J
Jan
Guest
http://www.blackmores.com.au/news/news_detail.asp?cat=103&art=630
Blackmores Welcomes AMA’s Position on Complementary Medicine
March 20, 2002
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is encouraging doctors to learn more
about alternative medicine and to incorporate therapies like acupuncture and
herbs into their practices.
Historically the AMA has been very conservative in their acceptance of
alternative or complementary medicine, but when national surveys indicate that
over half of Australians are using alternative therapies, the AMA has changed
its mind.
The AMA has a new federal policy stating that it acknowledges the growing use
of complementary medicines. Part of the policy states that, “It recognises
that evidence-based aspects of complementary medicine are part of the
repertoire of patient care and may have a role in mainstream practiceâ€.
Dr Kerryn Phelps, the Federal AMA president said it was important for doctors
and patients to be fully informed on the health claims of alternative medicines
and alert to any possible side-effects when used with prescription medications.
Dr Roberta Chow, who uses herbal medicine and acupuncture in her practice, is
on both the AMA and federal government complementary medicine advisory
committees said, “it was important for doctors to be more informed about the
benefits and drawbacks of alternative therapies…the AMA has never before in
all its history put itself in a formal position of acknowledging complementary
medicine as an important issue to be looked at and examined and has never
before been prepared to state we need to look at it formally and
scientificallyâ€.
Dr Chow advises, "if patients are taking herbal medications, we need to know
what impact that is having on their health and other medicationsâ€. Where
proven herbs like St. John’s wort could prove important in treating patients
with mild depression, at the same time, doctors need to learn that herbs like
kava, garlic and ginseng can interact with prescription drugs.
Dr Rosanna Capolingua, chair of the AMA’s complementary advisory committee
said the AMA has shifted from its previous position “of not wanting to know
or deal with complementary medicines… our previous way of thinking was that
if you acknowledge them, you give them undue credibility, but knowing about
them helps empower doctors and patients to make good, informed choicesâ€.
Blackmores Welcomes AMA’s Position on Complementary Medicine
March 20, 2002
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is encouraging doctors to learn more
about alternative medicine and to incorporate therapies like acupuncture and
herbs into their practices.
Historically the AMA has been very conservative in their acceptance of
alternative or complementary medicine, but when national surveys indicate that
over half of Australians are using alternative therapies, the AMA has changed
its mind.
The AMA has a new federal policy stating that it acknowledges the growing use
of complementary medicines. Part of the policy states that, “It recognises
that evidence-based aspects of complementary medicine are part of the
repertoire of patient care and may have a role in mainstream practiceâ€.
Dr Kerryn Phelps, the Federal AMA president said it was important for doctors
and patients to be fully informed on the health claims of alternative medicines
and alert to any possible side-effects when used with prescription medications.
Dr Roberta Chow, who uses herbal medicine and acupuncture in her practice, is
on both the AMA and federal government complementary medicine advisory
committees said, “it was important for doctors to be more informed about the
benefits and drawbacks of alternative therapies…the AMA has never before in
all its history put itself in a formal position of acknowledging complementary
medicine as an important issue to be looked at and examined and has never
before been prepared to state we need to look at it formally and
scientificallyâ€.
Dr Chow advises, "if patients are taking herbal medications, we need to know
what impact that is having on their health and other medicationsâ€. Where
proven herbs like St. John’s wort could prove important in treating patients
with mild depression, at the same time, doctors need to learn that herbs like
kava, garlic and ginseng can interact with prescription drugs.
Dr Rosanna Capolingua, chair of the AMA’s complementary advisory committee
said the AMA has shifted from its previous position “of not wanting to know
or deal with complementary medicines… our previous way of thinking was that
if you acknowledge them, you give them undue credibility, but knowing about
them helps empower doctors and patients to make good, informed choicesâ€.