WHO to Promote Alternative Medicine

[Guest guest]

WHO to Promote Alternative Medicine

Thu May 16, 3:35 PM ET

By EMMA ROSS, AP Medical Writer

GENEVA (AP) - In response to a rapid increase in the use of alternative medicine

over the last decade, the World Health Organization (news - web sites) has

created the first global strategy for traditional medicine.

The U.N. health agency aims to bring traditional, or alternative, therapies out

of the shadows by intensifying research into their effectiveness and safety, by

promoting their proper use and regulation and by helping countries integrate

them into their health care services.

The strategy, launched Thursday at the annual meeting of the WHO's governing

body, is also designed to ensure traditional remedies aren't hijacked and

patented by big business and that medicinal plants are not wiped out by

overharvesting.

Traditional medicine - called complementary or alternative medicine in countries

where conventional Western, or modern, medicine dominates - includes remedies,

such as ginger root or shark cartilage, and diverse practices, such as

acupuncture, yoga, shiatsu massage and aromatherapy.

Traditional medicine has been used for millennia in parts of the developing

world and remains widespread there. In Africa, 80 percent of the population use

traditional therapies, WHO said.

In Europe and North America, where more than half of people have been treated

with alternative medicine at some time during their lives, use has doubled in

the last decade, the agency added.

Like conventional drugs, alternative treatments must be used correctly, and as

with conventional medications, tragedies have occurred. However, unlike with

Western medicine, consumers are mostly deciding for themselves what they use.

" There seems to be a growing gap between what you might call the 'uncritical

enthusiasts' and the 'uninformed skeptics,' " said Dr. Quick, director

of WHO's essential drugs and medicines policy unit. " The enthusiasts rave that

all of these methods work and don't want to recognize that herbal remedies that

are used the wrong way can kill. "

" On the other hand you've got the uninformed skeptics who don't believe that

there's any evidence for any of these and would prefer that they not be around, "

Quick said.

The reality is somewhere in the middle, he said.

There is now an urgent need to establish through rigorous scientific testing

what works and what doesn't, said Forkel Falkenberg, a professor of

international health at Sweden's Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

" This is a very important step for modern science, to engage in understanding

the complexity of complementary medicine, " Falkenberg said. " One cannot any more

marginalize this area. One needs to bring it into the light - to understand what

to do with it, how to take away the unsafe practices. "

He said the WHO's decision to create a strategy for alternative medicine is a

clear signal that the field is now being taken seriously.

Studies have shown success in treating conditions ranging from malaria and HIV

(news - web sites) to high blood pressure and lower back pain.

The WHO intends to help countries trying to evaluate therapies by providing

guidance on how to conduct the studies.

It will also provide countries with expert advice on setting up consumer

education programs to help people select the right therapies for the right

conditions and remind people that just because something is natural, it doesn't

mean it's safe.

The health agency will soon publish reports on more than 100 medicinal plants,

outlining what they are supposed to be used for, how certain it is that they

work and what questions remain.

It also plans to advise nations on how to ensure the quality of traditional

medicine products and practices. That involves regulation of drugs and proper

training and licensing of healers, WHO said.

More than 70 countries already regulate herbal medicines, said Dr. Xiaroui

Zhang, WHO's coordinator for traditional medicine.

" Only through regulation can we try to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy, "

of traditional remedies, she said.

In the Western world, Canada has gone farthest down that path. Seventy percent

of people in that country have used alternative medicine and one third of the

population uses it on a regular basis, said Dr. Lariviere, a senior medical

adviser in Canada's health department.

Regulations are expected to be sent to Parliament there by the end of the year,

he said.

___

On the Net:

Indian government's Indian systems of medicine and homeopathy site:

http://indianmedicine.nic.in

U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

http://nccam.nih.gov

[Guest guest]

I just hope they mean what they say and are not using this as an excuse to

get rid of the competition. If they decide to overegulate, God help us.

It's hard enough getting around the alternate diet idea.

By the way, how can big business patent a natural growing weed---LOL?

Max

In a message dated 5/25/2002 4:01:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

rpartovi@... writes:

<< WHO to Promote Alternative Medicine

Thu May 16, 3:35 PM ET

By EMMA ROSS, AP Medical Writer

GENEVA (AP) - In response to a rapid increase in the use of alternative

medicine over the last decade, the World Health Organization has created

the first global strategy for traditional medicine.

>>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/29/2002 3:31:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

ColoradoCarrol@... writes:

<< In my experience, just as every medicine evokes a different response in

different individuals, " natural, " " traditional, " or " alternative " therapies

are as unique as the individuals who use them. >>

Well said.

Max

[Guest guest]

Dear and others,

One of the things that comes to mind when I read this is that, once again, the

so-called " professionals " put themselves in the position of dictating to the

masses what can and can't be used for what. In my experience, just as every

medicine evokes a different response in different individuals, " natural, "

" traditional, " or " alternative " therapies are as unique as the individuals who

use them. With different blood types there are different foods that promote

health, and within our blood type group there are different sub-groups, such as

secretor and non-secretor. Most likely, there aren't any weekly menus within

this group that are identical. I hope we don't go to a " One Size Fits All "

mentality with " natural " remedies and find ourselves looking for doctors to

prescribe fish oil, B vitamins and manganese.

Switching to a world health regime in which all health care options are given

equal consideration will require a complete paradigm shift. The food pyramid

that is so prevalent now will have to be done away with and pharmaceutical

companies will have to be pleased to allow others to reap financial benefits in

an economy that they have dominated.

Whenever the ubiquitous " they " begin to move for reform, I wonder who " they " are

and to what their loyalties are tied. Many in the American Cancer Society have

been funded or employed by companies who sell chemotherapy pharmaceuticals, for

example. What is the motivation for this shift in thinking, who are the people

that are behind it, and how will this translate into practical use?

So, I suppose that like you, Michaeal, I'm skeptical. I'd like to have the

ability to take care of my own body -- or to ruin it with good intentions, as

the case may be. Until I see drugs that have more side effects than benefits

removed from the market, it will be difficult for me to feel confident that any

self-proclaimed " health " organization is really motivated by altruism.

Those are just some of my thoughts on the subject, though I genuinely hope for

the best! Thanks for passing on the information, , and thank you for your

comments, .

With sincere best wishes,

Carrol

Anders <Gaialandscapes@...> wrote: maybe...

I wonder how Western medicine suddenly becomes an expert about alternative

medicine, to determine what works and what doesn't, etc. when it has been

denying or very cautious about the legitimacy of alternative medicines until

now? So they will begin to do research now to determine what is safe or

dependable...perhaps they do not see the obsurdity in this proclamation. What do

they think has been going on for the last few millennia? Anyway, I guess it does

indicate something positive, I hope, although this nod is probably driven by the

dollar and all those profits they would like a share of.

Yes, perhaps I am somewhat skeptical. Almost all visits to see doctors with my

kids resulted in prescriptions for anti-biotics and a large bill. They had

absolutely no other help to offer and saw little relationship between diet and

health/illness. I can't help but think that this " gesture " will be used as yet

another way to try to discredit alternative medicine and/or attempt some greater

measure of control. I will nevertheless hope for a genuine and sincere

relationship.

By the way, I have enjoyed (and continue to enjoy) the dialogue among the

members of this group! Thanks!

WHO to Promote Alternative Medicine

NOW we're getting somewhere! I'm excited!

-

WHO to Promote Alternative Medicine

Thu May 16, 3:35 PM ET

By EMMA ROSS, AP Medical Writer

GENEVA (AP) - In response to a rapid increase in the use of alternative

medicine over the last decade, the World Health Organization has created

the first global strategy for traditional medicine.

The U.N. health agency aims to bring traditional, or alternative,

therapies out of the shadows by intensifying research into their

effectiveness and safety, by promoting their proper use and regulation

and by helping countries integrate them into their health care services.

The strategy, launched Thursday at the annual meeting of the WHO's

governing body, is also designed to ensure traditional remedies aren't

hijacked and patented by big business and that medicinal plants are not

wiped out by overharvesting.

Traditional medicine — called complementary or alternative medicine in

countries where conventional Western, or modern, medicine dominates —

includes remedies, such as ginger root or shark cartilage, and diverse

practices, such as acupuncture, yoga, shiatsu massage and aromatherapy.

Traditional medicine has been used for millennia in parts of the

developing world and remains widespread there. In Africa, 80 percent of

the population use traditional therapies, WHO said.

In Europe and North America, where more than half of people have been

treated with alternative medicine at some time during their lives, use

has doubled in the last decade, the agency added.

Like conventional drugs, alternative treatments must be used correctly,

and as with conventional medications, tragedies have occurred. However,

unlike with Western medicine, consumers are mostly deciding for

themselves what they use.

" There seems to be a growing gap between what you might call the

'uncritical enthusiasts' and the 'uninformed skeptics,' " said Dr.

Quick, director of WHO's essential drugs and medicines policy

unit. " The enthusiasts rave that all of these methods work and don't

want to recognize that herbal remedies that are used the wrong way can

kill. "

" On the other hand you've got the uninformed skeptics who don't believe

that there's any evidence for any of these and would prefer that they

not be around, " Quick said.

The reality is somewhere in the middle, he said.

There is now an urgent need to establish through rigorous scientific

testing what works and what doesn't, said Forkel Falkenberg, a professor

of international health at Sweden's Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

" This is a very important step for modern science, to engage in

understanding the complexity of complementary medicine, " Falkenberg

said. " One cannot any more marginalize this area. One needs to bring it

into the light — to understand what to do with it, how to take away the

unsafe practices. "

He said the WHO's decision to create a strategy for alternative medicine

is a clear signal that the field is now being taken seriously.

Studies have shown success in treating conditions ranging from malaria

and HIV (news - web sites) to high blood pressure and lower back pain.

The WHO intends to help countries trying to evaluate therapies by

providing guidance on how to conduct the studies.

It will also provide countries with expert advice on setting up consumer

education programs to help people select the right therapies for the

right conditions and remind people that just because something is

natural, it doesn't mean it's safe.

The health agency will soon publish reports on more than 100 medicinal

plants, outlining what they are supposed to be used for, how certain it

is that they work and what questions remain.

It also plans to advise nations on how to ensure the quality of

traditional medicine products and practices. That involves regulation of

drugs and proper training and licensing of healers, WHO said.

More than 70 countries already regulate herbal medicines, said Dr.

Xiaroui Zhang, WHO's coordinator for traditional medicine.

" Only through regulation can we try to ensure the quality, safety and

efficacy, " of traditional remedies, she said.

In the Western world, Canada has gone farthest down that path. Seventy

percent of people in that country have used alternative medicine and one

third of the population uses it on a regular basis, said Dr. Jean

Lariviere, a senior medical adviser in Canada's health department.

Regulations are expected to be sent to Parliament there by the end of

the year, he said.