer, Complementary Therapy). But 'Alternative' is what is says. An alternative to orthodox medicine. 'Complementary' means to complement orthodox medicine. One has to make a personal choice.Those who know about this can look away, but having run an Alternative Therapy clinic for some years my wife and I do know a bit about it. There sometimes seems a lot of misunderstanding about what is and what is not 'Alternative'. Times have changed drastically. 30 years ago a GP could be severely reprimanded by the BMA for introducing a patient to Alternative therapy, but now there is more regulation (and rightly so) so GP's refer patients to Osteopaths and have Chiropractors at their clinics all of whom belong to their appropriate and registered professional organisations. In our clinic we had Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Homeopaths, Herbalists, Gestalt Psychotherapists, Counsellors, Acupuncturists and other 'Light Touch' therapists. Homeopaths and Herbalist are the only two who actually 'prescribe' but not, of course, drugs, which can only be prescribed by a GP. Herbal medicine is now strictly regulated and membership of the Nation Institute of Medical Herbalists is necessary to practise. We found, that in relation to nervous illness, the most effective was Psychotherapy and Counselling, sometimes together with medication. Medical Herbalists come second and can have good results. (Bach flower remedies are also useful for milder cases of nervous illness). A study was done a few years ago and it was found that Acupuncture and Homeopathy did not rate high for nervous problems. (The practitioners would disagree). For purely physical illness people usually came as a last resort having been to doctors and had got nowhere. They usually came when on drugs and, after treatment, could taper the drugs off having consulted their GP. I AM talking of physical illness.Some GP's were very supportive; others not so especially the older 'diehards'. That has changed. Looking back I am glad regulation was introduced as anyone could set up in any of the above therapies with no proper training. To suggest to a patient that they should come off any therapy prescribed by their doctor, is and was considered unethical, as would any attempt at diagnosis. All the practitioners had 'red flags' as indicators of a potentially dangerous medical problem and would refer the patient to their GP. Therapists stick to their own therapy at which they were skilled. They are not diagnosticians. If a doctor wants to practice, for instance, Acupuncture, then the BMA have ruled that they must do the appropriate training. A step indeed in the right direction. Hope this helps to clarify a rather misunderstood form of treatment. J.

[BriarRose]

Thanks, Jonathan, that's really useful! I don't think many people would dismiss "Alternative" or "Complementary" medicine out of hand - i certainly wouldn't. I used St John's Wort at one time for depression; it DID help - obviously one can't rule out the "placebo" effect - but unfortunately, probably due to my age, it made my ankles swell, which I found worrying. I told my GP - she had no problem with the St John's Wort - which is prescribed in some countries - but agreed that the side effects were, for me, a no-no! I've also found massage helpful in the past - can't afford it now - so I would be the last to criticise/dismiss properly regulated forms of therapy. But, as you so wisely say, this must be done under professional guidelines/accountability. A quick story might illustrate what I mean.

When i was in the NHS, we were offered the opportunity of doing a Neuro-Linguistic Programming Course. Now, I know people who have found this absolutely wonderful. Perhaps those delivering the programme were not the best qualified, but I found it unimpressive. However, my point is that, on the last occasion, the facilitators offered to teach us to hypnotise people!!!! I refused; during the discussion, i said that I had had hypnosis for smoking cessation, and it hadn't worked. Had a long and slightly acrimonious discussion with the facilitators, who said "You say you had hypnosis and it didn't work, but now you're scared of it!!??" "I'm not SCARED of it!" I retorted. "BUT (and it's a big but) I think it is entirely inappropriate to teach it outside any professional/clinical code of practice!!! AND I can think of NO circumstances in which I would feel justified/want to "hypnotise" my staff!!!!!" I was not popular with the facilitators, but I think this is the sort of attitude that gets "alternative" or "complementary" a bad name. What if I HAD succeeded in hypnotising someone - and then couldn't get them "back"??? The mind boggles!

Bless you, Jonathan, you are SUCH an asset to this site!

Lots of love as always

Rose

xxxx

[Hidden]

Exactly, Rose. Any therapy practised by inexperienced or unqualified people is not only wrong but dangerous. That is why most are now regulated by an Act of Parliament. In Europe and I think in Ireland, St. John's Wort is a prescription only drug. Perhaps it should be here. I did not know that NLP included Hypnotherapy. Must have been an 'extra'. Poor you. But as we discussed recently there is a time to speak out. It is choosing the right and appropriate moment that is essential. Love. jonathan.

[BriarRose in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, Jonathan - well, I did feel it an important point - especially in the NHS, for crying out loud!!!!

Love, Rose xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Jonathan,

I have only just read this thread, but you are so right in what you say. I used to be a masseuse, I wish I could still practise, because I loved it, unfortunately arthritis took over. The benefits of complementary medicines speak for themselves. I had a lady who had cancer and after speaking with her specialist he advised me to go ahead with the treatment because of the benefits she would receive. I only wish there were more specialists like him, and I am talking about, at least, 10 years ago. Also my friend, who has dementia, needs massage to help her relax. What is good, at present, that she has got 6 free massages, because of some funding that is available.

Your posts are very informative Jonathan.

Eunice xx

[ellabella]

You can hypnotise me any time LOL xxx