An astounding 70 percent of people who use complementary or alternative medicine don't let their doctor in on their "little secret." Not that I can blame most patients for staying mum. Like many folks, I've gotten my share of gruff, dismissive, and downright offensive responses from traditional physicians with whom I've shared my medical outlook. It's not a pleasant experience. But the truth is that although most natural therapies are much safer than most patent medications, and with significantly fewer side effects, the two still can potentially interact in dangerous ways. Researchers who have done the math on the implications of this communication gap estimate that as many as 16 million adults are at risk for potential adverse interactions, with 3 million of those being adults who are 65 years or older. Physicians need to realize that the trend towards the use of complementary and alternative medical practices is only going up -- fast. Studies show that people are most likely to seek out alternatives in the case of chronic and progressive diseases for which traditional medicine offers little remedy, and also for prevention, where it also falls far short. Also, as patent medicines come under more and more scrutiny, and are saddled with undesirable and dangerous side effects that are often worse than the original complaint or condition, patients will continue to search out better solutions. But too many people are cobbling together their medical care without letting one hand know what the other is doing. In the end, it's a losing, and possibly dangerous, game. While we advocate strongly for individuals to take personal responsibility for their health, and to look towards natural therapies whenever possible, don't let your feelings of medical empowerment come at the expense of your health. You might notice how often Dr. Wright refers you to find a physician who is knowledgeable about natural medicine to help you properly diagnose your condition and find the right natural therapy for you. If you can't 'fess up to your general practitioner about everything you do and take for your health, than it's better to find a new doctor who will listen and work with you. **************************************************** Custom cure Q: I read in a recent e-tip about a B-vitamin cream that was good for eczema and other skin rashes. My daughter gets eczema pretty badly, especially when she eats dairy. Even when we eliminate the offending food, her skin still breaks out. I would like to try this cream but I am having trouble finding it. Can you please advise? A: You're on the right track by eliminating certain foods from your daughter's diet to see which might be the culprit in causing her eczema -- and it doesn't surprise me at all to hear that dairy is one of them. It's often the first thing I tell my patients to eliminate since dairy foods are associated with numerous health problems and should probably be avoided altogether. Other potentially offending foods include wheat, soy, and peanuts. If the condition persists despite your best efforts to find the cause, you may consider consulting a professional for food allergy evaluation. I suggest someone trained in environmental medicine. To find a doctor in your area, contact the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (316-684-5500 or www.aaem.com). Unfortunately the topical vitamin B12 cream that we covered in a recent column is not quite as accessible as we initially thought. The specific formulation that was used in that study is not currently approved for use in the United States. Hopefully it will make its way here soon. In the meantime, you might want to find a compounding pharmacist in your area through the International Association of Compounding Pharmacists at (281)933-8400 or visit them online at www.iacprx.org. Compounding pharmacists can formulate customized medications based on a doctor's prescription. So if you work with a skilled natural medicine physician and a good compounding pharmacist, you may be able to get an individualized version of vitamin B12 cream for your daughter. **************************************************** What is...eczema? Eczema is a blanket term that refers to numerous inflamed skin conditions. Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common forms of eczema, and the one many people mean when they say eczema. The most common symptoms of atopic dermatitis are dry, itchy skin and rashes on the face, inside the elbows and behind the knees, and on the hands and feet. While the itch can drive you to distraction, scratching is worse as it leads to redness, swelling, cracking, "weeping" clear fluid, and, finally, crusting and scaling. Eczema is often worse in children (as is scratching), and childhood is usually when it begins. Scientists estimate that 65 percent of patients develop symptoms in the first year of life, and 90 percent develop symptoms before the age of 5. But unfortunately, unless the underlying cause is identified, or unless a person outgrows their sensitivity to the cause, it can be a lifelong problem. There are entire online communities dedicated to the discussion of causes and treatment of eczema, with sufferers trading stories of miracle cures and creams. However, the best approach is to find the cause (which is likely to be different in every person) if at all possible, if you want to get rid of your eczema for good. Yours in good health,
Amanda Ross
Managing Editor
Nutrition & Healing Sources: Sources:
Jonas W. "Alternative medicine and the conventional practitioner." JAMA 1998; 279(9): 708-709
Stucker M, Pieck C, Stoerb C, Neidner R, Hartung J, Altmeyer P. "Topical vitamin B12 -- a new therapeutic approach in atopic dermatitis-evaluation of efficacy and tolerability in a randomized placebo-controlled multicentre clinical trial." Br J Dermatol 2004; 150(5): 977-983
Han DK, Kim MK, Yoo JE, Choi SY, et al. "Food sensitization in infants and young children with atopic dermatitis." Yonsei Med J 2004; 45(5): 803-809
Rokaite R, Labanauskas L, Vaideliene L. "Role of the skin patch test in diagnosing food allergy in children with atopic dermatitis." Medicina (Kaunas) 2004; 40(11): 1,081-1,087
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