Why Complementary Medicine is so Popular

Why are millions of Americans actively seeking out complementary medicine?  The lack of robust supportive evidence for many of these treatments has not diminished their appeal.  Indeed, demand for them is higher than ever and I anticipate continued growth.  Here in Ohio, the legislature has sanctioned medical marijuana for nearly 2 dozen maladies in the absence of persuasive and sound scientific evidence of efficacy.  For my rant on this, I will refer you to a prior post and I would welcome your response.

Why then do intelligent and informed patients seek out alternative medical treatments that are unproven and are unlikely to be covered by their insurance companies?   In most cases, they do so because conventional medicine has failed and frustrated them.  Every medical specialist and general physician sees patients with recalcitrant medical issues that defy diagnosis and successful treatment.  Is it any wonder why such patients would seek other avenues for relief and understanding?

If your medical professional is not helping your chronic back pain, fatigue, depression, longstanding stomach pain, migraines and sleep disorder, wouldn’t you be open to alternative approaches?  Of course, you would.

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There has been a dismissive attitude toward complementary medicine by conventional physicians, although this has abated.  While I am still a data driven professional, I have opened my mind somewhat on this issue over the years.  Here’s why.

• Many of my patients also receive complementary medical treatments which they believe in.  I want to support their efforts to improve and maintain their health.  If I suggest that these treatments are illegitimate, then this will adversely affect our doctor-patient relationship.

• While physicians like me claim fidelity to medical evidence, several times each day we are making recommendations to patients in the absence of persuasive, supporting medical evidence.  For example, gastroenterologists like me have recommended fiber supplements to our irritable bowel patients for decades.  Evidence please?    We are not as data driven as we profess.  The proverb that begins with, people who live in glass houses… is apt here.

• Let’s show some humility.  Seasoned physicians know how little we really  know.  Just because a treatment may not be scientifically proven, doesn’t mean it can’t be effective.  Keep an open mind.

But I maintain that complementary medicine, like all medical treatments, should subject their therapies to rigorous scientific testing.  Why wouldn’t they?  And, it they haven’t or won’t, what does this communicate?