| As part of an alternative health program on the radio, | | | | of their lives, which can make it easier for them to |
| a well-known naturopathic physician proposed an | | | | pass on. Art therapy helps people express their |
| experiment. He and his fellow natural remedies | | | | feelings, which can be very healing for many people, |
| practitioners would work with 20 cancer patients with | | | | especially those suffering from depression or other |
| life expectancies of less than one year. They would | | | | emotional issues. |
| use alternative therapies and health products in an | | | | The use of natural remedies is based on a strong |
| attempt extend the lives of the 20 patients. At the | | | | body of knowledge. It requires an understanding of |
| same time traditional medical doctors will work with | | | | the systems of the body and how the body works. |
| another 20 cancer patients with life expectancies | | | | Naturopathic practitioners have extensive experience |
| under one year. They would use chemotherapy, | | | | applying various methods to people with differing |
| radiation, and other allopathic tools. At the end of one | | | | symptoms and diseases. While most herbs, |
| year the two groups would compare survival rates to | | | | supplements, vitamins, digestive enzymes, and amino |
| see which approach resulted in more survivors. The | | | | acids are available without prescription, they should |
| naturopathic radio host was confident his group | | | | not be used without recommendations from qualified |
| would have more survivors than the other group. | | | | health providers. Users should have the opportunity |
| This bold proposal from the naturopathic physician | | | | to ask questions about the products before and |
| reflects the growing knowledge about and | | | | after they use them. And, as with any medication, |
| confidence in the healing properties of vitamins, | | | | users should stop using them if they have adverse |
| herbs, supplements, and enzymes for treating serious | | | | reactions. |
| conditions and eliminating the destruction practices of | | | | Anyone who uses alternative health products should |
| mainstream medicine. Alternative healing has become | | | | inform his or her primary care provider about them. |
| such a respected approach that the National | | | | The doctor may have additional suggestions for |
| Institutes of Health (NIH) has an entire division | | | | natural healing. Plus, the doctor can help make certain |
| devoted to studying alternative medicine and | | | | that there is no adverse interaction between |
| complementary medicine. NIH explains the difference | | | | prescription drugs and alternative products. Doctors |
| between these two approaches this way: alternative | | | | are increasingly sensitive to their patients' desires to |
| medicine is used in place of allopathic medicine, while | | | | use natural approaches to health and healing. |
| complementary medicine is used in addition to it. | | | | Many online retailers offer alternative health products, |
| Acupuncture, therapeutic massage, yoga, and other | | | | often at deep discounts. In selecting a retailer |
| physical modalities are often part of an alternative or | | | | consumers would be wise to look for a website that |
| complementary approach to healing. Counseling, art | | | | provides free information about its products, articles |
| therapy, and music therapy also have valuable roles in | | | | and ebooks about natural healing, and the opportunity |
| healing. Hospice services, for example, use music | | | | to communicate with a qualified medical professional. |
| therapy to calm the breathing of people at the end | | | | |