Why is alternative medicine so popular

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Dr. Samuel Pfeifer
Why is alternative medicine so popular? Promises
and problems of alternative medicine
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Desire for healing
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What is health?

• For many, health means considerably more than the
  absence of sickness.
• Ideal of absolute well-being physical,
  psychological, social.
• Health is almost a spiritual quest.
• Can traditional / scientific medicine fulfill
  this yearning?

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Herbal Medicine and Alternative Medicine

• Today, the movement of alternative medicine is
  much more than traditional Chinese herbal
  medicine.
• The term alternative medicine, as used in the
  modern western world, encompasses any healing
  practice "that does not fall within the realm of
  conventional medicine.

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The Challenge of Alternative Medicine

• Responsibility and Self-help
• Distrust against drugs and medicalization
• Application of natural remedies
• Balanced nutrition
• Stress reduction

HOWEVER on which foundation?
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Four major groups of methods

• Mind-Body Interventions
• Biological-pharmacological (e.g. homeopathy)
• Physical-energetic (e.g. Acupuncture, Massage)
• Esoteric-spiritual (e.g. Meditation, Reiki)
• Psychological / psychotherapeutic (e.g.
  Meditation, Reincarnation Therapy)

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Diagnostic Methods

• Dowsing - Pendulum
• Bioresonance Energy points and blockades
• Applied Kinesiology Asking for muscular
  responses in the arm-pull-down-test.
• Analysis of blood, urine and hair for trace
  elements or markers
• Characteristic emotional states (Bach Flower
  Remedies)
• Iridology
• Kirlian Aura"
• Etc. etc.

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biologic-pharmacological

• Herbal Remedies
• Neural Therapy
• Nutritional Therapies
• Bach Flower Remedies
• Homeopathy
• Trace Elements (Orthomolecular Medicine)
• Megavitamins
• Removal of Amalgam
• Aroma Therapy

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Physical-energetic methods

• Acupuncture (needles, laser etc.)
• Bioresonance Therapy
• Mind Machines
• Dowsing for earth radiations
• Copper rings
• Foot reflex zone massage and other forms of
  massage

• Example bioresonance
• Usually electrodes, linked to a box, are
  applied to the patient's skin. According to the
  manufacturer of these devices, they emit
  alternating currents which are claimed to be
  healing. They describe cells as resonating
  objects (with unknown frequency and energy
  however) having a natural resonance (ie
  bio-resonance).(Wikipedia)

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Charm stones - Pendulum
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Esotericism

• DEFINITION Esoteric knowledge is that which is
  available only to a narrow circle of
  "enlightened", "initiated", or specially educated
  people. Today it encompasses a spiritual movement
  informed by ancient traditions, eastern wisdom or
  magical beliefs.

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esoteric-spiritual

• Energy transfer through Healing Touch, Reiki etc.
• Antroposophy
• Amulets, talismans
• Schamanism

• Gems / Charm stones
• Eastern meditation
• Energy Channeling
• Spiritualist healings (psychosurgery)
• Astrology

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Psychological-psychotherapeutic

• Autosuggestion
• Self hypnosis
• Visualization (cancer)
• Biofeedback
• Applied Kinesiology
• Emotional Freedom Technique
• Rebirthing-Breathwork
• Bio-Energetic therapies

• Example Emotional freedom technique
• EFT is a psychotherapeutic alternative medicine
  tool based on a theory that negative emotions are
  caused by disturbances in the body's energy field
  and that tapping on the meridians while thinking
  of a negative emotion alters the body's energy
  field, restoring it to "balance. (Wikipedia)

Some methods have serious practitioners (e.g.
biofeedback) and superstitious / esoteric
applications, which makes it difficult to discern.
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Four basic assumptionsof Alternative Medicine
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1. We are part of universal energies

• Body and Mind are part of a universal energy
  field. which carries various names vital force,
  bioenergy, Chi, Prana, or simply God.
• The energy is supposed to circulate in meridians
  or energetic channels. The Chakras are a Hindu
  concept of seven energetic centers which control
  the flow of energy and are supposed to correspond
  with endocrine glands and major organs.

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2. Macrocosm and Microcosm

• Macrocosm finds its correspondence in microcosm
• The constellation of the stars reflects human
  destiny (astrology), the microcosm of the eyes
  tells you about the physical condition of the
  macrocosm of the body (iridology),
• the microcosm of the feet reflects the disharmony
  of the organism (foot reflexology), or the ear is
  a microcosmic representation of the energy flow
  in the body (ear acupuncture).
• Bach flower remedies correlate the
  characteristics of plants with a persons
  emotional condition (e.g., holly is said to be a
  remedy for hatred, envy and jealousy).

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3. Disease and energetic imbalance

• Disease is the result of energetic imbalance or
  disharmony with universal cosmic energy.
• Causes e.g. pathogenic vibrations, energy
  blockades in the Chakras or in the meridians.
  tooth fillings, old scars from surgery.
• Emotional blocks, undesirable emotional
  conditions in which a person is estranged from
  the universal cosmic stream of energy.

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Healing and restoration of wholeness

• Healing is the restoration of harmony with cosmic
  energy.
• Many alternative therapies try to restore vital
  energy, to harmonize vibrations or to balance Yin
  and Yang.
• Healing in this concept is not just applying a
  method, rather it is the ritual with deep
  spiritual overtones.

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Who is attracted by alternative medicine?

• People who are suffering from
• Life-threatening diseases,
• Chronic pain conditions
• Mental problems

What are the reasons?
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Alternative healing methods bring results.
WHY?
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Black box of healing
What works?
?
success!

• Energy rays, fields, vibrations
• Astral body, Aura
• Reflexes
• Meridians
• Neutralizing
• Meditation

• Cellular regeneration
• Immunological processes
• Biochemical processes
• Pharmacological effects
• Neurobiological aspects
• Functional vascular effects
• Stress reduction

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Explanatory Models

1. Self Healing of the body
2. Parallel medical treatment
3. Attention, Listening, Comfort
4. Placebo-Effect
5. Suggestion and Hypnosis
6. Unknown Mechanisms?
7. Spiritual powers?

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Explanatory Model and Faith
It helps . . .

• Differentiate
• Explanation from creation.
• Faith in the creator.

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Biblical Emphasis
See to it that no one takes you captive through
hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on
human tradition and the basic principles of this
world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all
the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
Colossians 28 - 9
Priorities not primarily magical or occult
contamination, but the question of world view
(philosophy) and evidence (not hollow and
deceptive).
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Four Evaluation Criteria
NOT occult or neutral? BUT critical
constructive dialogue.
1. Philosophical background 2. Explanatory Model
3. Evidence Base 4. Practical Application
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1. Explanatory model

• Ist it possible to explain the method without
  occult / magical beliefs?
• Indication What are the problems it is claiming
  to cure? (Meditation against cancer?)
• Mixed findings Anthroposophical remedies are
  produced with amgical rites, but they contain
  valuable plants.
• Acupuncture relies on energy concepts, but it can
  trigger neurohormonal reactions..

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Evidence Base

• Is there evidence for the explanatory model?
• Diagnostic specifity and therapeutic effectivity
• Controlled studies vs. anecdotal evidence
• Beware of partial explanations which are linked!
  (e.g. Coca-Cola / Birth complications)

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Practical application

• In which context is the practitioner applying a
  method or a remedy?
• e.g. herbal remedies are spiritually neutral, but
  are they selected with magical rites?
• e.g. Acupuncture is being practiced without much
  philosophical reflection despite its
  philosophical underpinnings and the lack of
  evidence.

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Conflicts between alternative medicine and faith

• Diversity There are diverse views even among
  Christian believers.
• Conscience Various levels of the sensitivity
• Mutual acceptance of diverse views(Romans 14)

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Dangers of complimentary medicine

• 1. Danger of irrationality A method can only be
  experienced (and believed) personally. Subjective
  results may not be doubted, even if they are
  obscure.
• 2. Psychologizing physical diseases (e.g. applied
  kinesiology) can it be that psychological
  conflicts are causing cancer and hormonal
  disorders?
• 3. Producing guilt feelings when treatments fail
  Is it your fault, when you are sick?
• 4. Introduction of a new spirituality under the
  banner of He who heeals, is right without
  theological reflection.

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Quote
What we need is not the establishing of an
alternative medicine, but an alternative use of
medicine. Thure von Uexküll
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Alternative remedies in mild disoders

• 1. Herbal remedies
• 2. Massage and other wellness applications.
• 3. Relaxation techniques without philosophical
  underpinnings or (seemingly) simple measures such
  as walking, swimming or listening to soothing
  music.

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Four lessons we can learn

• As little as possible, as much as necessary
• The question of worldviews
• Patient expectations on the physical level
• Patient expectations on the emotional level

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Issues in counselling

• 1. As little as possible, as much as necessary
  There is no need to take a multitude of
  remedies, even if they are alternative.
• 2. The question of world view Highly sensitive
  persons can develop fears and tensions when they
  dabble in alternative healing methods conflicting
  with their faith.

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Issues 2

• 3. Patient expectations on the physical level Is
  alternative healing applied as a complimentary
  measure or is it preventing effective treatment?
• 4. Patient expectations on the emotional level
  Alternative medicine often fulfills the need for
  attention, expression and hope. Just warning
  against alternative treatment can lead to major
  crisis even when the objections are warranted.

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Ten guidelines

1. WE AFFIRM a holistic view of the human existence
   in all its dimensions however on the foundation
   of the word of God and the Biblical image of the
   person. WE REJECT a syncretistic pantheistic
   view of life which has its roots in esoteric
   assumptions.
2. WE AFFIRM responsibility and discretion in the
   use of medical technology. WE REJECT the
   unscientific substitution of proven medical
   treatments by alternative natural or
   magical-spiritual therapies without sufficient
   base of evidence.

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Ten guidelines

• 3. WE AFFIRM the desire to view illness and
  healing within a context which includes spiritual
  aspects. WE REJECT a cosmic view of disease on
  the background of Eastern and mystical
  spirituality.
• 4. WE AFFIRM the supporting of God-given
  self-healing processes of our bodies. WE REJECT
  a psychological ideology of self realization and
  mystical techniques to enhance self-healing by
  Eastern meditation or energetic channelling.
• 5. WE AFFIRM Biblical meditation, meaning the
  study of the Word of God and meditative prayers
  within the Christian context.WE REJECT spiritual
  techniques which lead a person to draw upon inner
  energies, autosuggestion or contacting spiritual
  forces.

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Ten guidelines

• 6. WE AFFIRM the laying of hands and healing
  prayer over a sick person, following the
  instruction in James 5. WE REJECT the laying
  of hands and massage with the goal to transfer
  healing energies on a patient.
• 7. WE AFFIRM an openness for supernatural
  healing and miracles through the ministry of the
  Holy Spirit in the community of a Christian
  church and the context of the Gospel. WE REJECT
  spirit healing with the help of occult powers
  and spiritual energies.

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Ten guidelines

• 8. WE AFFIRM the necessity to confess and to
  turn from occult practices. If the spiritual
  background of a healing method is unclear, rather
  advise to do without it. WE REJECT a premature
  and ill-founded explanation of mental and
  physical symptoms as a sign of occult bondage
  caused by alternative treatment.
• 9. WE AFFIRM the reality of human frailty,
  temptation and weakness. WE REJECT the notion
  that good health is an expression of harmony with
  God.
• 10. WE AFFIRM that God may use suffering to help
  a person to grow in faith or that he may show his
  strength in weakness. The Christian church has a
  substantial calling to care in a holistic way for
  suffering members, including not only healing but
  also supporting the weak (1. Thessalonians 514).

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Most frequent method
The most frequent method of alternative healing
is
prayer
David M. Eisenberg et al., Unconventional
medicine in the United States, The New England
Journal of Medicine 328 (4), (1993) 246252.
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