Why is there no “ALTERNATIVE MARINE BIOLOGY”? Why is there no “ALTERNATIVE AERONAUTICAL SCIENCE”?

Yet there is alternative medical science. In fact this is a contradiction.

The word :“Science”, means “truth”. There is no alternative to truth.

I certainly would be alarmed to have an “ALTERNATIVE MECHANIC” working on the brakes of my car...yet people are quite happy to have an alternative medical practitioner “adjust” their children’s neck People have no problem eating fists full of pills - so long as they do not contain scientifically proven drugs.

Either Vitamin C does or does not help cure colds. Either Vitamin E does or does not help protect against heart attack. Either our liver is or is not full of toxins which need to be purged from our bodies. Washing out our colon with a garden hose is either helpful or useless. The answers to these questions can be found. Even in the absence of a precise mathematical solution, we can at least say that something has a 99% chance of being helpful or a 1% chance.

As soon as traditional doctors and scientists prove that a particular treatment is effective, they will write it up in their medical journals and they will all support and use this therapy. If traditional doctors use a treatment...it is no longer “alternative”. Thus if something is proven to be effective...it cannot be called alternative therapy any longer. Conversely alternative therapists can only use treatments which have not been proven to work. A classic example of this is “Echinacea” a herbal remedy which is selling by the ton, yet repeatedly fails to demonstrate any significant benefit when subjected to clinical trials.

So this brings me back to my original question: Why is there alternative medical science when there is no alternative geology? The answer has several elements:

1) MONEY. People make money by selling things. All they have to do is persuade someone else that they need their product. People are most vulnerable when ill or suffering some physical abnormality. The slimming and cosmetic industries peddle millions of dollars worth of nonsense to gullible individuals for profit. The alternative health industry does likewise. It should be conceded that doctors are also capable of profiting at their patients’ expense. I would contend that the ethics of the medical environment are mostly still preferable to those of the commercial environment.

2) WITCHCRAFT. The placebo effect is a powerful and well recognised phenomenon. Shamans and witch-doctors use this to great effect in primitive communities. Even in our so called educated community - A compelling performance by a “healer” will result in a positive response from a sufferer. An iridologist has all manner of impressive charts and bright flashing lights to bedazzle the customer. The fact the entire show is regarded by the medical profession as a joke seems to add to the appeal!

3) JOURNALISM . Daily radio programmes, newspaper articles and magazine columns uncritically promote astrology, homeopathy and every other “opathy”. Indeed, the more fanciful the claims, the more likely some journo will write up the fantastic news that there has been a breakthrough in the treatment of cellulite, or taming unruly children with colourless foods.

4) GOVERNMENT. Sadly our government health policy is mired in cynicism and shallow political motivation. Thus anything which will relieve the government of responsibility or expense will be welcomed. The billions of dollars spent on alternative health are billions saved by the government! If there are votes in supporting unproven bonecrackers then let the bones crack! Government policy has impoverished many decent altruistic doctors who have gradually given up and abandoned their cottage practices. Instead we have burgeoning medical centres - fully funded by the government through “bulk-billing”. The quality of care offered by these places in the few minutes a doctor can give to patients is often very poor. Needless to say a friendly naturopath who spends an hour with you seems quite appealing by comparison. So appealing, that people will even pay for a naturopath when they refuse to pay for the doctor!

5) BACKLASH. Many people resented the status and power of doctors. In the past some doctors were very paternalistic and expected to be treated like gods. Many people disliked doctors who did not communicate adequately and who made decisions which they could not understand or agree with. People turn to alternative medicine to regain a sense of control over their health care. Even if the Ginseng does nothing...at least there is no need to bow down before a doctor to get a prescription so you can buy the stuff! The backlash against doctors is a part of a larger movement against science and technology. Many individuals want to return to a simpler way of life without vaccinations, computers, antibiotics, mobile phones and all the other trappings of modern polluting civilisation.

My own belief is that there is no alternative. There is just good medicine. Any treatment, vitamin, massage or philosphy which helps my patients be well is welcome. Most times drugs are not required to resolve a medical problem. Compensating for a bad diet and lifestyle with pills (vitamins) makes little sense. Surely it would be better to eat well, take some exercise and cut down on the alcohol and cigarettes. I have been impressed by the number of my patients who smoke and have attended a naturopath, but have not been told to quit! I guess that would be bad for business. Over the years I have sent many people for horrible operations and treatments. I have done my best so that when all things are weighed in the balance, and I am considering my patient’s best interest: - THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE.