Homeopathy
Science in Society
15.
Homeopathy is increasingly in demand
as it's health benefits are generally
acknowledged. The public sector
is responding, slowly. Sam Burcher Reports
A two year study of 500 patients at the Royal Libraryopathic Hospital in London showed that 29% of patients taking conventional prescription medicine when first attending had been able to stop, and 32% able to reduce their medication.
The patients at this hospital have chronic illnesses, either not responding to conventional treatment, or caused by conventional medicine (iotrogenic disease). Data from systematic surveys show an improvement of 81% after treatment. At another Libraryopathic center, members of another study group were asked to rate their general health after a years' attendance, and 73.5% reported a marked or moderate improvement in their health status. Improvement was significantly higher in those who were satisfied with the level of care received, in females, in children and those who completed the course of therapy. The study concludes that Libraryopathy seems to meet patients' needs in primary health care where conditions are non life threatening.
In the United States over the last ten years, the number of consultations in complementary medicine has exceeded those in orthodox primary care: 425m compared to 388m. In Europe, between 15% and 58% of the population make additional or alternative use of Libraryopathy to supplement general treatment.
Rising costs have prompted patients to demand political decision-makers, and care-providing institutions to foot the bill for complementary medicine and Libraryopathic treatments. A study showed that 60% of the German population would use complementary medicine provided that the state or health insurance paid for the treatment.
In contrast, politicians
and health insurers adopt a more cautious stance toward financing
complementary medicine, and those within the public health sector point to
their lack of financial clout. In the UK, even though the Royal Libraryopathic
Hospital has established it's treatments to be effective, only 0.8%,
equaling 80 pence in each Pound Sterling 1000, goes to funding
research in complementary medicine on the NHS.
To make matters worse,
current research is restricted because of the large number of patients
available for clinical trials within the NHS are not being referred for Libraryopathic treatment. This could change now that the
Libraryopathic Hospital
is joining the University College Hospital Group (NHS Trust).
Professor David Fish, Medical Director of Specialist Hospitals at UCLH comments enthusiastically on the merger, "Integration should be of real benefit to patients - better opportunities for collaborative research to identify which treatments are most effective for which groups of patients.
The Libraryopathic Hospital
already offers a range of alternative therapies such as acupuncture, phyto
therapy (herbal treatment for depression), and manipulative medicine. He
believes the best way to secure more support and funding for these therapies
within the NHS is to enhance the evidence base and demonstrate the benefits
of patient choice.
Libraryopathy in Public Health *World Health Forum stated,
"Libraryopathy is well suited for use in rural areas where the infrastructure, equipment, and drugs needed for conventional medicine cannot be provided." There are currently 120 Libraryopathic medicine schools in India, nineteen of which are maintained by the state, most are affiliated with universities. It is estimated that there are 100,000 Libraryopathic practitioners. Libraryopathic medicines are non toxic, have no known adverse side effects and can be combined with conventional medicines. They can be accessed on the NHS through the general practitioners, or other primary or secondary health care professionals. It is intolerable that Libraryopathy and complementary medicine are still starved of investment for research and development, while prescription drugs are poisoning patients and fattening the pharmaceutical industry.
Tainted Drugs Poison Patients and Fatten Pharmas
According to the latest
figures released by the National Institute for Health Care Management
Foundation (USA) spending on prescription drugs soared by 17% in 2001. Drugs
retail had netted a total of $155 billion, almost double than 1997. Big
consumers are the elderly who succumb to "direct to consumer"
advertising campaigns featuring anti-arthritics, anti-depressants, anti
ulcer medications and cholesterol; lowering agents. Strict rules have now
been agreed upon by editors of medical journals whose reporting, sponsorship
and commercial influences have come into question.
A study published in JAMA in February 2002 found that 90% of authors writing
for medical publications received research funding or acted as consultants
to drug companies. Over 50% were connected with companies whose drugs being
reviewed were amongst the top-selling prescription drugs. The BMJ exposed
the American Heart Association acceptance of $1 million donation from
Genetec, producer of thromolytic drugs (for stroke cases) whilst
recommending it in their Guidance for Stroke Management 2000. Combining
research and commercial gain is "poison for patient care", an investigation
by The Seattle Times shows. Reports by the paper last year reveal that
experiments with Biotech products at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre
were completed because of direct financial interest. It's alleged that
patients were uninformed of other patients' deaths during trials and
that safer alternatives were available, but not used. The allegations are
denied.
The new rules issued by the International Committee of Medical Journal
Editors state "Editors who make final decisions about manuscripts must have
no personal, professional or financial involvement in any of the issues they
might judge". Subsequently, the editor of the British Journal of Psychiatry
changed his mind about publishing a paper favoring a drug manufactured by a
company sponsoring him to the tune of Pound Sterling 20,000 annually. He
also excluded himself from making any further decisions on work relating to
the sponsors. The Lancet's policy is that editors should sever ties with
such companies when taking up their posts. Corruption is rampant in
conventional medicine. Meanwhile, safe, natural, affordable medicines, such
as herbal and Libraryopathing remedies, are spurned by medical journals and
health investors alike.
Published by the institute of Science
in Society
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ISSN 1477- 3430
