Choosing An Alternative

Choosing an Alternative

Acupuncture. Herbal medicine. Homeopathy. Just a decade ago, such alternatives to mainstream diagnostic and therapeutic techniques formed a relatively small niche in the American health care market. Most of the American public—to say nothing of medical professionals themselves—appeared either unaware or uninterested in exploring these less "high-tech" methods of treating illness and disability.

In 1992, the National Institutes of Health, the federal government's largest supporter of biomedical research, announced the establishment of the Office of Alternative Medicine. Its goal was, and remains, to explore fresh approaches to such chronic degenerative diseases as cancer, AIDS, autoimmune disorders, and arthritis, for which standard medicine often offers no certain remedy. In part, the decision to open the office stemmed from the mounting evidence that increasing numbers of Americans seek alternative care every year—with or without the sanction of their mainstream doctors—for a whole host of minor and major illnesses and for a variety of reasons. Some try alternative medicine out of plain curiosity or because friends have recommended it. Most people go to a holistic practitioner, however, because they are searching for a new approach to healing their bodies and spirits. Alternative medicine is big business: American consumers spend upward of $15 billion every year on visits to acupuncturists, chiropractors, herbalists, and other holistic practitioners.

It is important to recognize, however, that to attain true health takes time and commitment. In addition, there are aspects of alternative health care that you may find unfamiliar and, at least at first, uncomfortable. Most forms of alternative therapy, for instance, require that you establish a more intimate physical relationship with your own body through exercise and massage. You may also have to become accustomed to being touched by a practitioner during examinations and treatment sessions far more extensively than usual, during both the diagnostic and treatment phases.

Furthermore, in order to gain the most benefit from natural medicine, you'll also need to learn to truly relax your body and mind. For many people, this experience involves exploring emotional and spiritual issues that they may have ignored or suppressed for many years. Although exciting, and ultimately healthful, such work will require special strength on your part, and support from both professionals and family members.

For the vast majority of people who choose to replace or supplement mainstream treatment with more natural methods, the benefits far outweigh the extra time and commitment. Later in this chapter, we'll outline some of the alternative approaches available to help you bring your body back into a state of more healthful balance, and in the process, help heal your arthritis. In the meantime, take the following quiz. It may help you to sort out some of the questions you have about alternative medicine and how it might, or might not, fit into your life. You may be surprised by what you learn.

Your Alternative Medicine Quick Quiz

The questions in this quiz focus on four different aspects of alternative medicine. The four questions in Part A focus on physical factors, Part B on nutrition, Part C on the emotional components of health, and Part D on practical matters. Answer yes or no to these questions, then check the answer guide to find out what you should look for—or look to avoid—when choosing an alternative therapy.

Part A

1a. I enjoy being massaged or touched by a qualified practitioner. ____

2a. I am willing to experience some discomfort during my treatment. ____

3a. I have no fear of needles. ____

4a. I enjoy physical exercise or am willing to make exercise a part of my life. ____

Part B

1b. I am willing to change my diet. ____

2b. I am willing to learn about nutrition. ____

3b. I prepare most of my meals at home. ____

4b. I accept that vitamins and minerals are helpful in treating disease. ____

Part C

1c. I accept that emotions play a role in health and healing.____

2c. I am willing to explore my feelings. ____

3c. I understand that restoring my body to health will take time and effort. ____

4c. I now include meditation or relaxation routines as part of my daily life or would like to in the future. ____

Part D

1d. I have easy access to one or more types of alternative medicine.____

2d. I have the time and desire to make and keep appointments for alternative treatments.____

3d. I have some discretionary income to pay for alternative treatments. ____

4d. I can accept alternative therapies that have not been scientifically proven.____

THE ANSWER GUIDE

Take a look at your answers. Were you able to answer most of them with a "yes"? Were there one or more categories in which you answered several questions with a "no"? As you'll see in the guide below, your answers to these questions will help you find the type or types of natural therapy that best suit your personality and needs.

A. The Physical. Many natural approaches to health care require people to establish a new relationship to their bodies and, in some cases, with their physicians and practitioners. If you dislike being touched by your doctor, then therapies that use physical manipulation as an integral part of their approach may not be for you. Likewise, if needles terrify you, then acupuncture may not be the method most helpful to you. Being tense while undergoing treatment works directly against the state of balance that is the goal of natural medicine.

However, because acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage are among the most effective alternative treatments for arthritis, it may behoove you to work through some of your fears and aversions with an understanding practitioner. He or she may also be able to help you use the philosophy behind the treatment without forcing you to undergo any form of treatment that makes you feel uncomfortable.

Finally, you will soon have to answer Question 4 with a resounding yes—with or without arthritis! Exercise must become a part of your life if you intend to stay active and mobile for the rest of your life. You must learn to keep your joints, tendons, and related structures as stretched and strong as possible with weight-bearing exercises and your heart strong through aerobics.

B. The Nutritional. Maintaining a healthy weight by eating the right kind of food in the right amounts is often a critical factor in the treatment of arthritis. Reducing fats, adding fiber, eliminating (or limiting) sugar and caffeine are just some of the dietary modifications you may need to make in order to bring your body into balance. In susceptible individuals, certain types of food may trigger or aggravate the process of inflammation, with its characteristic swelling, soreness, and stiffness. It will be up to you and the practitioner to work out the nutritional issues that apply to you.

As you'll see in Chapter 4, however, you should not feel overwhelmed by the thought of starting a "diet." We'll show you how to make changes in your eating habits slowly, over time, until they become natural and enjoyable.

C. The Emotional. Perhaps the most essential difference between mainstream and alternative medicine is the way in which the emotional side of life is considered. To understand and then to treat your particular case of arthritis, for instance, a holistic practitioner may ask you many questions about your sense of self-esteem, your family and professional relationships, and your ability to cope with the stresses in your life. Alternative practitioners consider these issues as important to making an accurate diagnosis and creating an effective treatment plan as the physical shape you are in or the condition of your joints and cartilage. Because emotional balance is an essential goal of natural medicine, it will help if you can learn to reduce the amount of stress in your life, as well as learn to better cope with and alleviate the stress that remains. To do so, however, you will need to invest time and energy in an area of your life you may well have neglected in the past. Chapter 6 will help you get started.

D. The Practical. In addition to the personal factors that may lead you toward a particular form of alternative health care, there are practical matters that you should consider as well. First and foremost is how much access you have to alternative resources. If you have to drive several hours to visit a homeopath or acupuncturist, treating a chronic condition like arthritis with these methods may not be possible. Time is another consideration. Many holistic therapies require more frequent visits to a practitioner than you may be used to; acupuncture and chiropractic are particularly time-consuming, as they usually necessitate continued, frequent appointments. Money is another obstacle for some people, since most forms of health insurance do not cover alternative medicine at this time.

Finally, another practical matter for you to consider is your own commitment to the process of natural healing. Many alternative therapies, despite having been practiced in other cultures for centuries, have not been proven according to Western medical standards. Even many Western drugs have not really been "proven" according to those ideal standards. Anyone who takes an aspirin for a headache can attest to that fact: sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If you are someone who needs to understand the scientific basis for a therapy, some of these alternatives—homeopathy and Ayruvedic medicine, for instance—may seem too challenging for you at this time.

After considering these matters, and perhaps performing some additional research, you may narrow down your choices for alternative care to one or two options. No matter what type or types of natural therapy you choose, however, it is essential that you find qualified professionals to treat you. The following section offers a step-by-step guide to locating a reputable practitioner and establishing an effective supportive relationship with him.

Becoming a Wise Alternative Health Care Consumer

Successful treatment of arthritis, whether by alternative or mainstream means, requires a partnership between you and the people who treat you, one that is built on mutual trust and respect. You must feel confident in the practitioner's ability to treat your health problems, and she must have vital, accurate information about your medical status and lifestyle in order to provide you with that help.

Here are some guidelines to help you accomplish these goals:

Obtain an accurate diagnosis. Before you decide upon an alternative therapy or practitioner, you may require certain tests and procedures (see Chapter Two for more information). These tests are probably best performed either by your family practitioner or by a rheumatologist. Bring the results of these tests with you to your first appointment with an alternative practitioner.

Learn as much as possible about the alternative therapy or therapies that appeal to you. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to health care. Read articles and books about the type of alternative care that appeals to you, talk to friends and acquaintances who use that method, and ask your mainstream physician for his or her opinion.

Check credentials carefully. Unlike those required for mainstream physicians, there are no national licensing requirements for most alternative medicine practitioners at this time. Instead, certification and licensing are done on a state by state basis. Ask your local department of health for the licensing requirements, certification, degrees, and diplomas suggested for a holistic practitioner. For more information about a specific treatment or a specific practitioner, you may call a national association in the specialty field you are considering. (See Natural Resources, page 168).

Interview your prospective practitioner. It is often a good idea to make a short "interview" appointment with a practitioner, even before you decide to be examined by her. During this visit, you should take note of the office itself: Is it clean? Do you feel comfortable there? What are the billing procedures and is the practitioner willing to set up a payment plan for you? Is the staff friendly and accommodating? Do patient boundaries and confidentiality seem to be respected?

When you meet with the practitioner, ask her how much experience she has had in treating arthritis. Find out how accessible she is in between appointments and in case of emergencies. Although it is doubtful that you'll feel completely at ease with the practitioner during this first short meeting, you should be able to tell whether or not there is potential for a close working relationship. Trust your instincts. If you feel uneasy for any reason, do not feel obligated to continue meeting with her.

Prepare for a long first appointment. Depending on the type of alternative therapy you've chosen to explore, your first appointment (after the prospective interview) may last from 45 to 90 minutes. You'll probably be asked detailed questions about your diet, your medical history, your exercise habits, and your feelings about the work you do and your personal life. Such information is crucial for the practitioner to have before she can develop a treatment plan for you.

At the same time, you should feel comfortable asking your own questions about your condition, about the procedures the practitioner intends to perform, and even about the questions she is asking of you. Your practitioner should answer these questions in an open and honest way. If you feel you are not being listened to or respected, you have reason to look for another person to treat you.

Get a clear idea of what the suggested course of treatment involves. Discuss what to expect from treatment before you agree to it. Ask the practitioner what to expect in terms of side effects or adverse reactions. Find out how many appointments and how much time it will take before you see symptoms alleviated. Ask how much the treatment will cost and if your insurance is likely to cover it. Although the course of treatment may change as therapy continues, a qualified practitioner should be able to give you a reasonable prognosis, timetable, and cost estimate.

Establish a relationship between your mainstream and alternative practitioners. Ask your mainstream doctor if he would be willing to collaborate with an alternative practitioner on your care—and ask the same thing of any natural therapist you choose. With a chronic, and fairly unpredictable, condition like arthritis, it is sensible to have access to the best of both worlds: the life-saving technology and pharmacology of Western medicine in cases of emergency and the more subtle, mind/body methods of healing implicit in alternative medicine. In Chapter Thirteen, you'll see how mainstream and alternative medicine can work together to bring you closer to true health—and to freedom from the pain your arthritis causes you.

Don't be afraid to experiment. What works for one person may not work for another, and that is especially true when it comes to health care. If the type of therapy you've chosen does not suit you for any reason, feel free to to explore another until you find one or more methods of health care and self-healing that work for you.

Now that you've received a primer of sorts on the basics of alternative medicine, it's time to explore the various techniques used to treat arthritis. In the next chapter, you'll find information about how what you eat may affect the health of your joints, tendons, and bones.