Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

54 Alternative and Complementary Approaches
acupuncture’s foundation, within these systems, is
the presence of an extensive network of energy
channels, called meridians, in the body. Though
these meridians are not tangible, perceptible structures
in the conventional sense, they are nonetheless
a centuries-old map of energy pathways in the
body. That contemporary researchers have yet to
quantify them does not necessarily invalidate their
existence. Indeed, not until the invention of
devices such as the microscope in the eighteenth
century, and really not until its application in
exploring the structure of the human body in the
nineteenth century, did scientists discover the networks
of nerves that convey information and
instructions from the BRAIN to each cell in the
body. Medical science is ever-evolving, and new
technologies continually reveal new and paradigm-shifting
discoveries (such as mapping the
human genome).
Herbal remedies and medicinal foods contain
numerous potentially active ingredients. Conventional
clinical studies of the intact substance, such
as the soybean, may yield different results than
studies of the substance’s known active ingredients,
such as SOY isoflavones. A substance may
appear to be a “heal-all,” raising questions about
PLACEBO effect. And yet the substance may simply
have such broad-reaching actions in the body,
such as stimulating the immune system, that it
truly does have healing effects for numerous
health conditions.
Evidence of effectiveness and mechanism of
action may be in short supply simply because the
clinical research studies that are today the foundation
of conventional medicine may not have
investigated a particular therapy or may have produced
inconclusive findings. Sometimes multiple
studies generate conflicting data. Some methods
have been copiously studied, though according to
standards other than those common in the United
States. And, of course, numerous “therapies” are
available that have dubious therapeutic value (and
may appear clearly ineffective or even harmful)
and have no foundation within the context of any
healing system.
As a result of these mixed circumstances, there
is considerable disagreement among conventional
doctors and clinical scientists about the effectiveness
and potential risks of many alternative and
complementary therapies. These possibilities apply
as well to conventional therapies. Researchers do
not fully understand the mechanisms of many
drugs, such as levodopa to treat PARKINSON’S DIS-
EASE, the tricyclic ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATIONS, and
many of the medications doctors prescribe to treat
HEART conditions. However, empirical evidence
(observable, reproducible effects) support their
effectiveness to the extent that conventional doctors
are comfortable using them. Such is becoming
the case with some alternative and complementary
approaches that lend themselves to empirical
study, such as acupuncture.
As the current health-care paradigm continues
to change, it is natural to expect conflicting viewpoints
about the best standard of care to emerge.
Until there is a truly integrated approach, there
will be a higher level of responsibility on the individual
to participate in health-care decisions and
to choose care that is wise and effective. This
applies as much to the choice to use acupuncture
as to enroll in a clinical study for an experimental
drug or treatment.
Breakthrough Research and Treatment Advances
Advances in medical technology, particularly
imaging procedures, have made possible the study
of alternative and complementary therapies in
ways that allow researchers to explore how they
alter physiologic functions. POSITRON EMISSION
TOMOGRAPHY (PET) SCAN and MAGNETIC RESONANCE
IMAGING (MRI), for example, allow researchers to
observe, in real time, the changes that take place
in the brain and other parts of the body with therapies
such as HYPNOSIS, acupuncture, MEDITATION,
visualization, and even prayer. Numerous studies
underway are investigating alternative therapies
such as botanical and herbal remedies to relieve
the discomforts of menopause, CANCER and CARDIO-
VASCULAR DISEASE PREVENTION and treatment claims,
methods for pain management, and mind–body
interventions to mitigate the symptoms of chronic
health conditions.
The current health-care culture is reaching for
new understanding that can unify technology,
conventional techniques, and complementary
methods in a single, amazing paradigm for treatment
of the human being in health and in illness.
Within this paradigm is the potential for many of