Government review to probe efficiency and cost of natural therapies

HEALTH funds spent more than $113 million subsidising questionable natural therapies such as rolfing, naturopathy, aromatherapy and kinesiology in 2011-12 at the same time as they were unable to cover fully the medical bills of cancer patients.

The government has set up a review to investigate the clinical efficacy, cost effectiveness, safety and quality of natural therapies with a view to making budget savings.

From January 14 the natural therapies covered by the 30 per cent private health insurance rebate will be restricted to a list published by the government.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Baggoley, who is heading the review, told health fund chiefs earlier this month that 29 natural therapies would be subject to review.

The National Health and Medical Research Council will conduct a scientific literature review of the evidence for each of these therapies.

``Rebate changes from this initiative are not expected to have a material impact on private health insurance participation rates,'' he said.

The Australian Medical Association president Steve Hambleton is backing the review and says taxpayers ``can't subsidise everything''.

``Public money needs to be spent on things which have a chance of being cost effective,'' he said.

Consumers Health Forum Chief Carol Bennett questioned why health funds were funding treatment that ``have no demonstrated worth when they can't meet the basic health needs of people who have to cash in their life superannuation savings''.

Rolfing is based on the theory that the cause of human physical and emotional discomfort lies in our internal connective tissue and the relationship it has with the earth's gravitational field, and involves physical manipulation.

Kinesiology relies upon the muscle feedback system and aims to ``balance'' the bodies energies.

While City Clinic naturopath Kathy Harmer agreed that unproven natural therapies should not be subsidised, she said adding clinically proven natural products and supplements to health insurance rebates would take pressure off the medical industry. 

``There are some therapies that haven't had a lot of research or trials to show how effective they are which are on the registry when they don't need to be,'' said Ms Harmer.

``But I think it would be good to be able to claim a lot more for natural products and supplements, such as different herbal medicines and nutritional supplements like magnesium, which is used to treat different nutritional deficiencies.”

Alexander technique practitioner Michael Schellshear said a British Medical Journal study published in 2008 had backed the value of the Alexander Technique therapy which teaches people to alter their movement to deal with chronic back pain.

``It would meet the cost effectiveness guidelines set by Treasurer Wayne Swan,'' he said.

COMENT:

This article was published on October 4, 2012, in The New York Times, and it was written by Jane Hoxen, after a meeting abouts the trimmings in American healthcare.

At this meeting it was decided to abolish the aid in alternative medicine, as are alternative treatments that only serve to complement the therapies offered by health and therefore should not be offered by hospitals.

This has caused a revolution with people who consider alternative medicine as the authentic mode of healing, so this should be built into your insurance.

Politicians have responded by saying that only scientifically proven methods will be subsidized defraying those which are considered as a form of alternative medicine is not scientific. This causes need for studies on these techniques, which will be funded by the government to calm the rest of the population

Some people state expensive therapies medications including natural vitamins should be subsidized, because they are the only type of healing nutritional diseases.

From my point of view the cure of diseases such as deficiency should be subsidized by the state, but in times of crisis as an aromatherapy treatment or some type of massage should not afford because they are an alternative treatment therapies offered by doctors in hospitals.

Music therapy can help children with communication problems

Some infants who are born with impaired hearing and who cannot benefit from
hearing aids are likely to gain 90% normal hearing ability by undergoing ear
surgery. But, after the operation, the child - who has never heard before - undergoes
a long rehabilitation process before he or she can begin to speak. In a recent study,
researchers examined the particular effects that music therapy has on the potential
development of toddlers (aged 2-3) who have undergone ear surgery, specifically in
terms of improving spontaneous communication.
“Music includes various elements that are also components of language. So, this
non-verbal form of communication is suitable for communication with these

children, when they are still unable to use language,” explained a researcher. She
added that the toddlers undergoing rehabilitation are under a lot of pressure from
their surroundings - especially their parents- to begin talking, and sometimes this
pressure makes them become introverted. In such a scenario, music therapy
strengthens these children’s non-verbal communication and lessens pressure on
them for verbal exchange and response.
The study provided sixteen sessions for children after ear surgery. Eight of the
sessions included music-related activities and the rest involved playing with toys
and games without musical sounds. The results showed that during those sessions
when music therapy was implemented, spontaneous communication was markedly
more frequent and prolonged in the children. The researchers concluded that
exposure to music needs to be gradual, through the use of music experiences that
involve basic musical parameters, such as intensity and rhythm

COMENT

This article was written on May 20, 2012, in a local magazine in London and it was written by Adam Williams.

In the news they talk about an specific aspect. It explains a new technique which can help to toddlers, who has never hear before. It was drafted before the breakthrough that deaf children had to be used and this could be applied in more hospitals, where doctors are trained to look after children and to help them.

 It's a great technique. This has helped many children recover and be integrated relatively normally in everyday life, a difficult achievement that doctors have succeeded. After surgery, recovery is the hardest stage, especially for young children. Therefore, this new technique has been implemented which no doubt will help these children recover, always with the help of her parents, who play a fundamental role. The technique is based on a CBR affection and play music ranging from less intense to more intense, until the child recovers completely. Therapy is long but the results are effective. At first the technique was performed without music, but music to introduce children experienced a breakthrough.

 In my opinion, this technique has made ​​an advance, that after checking their effectiveness should be applied to all hospitals in the world, helping. This story appeared in an entrance exam. When I read it I was surprised, because it was about our topic and I decided to include it. 

The Great Debate Between Western And Alternative Medicine

Today, most Americans live an overly complicated life. There’s too much pressure to live up to, and not enough time. Add to that a schedule that’s jam-packed with work, family life and unpredictable everyday stressors, it’s no wonder it is easy to get run down and eventually, sick.

Adding to that stress, once someone finds themselves sick, comes a decision that many people are facing. Which path does one take to wellness…the western medical approach or the alternative avenue?

The answer to which type of medicine one is more likely to seek can be found in how people perceive their individual worlds. Not so simply, it boils down to spirit vs. science. A more spirit-based individual will look for a holistic approach to health, as alternative medicine treats body, mind, spirit and emotions wholly. A more scientific-centric individual will trust western medicine and the many21st-century, technology-based advances that have been forged through these type of treatments.

Comparing both western and alternative medicine, there’s benefits and drawbacks to both.

Looking deeper into alternative medicine, Livestrong.com notes that rather than determining which genes are responsible, the practitioner considers how individuals contribute to their health through individual beliefs and lifestyle choices. While this burden of responsibility can be difficult for a patient to accept, this individualized view of health care also assumes the patient has the power to cope, rehabilitate, adapt and recover. Alternative medicine offers that ability to heal the entire body during treatments and at home without the use of standardized medication.

COMENT:

This news was posted on November 15, 2012, in the newspaper The Mirror by Alexander Evans.

 This piece of news shows how people live burdened, and the only consequence is stress and disease. In each disease, people face to it in different ways. Some people who are more liberal, adopt alternative medicine as his based of his lifestyle and adapts to them. Other people are suspicious of any method outside and away from traditional medicine, adopted by the most traditional, which tend to go to hospitals, traditional medicine and chemistry. Both options are correct, and that will influence each person in different ways, if your think that alternative medicine will cure you it is more likely to happen because as Crick Williams said the power is in the mind, which leads us and modify our behavior.

Personally I agree with the author of the story, because our attitude to medicine, can be very crucial to their effectiveness. In my point of view I think a combination of both medicines is great, and it helps people in two ways: through science, research and scientifically and by proven the balance, peace, stress which caused the most of humans problems. But most importantly, we must be in favor of the treatment adopted, and that a good attitude will help us to improve our recovery.

Promueve el IPN medicina alternativa

En cada municipio se pretende atender de 300 a 400 pacientes [Foto: Especial]

Lorenzo Arroyo Márquez, presidente del
 patronato del Hospital General de 
Tulancingo (HGT), anunció que este
 viernes inicia la primera jornada de
 salud alternativa a cargo de 10 
especialistas del Instituto Politécnico
 Nacional

Por: María Antonieta Islas I Tulancingo

La campaña comenzará en Santiago Tulantepec,
 en la sede del DIF local, y continuará el sábado
 en Tulancingo, en el jardín La Floresta.Lorenzo 
Arroyo Márquez, presidente del patronato del 
Hospital General de Tulancingo (HGT), anunció
 que este viernes inicia la primera jornada de salud 
alternativa a cargo de 10 especialistas del Instituto
 Politécnico Nacional (IPN), quienes ofrecerán terapias gratuitas de homeopatía y acupuntura a los asistentes.

Los especialistas retomarán actividades el próximo viernes 7 de diciembre en Singuilucan, en la
 Unidad Básica de Rehabilitación (UBR), y concluirán el sábado en la Casa del Adulto Mayor
 de Cuautepec.

En los cuatro municipios, las valoraciones médicas iniciarán a las nueve de la mañana y en
cada una de ellas atenderán entre 300 y 400 pacientes.

Arroyo Márquez explicó que esta jornada surge ante la necesidad de muchos pacientes que a diario
 llegan al HGT y no cuentan con recursos para costear los medicamentos, sobre todo personas con
 enfermedades crónico-degenerativas.

Por ello, estableció contacto con Guillermo Pérez Ishiwara, investigador del IPN, quien le propuso
 gestionar ante dicha institución educativa la realización de campañas de medicina alternativa.

“Hablamos de medicina alternativa en México porque en países como China e India son técnicas
 tradicionales que se han ocupado durante más de 2 mil 500 años”, detalló.

Lorenzo Arroyo ponderó la respuesta del IPN, ya que a través del doctor Crisóforo Ordóñez López,
 director de la Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatía, enviará acupunturistas y homeópatas
 para que atiendan sin costo alguno a la población de la región.

Además de ser valorados, los pacientes recibirán todo lo necesario para que cubran el tratamiento
 establecido, incluso el patronato del HGT prevé una segunda campaña de seguimiento en enero
 de 2013.


COMENTARIO:

 Esta noticia fue publicada en el 19 de Septiembre de 2011, 

 en un periódico local mexicano por la periodista María Antonia

 Islas, quien a través de esta noticia realiza un reportaje sobre

 la primera jornada de medicina alternativa en México, la cual

 va a consistir en acercar estas técnicas, relativamente

 desconocidas para la población occidental, a los ciudadanos.

 Para ello se elaboró una jornada en la cual se realizaban tratamientos

 de acupuntura o aroma terapia de forma gratuita. Los asistentes

 aseguraron que esta medida es muy acertada, ya que este tipo 

de terapias son muy comunes en la cultura oriental, pero en occidente

 ocurre lo contrario y a pesar de que algunas están homologadas

 científicamente algunos sectores de la población no muestra

 confianza ante ellas. Por lo tanto a través de esta jornada se intentaba

 mostrar a los ciudadanos que los médicos practican este tipo de medicina porque esta estudiada y científicamente aprobada, lo que tras un estudio realizado un año después verificó la confianza en la población que

 produjo esta jornada.

Este éxito ha provocado que vuelva a realizarse y en 2013 tendrá lugar

 la III jornada  de salud alternativa que como en el año 2011, estará

 al cargo de especialistas del Instituto nacional politécnico.

Personalmente me parece una gran medida que aporta confianza y
 conocimiento a la población, que ya tiene razones y motivos para
 acceder a estas prácticas alternativas, sin dejarse influenciar sino
 únicamente guiados por su razón y su experiencia.

Controversial Alternative Heart Treatment Shows Hint of Benefit

But this is the first rigorous study of chelation therapy and more research is needed, experts say

November 5, 2012 

A controversial alternative treatment known as chelation therapy, in which a special infusion seeks to remove heavy metals from the body, did show modest benefits for heart patients, researchers report.

The trial -- the first large, long-term study of its kind on the issue -- was funded by the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. However, its findings are not likely to settle the decades-old debate on chelation therapy, which has never gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for use in heart patients.

The trial results were presented Sunday at the American Heart Association (AHA) annual meeting in Los Angeles. Speaking at an AHA press briefing, commentator Dr. Paul Armstrong said chelation therapy has had staunch supporters and equally adamant detractors.

"On one hand, it's been suggested that chelation therapy is valuable, effective and safe, while the other pole of opinion suggests that it's likely unsafe, certainly ineffective and should be abandoned," said Armstrong, chair of the department of medicine at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.

The treatment is arduous, expensive (about $5,000 on average, according to experts) and involves dozens of infusions of a complex mixture aimed at leaching metals from the body. The new study involved more than 1,700 heart attack patients from 134 sites across North America, most of whom had already undergone major interventions such as bypass surgery or angioplasty.

The patients received 40 infusions of chelation solution, at 500 milliliters per infusion. Some of the patients were randomly assigned to receive the chelating solution, which contained disodium EDTA (an amino acid), vitamin C, B-vitamins, electrolytes, a local anesthetic and the blood thinner heparin. The other patients were randomly assigned to receive either vitamin and mineral supplements or an inactive placebo pill.

Patient outcomes were tracked for more than four-and-a-half years.

According to lead researcher Dr. Gervasio Lamas, chief of the division of cardiology at Columbia University, there was a slight benefit noted among those receiving the therapy. Twenty-six percent of the people taking the treatment suffered a serious cardiovascular event (such as death, heart attack or stroke) versus 30 percent of those who took the placebo. The highest benefit occurred among diabetic patients, but this subset of patients was relatively small, "so we must look at this in a very cautious way," Lamas said.

A second study presented at the meeting looked at patients' quality of life after chelation therapy, but unlike the Lamas study, it found no benefit. Researchers led by Dr. Daniel Mark, professor of medicine at Duke University Medical Center, randomized more than 900 heart attack survivors to either chelation therapy or a placebo.

The study found no difference in patients' ability to perform the tasks of daily living or their overall emotional well-being. "Patients weren't any worse, but they weren't any better," Mark said in an AHA news release.

So, where does all this leave patients and their doctors?

For his part, Lamas said that the findings, while "unexpected," are not the green light for this controversial treatment. "Additional research will be needed to confirm or refute our results and explore possible mechanisms of therapy," he said at the news briefing. According to Lamas, the study "does not at this time constitute sufficient evidence to recommend the clinical application of chelation therapy."

He also warned that chelation therapy does carry dangers, especially if patients receive the infusions too quickly. "Very rapid infusions can cause hypercalcemia [calcium overload], and if they are administered to patients that have kidney failure it can increase the risk of kidney failure," Lamas noted. "So, there is the potential for danger which has been reported and deaths have been reported with chelation therapy over time."

Armstrong agreed that the trial would not change his advice to patients who might ask about chelation therapy.

"When I am asked that question, I say that there is significant potential hazard and I am unaware of any benefit, and I would advise against it," he said. "And my advice to that patient today would be the same as it was before."

Coment

This piece of news published in the section Health of the US.NEWS’web page on  Monday  5^th November 2012, is about “chelation therapy”, an alternative treatment that consist of the elimination of “heavy metals from the body”. With this are achieved the improvements in the heart’s activities.

Chelation therapy has a long history of use in clinical toxicology. For the most common forms of heavy metal intoxication -those involving lead, arsenic or mercury- the standard of care a number of chelating agents are available.

The chelating agent may be administered intravenously, intramuscularly, or orally, depending on the agent and the type of poisoning.

In this article we can see how, before and actually, there was and is a discuss that continues opened, about its effectiveness and application in heart patients. Many experts say that “chelation therapy is valuable, effective and safe” and other say that “it's likely unsafe, certainly ineffective and should be abandoned”. Despite that there were testing and monitoring during a long while to try to corroborate some of the opinions.

After all “there was a slight benefit noted among those receiving the therapy. Twenty-six percent of the people taking the treatment suffered a serious cardiovascular event (such as death, heart attack or stroke) versus 30 percent of those who took the placebo. The highest benefit occurred among diabetic patients, but this subset of patients was relatively small”.

So, with all this, we know that not all are achievements and benefits in that area of medicine. To get a new and useful treatment are needed many more years of researching and challenges.

So from my point of view, surely in a recent future we could take pleasure in different therapies that now don’t work, everything thanks to many people’s work that try to get a quality of life, on an issue as important as health.

 So we must think in disadvantages before test a treatment like that, because we are exposed to several side effects… For many people this doesn’t mind due to they want to cure oneself and they go on an adventure. But for other people, whose disease is very complicated, the most important think and what they prefer is try to help to answer many question about the disease, maybe to can solve, not their problems but the same problem in other that may have the possibility of bounce back. Thanks to this kind of people, then are achieved many developments in lot of people or even in themselves.

Ancient foot massage relieves cancer symptoms

ANI Nov 14, 2012, 05.00PM IST

Reflexology - a type of specialized foot massage practiced since the age of pharaohs - can help cancer patients manage their symptoms and perform daily tasks, a new study led by a Michigan State University researcher has suggested.The study is the first large-scale, randomized study of reflexology as a complement to standard cancer treatment, according to lead author Gwen Wyatt, a professor in the College of Nursing.

"It's always been assumed that it's a nice comfort measure, but to this point we really have not, in a rigorous way, documented the benefits. This is the first step toward moving a complementary therapy from fringe care to mainstream care," Wyatt said.

Reflexology, which is widely practiced in many parts of the world, is based on the idea that stimulating specific points on the feet can improve the functioning of corresponding organs, glands and other parts of the body.

"Reflexology comes out of the Chinese tradition and out of Egypt. In fact, it's shown in hieroglyphics. It's been around for a very long time," Wyatt said.

The study involved 385 women undergoing chemotherapy or hormonal therapy for advanced-stage breast cancer that had spread beyond the breast. The women were assigned randomly to three groups: Some received treatment by a certified reflexologist, others got a foot massage meant to act like a placebo, and the rest had only standard medical treatment and no foot manipulation.

Wyatt and colleagues surveyed participants about their symptoms at intake and then checked in with them after five weeks and 11 weeks.

They found that those in the reflexology group experienced significantly less shortness of breath, a common symptom in breast cancer patients. Perhaps as a result of their improved breathing, they also were better able to perform daily tasks such as climbing a flight of stairs, getting dressed or going grocery shopping.

Wyatt said she was surprised to find that reflexology's effects appeared to be primarily physical, not psychological.

"We didn't get the change we might have expected with the emotional symptoms like anxiety and depression. The most significant changes were documented with the physical symptoms," she said.

Also unexpected was the reduced fatigue reported by those who received the "placebo" foot massage, particularly since the reflexology group did not show similarly significant improvement.

Wyatt is now researching whether massage similar to reflexology performed by cancer patients' friends and family, as opposed to certified reflexologists, might be a simple and inexpensive treatment option.

The study was published in the latest issue of Oncology Nursing Forum.

Coment

This article was published in The Times of India newspaper on 14^th November 2012. It’s about a “type of specialized foot massage” that exists since a long time, but now it serves as “a complement to standard cancer treatment” very useful to people in the day to day.

Reflexology is an alternative medicine involving the physical act of applying pressure to the feet, hands, or ears with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion. It is based on what reflexologists claim to be a system of zones and reflex areas that they say reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands, with the premise that such work effects a physical change to the body.

In this article tell us only about feet massages and his property to get find the feet’s key points where the rubdown causes a placebo effect. Also, recent studies show that this type of therapy effects appeared to be primarily physical, not psychological. So with this massage treatment lot of people that suffer different kinds of cancer , can make their lives easier.

This piece of news discusses about studies tested in patients; “385 women undergoing chemotherapy or hormonal therapy for advanced-stage breast cancer that had spread beyond the breast” and all the challenges and advances that have been achieved like the reduced fatigue and especially physical improvements.

One claimed explanation is that the pressure received in the feet may send signals that 'balance' the nervous system or release chemicals such as endorphins that reduce stress and pain.

In my opinion, each day I’m more surprised about medical advances, even with alternative procedures with thousands of years old. It’s amazing how a feet massage can help in diseases as cancer. It’s also incredible the complexity of our organism that makes all this possible, opening the possibility to use different therapies to relieve various pains in various parts of the body.

Earlsheaton dad’s shiatsu therapy ‘saved’ son’s life

LIFESAVER?: Shane Spencer may have saved the life of his son, Riley, using his shiatsu skills. The pair are pictured with Caroline Hadfield. 

Published on Wednesday 5 September 2012 07:00

FULL-time dad Shane Spencer learned the hard way that being a shiatsu therapist was what he was meant to do.

After a spell learning the Japanese healing technique, Shane put his skill on the back burner.

It wasn’t until years later, when he started treating his new son’s heart condition, that he realised he truly had a gift.

The Earlsheaton father-of-one started studying shiatsu 12 years ago as part of his university studies, but had to leave his course suddenly.

Then, in 2008 when son Riley was born with a heart murmur, Shane started practicing shiatsu techniques on the new-born’s arm.

He said: “Six weeks went by and when Riley woke for feeding five or six times a night I got up with him and as I fed him, I gently worked the heart meridian – which runs down the inside of the arm to the little finger – with my thumb in the attempt to maybe help him.”

But Shane, who lives in Frances Road, was dealt a blow at Riley’s six week scan when doctors said the baby would need an operation as soon as possible as blood was not flowing into his heart properly.

After the operation, Riley was put on life support.

Shane, 29, worried that his shiatsu had made his son’s condition worse.

“Our world got turned upside down,” he said. “The next 11 days went by in some kind of weird dream with lots of tears and no sleep.”

But soon news came that actually, without Shane’s shiatsu, Riley may have suffered a heart attack before his operation.

He said the heart has thousands of tiny veins which go down the arm, taking pressure off it.

“Maybe, just maybe, I helped to direct Riley’s heart by working the heart meridian in the arm,” he said.

Shane has decided to open his own shiatsu therapy practice in Dewsbury, and first told us about his venture via Twitter.

Coment

This piece of news, published in the newspaper Dewsbury Reporter on Wednesday 5th September 2012 , is about the story of a family in which the baby was born “with a heart murmur” and his father has help this disease unknowingly. Without his shiatsu’s treatments, maybe his son wouldn’t be alive.

This father, who has studied shiatsu during 12 years, always tried to his baby was well, and when the doctors noticed him that the baby should be operated, he feels really bad, because he thought that it was be his fault.

Shiatsu Japanese for "finger pressure"; it is a type of alternative medicine consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches, and other massage techniques. There is no scientific evidence for any medical efficacy of shiatsu, but some shiatsu practitioners promote it as a way to help people relax and cope with issues such as stress, muscle pain, nausea, anxiety, and depression. And it this case it looks that it worked.

Recent studies have shown that there are many types of heart disease, all of which have some effect on the heart. Different diseases will cause different effects but at the same time, one effect can be due to more than one disease. But we can’t know yet, how this type of alternative therapy has help by this way to this disease so difficult to remedy.

Who knows… if the that father hadn’t done this  the baby, maybe, wouldn’t be alive now.

In my opinion I think that it is a sentimental story, surely a little bit retouched… I only know that it’s very difficult to heal this kind of diseases, especially if they are related with the heart and the blood and they happen in children. For me it is very difficult to believe it, but it really it is true I admire this man because he can say that HE HAS SAVED HIS SON, and I see well that he had set up a clinic to help more people. If I were him I would be proud of myself.