Holistic health (Complementary and Alternaive Medicine (CAM)) approaches have become popular over the last 20 years among mainstream Americans. Due to the way these practices are currently regulated, health fraud runs rampant in this area of healthcare. Many modalities are simply creative ways to harness the power of belief (placebo). Some are dangerous for people with specific medical conditions and in combination with prescription and over-the-counter medications and specfic foods. Many claim they have clinical or scientific research to support their health claims; however, when an science-educated person reviews that "research" it is clear the studies are not true medical studies that have undergone scrutiny by trained medical research professionals, and have many misleading flaws in their design and representation of results (claims). There are jewels and treasures buried amidst the muck, and armed with some knowledge, you can safely navigate your way through these uncharted waters.

Background

       Every culture's practice of medicine except conventional Western medicine includes spiritual practices in the treatment and prevention of disease. However, our culture is increasingly moving towards the belief and practice that physical health is indeed partly spiritual.

       In a recent study, more than 8 in 10 Americans said they thought prayer or meditation was a necessary adjunct for medical treatment of an illness. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed felt a doctor should either discuss a patient';s spiritual needs, suggest prayer, or offer to refer them to a spiritual counselor.

        An increasing number of scientific studies conducted at major medical centers suggest that those who regularly participate in an organized spiritual practice experience better mental and physical health. There are even some studies suggesting that long-distance prayer can influence healing.

        Every culture's practice of medicine except conventional Western medicine includes spiritual practices in the treatment and prevention of disease. An increasing number of scientific studies conducted at major medical centers suggest that those who regularly participate in an organized spiritual practice experience better mental and physical health.

       Most complementary approaches are borrowed from other cultures and focus on using the mind and our vital force rather than our physical biochemistry. Many are popular methods of stress management and already used extensively in the fields of rehabilitation and behavior medicine. I strongly encourage each of you to use your spiritual intuition and your intellect, when choosing any modality as a health care treatment.

        Each culture has characteristic hand crafted items with special symbolic meaning -- Native American rain sticks, totems and dream catchers, Japanese wood block prints and bonsai gardens, African beaded jewelry and Adinkra cloths, Chinese calligraphy and teapots, Caribbean dolls, Mexican water pitchers, Aboriginal stone carvings, Chinese and Vietnamese lion dance puppets, and so on. Many cultures have symbolic masks, used for communication and ritual.

        Fabric, textiles and garments often have symbolic meaning, and are frequently used for spiritual and physical healing rituals. Each culture has its own rich history including Japanese kimonos, Vietnamese Ao Dai, African adire cloths and Native American hand-woven rugs. Basket weaving and quilting are also ancient healing traditions in some cultures. Every culture uses healing symbols in their drawings and paintings, often derived from animals and plants thought to have healing power. Many ethnic and religious cultures use body painting or oil anointing as part of their healing rituals.

        Music and story-telling are mystical ancient practice. Singing and chanting have been used for physical and spiritual healing since pre-recorded history. Each of the seven major energy chakras has its own musical tone from the standard octave, and many cultures have music instruments and melodies that encourage a relaxed alpha brain wave state. Carve or learn to play a musical instrument from your region of America or from your national culture -- marimbas, conga drums, shakers, sitars, finger cymbals, Celtic harps, dulcimers, flutes, and lutes. Learn the dances that are traditional to your ethnic or geographic culture -- Irish, African, Native American, Greek, Russian, Indian, or Asian. Explore ancient "dances" that don't use music, such as Tai Chi, Chi Gong (Qigong), or modern styles based on similar concepts.

        If you are new to the world of complementary and alternative medicine -- or even if you're not -- you might want to read the cautions below and here.

Cautions

Post hoc, ergo, propter hoc

        When translated literally, this Latin phrase means "after this, therefore, because of this." Many people erroneously ascribe a "cause and effect relationship" to events that occur sequentially in time. If someone has better health after taking something or doing something, it does not mean that they have better health because of it. Sequential timing is necessary but not sufficient to determine a causative relationship between two events. This is why testimonials are particularly misleading -- they imply that before and after equals cause and effect, and the people giving the testimonials "forget" to tell you all the other changes they have made and substances they have tried concurrent with the *magic* product or device.

       More often than not, it is our belief in the curative power of a ritual or substance that heals us, not the product itself. In other words, it is the power of the mind not the pill. The exceptions to this are the products and devices that have been tested in a way that measures the power of belief (placebo-controlled clinical trials).

        We cannot determine the physical healing properties of most ancient practices because they can't be studied in a placebo-controlled manner. This does not mean that they are ineffective. Most spiritual and bodywork practices have been around long enough, that if they were harmful when used in traditional ways, we'd know by now.

       Remember, taking a natural substance in an unnatural amount or unnatural way is not natural! If it is "modern", be wary. If you are considering using a "natural" or ancient practice to treat a medical condition, I encourage you to read "Quack! Quack!" to make sure your pocket book isn't harmed by well-meaning -- and not so well-meaning -- modern day "snake oil" sales people. If it is free or low cost, and not likely to harm you, try it. If it comes with a significant price tag, think twice about paying for the power of your own belief!

        Personally, I make no physical health claims for any CAM approaches, including the ones on this website, with the following exceptions:

1. There is significant peer-reviewed medical and scientific research that documents and supports the links between emotional, mental and physical health. To the extent that any of the modalities help you manage stress more effectively, you may receive a corresponding improvement in your general physical health. Working with a licensed health care provider, you may be able to use these modalities as an adjunct treatment for diseases with stress-related medical symptoms, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, infertility, chronic pain, headaches, asthma, premenstrual syndrome and various forms of heart disease.
   
   
2. Massage therapy has considerable scientific and medical validation for treating a variety of medical and health conditions, when used by highly trained/licensed professionals. However, extreme care needs to be taken when using these techniques recreationally, since harm can occur if they are done improperly, especially if pain is ignored as a feedback signal.
   
   
3. Some therapies and nutriceuticals (foods or food supplements used or marketed as a pharmacological agent) due have valid peer-reviewed scientific medical studies to support their safety and efficacy. These substances are not the norm -- most of what is out there at health food stores and nutritional stores is unproven and may be unsafe as well as ineffective.