I think that one of the problems in integrating holistic or alternative or Eastern medicine into our Western model is that we, as consumers, are really the ones charged with the responsibility of doing it. And we are the ones without the medical education!
I know what an ob/gyn specializes in. I know what I'd go to a GP for. When you add naturopaths into the mix, you add a third level of necessary communication that rests with the patient. The patient must take information from all three doctors -- or more, if there are more involved -- and decide which path of treatment to take. Perhaps there's a chiropractor as well, or an acupuncturist. Perhaps there are somewhat conflicting ideas about how to treat a certain condition. I think that's a situation that's hard for many people.
With your daughter's ADD, for instance. I have ADD too, which wasn't diagnosed until I was 43. However, when I was diagnosed, as I went down the criteria on the psychological diagnostic test, I was about 20 for 20. It was easy to see that yes, this was exactly right. At that point, I could go for more testing, try medicine, try behavioral fixes, or try a natural approach. If I investigated all those options, it would mean more appointments, somewhat conflicting advice and some decisions that might be difficult to make. I think that for many people, that's just too much, both in terms of time and money.
It would be nice if we had a more common model in this country where doctor's offices combined specialties and actually worked together and communicated with each other in one practice. Where some conventional doctors and some "alternative" doctors all practice together, understanding each other's work and working together for a patient. I know it exists in a few places now; maybe over time, it will be more marketable, health insurance companies will recognize the needs and benefits, and people will feel that the system is more integrated.
Right now, the only thing that integrates all of that is the individual consumer. And I think that's probably a task that's too big for many of us.
I would love to read more from those who have integrated both holistic and conventional methods into their lives, and how it does or doesn't work within our health-care system.
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This is a really interesting topic.
I think that one of the problems in integrating holistic or alternative or Eastern medicine into our Western model is that we, as consumers, are really the ones charged with the responsibility of doing it. And we are the ones without the medical education!
I know what an ob/gyn specializes in. I know what I'd go to a GP for. When you add naturopaths into the mix, you add a third level of necessary communication that rests with the patient. The patient must take information from all three doctors -- or more, if there are more involved -- and decide which path of treatment to take. Perhaps there's a chiropractor as well, or an acupuncturist. Perhaps there are somewhat conflicting ideas about how to treat a certain condition. I think that's a situation that's hard for many people.
With your daughter's ADD, for instance. I have ADD too, which wasn't diagnosed until I was 43. However, when I was diagnosed, as I went down the criteria on the psychological diagnostic test, I was about 20 for 20. It was easy to see that yes, this was exactly right. At that point, I could go for more testing, try medicine, try behavioral fixes, or try a natural approach. If I investigated all those options, it would mean more appointments, somewhat conflicting advice and some decisions that might be difficult to make. I think that for many people, that's just too much, both in terms of time and money.
It would be nice if we had a more common model in this country where doctor's offices combined specialties and actually worked together and communicated with each other in one practice. Where some conventional doctors and some "alternative" doctors all practice together, understanding each other's work and working together for a patient. I know it exists in a few places now; maybe over time, it will be more marketable, health insurance companies will recognize the needs and benefits, and people will feel that the system is more integrated.
Right now, the only thing that integrates all of that is the individual consumer. And I think that's probably a task that's too big for many of us.
I would love to read more from those who have integrated both holistic and conventional methods into their lives, and how it does or doesn't work within our health-care system.
June 1, 2009 - 8:59amThis Comment
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