For those who don’t know Otago, get to your world maps! Complementary medicine is there too!

Palliative care discussion to include CAM:

Tuesday, December 8th at the Town and Country Convention Center in San Diego, Dr. Charles F. von Gunten will host a lecture on Palliative Care Options for Mesothelioma Patients. The Associate Clinical Professor at the Institute of Palliative Medicine at San Diego, California holds an expertise in palliative medicine and medical oncology.

The seminar will open to family members, health care providers and diagnosed with mesothelioma. Dr. von Gunten will provide current information on various treatment options, medicine and procedures available to those suffering from this form cancer.

Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive form of cancer that is mainly caused by the inhalation of asbestos fiber. This illness occurs when the asbestos fibers attack the mesothelium, a protective thin layer of cells that protects the body’s inner organs.

Often taking anywhere from 20-50 years to diagnose, mesothelioma is often discovered in the later stages of the cancer. Given this, aggressive treatment regimes are required for those living with mesothelioma.

Doctors like Charles F. von Gunten, are welcomed by those fighting this rare cancer, as palliative care is necessary and in high demand for these individuals. Because of the intense treatment protocol, including chemotherapy, radiation and other surgeries, palliative care is very important for mesothelioma patient’s overall comfort and wellness.

Therapies that are being introduced in the complementary medicine options are treatments such as massage, acupuncture and even the practice of yoga. Patients have found these therapies to be beneficial to their mental and physical state while undergoing traditional treatment. Please consult your doctor before using any complementary therapy, since every case of mesothelioma is unique.

CAM program is launched in Otago!

The place of complementary medicine in primary health care has been considered by GPs in a course at the University of Otago.

The course, the first in New Zealand, was held at Dunedin School of Medicine.

Senior lecturer Dr Monika Clark-Grill said there had always been a historic split between conventional medicine and complementary and alternative medicine in New Zealand, but with more people using complementary health treatments, it was becoming "a must" for GPs to have knowledge of the field.

While people "naturally go to doctors when they need a diagnosis or to be treated", many also went to complementary health practitioners about long-term health issues, to support other medical therapy or to maintain general wellness.

One GP was surprised to discover, when she asked her patients about it while doing the course, that at least 80% of them were "taking something or seeing somebody".

She had no previous knowledge of complementary health treatments and had since decided to collaborate with practitioners.

The course introduced GPs to complementary treatments such as herbal medicine, Reiki, traditional Chinese medicine and homeopathy.

It also looked at the high use of complementary medicine, research, and regulation and funding of complementary medicine in New Zealand and other countries.

In Switzerland this year, five complementary medicines, including homeopathy and herbal medicine, became publicly funded treatments after a public referendum.

 


Michael H CohenMichael H Cohen
Founder
The Los Angeles / San Francisco / Bay Area-based Michael H Cohen Law Group provides healthcare legal and FDA legal & regulatory counsel to health & wellness practices and ventures, including health technology companies (medical devices to wearable health and nanotech), healthcare facilities (from medical centers to medical spas), and healthcare service providers (from physicians to psychologists).Our legal team offers expertise in corporate & transactional, healthcare regulatory & compliance, and healthcare litigation and dispute resolution, in cutting-edge areas such as anti-aging and functional medicine, telemedicine and m-health, and concierge medicine.Our Founder, attorney Michael H. Cohen, is an author, speaker on healthcare law and FDA law, and internationally-recognized thought leader in the trillion-dollar health & wellness industry.