Testing alternative medicine

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1 Testing alternative medicine
Burden, blessing or both?

2 Background information
Had acupuncture therapy as teenager. It did not help. Prayer did. Interested throughout medical studies Interaction with colleagues and healers in Africa, Asia and Europe >10 years Three years of research leading to book with four other authors in 1993 Presently working on revised edition CDK and CGH in Switzerland

3 Never forget We are talking about people in the first place
People who are suffering People who want to help them Discernment and compassion belong together Evaluation is not judgement or condemnation The truth should be shared in love

4 Some initial questions
Am I really willing to change my views on the basis of an honest presentation of the truth? What if: I (partially) earn my living with a therapy that is biblically unacceptable? People I love use unacceptable therapies? I have been deceived?

5 Why test (alternative) medicine?
Wise stewards of God’s creation test everything and use the good to bless the sick and suffering, 1 Thessalonians 5: 21 We are warned against deception, Colossians 2: 1-8 We should be ready to give an account of our beliefs to anyone who asks, 1 Peter 3: 15-16

6 Definition of Alternative Medicine
All forms of diagnosis and therapy, that are not taught as examination subjects in medical schools. Two main elements: Not accepted by regular medical schools Frequently alternative paradigms of thinking

7 Two main streams in practice:
Those that Replace regular scientific medicine (alternative medicine exclusively), or those that Complement regular scientific medicine (complementary medicine)

8 Regular scientific medicine Complementary medicine
An overview of (alternative) medicine Regular scientific medicine Atropine / Codeine / Scopolamine / Digoxin / Morphine Rational phytotherapy - Standardized extracts - Traditional herbal therapy Chiropractic Manual therapy Complementary medicine Alternative medicine Homeopathy Anthroposophic medicine Ayurvedic medicine Chinese medicine Aromatherapy Bach therapy Popular books Popular magazines Popular “medicine” © Dr. A. Hasler 2001

9 Five Screening Filters
This is available F.1 Necessary? F.2 Effective? F.3 Appropriate? F.4 Ethically OK? F.5 Occult or not? This is acceptable Five Screening Filters

10 Biblical basis for the five filters
Stewardship Mandate for F1-3 Genesis 1: 26-30; 2: 15; 9: 1-7 God’s moral laws for F4 Keep in mind Personal conscience Christian freedom, Rom. 14; 1. Cor (MSI) God’s fixed borders for F5 Deuteronomy 18: 9-14 (Absolutes) Behälter mit Thorarolle aus: Jerusalemer Bibel Lexikon, Hänssler Verlag 1990

11 Filter 1: Is it necessary?
Medicalization: Problems to be solved medically Consumer mentality: Buy health from doctor Hypochondria: imagined illness (what is root?) Is it really necessary or is it the – wish of the doctor / practitioner wish of the patient common use in certain situations

12 Filter 2: Is it effective?
Possibilities regarding effectiveness: It does not work at all or it may even be unhealthy It works through usual healing powers Creational healing power of the body Creational pneumo-psycho-somatic interaction Pharmacologically active substances Placebo effect, ca. 35 % (15-58 %) Still unknown, but usual healing powers It works through unusual healing powers Signs and wonders Magic / witchcraft / sorcery

13 Filter 3: Is it appropriate?
Age Sex Finances Cultural / Social factors Drug interactions Contra-indications Risk adverse reactions

14 Filter 4: Is it ethically acceptable?
What would be good for relationships? Think: Love God and love neighbour How would a good person act in this situation? For us: WWJD? What would have good consequences? What are the responsibilities of the relevant parties?

15 F.5: Occultism – 6 aspects Pollution through esoteric world view elements Comments about the explanatory models Original explanatory model reflects mindset of the pioneers Replace the original explanatory model as necessary Unknown does not necessarily mean occult Commonest esoteric elements Micro-cosmos / Macro-cosmos thinking Unusual linking stars / seasons / elements / food types / organs / diseases Philosophy that reality consists of a few elements (3, 4 or 5) Esoteric energy has to be harmonized / stimulated / flowing Danger: World view pollution / poisoning of the mind

16 F.5: Occultism – 6 aspects Diagnosis with the use of forbidden unusual powers: Soothsaying (unusual insights in the relationships between things/situations/people and health/disease; insights not obtainable through the use of the five senses only) Clairvoyance (unusual insights obtained through communication with demons, including those that pretend to be the spirits of the sick or some other human). Danger: Demonization

17 F.5: Occultism – 6 aspects Therapy with the aid of forbidden unusual powers: Changes in the health situation of a person through unusual powers (usually aiming at the harmonising of cosmic energy) Danger: Demonization Use of techniques that open patients up for possible demonic influences Causing passive mental states: hypnosis or trance Danger: Caught in Satan’s trap = Bondage

18 F.5: Occultism – 6 aspects Initiate patient into the use of unusual powers Possible through getting them involved with soothsaying, clairvoyance, witchcraft, sorcery or magic Danger: Demonization Curses/magic formulas over patients / medicaments It is a form of witchcraft / magic / sorcery Danger: Strengthening a pre-existent occult bondage Encouragement for the Christian - Proverbs 26:2

19 Recommendations for Christian doctors
Share with colleagues: humility, compassion, professionalism Study and research: Phyto-therapy, Trigger Point Massage, etc. Critical evaluation of regular scientific medicine Reductionism; can a God-less doctor be a good doctor? Network: Biblical-Christian Healthcare - international Via or or CDK, CiCP, CIG, CMA, CMS, ICMDA, Journal Christian Healthcare; HCF, MedIchthys, NCF Take patient’s use of alternative medicine seriously Reckon with it in anamnesis, diagnosis, therapy Careful counselling about OK or not-OK alternative medicine

20 Filter 1: Is acupuncture necessary?
Arguments for: Normal scientific medicine is too materialistic ‘No’ to medication with adverse reactions Use acupuncture as missionary tool Only limited means available Nothing else has helped Arguments against: It does not work Only placebo-effect It is occult

21 Filter 2: Is acupuncture effective?
NO =Ter Riet et al (1990; inc. Medline ): Meta-Analysis of 91 usable, published trials over a period of 17 years; 12 % is >50% reliable; none more reliable than 68%. The more thorough the research, the less positive the results = no conclusive evidence. Possibly YES = Linde et al (2001; inc. Medline ): Meta-Analysis of 39 usable published trials; positive for post-operative nausea; negative as help to stop smoking Yes = GerAc research project: in certain types of complaints, mostly related to pain/allergy relief

22 F.3: Is acupuncture appropriate?
Age – no issue Sex – no issue Finances – issue if presented as cure-all Culture/social – family/patient pressure can be severe Drug interactions – no issue Contra-indications – only if ineffective or occult Risk adverse reactions – no issue Possibly appropriate in demythologized symptomatic use

23 F.4: Is acupuncture ethical?
What facts are relevant? Overlap with nerve/artery/vein triads + with muscle trigger points ?Possible to determine points more accurately electrically Classical acupuncture anatomy seriously outdated What consequences are relevant? Who/what is trusted for healing? Does it really help? GerAc research says YES. Relief of pain Is it harmful? Van Dijk (1980) therapeutic sessions Pneumothorax (a few cases) Hepatitis, burn wounds (very rare) Does it promote responsible behaviour? Usually patients not made dependent on practitioner

24 Filter 5: Is acupuncture occult?
Promoting non-biblical views of God, man, health / disease and world? Almost always = World view pollution Note: Western version has little worldview pollution Diagnosis with forbidden unusual powers? Rare in the West until now. Depends on practitioner. Therapy with forbidden unusual powers? Rare in the West until now. Depends on practitioner. Some Christian authors say yes. Evidence difficult to document scientifically.

25 Filter 5: Is acupuncture occult?
Techniques that open patients for demonic influence Hypnosis or Trance possible. Depends in practitioner. Initiation in use of forbidden unusual powers? Rare in the West until now. Depends on practitioner. Curse or magic spell during therapy?

26 F.1: Ist Homöopathie notwendig?
Argumente dafür: normale wissenschaftliche Medizin ist zu materialistisch >nein = zu Medikamenten mit Nebeneffekten verfügbare Mittel: begrenzte Mittel nichts anderes hilft mehr: „aus-gearztet“ Argumente dagegen: funktioniert nicht  Quacksalberei nur Placeboeffekt Okkult  Prinzip der „Unsichtbaren Lebenskraft“

27 Filter 2: Ist Homöopathie wirksam?
Hill und Doyon (1990): 40 Versuche Effektivität nicht bewiesen Kleijnen u.a. (1991): 107 Versuche 23 von ziemliche Qualität 15 davon günstige Ergebnisse Pirtkien (1976) Gelenkkrankheiten 54% besser mit Homöopathie 95% besser mit Medikation

28 F.3: Ist Homöopathie angemessen?
Age Sex Finances Culture / Social factors Drug interactions Contra-indications Risk adverse reactions Wenn sie wirksam wäre, im Einzelfall notwendig und nicht schädlich, wäre Homöopathie angemessen.

29 F.4: Homöopathie ethisch tragbar?
Was sind die Fakten? Zwei Tausend Medikamenten; Fünf Hundert bis zwei Tausend Symptomen pro Medikament = Vier Millionen Kombinationen möglich Verdünnung: D=10; C=100 Avogadro: D22 – D23 nichts mehr über Was sind die Folgen? Okkulte Einflüsse?

30 F.4: Homöopathie ethisch tragbar?
Hilft sie? Phytotherapie besser? Ist sie schädlich? In Forschung nichts gefunden Geistlich schädlich, Chr. Schriftsteller wie Feller, Markmann, Kunze Förderung von verantwortungsvollem Verhalten? Meistens werden die Patienten auf keine ungesunde Weise von ihren Heilern abhängig gemacht.

31 Filter 5: Ist Homöopathie okkult?
Weiterleitung eines nicht-biblischen Konzepts von Gott, Mensch, Gesundheit/Krankheit und Welt? Fast immer  Verschmutzung der Weltanschauung. Diagnose mit verbotenen, aussergewöhnlichen Kräften? Im Westen kaum gebräuchlich. Hängt vom Heiler ab. Therapie mit verbotenen, aussergewöhnlichen Kräften? Manchmal. Hängt vom Heiler ab (Pragmatische oder Klassische Homöopathie). Ja, verschiedene Christliche Schriftsteller.

32 Filter 5: Ist Homöopathie okkult?
Techniken, die den Patienten dämonischem Einfluß öffnen Hypnose oder Trance möglich aber nicht gebräuchlich. Hängt vom Heiler ab. Einführung in den Gebrauch von verbotenen, aussergewöhnlichen Kräften? Kaum gebräuchlich. Hängt vom Heiler ab. Beschwörung während der Therapie?