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Dear Readers,
Do you find the controversy over natural therapies confusing? Would you like an objective expert who can guide you on when to use natural therapies and when to use prescriptions?
Welcome to the Psychology Today Complementary Medicine blog.
I have 1) practiced over 30 years as a Board Certified Internal Medicine physician, 2) spent a period on the "other side of the white coat" when I came down with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, 3) reviewed thousands of studies on natural and prescription therapies and used these remedies very successfully in my practice, 4) published several studies and books, and 5) trained thousands of physicians.
In doing this, I've had a chance to come to understand the strengths and weaknesses of both standard (called "Allopathic") and Holistic medicine. What I've found is that using the best of both, called "Comprehensive Medicine," works best.
It helps to understand why there is such controversy occurring between natural and pharmaceutical medicine. People do best when a physician practices both the art and science of medicine. Sadly, the art is being lost as physicians spend an average of 5 minutes per patient. Meanwhile, the science has been corrupted by drug company money. As an example, research shows that if a drug company pays for a study, it is 50-2,000% more likely to show a positive result than if done independently. This makes the results scientifically dubious. But journals ignore this data saying "If we didn't publish drug company studies, we'd have nothing to publish at all." Meanwhile, a fair bit of "snake oil" is being promoted in the natural health industry as well. So what is the public to do?
As a patient advocate, I accept no money from either pharmaceutical or natural product companies. This allows me to maintain a high level of objectivity. I tend to be skeptical, but open to looking at the research. I am also good at tearing the data apart to see what it really says, and have had over 30 years of working with both the prescription and natural therapies to see which ones work. My job is to be YOUR consultant!
I look forward to sharing ideas and information with you. We will look at both general health topics (did you know that the medical advice to avoid sunshine is estimated to contribute to over 85,000 excess cancer deaths a year from Vitamin D deficiency?) and specific issues (heart disease can be powerfully treated with 5 key nutrients. Willow bark is twice as effective as Motrin in head on studies--without causing 16,500 deaths from bleeding ulcers).
I look forward to being your guide through our health care system.
Love & Blessings,
Jacob Teitelbaum, MD
