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Mariah Nunes
Mr. Shingler
Senior Exit Project
23 November 2011
Remedy or Poison?
Those ingesting multiple pills a day may regret it later. Experts proclaim Socrates once
stated medicine "acts as both remedy and poison" and that "this charm, this spellbinding virtue,
this power of fascination, can be--alternately or simultaneously--beneficent or maleficent"
(Kotz). With this accusation, scientists must question whether these statements from Socrates
are true or not. As Socrates said, it can be “alternately or simultaneously—beneficent or
maleficent” meaning that medication is possibly just as much harmful as it is helpful; the help
and harm could outweigh or counteract each other. Although prescription drugs can ease pain in
patients, medical professionals should promote physical and touch therapy to pinpoint the source
of pain rather than only masking the discomfort.
Of the many purposes the healing power of touch has, it predominantly allows the body
to restore itself and prevent injury before it occurs. One example of touch therapy is Shiatsu.
Mark Evans, Suzanne Franzen, and Rosalind Oxenford, coauthors of The Healing Touch: The
Power of Massage, Aromatherapy, Shiatsu, and Reflexology for Health and Well-being share:
“‘Shiatsu’ is Japanese for “finger pressure” and like acupuncture, this treatment uses the body’s
meridians (energy channels) and tsubo (pressure points), but instead of using needles to stimulate
the energy flow, it uses pressure from the hands. Its aim is to restore the body’s balance and to
promote self-healing” (Evans, Franzen and Oxenford 10). “Self-healing” is beneficial to the
body and its “energy flow” because it suggests that the body is able to heal itself without the help
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of medications. If the theory of “self-healing” is true, it infers surgical procedures or application
of material of any sort into the body should not have to take place.
Moreover in many cases surgery is the only option for healing, it is possible the
procedure can cause additional and unnecessary discomfort, thus distorting the “body’s balance”.
Possible side effects could be the build up of fascia around the area of laceration. William
Collinge, author of The American Holistic Health Association Complete Guide to Alternative
Medicine, defines fascia as, “Flexible envelope-like sheaths that encapsulate muscles and
muscles groups” (Collinge 219). These “sheaths” can build up around the injury and become
fixed in a position where they cannot move freely, inhibiting the body’s “energy flow”. The
muscle is supposed to move easily and smoothly from the “sheaths” that “encapsulate” it, but it
is almost impossible when the fascia is built up. Some sort of method of healing must be used to
fix the problematic fascia build up. A special medication would have to be designed and
ingested in order to specifically target the fascia in the area of injury and restore the body’s
“balance,” and “energy flow.”
Additionally, options could include touch therapy that is used to specifically target the
flexible sheaths right below the skin. Collinge discusses a touch therapy technique called
Myofascial Release by stating, “Manipulation of the muscles and fascia helps to release these
‘stuck’ places, called ‘myofascial restrictions’… If done successfully, the holding pattern
dissolves back into the wholeness of the body” (Collinge 219). The “manipulation” works to
cease a serious cause of pain in surgery recovery. However, rather than masking pain, it actually
treats the cause by “releasing” the “stuck” places in the fascia. Those areas, known as
“myofascial restrictions” are the lasting source of pain even after the initial need for surgery has
healed. Myofascial Release targets the “restrictions,” heals the injury, and allows for a simple
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recovery once the fascia build up “dissolves” back into the body’s “wholeness”. Prescription
medicine does not allow for such successful healing because its purpose is to mask pain
(Shannon 134).
Furthermore the execution of the Myofascial Release technique is closely related to that
of therapeutic touch. Developed in the 1970’s, it is a modern form of ancient practices. Thomas
Billitteri, author of Alternative Medicine, writes, “Advocates of therapeutic touch believe the
human body has energy fields that a trained practitioner can feel. A therapist seeks to detect and
correct any disruptions in these energy fields” (Billitteri 80). A key aspect in this method of
healing is that the therapist is “trained” to “detect” and “correct,” or basically seek out and
restore, any “disruptions” the body’s “energy fields” may have. Prescription drugs are not
“trained” to do any of those highly beneficial tasks. Billitteri also annexes, “Advocates claim
that therapeutic touch can relieve pain, ease stress, treat some diseases, and soothe crying babies”
(Billitteri 80). The positive results of this technique prove touch therapy helps to “relieve,”
“ease,” “treat” and “soothe” patients.
However, some scientists are skeptical about the concept of therapeutic touch. They
claim there is no tangible way to measure the “energy” in the body. In 1998 a study was
conducted and published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, which challenged
the concepts and ideas of therapeutic touch’s developer, Dr. Krieger, and her supporters
(Billitteri 80). Billitteri includes the report made by Dr. George D. Lundberg, controller of the
study. He records, “‘The American public is fascinated by alternative… medicine,’ he wrote.
‘Some of these practices have a valid scientific basis; some of them are proven hogwash; many
of them have never been adequately tested scientifically.’ Therapeutic touch, Lundberg added,
‘falls into the latter classification’” (Billitteri 83). Yet if patients report they feel better and are
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pain and stress free the techniques proves to be effective. Lundberg claims that therapeutic touch
falls into the “latter classification,” which indicates he believes it has not “adequately” been
tested in the scientific world. He does not state, however, that some touch techniques do not
work because he admits many practices have a “valid,” or reasonable, scientific basis.
Therapeutic touch should therefore remain instituted in medical practices and clinics. It is the
outcome, and healing of the patients who are being treated that matter, rather than the opinions of
scientists such as Dr. Lundberg, who believes touch therapy is “hogwash”.
In continuation, the key to affective alternative medicine is the healing of injury, instead
of the masking of pain. Many people, such as Diane L. Elliot and Linn Goldberg, coauthors of
The Healing Power of Exercise: Your Guide to Preventing and Treating Diabetes, Depression,
Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Arthritis, and More, claim that exercise is a critical aspect
of healing. This traditional approach to ‘physical’ therapy may be true in some cases. Elliot and
Goldberg write, “Participating in a program of regular physical exercise can accomplish the
following: increase your life span, reduce your chance of developing heart disease, reduce your
risk of stroke, lower your risk of developing certain cancers, prevent and treat high blood
pressure, prevent and treat diabetes, etc” (Elliot and Goldberg 3-4). Though this list is
condensed due to the word, “etc.,” none of the outcomes listed above state the relief of pain or
healing the cause of pain. If a patient was searching to cure an injury and their therapist placed
them on an “exercise” machine, they would not find a cure. Although exercise can help
strengthen the body, which “reduces” the chances of injury, the injury would be strained further
with continual usage. Patients must utilize techniques to be healed before “participating” in
“regular physical exercise”. Physical and touch therapies, if promoted, would aid in the healing.
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If they were encouraged more, patients would be able to start a “program” of physical activity
and would therefore receive all of the benefits of exercise.
Furthermore, to cure pain, it is often suggested that a person take anti-inflammatory and
pain relieving medication. However, the solution of taking anti-inflammatory and pain relieving
medication should not be relied on for long-term relief. As a person masks their pain with drugs,
their injuries could worsen as he or she continues to strain it, doing the exact opposite of healing.
If they were to use therapeutic techniques such as shiatsu or Myofascial Release they would
achieve the intended healing. Nonetheless, prescription drugs are still being strongly
encouraged. According to The Healing Power of Exercise: Your Guide to Preventing and
Treating Diabetes, Depression, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Arthritis, and More, when
treating common exercise related injuries, “Take anti-inflammatory medication and pain
relieving drugs” and “Occasionally an injection of a cortisone (steroid) can help” (Goldberg and
Elliot 273). Relying on this form of treatment will not cure the cause of pain. However, people
in pain oftentimes insist on putting unnecessary materials such as “steroid” injections of
“cortisone” or “anti-inflammatory medication” into their bodies because they are undereducated
about touch therapy and their doctors are doing nothing to inform them. Goldberg and Elliot
direct people to “take” these medications, as if it is a demand. When patients are seeking advice
on how to address their ailments, and the first word directed at them is “take,” there seems to be
no other options because none are provided. In the book Sports Injuries Information for Teens,
teenagers are the intended audience and are taught at a young age to rely on over the counter
drugs, creating the habit to assume they are being cured. The author, Joyce Brennflect Shannon,
demands, “The first step in treating these conditions is to reduce pain and inflammation with rest,
ice, and anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin, naproxen (Naprosyn), ibuprofen (Advil,
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Motrin, or Nuprin), or cox-2 inhibitors (Celebrex, Vioxx, or Nobic)” (Shannon 134-135).
Reliance on medication and the insertion of pills, such as “aspirin,” “naproxen” and “ibuprofen”,
into the body should not be encouraged to young persons because they are enabled to rely on the
knowledge of it being the “first step” in recovery. They are being told that medication is a form
of “treating” their “conditions” yet really, they are just being taught a trick to “reduce” their pain.
In addition, medical practitioners must educate their patients how to take care of
themselves by providing them will all options of treatment. E.D. Wallace, author of the article
"Health Care in Crisis: Overmedicating America" wonders, “Are we an overmedicated society?
Certainly much has been written concerning doctors' tendency over the past four decades to
overprescribe antibiotics. Many physicians today worry that bacteria could build up immunities
against these drugs, ruining antibiotics' effectiveness in the future. But as they are relatively
inexpensive, antibiotics are often favored by physicians” (Wallace). Since medical professionals
are concerned about the “effectiveness” of antibiotics because “bacteria” could be able to build
up “immunities” to it, it would not seem logical for them to continue to “overprescribe” the
medication. Physical and touch therapy however; do not contain any substances that would go
into the body, therefore, no such “immunities” would exist, and the “effectiveness” would never
be jeopardized. Wallace claims possible bacteria immunities “worry” many physicians, yet
antibiotics are still “favored” by them. Moreover, the concept that the drug is “relatively
inexpensive” could potentially be a contributing factor of why it is so heavily prescribed.
Expense should never be a factor when it comes to healing patients. Instead, medical
professionals should be more “concerned” with the “effectiveness” of techniques such as
physical and touch therapy since they do not have the same problems, such as being
“overmedicated,” as drugs.
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Furthermore, a way of educating patients is allowing them to explore different touch
techniques. One such method of healing is called Reiki. Lisa Palmer, author of “Gentle Hands”
illustrates, “Reiki is one of the most popular energy healing therapies in the United States.
According to Joan E. Fox, PhD, director, Cleveland Clinic Center for Integrative Medicine in
Ohio, Reiki is commonly used in hospital settings to help patients reduce pain or presurgical
anxiety, even though there is little hard evidence of its physical benefits or risks” (Palmer). The
only evidence of Reiki’s success is patient claims (Palmer). Yet, just because scientists cannot
see numbers or any other tangible “evidence” of its effectiveness does not mean it does not work.
It would not be used so “commonly” in these “hospital settings,” where patients are in fragile
states with critical needs, if it did not provide “healing”. If Reiki and other forms of alternative
medicine, like physical and touch therapy, were promoted and used in more practices they would
become even more “popular” than Palmer claims Reiki to be. Its popularity is vital because
more people would be able hear about these alternative options and be healed. Besides the
positive healing effect these methods have, there are countless reasons why they should be
promoted. John Astin, a published author in The Journal of the American Medical Association,
pronounces, “Along with being more educated and reporting poorer health status, the majority of
alternative medicine users appear to be doing so not so much as a result of being dissatisfied with
conventional medicine but largely because they find these health care alternatives to be more
congruent with their own values, beliefs, and philosophical orientations toward health and life”
(Astin). Physical and touch therapy, which fall under the category of “alternative medicine”,
contains numerous benefits for patients to consider. These advantages include being more
“congruent” with patients’ “values, beliefs, and philosophical orientations”. In addition, Astin
states that the “majority” of alternative medicine users seem to be doing so because they were
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“dissatisfied,” or unhappy with “conventional medicine”. It therefore should not be promoted if
patients are not pleased. Astin’s statements reinforce why medical professionals must encourage
the usage of physical and touch therapy. They must listen to the patients who have used both
“conventional” and “alternative” medication and encourage what make patients feel better.
In conclusion, medical professionals must utilize the power of healing touch in patients
because it cures injuries, relieves pain, and does not simply mask symptoms or discomfort. It is
just a matter of time before science finally proves therapy’s success. Until then, the only thing
society can hope for is for medical practitioners to explore all options before resulting to the
same old medications. For now, humans must stay cautious that prescription drugs are just as
maleficent as they are beneficent, just as Socrates theorized. The medical world has progressed
substantially when it comes to modern medicine, but until all medical professionals are
promoting physical and touch therapy, there is still much development to be made.
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Works Cited
Astin, John A. "Why Patients Use Alternative Medicine." The Journal of the American Medical
Association 7.1 (1999): 51. Google Scholar. Web. 12 Oct. 2011.
Billitteri, Thomas J.. Alternative Medicine . Brookfield, Connecticut: Twenty-First
Century Books, 2001. Print.
Collinge, William. The American Holistic Health Association Complete Guide to
Alternative Medicine. New York, NY: Warner, 1996. Print.
Evans, Mark. The Healing Touch: The Power of Massage, Aromatherapy, Shiatsu, and
Reflexology for Health and Well-being. London: Southwater, 2001. Print.
Goldberg, Linn, and Diane L. Elliot. The Healing Power of Exercise: Your Guide to
Preventing and Treating Diabetes, Depression, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure,
Arthritis, and More. New York: Wiley, 2000. Print.
Kotz, Deborah. "Are Americans Overmedicating Themselves?" Ebsco Host. Oct. 2010. Web. 19
Sept. 2011.
Palmer, Lisa. "Gentle Hands." Ebsco Host. Better Nutrition, May 2006. Web. 19 Sept. 2011.
Shannon, Joyce Brennfleck. Sports injuries information for teens: health tips about
sports injuries and injury prevention: including facts about specific injuries,
emergency treatment, rehabilitation, sports, safety, competition stress, fitness, sports
nutrition, steroid risks, and More. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, 2004. Print.
Wallace, E. D. "Health Care in Crisis: Overmedicating America." MAS Ultra - School Edition.
EBSCO, 29 July 2009. Web. 26 Oct. 2011.