A Word about Complimentary and Alternative Medicine –"CAM"

Over the past few years, since the advent of Medicare, Health Insurance, HMOs and every conceivable kind of healthcare organization and arrangement, we have become frustrated. Medical care has taken on a business atmosphere that has prompted one famous Doctor and Teacher to write "the present medical system satisfies no one."

Modern Medical treatments are nothing short of miraculous, saving peoples lives, curing illnesses, correcting injuries and deteriorations; helping to bring life forth, and preserve it in comfortable and functional fashion. Yet, it falls short of meeting the needs of many of us.

So while the HMOs were deciding how many minutes a patient’s problem would be allotted in the doctors office, and while the insurance company was calling someone in New York for approval of an MRI, people began to look for more satisfying alternatives.

People found Alternative and Complimentary treatments, and many people have benefited from them. The word alternative means that the form of treatment provided is used instead of regular, "standard" medical care. Complimentary implies that the treatments will be conducted in addition to "standard" techniques. An example of alternative treatment might be taking Chinese Herbal Tea for Hepatitis C instead of the standard antiviral medications currently available. A complementary treatment would be the practice of Yoga for chronic back pain, in addition to taking medication to decrease inflammation.

There are now many, many alternative and complementary treatments and practitioners available to patients. Most of these are modern day revivals of ancient methods (some thousands of years old) in use before the appearance of scientific methods. Some are simply scams. Few have been "scientifically proven" to be effective. But some of these techniques benefit some people, and because of this, alternative and complementary medicine now comprises almost 50% of all medical care in this country. Many physicians now include CAM offerings to patients.

I have included both complementary and alternative treatments in my practice in a variety of settings, from private practice to government medicine to the care of inmates in prisons. My patients have benefited greatly. I like to think that good doctors do not limit their patients to just one narrow type of treatment or care, if other approaches could help them. So in choosing your healthcare and fitness activities, be sure to consider the benefits of appropriate, safe alternative and complementary medicine.

John E. Barnett, MD
Specialist in Internal Medicine