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Some people say that using conventional drugs cancels out homeopathic effects. But realistically most people won’t get off of something that makes them feel better and if they are under the care of a doctor you would be wise to not try to supercede a legal authority. Because it can’t be well proved the point is moot.
But having had some experience, I have found that conventional drugs and vitamins will mask symptoms so the homeopath can’t detect the direction of the case. I have had to ask the patient what the symptoms were like when they weren’t taking the drug to approximate the current case and work with them closely for subtle signs of improvement. The patient was able to talk to the doctor about weaning them off of the drugs if possible and left that part in the physician’s ballpark. Make sure that the physician knows that a complementary medicine is being tried for the best working relationship even though you may never meet them.
About one in three Americans uses some sort of alternative medicine, from herbs to acupuncture. But only 30 percent of those people tell their doctor. That’s unfortunate. While alternative medicine may be helpful, it can also be risky. It’s best to keep your doctor informed so you can integrate the best of both worlds.
Many doctors used to assume that patients who turned to alternative care were dissatisfied with them and their mainstream medical approach. But a study of some 1,000 patients, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that’s not the case; rather, alternative seekers were simply more likely to hold a “holistic” view of health care. It’s good to know that most people who turn to alternatives aren’t motivated by a negative attitude about conventional care. After all, the two types should be viewed as complementary.
-- Alternative vs. Conventional Medicine: Making Ends Meet, Consumer Reports on Health, August 1998, p. 11, Marvin M. Lipman, M.D.
Harvard researchers found that 33% used alternative medicine in 1990 while a Stanford researcher found about 40% in 1998.
