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Which Natural Medicine Is For You?

Wild Thyme

By Jessica Fein

Guide to Alternative Therapies

Visits to alternative healthcare practitioners, like chiropractors and acupuncturists, now outnumber visits to conventional doctors. The country's top scientific body, the National Institutes of Health, last year gave its blessings to acupuncture. Insurance companies are beginning to cover some forms of natural medicine. And at least one government-funded clinic—the Kent Community Health Center, outside Seattle–now includes natural medicine in its standard offerings.

    The question many people are now asking is not whether they should use alternative therapies, but which one. Why would you choose to see a homeopathic doctor over an acupuncturist? How do you determine which therapy or medical system is right for you?

    Answers to these questions can start with understanding three medical traditions that underlie much of natural medicine today: homeopathy, a school of medicine that originated in Europe two centuries ago; Ayurveda, a system of healing that began in India 5,000 years ago; and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which originated in China around 4,000 years ago. While very different in their methods, these three healing systems share fundamental principles that set them apart from Western medicine. Understanding these principles and how doctors of homeopathy, Ayurveda, and TCM work with their patients provides both a thorough grounding in natural medicine and a basis for selecting and using any modality or therapy whether it is St. John's wort for depression or magnets for pain. Here, then, are the major similarities of these healing systems:

•     First, do no harm. While this is a part of the Hippocratic Oath that medical doctors take before they begin to practice, conventional medicine's basic tools— drugs and surgery—have a history of producing high rates of injury and harmful side effects. The treatments used in homeopathy, Ayurveda, and TCM are decidedly less risky, and the doctors of these medical systems almost always first consider benign prescriptions (of dietary and other lifestyle changes) that they believe are likely to produce a healing response.

•     Focus on the person, not the disease. All three schools operate on the premise that no two people are alike, so the same illness (as defined in Western medicine) will manifest itself differently in each person. While Western medicine treats the symptoms of an illness, homeopathy, Ayurveda, and TCM are more concerned with the specific traits and habits of the person who has the illness, so as to understand how those have combined to produce sickness.

•     Activate energy. A third principle shared by these systems is based on three fundamental assumptions: first, that there is a force, or energy, in every human being (and in the natural world around us); second, that health follows when that energy is properly activated; and third, that the doctor's role is to help activate it in the patient in appropriate ways. In homeopathy this energy is called the vital force, in Ayurveda it's referred to as prana, and in TCM it's called qi (pronounced chee). This life force is what animates us and governs all our functions. It is hard for many Westerners to conceive of an energy that they can't see, feel, or measure. However, says C. Peter Albright, M.D., past president of the American Holistic Medical Association, "Western medicine is one of the few medical systems, if not the only one, that doesn't recognize a vital force in human beings."

•     The body, not the doctor, heals. Homeopathy, Ayurveda, and TCM are all predicated on the principle that within our bodies are recuperative powers, which, when functioning well, will heal any disease. Each of these schools of medicine uses methods that encourage the body in its own healing process.

•     Allow time for healing to occur. A trademark of modern medicine is the quick cure. Many medicines will rapidly destroy pathogens and thereby reduce or eliminate the symptoms produced by activity of those pathogens. However, many illnesses and diseases (such as sinusitis, arthritis, and many skin conditions) are not provoked by pathogens, but rather are the outcome of prolonged errors in diet, inactivity, and other lifestyle factors. For these illnesses to heal, the body needs to be restored to balance and injury to tissue must be repaired. These take time and patience. Most often, people who commit to several months of changes in dietary and other habits— including getting more rest—notice that positive outcomes appear gradually and steadily The improvement in one's health is often far more dramatic than if the individual were to simply take a medication that relieves pain and other symptoms.

•     Look for causes. At their most basic level, these natural schools of medicine strive to read symptoms as clues—pieces of a puzzle. If you come home one day to find the fire alarm ringing, you wouldn't simply turn it off without searching to find what had set it off. Likewise, in these traditional systems of healing, if you have a cough, you may take a cough suppressant to alleviate the coughing but you also will seek to understand why you've been coughing. Conventional medicine just turns off the alarm, with cough suppressants, antacids, antihistamines—substances that stop symptoms. But a practitioner of homeopathy, Ayurveda, or TCM would tell you that until the root cause of the illness is understood and addressed, real "healing" cannot proceed. These doctors would attempt to identify the cause.

    These principles have served the vast majority of the world's population well for the greatest part of its history. They are presented here as a kind of litmus test to apply when selecting any approach to healthcare. However, beyond these similarities are large differences between all systems of alternative medicine, including the three discussed here. Homeopathy, Ayurveda, and TCM use different methods to help patients stay well or get well. While each of them has its loyal following, one or another is apt to seem more appropriate for you. The following will describe the exact methods these systems use, help select which is right for you, and explain how you can find someone qualified who practices that system.

Homeopathy

The fundamental principle of homeopathy is that a body's symptoms represent its best efforts to heal disease and illness. Thus, homeopathy works with symptoms to help cure illness, rather than suppressing them. It seeks to take advantage of the body's own healing capacity by actually stimulating its defenses.

    To do this, the homeopathic doctor (a homeopath) carefully studies the totality of your symptoms—including the many signs that your body is producing, emotionally, physically, and mentally. Then he or she prescribes an extremely tiny dose of a substance that would, in a regular dose, actually produce, in a healthy person, the symptoms that have caused you to seek treatment. So instead of prescribing a cough suppressant for your cough, a homeopath would give you a medicine that in a much larger dose would cause a similar cough in a healthy person. Thus, homeopathy is essentially the opposite of Western, or allopathic medicine; the latter treats disease with medicines that stop the symptoms instead of encouraging them. The key is in the dosage: Homeopathic remedies are prescribed in such small doses that they are able to stimulate the body's own natural defense system and encourage its self-healing mechanisms.

Less Is More

Homeopathic remedies are created from "mother tinctures," which come from a great number of different plant, mineral, and animal sources. The tincture is diluted with distilled water (either one part to ten parts water or one part to one hundred parts water) and then vigorously shaken in a process called "succussion." The process of dilution and succussion is repeated a number of times.

    How can the remedies work if none of the original substance remains? The curative effects of the medicine are said to be strengthened with each successive dilution as long as it is shaken each time; they call the diluting and shaking "potentization." The shaking process, it's believed, releases the effects of the original substance. Some hypothesize further that succussion creates an electrochemical pattern that remains in the diluted solution and, when ingested, spreads through the water in the body. Miranda Castro, F. S. Hom., a homeopathic practitioner and author of The Complete Homeopathy Handbook (St. Martin's Griffin, 1997), likens the potent effects of homeopathic substances to electricity. "We can't see electricity," she says, "but we see its effects."

    Whatever the scientific explanation, research has shown that homeopathy works. Laboratory studies have demonstrated positive effects of homeopathically prepared medicines, and a number of controlled scientific studies have documented its efficacy in patients. Also, a fast-growing number of people report success with homeopathic treatment. Although skeptics insist that the medicines must only work as placebos, homeopathy has been shown to work on populations that don't respond to placebos–including infants, unconscious people, and animals.

    "We start with the admission that we can't explain the mechanism that makes homeopathy work," says Chris Ryan, M.D., a homeopathic physician in Newton, Massachusetts. "But we don't care what it is. We see it work, and we know we can rely on it."

Your Visit To A Homeopath

The homeopathic doctor's challenge is to find the remedy that best matches your symptom pattern. Whether you're complaining of a headache, asthma, or insomnia, the practitioner is going to want to know specifics, not only about your primary complaint, but also about any other symptoms you're experiencing, and details regarding your psychological and emotional state. The initial consultation, therefore, may last up to two hours.

    "The mark of good homeopaths is that they don't start by asking questions," explains Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, N.D., a practitioner at the Northwest Center for Homeopathic Medicine in Edmonds, Washington, and co-author of The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine (Picnic Point Press, 1995). "They listen to the person's story."

    If you go to Reichenberg-Ullman with a headache, she says her goal is to figure out how your headache is different from anybody else's. She'll want to know precisely where the headache is, when it comes on, and what conditions come with it. She'll also want to know about your dreams, fears, and sleep patterns. She will then use that information to find the homeopathic substance that matches as many of your characteristics as possible.

    Castro likens her job to that of a medical detective. "The matching process can be quite easy if the complaint is straightforward," she explains. She compares finding the right remedy to throwing a pebble into the center of a pond. "When it works," she says, "the healings ripples extend to every part of the person. But the pebble may not hit the center of the pond initially. I may even miss the pond altogether."

    That's why homeopaths usually only prescribe one medicine at a time and wait to see how the body responds. If the symptoms don't improve, the homeopath will try another remedy. Many stores carry over-the-counter "combination" homeopathic remedies.

    When the right medicine is prescribed, healing can be dramatic. If the illness you were experiencing was acute, your symptoms may disappear within minutes or hours.

    With chronic illnesses, however, improvement will take longer. "It's unrealistic to expect that you will be completely better in a few days when you have suffered from an illness for years," Reichenberg-Ullman says. And if you took the wrong remedy you probably won't notice any change at all. This tells you (and your practitioner) to try another remedy.

    While healing can be dramatic and nearly immediate when the right remedy is chosen, the results of a visit to homeopath may be limited by the fact that the homeopath may not recommend changes in the patient's habits that could have brought on the illness. Lifestyle factors, including diet, rest, activity, and social relationships, will be considered by the doctor as part of the symptom picture, but changes in these may not be prescribed. Thus, if a chronic problem results from dietary indiscretions, that problem is likely to recur unless the diet is modified. Some homeopathic doctors provide this kind of support, but others do not. For this kind of thorough review of your lifestyle and for help in creating a program that builds health, practitioners of Ayurveda are well trained.

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the oldest recorded healing therapy in existence today. Indian Ayurvedic texts date back thousands of years, and the philosophies—even the medicines—described in those texts form the basis for the contemporary practice of Ayurveda. Sushruta, a legendary Ayurvedic practitioner who lived 4,000 years ago, defined a healthy person as "He [who is] in balance, whose digestion, assimilation, and metabolism are good, whose tissues and wastes are created properly, and whose self, mind, and senses remain full of bliss." That's the same definition of health you're likely to hear from an Ayurvedic practitioner today.

    Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that means the science, or knowledge, of life. And indeed, Ayurveda encompasses all elements of life. What you eat and when you eat it, where you live, your social relationships, your environment, your activity level, and numerous other factors in your life, including sleep and recreation, all contribute to your state of health. By keeping these aspects of your life in harmony with your individual dosha (your mental, emotional, and body type), you stay well.

    The premise of Ayurveda is that we are born having a predominant dosha or combination of doshas. We experience health when we live in harmony with our dosha. Prescriptions in diet and lifestyle, along with herbs and exercises, can help to reestablish the harmony.

    "You can't expect to get healthy through natural remedies if your life is out of harmony with nature," explains David Frawley, an Ayurvedic physician in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and author of several books, including Ayurveda and The Mind (Lotus Press1996). But the Ayurvedic life (as Ayurveda proponents describe it) requires a commitment. You may need to change your diet, your exercise patterns, and other lifestyle habits. Given the rewards that Ayurvedic practitioners speak of, however, many people decide such a commitment is worth it. Also, Ayurveda is distinguished by the fact that its ministrations will not only heal illness, but prevent it, too. David Simon M.D., medical director of the Chopra Center for Well Being in San Diego and author of The Wisdom of Healing: A Natural Mind Body Program for Optimal Wellness (Harmony Books, 1997), puts it this way: "You don't need to be sick to benefit from Ayurveda; you just need to be alive."

The Balancing Act

When you visit an Ayurvedic practitioner for the first time, he or she will perform a full exam to determine your dosha. The practitioner will examine you: listen to your pulse and look at your tongue, eyes, nails, and facial structure. He or she will take into account the thickness of your skin and of the coating on your tongue. You will be asked about your diet, daily routine, sleep patterns, relationships, and responsibilities. And your speech mannerisms (slow or rapid) and body posture will be studied.

    Once your dosha is determined and the practitioner has a sense of your health and how you relate to the world, he or she will customize a healing and wellness plan for you.

    The primary method for restoring balance is a diet of nourishing foods and herbs. But with Ayurveda, the sounds you hear, the colors you see, the smells you inhale, and the ways you are touched all affect you and your health. Thus, you may be advised to listen to relaxing music, use aromatherapy, get a regular massage, and be in nature. You may also be urged to practice meditation.

    Ayurvedic doctors also believe that toxins that accumulate in the body can disrupt the dosha balance and eventually lead to disease. The best way to eliminate toxins, they assert, is to follow a healthy diet. Eating freshly prepared, easy-to-digest foods, and eliminating coffee, nicotine, and alcohol are all key. Your Ayurvedic practitioner will recommend a specific diet for you that depends on the season, and on your age, lifestyle, and body type.

    Beyond dietary recommendations, the ancient system of detoxification, known as panchakarma (literally, five actions), is recommended at the start of each new season. These cleansing procedures, which include a special diet, massage, and steam treatments, eliminate impurities and leave the body feeling rejuvenated.

    While homeopathy attempts to activate the body's own healing powers using "mother tinctures" and Ayurveda focuses principally on lifestyle, Traditional Chinese Medicine fits somewhere in between. Like homeopathy, it includes treatment that can dramatically alter the energetic landscape of the body (to promote the energetic balance necessary for wellness). The TCM practitioner is also apt to prescribe other measures, including massage and exercises. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Although most people think of acupuncture when they think of Chinese medicine, TCM is a comprehensive health system that also includes herbs, diet, exercise (including traditional Asian martial arts such as qi gong), and massage.

    A fundamental principle of TCM is that the invisible energy force called qi circulates through the body along a series of channels, called meridians. Similar to homeopathy's vital force, qi is the animating energy that is responsible for our growth and development. In addition to qi, the body comprises the material components of moisture and blood, and immaterial components called spirit and essence. Even though we cannot see or measure qi, spirit, or essence, these elements are accepted as fundamental aspects of human life; their balanced distribution throughout the body is necessary for health.

    The body also is divided into five organ networks—kidney, heart, lungs, liver, and spleen—that are responsible for regulating and distributing qi, moisture, blood, spirit, and essence. When these elements are poorly distributed, physical and emotional symptoms are manifest in the organ networks.

Your Doctor, Your Partner

On your first visit to a practitioner of TCM, he or she will try to identify any imbalance in your body through questioning and observation. You may be asked to discuss your medical and family history, lifestyle, diet, sleep patterns, emotional well-being, bowel movements, and physical environment. The doctor will then examine your pulse, checking for quality, rhythm, and strength. Up to 32 pulse qualities can be measured and interpreted through the pulse, and the practitioner is tryin to discern how the qi is moving through the various meridians of your body. Another important part of the diagnosis is an examination of the tongue. Your doctor will look at its structure, color, coating texture, moisture, and shape. A face and body examination may also be part of the visit. The doctor's goal is to determine whether your qi, moisture, or blood is depleted or congested, and in which organ network the problem is manifesting.

    Once your doctor gathers all the data needed, he or she will develop a customize healing program for you that will consist of acupuncture and herbal medicines and possibly diet, exercise, and massage.

    You may find that you build a unique relationship with your practitioner. Medical anthropologist Claire Cassidy recently completed an analysis of the first survey of acupuncture users in the United States. Among her findings was extreme satisfaction with the practitioner. Many patients surveyed even referred to their doctor as a "friend" and as their "partner in healing." Even though acupuncturists sometimes only insert needles into the patients, their relationship is built upon the improvement in energy that the patient experiences. Few healing practitioners work as directly with the patient energy as acupuncturists do.

Acupuncture And Herbs

Acupuncture is the aspect of TCM that elicits the greatest apprehension in new comers. But it's a virtually risk-free–and painless–experience for most people. The needles are so thin, and they're inserted to such a small depth, that they present only a very small danger of injury. In November 1997, a panel of experts convened by the NIH concluded that acupuncture is "remarkably safe, with fewer side effects than many well-established therapies."

    As for the discomfort issue, first-time acupuncture patients are usually surprised to learn that getting needled is seldom painful; sometimes patients feels a tugging or dull aching and other times they feel something like a mild electrical shock, but rarely is either sensation painful. For many people acupuncture is a pleasurable experience.

    "Acupuncture is something people really like. It works on subtle levels," says Harriet Beinfield, L.Ac., an acupuncturist in San Francisco and co-author of Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine (Ballantine, 1991). "It makes you feel as if you've had a few sips of champagne or wine; but without any ill side effects. It's pure benefit."

    Linda Barnes, Ph.D., a visiting lecturer at Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, whose specialty is the entry of traditional Chinese practices into American culture, likens the feeling of acupuncture to getting "plugged in." "If you imagine that before a treatment your wiring is not quite, right, or unplugged," she explains," acupuncture gives you a sense of getting hooked up again."

    Acupuncture works on this premise: Every organ network has a corresponding set of meridians. A practitioner inserts needles to adjust the circulation in one or more meridians (and thus in the corresponding organ network). Acupuncture needles (made from stainless steel and sterilized) are very different from the kind of needles used to administer the shots you get in your Western doctor's office. They're solid but so thin that you may not even notice when they're inserted. If you do, you can expect to feel a small pinch and perhaps a feeling of warmth, heaviness, or tingling. The needles may be inserted for just a few minutes, or they may be left in place for up to forty minutes. Depending on the nature of your complaint and its duration, you may be treated several times a week initially, then once a week, or even less frequently.

    Herbal medicine is another major component of TCM. Herbs work by nourishing or replenishing the qi, moisture, and blood in the body. Most herbs are available for specific ailments, or as regular supplements that help maintain balance and prevent illness.

Jessica Fein is a freelance writer. She lives in Newton, Massachusetts.

Reprinted with permission from Natural Health March/April 1998. For a trial issue of Natural Health, call 1-800-526-5440.