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Identifying
and Locating a Qualified Alternative Practitioner
By Jimmy Scott, Ph.D.
as
published in Health Freedom News, Vol 12, Nr. 1, January 1993
Modern medical
care is largely the treatment of illness with drugs and surgery,
rather than the promotion of the health of the whole human
being. The World Health Organization recognized the distinction
between health care and sickness care when it defined health
as “the physical, mental and social well being of the person,
not merely the absence of infirmity or disease.” Dissatisfied
with the fragmented, overspecialized modern medical model,
consumers are increasingly turning to alternative forms of
health care.
Among these
alternatives are the energy techniques I have described in
previous articles in Health Freedom News, including Health
Kinesiology, Applied Kinesiology, and Touch for Health. Based
on my discussion of these methods, perhaps I led you to believe
that they might be able to help with a health problem you have.
It is one thing to understand that these techniques exist or
how these techniques work, but quite another to find someone
who is competent to use them. How do you go about finding a
health professional who is qualified to practice these or any
other alternative techniques?
Some Alternative
Approaches to Health Care
If you have been following the story, you are probably aware
of many alternative approaches to health care. Here are some
of the more commonly mentioned ones:
Nutrition
Some
professionals use diet, nutritional counseling, and nutritional
supplements to help correct health problems. Since medical schools
provide very little training in nutrition, nutritionists are
usually not MDs. Registered dietitians are often recommended
as reliable sources of nutritional information; unfortunately,
however, their training often reflects outmoded ideas about human
nutritional needs.
Allergy
Treatment
As
it becomes increasingly recognized that allergies (to foods,
pollens, dusts, molds, chemicals, and other environmental substances)
are responsible for many physical and psychological problems,
more and more health practitioners are working with, or outright
specializing in, allergy problems. Some are MDs with orthodox
medical school training, who tend to treat allergy through skin
testing and desensitization shots. Clinical Ecologists are primarily
MDs who use sublingual testing or the newer blood tests to identify
allergies, and who recognize that tiny amounts of environmental
substances can provoke serious mental and physical reactions.
Other health practitioners identify allergies through muscle
testing techniques such as Health Kinesiology or Applied Kinesiology
(described below), and treat allergy through diet, nutrition,
and/or energy methods.
Acupuncture
The
ancient Chinese system of acupuncture views disease as a disturbance
in the body's energy. This energy is regulated and balanced through
the insertion of fine needles at acupuncture points along the
meridians, or energy pathways, through which the energy flows.
A variation on acupuncture is acupressure, which involves pressing
on the acupuncture points rather than inserting needles.
Applied
Kinesiology
Applied
Kinesiology (AK) uses muscle testing to identify substances
to which a person is allergic, according to a concept of allergy
in which the offending substance is seen as interfering with
the body's energy. The energy system in AK is related to the
Chinese system of acupuncture meridians. By blocking the energy
flow along a meridian, the allergic substance weakens a muscle
related to that meridian, and so a person's sensitivity to
various substances can be detected by testing the strength
of the muscle. AK is used by chiropractors as well as nutritionally-oriented
health practitioners.
Health
Kinesiology
This
comprehensive system of health care uses muscle testing techniques
for discovering energy disturbances from all currently known
sources, including psychological as well as physical causes.
It also uses energy techniques for correcting energy imbalances
directly, as well as ascertaining what other steps must be taken
to restore the individual to proper balance. Health Kinesiology
was the first alternative to grow out of the earlier methodology
of Applied Kinesiology and Touch for Health.
Naturopathy
In
the eight states where they are presently licensed, naturopathic
doctors generally have the same status as allopathic physicians
and surgeons. Naturopaths are trained much like medical doctors,
except that instead of spending the bulk of their time in medical
school learning about drugs, they are taught about diet, herbs,
acupuncture, massage, and other natural approaches, as well as
anatomy and physiology.
Chiropractic
Chiropractors
also receive a thorough education in anatomy, physiology, and
the functioning of the body. Chiropractors make extensive use
of manipulation, believing that alignment of the body is of crucial
importance in health, and that malalignments interfere with bodily
functions. There are two major divisions of chiropractic practitioners
today. The more traditional “straight” school concentrates on
the mechanical adjustment of the spine and joints, while the
others, “mixers,” are more holistic in their approach, using
a wider variety of techniques including nutrition and muscle
testing. Chiropractic has become so widely accepted that many
people today consider it a mainstream rather than an “alternative” approach.
Homeopathy
Homeopaths,
who may be MDs or lay practitioners, treat illness through the
use of very tiny amounts of specially prepared extracts of the
same substance that would produce similar symptoms in a healthy
person. Homeopathy emphasizes a holistic view of the individual.
The selection of the proper remedy takes into account not only
physical symptoms, but also psychological and emotional problems
and other factors that distinguish the person as an individual.
Osteopathy
Osteopaths
receive essentially the same training as medical doctors, except
that they receive more training in manipulation of the spine
and joints, similar to chiropractors. Like chiropractic, osteopathy
is considered by many to be a mainstream form of health care.
Massage
or Bodywork Therapy
Although
the term “massage parlor” has become virtually synonymous in
many areas of America with prostitution operations, in actual
fact there are many more authentic, well-trained practitioners
who offer massage for relaxation, relief of muscle tension, and
management of stress. The American Massage Therapy Association
sets exacting standards of training and practice for its members.
We are becoming increasingly aware that touch can have a healing
effect in itself, especially in a society where touch has ceased
to become a major element of human communication. In addition
to the various forms of “straight massage,” there are also many
varieties of what are called bodywork, in which the body is manipulated
to provide relief of physical and psychological symptoms.
Others
We
could extend the list of alternative forms of health care almost
indefinitely, to include biofeedback, relaxation training, iridology,
vision training, colonic irrigation, psychic healing,gem
and crystal healing, color therapy, aromatherapy, and many other
techniques. The important point here is not to explain each alternative
system of health care, but rather to help you to evaluate the
qualifications of a practitioner, no matter what system he or
she uses. Do keep in mind that the above descriptions are superficial,
only to remind the reader about the discipline rather than to
explain the discipline.
Who Practices
These Techniques?
Some
of the methods described earlier maybe practiced either by MDs
or by other practitioners. The fact that a practitioner has an
MD does not necessarily guarantee that that person is a “better” practitioner
of the technique in question; in some states an MD may attend
a weekend workshop on a certain technique and then consider himself
qualified to use it on his patients. There are unqualified practitioners
in every form of treatment; a license or certificate in itself
is no guarantee of the professional's competence.
Licensing
laws vary greatly from state to state. Chiropractors are licensed
in every state, while naturopaths are licensed in only eight
states, and in many foreign countries. In many states, various
agencies are responsible for regulating the practice of some
of these techniques. Often these agencies have little to do
with the supervision of health care. Because many alternative
practitioners use techniques that are not part of the established
medical system, the laws often simply cannot accommodate them.
For example, a woman in California who wanted only to teach
the Touch for Health system was told that she would have to
have a business license as a massage parlor. However, massage
parlors were not allowed in her neighborhood!
Thus, because
alternative practitioners often don't fit into traditional
categories, they may find it difficult to meet legal requirements.
This does not make what they do any less valid or useful, however.
The Issue
of “Unproven” Techniques
Alternative
health care techniques are on the increase for helping manage
many of our major diseases. This is understandable, since medicine
has little to offer people suffering from heart disease, cancer,
arthritis, and other serious chronic diseases, except for temporary
palliation of their symptoms. Non-medical approaches, including
energy work, diet, nutritional supplementation, exercise, biofeedback,
visualization, and other psychological techniques, can often
produce a dramatic reversal of the disease process without resorting
to drugs or surgery. In fact, one recent British research study
demonstrated that — with certain types of cancer, psychotherapy
was more effective than chemotherapy.
As alternative
approaches gain in popularity, organized medicine and the pharmaceutical
industry are increasingly directing charges of “quackery” against
these competing forms of therapy. Of course, there has always
been real quackery on the part of unqualified health care practitioners — among
MDs as well as “alternative” practitioners.
In an attempt
to protect the public from “quackery,” Senator Claude Pepper
introduced bills before Congress which would prohibit the use
of “unproven techniques.” Ironically, the Pepper bills failed
to recognize that a great many of the techniques employed by
modem medicine are just as “unproven” as some of the alternative
approaches. In fact, in some cases it has actually been proven
that certain medical interventions are useless. For example,
studies have shown that the five-year survival rate for heart
attack patients who have undergone coronary bypass surgery
is no better than for those who do not have the surgery. Similarly,
recent studies have shown that breast cancer patients who have
radical mastectomies have no better chance of surviving for
five years than do the women who have simple lumpectomies,
or removal of the malignant lump alone. Yet, these more radical,
and expensive, types of surgery are still used.
Finding
Help for Your Problem
With
so many possible approaches to health care, and so many people
offering alternative techniques to the public, it is understandable
that people become confused. How can you locate a practitioner
who is truly qualified to practice the form of health care that
you want? How can you evaluate the practitioner's qualifications,
and the quality of the care provided? How can you as a consumer
determine who has the proper training and experience?
Sources
of Referrals
The
first step is to compile a list of people who practice the particular
form of health care in which you are interested. You might begin
by looking in your phone book for listings of chiropractors,
naturopaths, nutritionists, and other holistic health practitioners.
You might also ask the owners of local health food stores to
suggest professionals in your area. If you already have a family
physician or other health care practitioner, ask him/her for
suggestions about people specializing in the technique in which
you are interested. For many health practitioners, (such as chiropractors)
there are professional societies which can serve as sources of
referrals. Specialized professional publications may contain
listings of practitioners in your area. Your friends can also
be an excellent source of referrals. If available, check directories
of alternative practitioners in your area.
Questions
to Ask
Once
you have compiled a list of names of practitioners who are likely
to use the techniques in which you are interested, you can begin
calling to ask specific questions. For example, does the practitioner
use muscle testing? Does he emphasize allergy work, or nutrition?
Does he use massage, or a specific bodywork technique?
Here are
some of the questions you might ask the professionals you call:
How
did you get your training in holistic health methods?
Since
many alternative health care techniques are very new, there
may be no official, recognized university degree programs or
certificate courses in these methods. You will not necessarily
see a certificate on the wall stating that the individual is
a qualified practitioner. In fact, certifications are frequently
offered by non-accredited schools, and are bought with money
rather than earned with effort and skill. Just because someone
has a certificate or diploma does not mean that he is adequately
trained. Sometimes the certificate may be well earned, but
may not represent training in the precise area required. For
example, I have met a number of Registered Dietitians who admit
to knowing little about natural foods.
Do
you use muscle testing or other energy techniques in
your practice? Where did you learn them?
Perhaps
you are interested in finding someone who does muscle testing
for allergies. If a practitioner does use muscle testing, you
will need to determine where he learned these techniques. There
is a big difference between learning energy techniques as part
of a weekend massage workshop, and taking courses devoted specifically
to muscle testing. Likewise, an entire course devoted to allergy
would be preferred to a general course in which allergy techniques
were demonstrated. Training workshops and classes sponsored
or approved by the recognized professional associations (such
as the International College of Applied Kinesiology, or the
Touch for Health Association) are often of high quality. This
is the sort of training you should look for in a practitioner.
It is common in holistic health circles for people to say, “I
trained with.. .“ and give a long list of names of outstanding
people in the field. “Training with” someone may mean no more
than attending a lecture. If a practitioner says “I trained
with so and so,” your next question should be, “Will he recommend
you?” Always ask the duration of the training and when it occurred.
How
long have you been in practice? How long have you utilized
these techniques in your practice, and to what extent
do you use them?
A
practitioner who has been using muscle testing for two years,
and who has only been in practice for two years, will probably
not be at the same level of expertise as someone who has been
in practice for 20 years and has been incorporating the techniques
for two years. These techniques are not magical cure-alls,
but are tools that are most effectively applied to an existing
base of knowledge. Keep in mind, though, that a fine tool can
still be used by a klutz! There is a big difference between
a practitioner who uses these techniques only occasionally,
and someone who uses them every day.
How
much experience do you have with my particular problem?
The
more experience a practitioner has with your problem, the more
likely he is to know the right questions to ask in dealing
with it. However, because there are relatively few holistic
health practitioners, they are likely to see a wide range of
problems in their practice, and may not have encountered your
particular problem. A good practitioner will be honest and
straightforward about this, and if he is not familiar with
your kind of problem, will let you know whether or not he thinks
he can work with you on the basis of related experience. Naturally
if the practitioner has experience with your problem, you should
also ask how effectively he has dealt with it!
However,
with some of the techniques I have mentioned, it really does
not matter what your specific problem is. It is not the disease
that is being worked on, but rather the deficiencies, imbalances
and energy disturbances that are contributing to the disease.
So, depending on what approaches the practitioner uses, it
may not actually be relevant whether he has experience with
your particular problem.
Can
you let me talk to any of your patients, especially others
with my problem?
Because
of confidentiality considerations, this is not an easy question
to deal with, but talking to other patients can be very helpful.
A secure, ethical practitioner will generally be happy to make
the effort to contact patients with similar problems and get
their permission for you to talk with them. Keep in mind, however,
that good practitioners are very busy, and locating former
patients can be a difficult and time-consuming task, so do
not ask too much of this from a practitioner. It may be appropriate
to suggest that the practitioner hold evening or weekend classes
or discussions. Usually many patients will attend.
What
Will Your Insurance Cover?
Most
alternative health care is not covered by insurance, for the
simple reason that the insurance industry is controlled by
orthodox medicine — hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and
the traditionally schooled medical doctors and their organizations.
Because the way the “health care delivery system” is set up
in this country, the fact that certain forms of treatment are
covered by insurance actually drives the cost of that treatment
higher. Thus the techniques without insurance coverage are
generally not as costly as the orthodox methods.
In an
effort to compete with demonstrably effective alternative
forms of health care, many orthodox medical establishments
are now offering similar options, with full insurance coverage.
For example, the popularity of midwives and home births has
caused hospitals to establish birthing centers, providing
a homelike environment within the hospital. At the same time,
midwives working out in the community remain subject to harassment
and arrest.
Careful
Consumerism Applies to All Health Practitioners
The
questions and screening methods I have described in this article
don't apply just to alternative practitioners. You can apply
them equally well in evaluating any health practitioner — whether
an MD, a private duty nurse, a dentist, or even a veterinarian.
Remember
that it is ultimately your power as a consumer that will determine
what options are available. If you want alternative practitioners
to have more freedom to provide their forms of health care,
it is up to you to demand that their services be more readily
available. It is up to you to patronize these alternative practitioners,
to write letters to your representatives in Congress, and to
object when alternative practitioners are harassed and arrested
on spurious charges. It is up to you to be a discriminating
consumer of health care. Each of us is responsible for our
own health, and we cannot give up that responsibility to others.
The role of the health professional is to work with the individual
to determine the best possible set of strategies for maintaining
and restoring health in each case. A wide range of appropriately
qualified professionals may be able to provide assistance in
achieving this goal.
Finally,
be very careful of what anyone tells you, no matter how highly
qualified he or she may be. If your health professional disagrees
with a form of health care that interests you, feel free to
seek a second or third opinion. Since you are completely responsible
for your own health, it is up to you to consult anyone you
want, and then to make your own decision.
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