Testing alternative
medicine
Burden, blessing or both?
Background information
 Had acupuncture therapy as teenager. It did
not help. Prayer did.
 Interested throughout medical studies
 Interaction with colleagues and healers in
Africa, Asia and Europe >10 years
 Three years of research leading to book
with four other authors in 1993
 Presently working on revised edition
 CDK and CGH in Switzerland
Never forget
• We are talking about people in the first place
– People who are suffering
– People who want to help them
• Discernment and compassion belong together
• Evaluation is not judgement or condemnation
• The truth should be shared in love
Some initial questions
• Am I really willing to change my views on the
basis of an honest presentation of the truth?
• What if:
• I (partially) earn my living with a therapy
that is biblically unacceptable?
• People I love use unacceptable therapies?
• I have been deceived?
Why test (alternative) medicine?
1.
2.
3.
Wise stewards of God’s creation test
everything and use the good to bless the
sick and suffering, 1 Thessalonians 5: 21
We are warned against deception,
Colossians 2: 1-8
We should be ready to give an account of
our beliefs to anyone who asks, 1 Peter 3:
15-16
Definition of Alternative Medicine
All forms of diagnosis and therapy,
that are not taught as examination subjects in
medical schools.
Two main elements:
•Not accepted by regular medical schools
•Frequently alternative paradigms of thinking
Two main streams in practice:
Those that
1.
Replace regular scientific medicine
(alternative medicine exclusively),
or those that
2.
Complement regular scientific medicine
(complementary medicine)
An overview of (alternative) medicine
Regular scientific medicine
Atropine / Codeine / Scopolamine / Digoxin / Morphine
Rational phytotherapy
- Standardized extracts Traditional herbal therapy
Chiropractic
Manual therapy
Complementary medicine
Alternative medicine
Homeopathy
Anthroposophic medicine
Ayurvedic medicine
Aromatherapy
Popular books
Chinese medicine
Bach therapy
Popular magazines
Popular “medicine”
© Dr. A. Hasler 2001
This is available
F.1 Necessary?
F.2 Effective?
F.3 Appropriate?
F.4 Ethically OK?
F.5 Occult or not?
This is acceptable
Five Screening Filters
Biblical basis for
the five filters
1. Stewardship Mandate for F1-3
–
Genesis 1: 26-30; 2: 15; 9: 1-7
2. God’s moral laws for F4
–
Keep in mind
1. Personal conscience
2. Christian freedom, Rom. 14; 1.
Cor. 8-10 (MSI)
3. God’s fixed borders for F5
–
Deuteronomy 18: 9-14 (Absolutes)
Behälter mit Thorarolle
aus: Jerusalemer Bibel Lexikon,
Hänssler Verlag 1990
Filter 1: Is it necessary?




Medicalization: Problems to be solved medically
Consumer mentality: Buy health from doctor
Hypochondria: imagined illness (what is root?)
Is it really necessary or is it the –



wish of the doctor / practitioner
wish of the patient
common use in certain situations
Filter 2: Is it effective?
Possibilities regarding effectiveness:
1. It does not work at all or it may even be unhealthy
2. It works through usual healing powers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
3.
Creational healing power of the body
Creational pneumo-psycho-somatic interaction
Pharmacologically active substances
Placebo effect, ca. 35 % (15-58 %)
Still unknown, but usual healing powers
It works through unusual healing powers
1.
2.
Signs and wonders
Magic / witchcraft / sorcery
Filter 3: Is it appropriate?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Age
Sex
Finances
Cultural / Social factors
Drug interactions
Contra-indications
Risk adverse reactions
Filter 4: Is it ethically acceptable?
1.
2.
3.
4.
What would be good for relationships?
Think: Love God and love neighbour
How would a good person act in this
situation? For us: WWJD?
What would have good consequences?
What are the responsibilities of the relevant
parties?
F.5: Occultism – 6 aspects
1.
Pollution through esoteric world view elements
1.
Comments about the explanatory models
1.
2.
3.
2.
Original explanatory model reflects mindset of the pioneers
Replace the original explanatory model as necessary
Unknown does not necessarily mean occult
Commonest esoteric elements
1.
2.
3.
4.
Micro-cosmos / Macro-cosmos thinking
Unusual linking stars / seasons / elements / food types / organs /
diseases
Philosophy that reality consists of a few elements (3, 4 or 5)
Esoteric energy has to be harmonized / stimulated / flowing
Danger: World view pollution / poisoning of the mind
F.5: Occultism – 6 aspects
2.
Diagnosis with the use of forbidden unusual powers:
1.
2.
Soothsaying (unusual insights in the relationships between
things/situations/people and health/disease; insights not
obtainable through the use of the five senses only)
Clairvoyance (unusual insights obtained through
communication with demons, including those that pretend
to be the spirits of the sick or some other human).
Danger: Demonization
F.5: Occultism – 6 aspects
3.
Therapy with the aid of forbidden unusual
powers:
1.
Changes in the health situation of a person through
unusual powers (usually aiming at the harmonising
of cosmic energy)
Danger: Demonization
4.
Use of techniques that open patients up for
possible demonic influences
1.
Causing passive mental states: hypnosis or trance
Danger: Caught in Satan’s trap = Bondage
F.5: Occultism – 6 aspects
5.
Initiate patient into the use of unusual powers
1.
Possible through getting them involved with soothsaying,
clairvoyance, witchcraft, sorcery or magic
Danger: Demonization
6.
Curses/magic formulas over patients / medicaments
1.
It is a form of witchcraft / magic / sorcery
Danger: Strengthening a pre-existent occult bondage
Encouragement for the Christian - Proverbs 26:2
Recommendations for Christian doctors
1.
2.
3.
Share with colleagues: humility, compassion, professionalism
Study and research: Phyto-therapy, Trigger Point Massage, etc.
Critical evaluation of regular scientific medicine
1.
4.
Network: Biblical-Christian Healthcare - international
1.
2.
5.
Reductionism; can a God-less doctor be a good doctor?
Via www.hfe.org or www.hcf-international.com or
www.icmda.net
CDK, CiCP, CIG, CMA, CMS, ICMDA, Journal Christian
Healthcare; HCF, MedIchthys, NCF
Take patient’s use of alternative medicine seriously
1.
2.
Reckon with it in anamnesis, diagnosis, therapy
Careful counselling about OK or not-OK alternative medicine
Filter 1: Is acupuncture necessary?
1.
Arguments for:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
2.
Normal scientific medicine is too materialistic
‘No’ to medication with adverse reactions
Use acupuncture as missionary tool
Only limited means available
Nothing else has helped
Arguments against:
1.
2.
3.
It does not work
Only placebo-effect
It is occult
Filter 2: Is acupuncture effective?
1.
2.
3.
NO =Ter Riet et al (1990; inc. Medline 1963-1988 ):
Meta-Analysis of 91 usable, published trials over a
period of 17 years; 12 % is >50% reliable; none
more reliable than 68%. The more thorough the
research, the less positive the results = no
conclusive evidence.
Possibly YES = Linde et al (2001; inc. Medline
1989-2000): Meta-Analysis of 39 usable published
trials; positive for post-operative nausea; negative as
help to stop smoking
Yes = GerAc research project: in certain types of
complaints, mostly related to pain/allergy relief
F.3: Is acupuncture appropriate?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Age – no issue
Sex – no issue
Finances – issue if presented as cure-all
Culture/social – family/patient pressure can be
severe
Drug interactions – no issue
Contra-indications – only if ineffective or occult
Risk adverse reactions – no issue
Possibly appropriate in demythologized
symptomatic use
F.4: Is acupuncture ethical?
1.
What facts are relevant?
1.
2.
3.
2.
What consequences are relevant?
1.
3.
Who/what is trusted for healing?
Does it really help?
1.
4.
Overlap with nerve/artery/vein triads + with muscle trigger points
?Possible to determine points more accurately electrically
Classical acupuncture anatomy seriously outdated
GerAc research says YES. Relief of pain
Is it harmful?
1.
Van Dijk (1980) 10.000 therapeutic sessions
1.
2.
5.
Pneumothorax (a few cases)
Hepatitis, burn wounds (very rare)
Does it promote responsible behaviour?
1.
Usually patients not made dependent on practitioner
Filter 5: Is acupuncture occult?
1.
Promoting non-biblical views of God, man,
health / disease and world?
1.
2.
2.
Diagnosis with forbidden unusual powers?
1.
3.
Almost always = World view pollution
Note: Western version has little worldview pollution
Rare in the West until now. Depends on
practitioner.
Therapy with forbidden unusual powers?
1.
Rare in the West until now. Depends on
practitioner. Some Christian authors say yes.
Evidence difficult to document scientifically.
Filter 5: Is acupuncture occult?
4.
Techniques that open patients for demonic influence
1.
5.
Initiation in use of forbidden unusual powers?
1.
6.
Hypnosis or Trance possible. Depends in practitioner.
Rare in the West until now. Depends on practitioner.
Curse or magic spell during therapy?
1.
Rare in the West until now. Depends on practitioner.
F.1: Ist Homöopathie notwendig?
1.
Argumente dafür:
1.
2.
3.
4.
2.
normale wissenschaftliche Medizin ist zu
materialistisch
>nein = zu Medikamenten mit Nebeneffekten
verfügbare Mittel: begrenzte Mittel
nichts anderes hilft mehr: „aus-gearztet“
Argumente dagegen:
1.
2.
3.
funktioniert nicht  Quacksalberei
nur Placeboeffekt
Okkult  Prinzip der „Unsichtbaren Lebenskraft“
Filter 2: Ist Homöopathie wirksam?
1.
Hill und Doyon (1990): 40 Versuche
1.
2.
Kleijnen u.a. (1991): 107 Versuche
1.
2.
3.
Effektivität nicht bewiesen
23 von ziemliche Qualität
15 davon günstige Ergebnisse
Pirtkien (1976) Gelenkkrankheiten
1.
2.
54% besser mit Homöopathie
95% besser mit Medikation
F.3: Ist Homöopathie angemessen?
Age
Sex
Finances
Culture / Social factors
Drug interactions
Contra-indications
Risk adverse reactions
Wenn sie
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.



wirksam wäre,
im Einzelfall notwendig und nicht schädlich,
wäre Homöopathie angemessen.
F.4: Homöopathie ethisch tragbar?
1.
Was sind die Fakten?
1.
2.
3.
2.
Zwei Tausend Medikamenten; Fünf Hundert bis
zwei Tausend Symptomen pro Medikament = Vier
Millionen Kombinationen möglich
Verdünnung: D=10; C=100
Avogadro: D22 – D23 nichts mehr über
Was sind die Folgen?
1.
Okkulte Einflüsse?
F.4: Homöopathie ethisch tragbar?
3.
Hilft sie?
1.
4.
Ist sie schädlich?
1.
2.
5.
Phytotherapie besser?
In Forschung nichts gefunden
Geistlich schädlich, Chr. Schriftsteller wie Feller, Markmann,
Kunze
Förderung von verantwortungsvollem Verhalten?
1.
Meistens werden die Patienten auf keine ungesunde Weise
von ihren Heilern abhängig gemacht.
Filter 5: Ist Homöopathie okkult?
1.
Weiterleitung eines nicht-biblischen Konzepts von
Gott, Mensch, Gesundheit/Krankheit und Welt?
1.
2.
Diagnose mit verbotenen, aussergewöhnlichen
Kräften?
1.
3.
Fast immer  Verschmutzung der Weltanschauung.
Im Westen kaum gebräuchlich. Hängt vom Heiler ab.
Therapie mit verbotenen, aussergewöhnlichen
Kräften?
1.
2.
Manchmal. Hängt vom Heiler ab (Pragmatische oder
Klassische Homöopathie).
Ja, verschiedene Christliche Schriftsteller.
Filter 5: Ist Homöopathie okkult?
4.
Techniken, die den Patienten dämonischem Einfluß
öffnen
1.
5.
Einführung in den Gebrauch von verbotenen,
aussergewöhnlichen Kräften?
1.
6.
Hypnose oder Trance möglich aber nicht gebräuchlich.
Hängt vom Heiler ab.
Kaum gebräuchlich. Hängt vom Heiler ab.
Beschwörung während der Therapie?
1.
Kaum gebräuchlich. Hängt vom Heiler ab.