Patients opt for less invasive healing: homeopathy and osteopathy

November 7, 2:56 PMPhiladelphia Health ExaminerThomas Hartmann

Previous Next

1 comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Philadelphia Health Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

 Patient gets adjustment

“Ask your doctor,” say the TV ads. But what if your doctor doesn’t know? At best, medical doctors keep up with their professions throughout their careers, carefully reading journals and attending conferences. Sometimes they are even able to gracefully surf above the overwhelming wave of information the pharmaceutical industry puts out.

Even then, though, a doctor will often only be able to think in the terms of the medical school she attended. Many medical schools are notorious for inculcating skepticism rather than open-mindedness. As office visits get shorter and shorter, there is little time for critical reflection, and as a result, cookie-cutter treatment often results.

One alternative is to seek a second opinion when that little inner voice says: “I don’t trust this guy.” This is especially true when drugs or surgery are involved. As M.D.s are fond of saying, “there’s not a drug out there that can’t kill you.” And surgery is by nature risky and usually irreversible.

Another possibility is to think outside of the box, and seek the opinion of a doctor trained in a different medical tradition. Many patients do not know that osteopathy was founded on the principle of less invasive healing, or bone manipulation, and all D.O.’s accept the same insurance that M.D.’s do. A further option along these lines is to find a homeopath who also has an M.D.. Homeopathic remedies often have much less side effects than regular drugs, while having the additional benefit of restoring underlying balance so that drugs don’t become a long-term commitment.

Philadelphia is lucky enough to still have an entire osteopathic medical school on City Line Avenue where outpatients are treated holistically, or “adjusted,” in the OMM department by professors who also have clinical practices. Another alternative is homeopathy. While the Hahnemann homeopathic hospital at Broad and Vine Streets went under in the mid-20th century, M.D.s who practice homeopathy can be still be found through a national directory service and are also reimbursed by insurance.

Going to a different doctor doesn’t mean going against your doctor’s orders. It just means starting to control your own medical options.
 

 (photo:  Murfreesboro Post)