INFO - Interesting rheumatologist in Plano/Dallas, TX

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Arthritis Foundation

Arthritis Today

2001

" More Than Medicine "

Excerpt:

J. Zashin, MD

Private practice in Dallas and Plano, Texas

Medical degree: Dartmouth Medical School

Other: He is listed in the book Best Doctors in America, and produces a

patient newsletter.

Philosophy of Care

" I try to treat my patients the way I would want to be treated. I listen to

my patients, and I like to solve their problems. Often, that takes a

combination of conventional and alternative therapies. It takes time, so I

elected to drop off most managed care plans so I am able to devote more time

to patients and continue to greatly enjoy my practice. "

How He Came to Alternative Practices

About six years ago, Dr. Zashin had an elderly patient with chronic

abdominal discomfort and rheumatoid arthritis. He was always grumpy because

of his pain. " One day, he came in smiling. He said acupuncture had eased his

pain. I thought, 'Boy, if it can help this guy, I need to know about this,' "

says Dr. Zashin.

Dr. Zashin learned how to do acupuncture and at about the same time became

increasingly interested in the herbal and other alternative therapies

patients were asking him about, especially those patients who weren't

getting relief from conventional therapies.

" I could have said that there were no studies about these treatments and

ignored their questions, " Dr. Zashin says. " But I decided to look into what

was known about the specific therapy, so I could provide them with the

available information - positive, negative or neutral - to make an informed

choice. "

In most cases, it's the patient who brings up alternatives, but Dr. Zashin

will suggest them when conventional therapies alone aren't enough. Some

patients, like Pam McGee, 53, are a bit surprised to hear a physician

recommend an alternative therapy. " But it was a pleasant surprise, because

it really does work, " says McGee, who is finding that acu-puncture eases her

osteoarthritis (OA) and fibromyalgia pain.

Alternatives Recommended

Dr. Zashin says his patients have gotten good pain relief from a form of

electroacupuncture that uses low frequency electrical stimulation to help

release endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.

" I'm definitely interested in herbs, but give people warnings that they are

not FDA-approved and may have drug interactions, " he says.

Dr. Zashin sometimes suggests bromelain and boswellia for RA or OA; feverfew

for migraines; and ginger for headache pain. He's prescribed DHEA for women

with lupus (a prescription not over-the-counter version), and he says some

patients with fibromyalgia have benefited from guaifenesin, an expectorant

often used in cough syrups. But he says he cautions against some

supplements, such as St. 's wort, because of side effects or potential

drug interactions.

Therapies that Dr. Zashin thinks don't have much effect include homeopathy

and magnets, " But if someone's doing something that doesn't do any harm and

says they are getting some benefits, I don't discourage it. However, I don't

recommend it. "

Dr. Zashin recommends mind-body therapies, including meditation, and

believes in the power of prayer and spirituality. " We have a weekly prayer

session in our office where my staff will get together and pray for patients

who we feel would particularly benefit from some extra thoughts, " he says.

http://www.arthritis.org/resources/arthritistoday/2001_archives/2001_03_04_MoreT\

hanMedicine.asp

Not an MD