Integrative Medicine is a ‘relatively’ new movement, research is helping credit/discredit various therapies’ effectiveness.  Andrew Weil is quite popular.  I dont consider him a snake oil sales man though, he has made meaningful contributions developing integrative medicine within the medical community, and has popularized it in the public arena without too much ‘woo’ (with his Aveda line, supplements and home care products).

The ‘alarming trend’ of physicians heading towards integrative medicine (I’ll include all involved, see last bullet) can be interpreted to reflect any one of the following (however not limited to this list):

• CAM is effective in some areas where medicine falls short or as an alternative to allopathic treatment
• CAM improves quality of life
• Patients feel better using CAM it even though it may not change the course of disease (even if its via a placebo effect)
• The medically trained (MD/RN/PA’s), non-medically trained (L.Ac./LMT/MSW) or those with no training (just hung out a shingle) are out to make a buck

I think the latter option is where people tend to jump first without further examination, and subsequently lump practitioners with training and extensive experience, with those who don’t (ie: Weil or Chopra = Trudeau?).

Acupuncture and herbal therapies have existed for thousands of  years  as the primary form of treatment for civilizations.  Why would we ignore them if they can offer us something? And evidence supports it? While I dont believe ‘if its ancient and x peoples used it, so should we’ or think we should treat medical problems based on ‘beliefs’ (see my post when faith healing kills) I think its realistic to look at all therapies as potential resources, and critically ask; what is the best thing to use/do for x health situation? which causes least harm? most benefit? was it studied? what are the results?

Kevin Trudeau should have known better than to tout his product as a cure for cancer after being warned (with a court order no less).  There was no evidence behind it.   He SHOULD have been hammered to the ground.  It looks like hes been on a long road of poor judgment and insight…. his wiki page describes him as “pocket billiards promoter and alternative medicine advocate” (nice combo!), indicates he first got involved in a CAM (nutritional) pyramid scheme while in prison, and outlines briefly his criminal record for the past 18 years!  I dont think its reasonable to lump Trudeau with Weil or Chopra regarding “sham CAM”.

Out of curiosity I did a quick pubmed search on arthritis/inflammatory disease and the use of omega 3 FA.  I came up with a few articles, some of which help shed some light on the MOA behind omega-3’s…  (Its a slow day at the hospital….pardon the type-o’s)

Thanks for the post Shadowfax!