Prime Time Replay:
Dr. Barrie Cassileth
author of The Alternative Medicine Handbook
MsgId: *infinities(1)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:02:53 PST 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 208.212.69.179
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to another edition of Infinities. I'm Rob Killheffer, senior editor at Omni, and I'll be your host tonight. With me is Dr. Barrie Cassileth, author of the new book "THE ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE HANDBOOK," which offers a clear perspective on the multitude of unconventional treatments available these days. Welcome, Dr. Cassileth!
MsgId: *infinities(2)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:03:45 PST 1997
From: Barrie_Cassileth At: 204.255.214.116
Hi Rob, Happy to be with you! Barrie
MsgId: *infinities(3)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:05:58 PST 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 208.212.69.179
Here at Omni we've covered alternative therapies for all sorts of illnesses -- we've prided ourselves on our willingness to lend an ear to voices outside of mainstream medicine -- but in recent years the popularity and availability of alternative treatments has really skyrocketed. Why do you think that is?
MsgId: *infinities(6)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:08:33 PST 1997
From: Barrie_Cassileth At: 204.255.214.116
I think it's a combination of negative feelings about conventional mainstream medicine and the draw of alternatives. People ,like the idea of "natural" unco ventional therapies, but they are frequently far from "natural."
MsgId: *infinities(7)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:09:45 PST 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 208.212.69.179
In general, what sort of advice would you give to our viewers (and your readers) when it comes to assessing the value of alternative therapies? To what sources should they turn for reliable advice?
MsgId: *infinities(8)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:11:58 PST 1997
From: Barrie_Cassileth At: 204.255.214.116
This is a major problem, as many of the more popular alternative approaches and regimens are unproven. Generally, it's wise to differentiate between "altrernative" and "complementary" therapies . . . "alternatives" are promoted for use in lieu of mainstream care for major illnesses. They are typically unproven (if proven, they would become mainstream), often invasive and expensive. Complementary therapies, on the other hand, are easier to learn about and they are more safe to start with. They are used in conjunction with mainstream treatment and are used primarily for self-limiting problems.
MsgId: *infinities(10)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:15:19 PST 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 208.212.69.179
Can you give us an example of a "complementary" therapy?
MsgId: *infinities(11)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:18:07 PST 1997
From: Barrie_Cassileth At: 204.255.214.116
Complementary therapies include therapeutic massage (as opposed to therapeutic touch, which involves no contact), all the mind-body activities sich as relaxation therapies, yoga, meditation; tai chi and other gentle exercise techniques, some of the herbal teas eg peppermint, ginger for nausea, acuouncture for some pain, etc. The especially good thing about complememtary therapies is that they are rarely invasive or harmful. And they tend to be inexpensive. So many are worth trying.
MsgId: *infinities(12)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:21:04 PST 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 208.212.69.179
I'd like to go back and pursue something you said in an earlier message -- about how many of these "natural" alternatives aren't so natural after all -- but first, I've known many people who have experienced undeniable results with acupuncture as a complementary treatment. But do we know anything about how it actually works? Have there even been clinical trials that demonstrate its efficacy with, say, pain?
MsgId: *infinities(15)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:27:01 PST 1997
From: Barrie_Cassileth At: 204.255.214.116
It is rare that we have clinical trials in complementary medicine. However, there are solid studies conducted at NIH that demonstrate the efficacy of acupuncture for some types of pain. The mechanism is not yet clear. It has been thought for years that acupuncture excited the release of endorphins, but this is not certain. Using the same "acupoints," BTW, acupressure works wonderfully for neasea. Press the inside of the wrist about an inch above the hand crease, using the fingers of the other hand. Great for motion sickness, chemo-caused nausea, fpr pregnancy, whatever. No medications required; no side effects. No cost.
MsgId: *infinities(16)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:28:27 PST 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 208.212.69.179
Earlier you noted that many of the so-called natural alternatives aren't really so natural after all. What did you mean? Can you give us some examples?
MsgId: *infinities(17)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:30:14 PST 1997
From: Barrie_Cassileth At: 204.255.214.116
To respond to the initial part of your last question, the less than natural techn iques tend to be "alternative" regimens; those that have biological activity. High colonics for example, are not natural, and they have caused serious problems and some deaths.Another less than "natural" component concern the concepts behind many alternative therapies, such as those based on the idea of an internal vitasl force. This has never been shown to exist scientifically, yet many therapies are based on the idea.
MsgId: *infinities(18)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:32:36 PST 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 208.212.69.179
Are there any true "alternative" therapies that you think work as well or better than conventional medicines? /ga
MsgId: *infinities(20)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:35:04 PST 1997
From: Barrie_Cassileth At: 204.255.214.116
Again, by definition "alternatives" are not proven. I know of none that cure diabetes, cancer, or any other major ilness as well as mainstream therapies can. If they could effect such cures, we would adopt them in every hispital!
MsgId: *infinities(21)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:38:11 PST 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 208.212.69.179
But certainly there have been times when conventional medicine has taken a long time to accept new notions that don't fit well into an accepted paradigm -- a good example being the idea that ulcers are caused by bacteria and treatable with antibiotics, which was resisted by mainstream medicine for decades until recently. Is it possible that any of the popular cancer remedies, for instance, might have some as-yet unproven but very real effect?
MsgId: *infinities(22)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:42:34 PST 1997
From: Barrie_Cassileth At: 204.255.214.116
Not likely, but some of the basic concepts behind those ideas are under study at NIH. For example, antineoplastons, an alternative treatment available via clinical trial in a Houston clinic, is unproven. However, antineoplastons are peptides which are now under study at nci, as are forms of shark and bovine cartilage. They do not fall into the most exciting category of cancer research, but they are being looked at.Scientists are constantly looking for new ideas and new natural products. One interesting story concerns the rosy periwinkle from Madagascar. It had been used there by natives for centuries to treat diabetes. Brought to NIH for study a few decades ago, it turned out to have power effects aganst cancer, and is now a common cancer treatment called vincristine and vinblastine. (No effect against diabetes at all).
MsgId: *infinities(24)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:47:51 PST 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 208.212.69.179
I've heard statistics that indicate that a huge percentage of the drugs used by conventional medicine are derived, as in your example, from natural sources -- their active ingredients are chemicals found in plant and animal sources, often used in "traditional" medicine. So in a sense, they're as "natural" as St. John's Wort. And, by the way, what do you make of that alternative-drug-of-the-month?
MsgId: *infinities(25)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:48:41 PST 1997
From: Barrie_Cassileth At: 204.255.214.116
Looking back at what I've written, I must apologize for all the typos and missing endings of words- I'm trying to type more quickly than I can manage with competence. Sorry.
MsgId: *infinities(26)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:49:24 PST 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 208.212.69.179
(Don't worry about your typing, Barrie. I'll fix the errors when I prepare the transcript for posting, and our viewers are used to reading past them.)And, speaking of our viewers, I'm going to open the room for questions now, so anyone who's eager to ask something of Dr. Cassileth can do so in the next ten minutes of "air" time.
MsgId: *infinities(28)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:53:04 PST 1997
From: Barrie_Cassileth At: 204.255.214.116
About 1/4 of pharmaceuticals come from botanicals. There is an important difference between the two. Pharmaceutical products contain the studied and documented active ingredient - the chemical that producesd the desired effect. That chemical is contained in strength. It is pure, safe, and has been tested extensively and found beneficial. The natural product contains many parts of the plant and, of course, many chemicals. We don't know which parts may negate others, or have harmful effects, which one part may be helpful. Also, natural products are not regulated for purity, safety, or efficacy.St. John's Wort (wort means herb in German) and it is a plant that blooms around the Spring birthday of St. John the Baptist) has been studied extensively in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. It works wekk for mild and moderate depression, but apoparently not for more serious clinical depression. We still do not have data on many aspects of this herb, such as its mechanims or its active ingredient.
Addendum: another major difference between botanicals and pharmaceuticals is that the former are typically much less strong.
MsgId: *infinities(31)
Date: Fri Dec 12 21:57:42 PST 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 208.212.69.179
We're just about out of time, so let me ask you: when it comes to life-threatening, untreatable illnesses -- or illnesses for which conventional treatments have been tried and have failed -- do you think it's sensible for people to plunge into all the alternatives they can find, on the slim chance of a miracle?
MsgId: *infinities(33)
Date: Fri Dec 12 22:00:37 PST 1997
From: Barrie_Cassileth At: 204.255.214.116
This is a frequently asked question. Sadly, there are few miracles. When people are at the end of the line, they probably would do best at home with their loved ones, rather than in Mexico or some far-from-home clinic where they eat terrible foods and spend all their money to boot.
MsgId: *infinities(34)
Date: Fri Dec 12 22:03:23 PST 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 208.212.69.179
Sounds like sober advice. As we end the show, let me ask a final question: overall, it sounds like you're not very favorably disposed towards most alternative treatments, but you clearly favor some (particularly the "complementary" type). Do you think the medical establishment is receptive enough to alternative treatments -- do they approach them with an open mind, or do they tend to dismiss them out of hand? Should there be more research into the claims of alternative treatments?
MsgId: *infinities(35)
Date: Fri Dec 12 22:06:08 PST 1997
From: Barrie_Cassileth At: 204.255.214.116
The medical establishment appears to have become increasingly open to new ideas. Research is the key. Promising alternatives should definitely, in my view, be carefully investigated. The complementary therapies generally work well. They're used not only to control symptoms and for self-limiting problrms, but also to maintain health and well-being. They can be exptremely useful for most people."The Alternative Medicine Handbook" is available from WW Norton; toll-free (800) 233-4830
MsgId: *infinities(37)
Date: Fri Dec 12 22:09:53 PST 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 208.212.69.179
Thank you, Barrie, for appearing here on our show, and for your sound and balanced advice. I haven't read it all, but from what I have read I can recommend your book, "THE ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE HANDBOOK," as a wonderful resource for those who are interested in sorting out the good from the bad in alternative treatments. That's all for tonight; tune in next week when our guest will be Steve Lerner, author of "ECO-PIONEERS." See you then!
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