I think a root component of science is to define, label, and categorize all things that may or may not exist. Hence, the more we learn and discover, the more we label and divide. With this being said, I think that the terms complementary, alternative, and integrative are perfect terms to offset those of allopathic, biomedical, modern, or Western practice. Traditional healers, Ayurvedic Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), homeopathy, and naturopathy, all of which, while debatable have been proven over the test of time to be safe and effective for many ailments and health issues. Perhaps these modalities are deserving of a more appropriate label as “traditional effective non-pharmaceutical medical care” or something similar. 

I do take issue with the often-used terms of “Western” and “modern,” as these are somewhat self-serving. Western to what? Modern compared to what? Both of the latter are using insects and calling it something new as entomotherapy (Siddiqui et al., 2023) despite it being a method used for thousands of years. My point is that the lines between all of these medical modalities have become somewhat blurred over time and when used in particular circumstances. For traumatic physical injuries, such as those from vehicle or industrial accidents, injuries from gunshots, or other physical violence, Western allopathic medicine is the superior modality. For chronic issues and preventative interventions, I think not so much. Sometimes strong pharmaceuticals are necessary to manage the pain from an injury and/or lifesaving surgery. However, a patient could be weaned off strong meds and even replaced with non-pharmaceutical or less invasive follow-up therapies, depending upon the patient’s unique circumstances. Overall, I think that the US medical healthcare system is more of a “sick-care” program that is profit-driven and focuses on treating symptoms or after-the-fact conditions. Complimentary, Alternative or Integrative Health treatments often focus on preventative or less-invasive methods that often do not generate much profit to be more fully utilized by allopathic healthcare providers.

Very few insurances provide coverage for treatments outside of the biomedical modality. I have been personally impacted by this issue with family members and myself, all regarding having suffered from lower back and knee pain. Surgical procedures may be covered if are seen as necessary, while chiropractic or physical therapy coverage varies based on upon perceived effectiveness of the specific condition being treated. The cost for a microdiscectomy on a herniated disc can range between $20,000 and $50,000 which would be covered, but rest for a few weeks followed by chiropractic treatments at about $100 per session – 5 total, were not. Yoga sessions at $20 a class for about 20 classes, are not covered. Eventually, both chiropractic and yoga worked for my family members. For my injured knee, an osteopathic surgeon looked at me and shook his head in bewilderment when I declined to have a covered knee surgery procedure ($5000-$30000). I was able to manage the repair of my issue through appropriate exercise, free of cost other than time and effort on my part. Some sufferers have no option but to have surgery or use pharmaceuticals, especially if they have suffered some type of traumatic injury. For others, it is worth looking into non-invasive treatments first before committing to a surgery that may or not offer long-term positive results.

Some Western healthcare professionals will defer to why complementary, alternative, or integrative health methods sometimes are quite effective due to the placebo effect. However, I have found that the placebo effect is quite relative to allopathic medicine as well as other methods of alternative medicine. I have found that many allopathic medical professionals often look down upon alternative medicine and/or traditional methods as offering effectiveness by relying mostly upon the placebo effect. Ironically, the US healthcare system relies quite heavily on this perception that medical pharmaceuticals can fix many ailments. The power of suggestion plays a major part in alleviating pain and suffering. Roughly, between 10-90% of the efficacy of prescriptions comes down to the placebo effect. Factors such as trust in the doctor that prescribes the medication, and specific details regarding the medicine, such as its brand, price, name, and place of origin can all affect a patient’s potential belief in the medicine helping to improve their aliment (Meissner et al., 2011). While we keep hearing “follow the science”, science seems to show that the placebo effect is truly a real component of the US healthcare system.

References:

Complementary, alternative, or integrative health: what’s in a name? (n.d.). NCCIH. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/complementary-alternative-or-integrative-health-whats-in-a-name

Meissner, K., Kohls, N., & Colloca, L. (2011). Introduction to placebo effects in medicine: mechanisms and clinical implications. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences, 366(1572), 1783–1789. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2010.0414

I teach and offer lectures about holistic health, stress management, qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, meditation, phytotherapy (herbs), music for healing, self-massage, and Daoyin (yoga).

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Jim Moltzan

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