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Dr. Eudene Harry, board-certified in emergency medicine and holistic medicine, has been in practice for well over a decade.

Say the phrase “holistic or alternative medicine” in a room full of physicians and note the response.

Usually, you’ll see one of two reactions: the eyes may glaze over with a look of complete disinterest or eyes rolling to the back of the head as if to say “nonsense.”

Yet if asked to define it, they are not able to do so.

First, there is a subtle difference between holistic, alternative and integrative care. Another point to note: there is a perception of a difference between physicians and patients in these definitions.

The word alternative is often used by patients to mean a different but equally effective way to address particular health and wellness issues. From a physician perspective, alternative is often synonymous with inferior, hazardous care. It is also presumed the person seeking alternative care is poorly educated and ill informed.

What then is holistic medicine? Holistic stems from the root word haelon, meaning to make whole. Holistic medicine combines conventional and alternative modalities to promote optimal health. Optimal health is defined as the presence of vitality, not the absence of illness. Illness is seen as a dysfunction or imbalance of the whole person, not just an isolated event. This means the body (physical and environmental health), mind (mental and emotional health) and spirit (spiritual, social health and belief system) must be taken into account.

In holistic medicine, the primary intervention focuses on lifestyle adjustments, behavioral modification, education, relationship and spiritual counseling. These changes are the foundation of any treatment plan and cannot be viewed as alternative. Secondary intervention includes alternative therapies, botanical therapies, drugs and surgery. Finally, but perhaps most importantly, the healing power of love and compassion is acknowledged.

Some complementary therapies and techniques include, but are not limited to, acupuncture, meditation, nutrition, massage, yoga, botanical treatments as well as journaling. Interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among patients and medical professionals has led to a new model for more complete, patient-centered care. Realizing the growing trend of increasing use of alternative therapies, the NIH (National Institute of Health) conducts many studies. Some of these results can be found on www.pubmed.com.

In 2006, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) collaborated with AARP to assess the use of CAM among people age 50 and older and the circumstances under which they discuss such use with their primary care physicians. Of the respondents surveyed, the top two types of CAM used are bodywork (45 percent), which includes massage therapy and chiropractic manipulation, and herbal products or dietary supplements (42 percent). The third CAM use was mind/body practices such as hypnosis or meditation (15 percent). The research also found that 63 percent of respondents used complementary or alternative therapies, but only 31 percent had discussed this practice with their primary care doctor. Of the respondents who did not discuss CAM with their physicians, 42 percent said their doctor never asked; 19 percent said there wasn’t enough time during the appointment; 17 percent figured the doctor did not know much about the topic; and 12 percent thought the doctor would have been dismissive or discouraging about the therapy.

More importantly, the survey revealed why CAM therapies were used by the respondents. Two-thirds was for treatment of a specific health condition and for overall wellness (67 and 66 percent, respectively). Less than half have used CAM to supplement conventional medicine (45 percent), and to prevent illness (42 percent).

As alternative medicine continues to gain momentum into the mainstream of healthcare treatments, traditional medicine and patient belief systems regarding treatments for healthcare in this country has taken a major shift in ideas related to the mind, body and spirit when seeking answers to “whole” body treatment. This shift and focus has been taken one step further with the establishment of the first-of-its-kind medical facility at the Duke Center of Integrative Medicine (2006), which is dedicated to exploring healthcare options that treat the “whole person” mind, body and spirit. Although the Duke Center of Integrative Medicine acknowledges the potential benefits of alternative therapies, healthcare practitioners are still divided on conventional treatment for patients.

As accepted complementary and alternative medical practices become a part of the healing of patients, we have what appears to be a turf war among healthcare practitioners. We tend to put each other down, and try to invalidate each other’s approach to healthcare. In my opinion, this is detrimental to the patient’s care and/or consumer needs. First, dismissing your patients’ belief system immediately places a strain on the healing relationship that needs to present between physician and patient. Your patient will not feel comfortable confiding in you and valuable information may be withheld. The fact is patients are using alternative therapies. The best outcome would be if we are able to truly make these therapies complementary.

We as healthcare professionals should come together for the best interest of the people who solicit our advice and guidance for healthcare. Ongoing issues must be handled by teaching the patient to take responsibility of his/her own health. This can be therapeutic as well as cost effective. It is also a must to achieve optimal health.



July 2007

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