Mine is the only branch of science where there is an “alternative”.
Who wants to fly in a plane built by “alternative aeronautical engineers”?
Who wants to trust their car’s brakes designed by “alternative automobile engineers”?
And yet… Many of my Mosman patients seek out and subscribe to “alternative medicine”.
“Just a GP” talks about alternative medicine this week. If you have a question for him, contact him.
Australians spend $3.5 billion on alternative therapies each year, the equivalent of what they spend on pharmaceuticals.
If the drug proves effective in rigorous and extensive clinical trials, it becomes part of mainstream medical care.
If the effectiveness of a medication is NOT proven, it is called “alternative” medicine.
Despite this, millions of people are persuaded to buy these products, even though they are often unnecessary.
“If the effectiveness of a drug is NOT proven, it is called “alternative” medicine, explains Justa GP.
Naturopaths or “health professionals” often ask me to do blood tests for my patients.
They do this in the hopes that Medicare will pay for the tests if ordered by a licensed physician.
Medicare regulations state that a service must be “medically necessary” to receive a discount.
Most of the tests I am asked to do are not medically necessary.
Most of the tests requested from Justa GP are “not medically necessary”, he says.
I am regularly amazed at how confident alternative therapists are in diagnosing and treating conditions such as thyroid problems.
They ask for tests like “cortisol levels, insulin levels, reverse T3 levels” – and long lists of obscure tests that are mostly buried deep in medical textbooks such as the MTHFR gene.
Strangely, these tests are almost NEVER ordered by expert medical specialists, such as endocrinologists, who have spent their entire lives studying and treating thyroid diseases.
Australians spend $3.5 billion on alternative therapies each year.
There is a lovely bronze statue at the top of my street. This is an excellent portrait of our former mayor, Dom Lopez. He was a good man. He died from cancer. A naturopath would have dissuaded him from taking these “nasty” chemotherapy drugs. I would rather see Dom than his statue.
Disclaimer: Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Editor’s Note: Dom Lopez’s family has kindly given permission for his name to be used in this article.
