Romance between scientific and alternative medicine

MANILA, Philippines - A “romance” between scientific and alternative medicine is possible.

We are opting for integrated approach to health. We do not negate or defy the importance of scientific medicine. It is a fact that scientific medicine is crucially important, especially in treatment of emergency cases.

The integration of alternative therapies into the scientific mainstream, such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, and other viable therapies is a new paradigm shift.

In the Philippines the so-called “romance” between scientific and alternative medicines remains to be seen, but in other countries the two types of medicines have gone on to “marriage.”

Many potent drugs are actually derived from plants.

Quinine, an anti-malarial drug, comes from the bark of the Cinchona ledgeriana in South America. The heart drug Digoxin comes from a tropical legume known as Mucuna deeringiana.

Digitalis purpurea, used in anti-cancer treatment is derived from Rosy periwinkle in Madagascar. Pacletaxi bark extract is used in anti-cancer treatments such as metastatic ovarian. Many pharmaceutical drugs have been clinically tried for years only to be withdrawn from the market because of their toxicity or obnoxious effects. Studies of herbal medicines take into consideration the synergistic effects of all the active ingredients.

It is high time patients are given the freedom of choice in the kind of therapy he/she finds suitable and comfortable with.

There is a globalization of various healing modalities. At the office of the Alternative Medicine in Washington, homeopathy is already recognized as alternative therapy. It is being practiced in Germany.

The National Institute of Health in the US has also recognized acupuncture and so does the World Health Organization (WHO).

American physicians have experimented with the importance of relaxation response and meditation for heart patients, with positive results. Some have looked into the integration of mind and body as an important paradigm for healing.

Queen Elizabeth of England has been applying homeopathic medicine and using nutritional food supplements. Prince Charles has also given his nod to put up the Bristol Cancer Clinic which uses alternative medicines and mind and body wellness. Even the Institute of Health in Washington has already accepted homeopathy and acupuncture as modalities for healing. In China, traditional medicines have been in existence since the time of Emperor Wang Ti. More than a billion Chinese are using these medicines, while Filipinos have long since practice their own “hilot”.

An alternative medicine group has underscored the need for alternative herbal supplements and health care modalities to augment the country’s need for healthcare services. Alternative herbal medicines were primarily concocted and alternative therapeutic methods were introduced to provide for the health care needs of hard-up Filipinos.

Contrary to claims that these medicines mostly from US, Australia, China, and other Asian countries, lack credible scientific findings, all of them underwent rigid research, studies and laboratory tests such as bacterial, viral, and toxicity as required by their own government before they were imposed.

“Iridology” for example, is a diagnostic modality which originated in Germany during the 18th century. It is non-invasive, accepted and being practiced for several years now in the US, Britain, and Russia.

It is rather unfair to push for the banning of the advocacy, promotion, and marketing of these herbal, natural food supplements and alternative modalities in healing.

The Philippines, globally well known as land of healers, abound in traditional medicines and psychic healing handed down through oral tradition. There are unclassified 13,000 medicinal plants and herbs not to mention the world famous taxol for cancer cure found at the bark of trees at Mt. Pulog, situated in the northern part of the Philippines. Age old pine trees in Baguio City and acacia or narra are necessary combatants of free radicals and toxins devastating the human body found in polluted air, toxic lead gas emissions, metal toxicities such as sulfur, mercury and arsenic poison found in bodies of water.

Eventually even before the coming of the Spaniards in 1521, Filipinos are already practicing traditional modalities of healing such as naturopathy or nature cure, bone setting (hilot) or chiropractic methods and herbology. Naturopathy is simply natural method of healing. Foremost of this is using their visionary powers, breathing powers and energy transfer using their hands. Most of the time, they invoke the assistance of patron saints, Sto. Niño, Mother Mary and angels. These psychics use herbal medicines, body manipulations and aromatherapy. Albularyos are the gurus of wellness and display unique methods of healing. For example, a naturopath uses coconut vinegar to wipe the body of a patient afflicted with high fever. Another natural method is soaking both feet of a patient on a basin of lukewarm water with sea salt in case of colds. Traditional chiropractic is applied by bonesetters for dislocated bones located in the arms, feet and spinal cord of a patient, while herbology uses indigenous herbs. For example, medicinal herb sambong is boiled and drank to disintegrate kidney and gall stones; lagundi for cold coughs and asthma and charantia momordica (ampalaya) or bitter gourd well known for its antidiabetic medicinal property and garlic not only used as spice for cooking but can actually lower high cholesterol level.

The centuries-old traditional Chinese medicine must have exerted huge influence on traditional medicine practitioners. They follow the oriental meridian points in acupressure and place utmost importance in achieving equilibrium between the yin and yang. The chi energy is very crucial in every human in promoting holistic health. In remote areas where healthcare delivery is scarce, “manghihilot” and “herbolarios” (folk medicine men) and psychic healers using herbs, concoct medicinal plants and herbs together with prayers and energy healing are well sought and well prized healthcare support up to now.

It is undeniable that the Philippines has gained a strong foothold in the world map so that there’s a big influx of foreign tourists from different parts of the world who seek optimum health and healing in different parts of the country.