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"Do you have any more questions?" I asked, wrapping up a routine visit. She had been my patient for a long time, so communication was easy. "Sure. What do you think of those foot baths people are using?" she asked with a little bit of embarrassment in her expression. "The ones that change color as they draw out toxins?" I said, waving my fingers downward in a wiggly pattern to emphasize the drawing-out process. I have seen people describe this process, and they always do their fingers that way when they describe toxins coming out of the feet. She nodded, and I grinned at her as I gave my response. "I am very certain that they will cause considerable weight loss in a specific area:" I paused for effect, "your wallet." She laughed, and we discussed the mysterious notion that somehow toxins would accumulate in the feet. Her question wasn't because she was herself considering the treatment, but because many around her were swearing by it. My glib answer reflected the fact that I knew her purpose in asking. I didn't have much time to explain my feelings about these treatments, but I did assure her that I don't really care if people spend their money as long as they don't hurt themselves. If sticking your feet in water that changes colors makes you feel better, more power to you. The placebo effect is a well-documented phenomenon. The irony of this conversation is that it came almost immediately after I had had a discussion with a colleague about the American obsession with alternative medicine. Here are the facts: These statistics obviously hinge on what is considered to be "alternative." Because I pray for the health of my elderly parents, does that mean that I have engaged in alternative medicine? Do people taking melatonin or glucosamine chondroitin qualify as well? Still, nobody argues that the use of CAM ("Complementary and alternative medicine") is widespread. Websites and blogs such as Science-Based Medicine and Orac's well-known blog, Respectful Insolence, have challenged many of the outrageous claims made by proponents of alternative medicine. I will leave that job to them. That is not the purpose of this post. My question, and the question I discussed with my colleague, is this: why do people spend so much money on alternative medical therapies? Are we practitioners of "conventional medicine" doing something wrong? Is it bad PR on our part, or is it the smooth talking of the purveyors of alternative therapies that have made so many choose them instead of us? Is it simply the stupidity or gullibility of people that gives an opening to alternative providers, or is there something lacking in conventional treatments? Seriously, why would someone ever do a colonic if they weren't forced to at gunpoint? The answer, I believe, is summed up in a single word: magic. There are three facts that explain why so many people turn to alternative therapies: 1. People Want Magic
Life is full of pain. We all face circumstances that are frustrating, confusing, and difficult. If we are given the choice between explanations as to why things are hard or promises to fix things quickly, we tend to choose the latter. It is human nature to seek out the easiest solutions to our problems. This is not a bad thing, nor is it a sign of ignorance, it is simply a consequence of our desire to not feel pain (be that physical or emotional). Magical solutions offer an easy way out. There is another reason why people are drawn to magic: the appeal of the mysterious. The child looks at his father in wonder when he produces a coin from behind her ear. She wants her father to be magical and powerful. The mystery doesn't decrease her admiration, it increases it. As she gets older and finds out that he is not magical, she still may admire him; but she won't hold him in the awe she did as a young and naive child. Which is the better state to be in? It's hard to say. I don't like being ignorant, but I do miss the wonder I had as a child. 2. Medicine is Not Magic When one of my kids comes to me with a pain in their leg or a stomach ache, they are not coming for an explanation, a plan, or a differential diagnosis; they want me to fix their problem. Unfortunately, medicine often does not work that way. If someone gets an upper respiratory infection, the cure for it is to wait until it goes away. If a person has diabetes, the main approach is not to cure the problem, but accept its presence and minimize the damage. There are often people who come in with problems I can't solve. I go through my usual approach: rule out serious problems first, then work to minimize pain; but am often left without a solution. 3. Alternative Medicine Promises Magic Look at the testimonials of people who have used the foot-soaking therapy:
Before
After
This is what happens to blood cells in your feet! Apparently, they do line dancing when they are sick! You could find similar claims/testimonials on websites pushing MonaVie, colonics, and chelation therapy. Alternative treatments promise magical results, curing problems for which conventional medicine doesn't have answers. You don't find nearly as many alternative treatments for ear infections, ankle sprains, or appendicitis - things that conventional medicine handles quickly and effectively, in most cases. Alternative treatments usually go after chronic symptoms such as fatigue, and chronic diseases such as arthritis. They fix problems that I often tell patients they have to live with. This is, by the way, why scientifically repudiating alternative therapies does little good. They don't require science since they are magical. So What's the Point? What are we to do with this information? Here are several things I get from this:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Blogs-by-DrRob/
The question of why asked by the author may be as simple as one of cost. Yes, the cost of alternative may be high up front, but to someone with no insurance, anything under 0 is probably cheaper than following the conventional route. The cost quickly mounts if test are added when a more conservative treatment and some patience might work just as well.
I am in total and complete agreement with this statement:
Seriously, why would someone ever do a colonic if they weren't forced to at gunpoint?
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