Hamza Mirza, Class of 2021
In his newly published book, Cured: The Life-Changing Science of Spontaneous Healing, Jeffrey Rediger, a psychiatrist in the faculty of Harvard Medical School, argues that modern medicine has a blindspot in the impact lifestyle changes can have on health. Obviously changes such as eating healthier and getting more exercise are common things to hear when visiting the doctor, but Rediger argues that deeper lifestyle changes may have a seemingly miraculous effect on the body. In researching his book, Rediger spent seventeen years looking at cases of patient recovery from seemingly incurable diseases, which, he claims, always resulted from some sort of lifestyle change, specifically dietary changes and a shift to “non-inflammatory,” a less stressful, lifestyle (2). Rediger writes that Western medicine “focuses on the disease and not the person,” and Mary Hadar, in her book review for the Washington Post, argues that the changes Rediger describes follow this same vein (2). Hadar describes Rediger’s argument as getting in touch with oneself, and figuring out what will make you feel better. Rediger, she says, is arguing for self-empowerment; to find what changes will give you less stress, to figure out what dietary changes will give you more energy, and to figure out what things you can incorporate into your life to live every moment to the fullest (2). Physicians therefore would have a responsibility to recognize these issues, and the potential impact of such lifestyle changes, supposedly treating the person, rather than the disease.
While Hadar reads Rediger’s book as a call for greater compassion and understanding from doctors, as well as a greater understanding of the mind’s power over the body, Daniel J. Levitin, in his own book review for the Wall Street Journal, sees Rediger’s claims in a different light. According to Levitin, Rediger has several valid points about the ever-changing nature of medicine, and the medical establishment’s constant historical resistance to possible developments (4). However, he says, Rediger does not apply the same rigorous standards to these “miracle cures,” many of which have produced mixed results in laboratories (4). Levitin argues that, while Rediger is correct in saying that modern medicine is not perfect, and that miracles do sometimes happen, a well-credentialed medical professional writing about the miraculous effects of lifestyle changes like faith healing and the keto diet, which have no proven benefits, at least according to the scientific method, is dangerous (4). He does not, however, address the argument made by Hadar, that it is less about the specific methodology, and more about making a change. Levitin would likely argue that, although changes may have benefit, writing about specific changes without providing the mixed research outcomes could be dangerous. Miraculous spontaneous recoveries from incurable diseases, he argues, are just a statistical fact; physician estimates on lifespan are based on averages, and some people will always be above the average (4).
The argument for greater physician openness and respect for patients, their specific pain and circumstances, and alternative methods of treatment, goes even beyond the lifestyle changes Rediger describes. Alternative medicine is a term that essentially refers to any form of medical treatment that does not stem from the Western tradition, specifically modern biological knowledge and the scientific method, and can refer to anything from traditional Chinese medicine, faith healing, and chiropractic therapy. Although many forms of alternative medicine rely on unscientific claims, there is often a lack of research to completely disprove these practices, and patients often rely on word-of-mouth or cultural knowledge to argue for these practices. While most members of the modern medical community are against alternative medicine, people like Kelsey Adler, a medical student at UI Carver College of Medicine, writing in an opinion piece in The Daily Iowan, argues that greater compassion and openness is necessary in doctor-patient interaction when alternative medicine is brought up, even if the physician does not believe such methods to be the best course (1). Many patients, she says, have already had, or heard about, bad experiences with physicians, and may have some form or alternative treatment in mind from a number of different sources, so a complete shutdown of this discussion could not only drive patients away from seeking further treatment, but also cause harm, as a clash of standard and alternative treatments has the potential to worsen a patient’s condition (1).
However, it does seem possible to go too far in the other direction. Although there is not as much research on alternative medicine, and any possible benefits, people continue to spread such information as a fact, and sometimes even medical professionals and government officials can get involved. One example has come up in the coronavirus. Covid-19 pandemic, more commonly known as coronavirus, seems to have originated in Wuhan, China, and China to date has the largest number of coronavirus patients. Recently, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have begun to release statements saying that, in conjunction with modern medicine, traditional Chinese medicine has been effective in treating Covid-19 patients (3)(5). This claim is backed by the Chinese scientific and medical community, and by government officials; China’s government, including President Xi Jinping, have spent a lot of time and money promoting Chinese culture abroad, and traditional medicine has been an integral part of this strategy (5). Not only are Chinese officials and scientists spreading this information, which could lead to patients seeking treatment from less tested sources, but is also harmful to standard physicians in China, who already face “public hostility and skepticism” (5). On the other hand, practitioners seem to be trying to work in conjunction with standard medical professionals, rather than as a complete alternative, and the Chinese government itself has stopped short of recommending patients to give up their standard treatments (3)(5).
It seems clear that modern medicine is at an impasse, perhaps not one brought on from developments from within, but from patients, practitioners of traditional medicine, and advocates for so-called “holistic approaches” to medicine (1). Many of us who study science and medicine look back at what we now believe to be misconceptions based on our understanding of how the world works and the evidence that we have; things like a flat Earth, a geocentric model of the universe, the four traditional elements, and using leeches or cocaine as treatment. This creates a myth, one held by most advanced societies, that we already know most things about the universe and ourselves, and anything we do not know we will soon discover; even while we know that the more we learn, the more unknowns there are. This arrogance leads to a shutting out of all non-standard practices in medicine, for good reason in some cases. However, if we can realize that we do not actually know everything, or even most things, we can begin to accept the idea that non-standard methodologies might have something to offer, perhaps not in the specific practices, but in the idea behind them. For example, we already know that our thoughts and emotions can have a huge impact on our mental well-being, many mental illnesses like anxiety and depression have physical manifestations, and that people respond to different stimuli and treatments differently, our genetics and our contexts change how each person is affected by stimuli, and modern medicine is increasingly becoming more individualized genetically (2)(4). It does not seem, then, to be much of a stretch to say that addressing a person’s mental well-being by making lifestyle changes, whether that be diet, relationships, habits, or alternative treatments, could be beneficial to patients. However, the concerns of misinformation are real, and physicians need to make sure to be updated on types of alternative medicine and lifestyle changes, and be ready and willing to, in an open and respectful manner, inform the patient about treatments that do not work, need further testing, or have produced mixed results (3). By doing so, physicians may be able to begin to remove some of the stigmas against modern medicine, while helping more patients along the path to recovery, and helping to create a more informed public.
References
1. Adler, K. 2020 Mar 11. Guest Opinion: Physicians shouldn't condescend to those preferring alternative medicine. The Daily Iowan.
2. Hadar M. 2020 Mar 6. Review | After spending 17 years studying 'miracle' cures, a Harvard psychiatrist says Western medicine has it all wrong. The Washington Post.
3. Harris R. 2020 Mar 12. Traditional Chinese Medicine & COVID-19. WVTF.
4. Levitin DJ. 2020 Mar 6. 'Cured' Review: Miracles Versus Medicine. The Wall Street Journal.
5. Townsend A. 2020 Mar 10. Coronavirus Alternative Treatments: Can Traditional Chinese Medicine and Herbs Help? - MedicineNet Health News. MedicineNet.
While Hadar reads Rediger’s book as a call for greater compassion and understanding from doctors, as well as a greater understanding of the mind’s power over the body, Daniel J. Levitin, in his own book review for the Wall Street Journal, sees Rediger’s claims in a different light. According to Levitin, Rediger has several valid points about the ever-changing nature of medicine, and the medical establishment’s constant historical resistance to possible developments (4). However, he says, Rediger does not apply the same rigorous standards to these “miracle cures,” many of which have produced mixed results in laboratories (4). Levitin argues that, while Rediger is correct in saying that modern medicine is not perfect, and that miracles do sometimes happen, a well-credentialed medical professional writing about the miraculous effects of lifestyle changes like faith healing and the keto diet, which have no proven benefits, at least according to the scientific method, is dangerous (4). He does not, however, address the argument made by Hadar, that it is less about the specific methodology, and more about making a change. Levitin would likely argue that, although changes may have benefit, writing about specific changes without providing the mixed research outcomes could be dangerous. Miraculous spontaneous recoveries from incurable diseases, he argues, are just a statistical fact; physician estimates on lifespan are based on averages, and some people will always be above the average (4).
The argument for greater physician openness and respect for patients, their specific pain and circumstances, and alternative methods of treatment, goes even beyond the lifestyle changes Rediger describes. Alternative medicine is a term that essentially refers to any form of medical treatment that does not stem from the Western tradition, specifically modern biological knowledge and the scientific method, and can refer to anything from traditional Chinese medicine, faith healing, and chiropractic therapy. Although many forms of alternative medicine rely on unscientific claims, there is often a lack of research to completely disprove these practices, and patients often rely on word-of-mouth or cultural knowledge to argue for these practices. While most members of the modern medical community are against alternative medicine, people like Kelsey Adler, a medical student at UI Carver College of Medicine, writing in an opinion piece in The Daily Iowan, argues that greater compassion and openness is necessary in doctor-patient interaction when alternative medicine is brought up, even if the physician does not believe such methods to be the best course (1). Many patients, she says, have already had, or heard about, bad experiences with physicians, and may have some form or alternative treatment in mind from a number of different sources, so a complete shutdown of this discussion could not only drive patients away from seeking further treatment, but also cause harm, as a clash of standard and alternative treatments has the potential to worsen a patient’s condition (1).
However, it does seem possible to go too far in the other direction. Although there is not as much research on alternative medicine, and any possible benefits, people continue to spread such information as a fact, and sometimes even medical professionals and government officials can get involved. One example has come up in the coronavirus. Covid-19 pandemic, more commonly known as coronavirus, seems to have originated in Wuhan, China, and China to date has the largest number of coronavirus patients. Recently, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have begun to release statements saying that, in conjunction with modern medicine, traditional Chinese medicine has been effective in treating Covid-19 patients (3)(5). This claim is backed by the Chinese scientific and medical community, and by government officials; China’s government, including President Xi Jinping, have spent a lot of time and money promoting Chinese culture abroad, and traditional medicine has been an integral part of this strategy (5). Not only are Chinese officials and scientists spreading this information, which could lead to patients seeking treatment from less tested sources, but is also harmful to standard physicians in China, who already face “public hostility and skepticism” (5). On the other hand, practitioners seem to be trying to work in conjunction with standard medical professionals, rather than as a complete alternative, and the Chinese government itself has stopped short of recommending patients to give up their standard treatments (3)(5).
It seems clear that modern medicine is at an impasse, perhaps not one brought on from developments from within, but from patients, practitioners of traditional medicine, and advocates for so-called “holistic approaches” to medicine (1). Many of us who study science and medicine look back at what we now believe to be misconceptions based on our understanding of how the world works and the evidence that we have; things like a flat Earth, a geocentric model of the universe, the four traditional elements, and using leeches or cocaine as treatment. This creates a myth, one held by most advanced societies, that we already know most things about the universe and ourselves, and anything we do not know we will soon discover; even while we know that the more we learn, the more unknowns there are. This arrogance leads to a shutting out of all non-standard practices in medicine, for good reason in some cases. However, if we can realize that we do not actually know everything, or even most things, we can begin to accept the idea that non-standard methodologies might have something to offer, perhaps not in the specific practices, but in the idea behind them. For example, we already know that our thoughts and emotions can have a huge impact on our mental well-being, many mental illnesses like anxiety and depression have physical manifestations, and that people respond to different stimuli and treatments differently, our genetics and our contexts change how each person is affected by stimuli, and modern medicine is increasingly becoming more individualized genetically (2)(4). It does not seem, then, to be much of a stretch to say that addressing a person’s mental well-being by making lifestyle changes, whether that be diet, relationships, habits, or alternative treatments, could be beneficial to patients. However, the concerns of misinformation are real, and physicians need to make sure to be updated on types of alternative medicine and lifestyle changes, and be ready and willing to, in an open and respectful manner, inform the patient about treatments that do not work, need further testing, or have produced mixed results (3). By doing so, physicians may be able to begin to remove some of the stigmas against modern medicine, while helping more patients along the path to recovery, and helping to create a more informed public.
References
1. Adler, K. 2020 Mar 11. Guest Opinion: Physicians shouldn't condescend to those preferring alternative medicine. The Daily Iowan.
2. Hadar M. 2020 Mar 6. Review | After spending 17 years studying 'miracle' cures, a Harvard psychiatrist says Western medicine has it all wrong. The Washington Post.
3. Harris R. 2020 Mar 12. Traditional Chinese Medicine & COVID-19. WVTF.
4. Levitin DJ. 2020 Mar 6. 'Cured' Review: Miracles Versus Medicine. The Wall Street Journal.
5. Townsend A. 2020 Mar 10. Coronavirus Alternative Treatments: Can Traditional Chinese Medicine and Herbs Help? - MedicineNet Health News. MedicineNet.
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