Complementary and Alternative Medicine Helps Gut Problems

MEDIA RELEASE

The New Zealand Society of Naturopaths

22nd June 2011

Parents Say Complementary and Alternative Medicine Helps Gut Problems.

The New Zealand Society of Naturopaths(NZSN) were interested to see that a study just published about Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use, co-authored by A/Prof Andrew Day (University of Otago), showed that the majority of children attending a gastroenterology clinic had not only used CAM but found it effective for their complaints. Most of the parents and caregivers (80%) felt that doctors should support the use of CAM[1].

The NZ Society of Naturopaths sees the use of CAM growing, as more people become aware of the effectiveness of naturopathic medicine which may include dietary and nutritional interventions, herbal medicine, homoeopathy, lifestyle changes, relaxation techniques, massage, exercise, and other natural interventions.

However, the NZSN advise that any form of medicine including CAM must be used appropriately and recommendations regarding how it should be used and the dose should always be followed. A NZSN spokesperson advised that “parents consult a naturopath registered with the NZ Society of Naturopaths, so that safe and effective naturopathic interventions can be used”.

Registered naturopaths encourage patients to inform any other medical services about CAM use to “enlighten doctors and other people involved in medical service about the effectiveness of CAM, and avoid medication that may be contraindicated with CAM”.

Registered Naturopaths are trained to be aware of potential interactions between naturopathic treatment and pharmaceutical medications. “Ideally we would like to see the services of naturopaths included in government funded health care” the NZSN stated.

Looking at the bigger picture the NZSN believe the focus of attention regarding potential harm should really be towards pharmaceutical medicines. The New Zealand Medical Journal reported in 2008 that preventable medication-related mishaps in the paediatric wards are common and over half of the events causing harm to children in a particular study were preventable[2]. In addition The New Zealand Medical Journal (NZMJ) reported in 2006 that 1-19 deaths per 1000 people admitted to hospital occur due to hospital mistreatment[3].

END

© Scoop Media