Choosing a Complementary Therapy Practitioner
Description
This article is from the Health Articles series.
Choosing a Complementary Therapy Practitioner
Once you have settled on a therapy that you would like to try, the next step is finding a practitioner. For some therapies this may not be necessary. You can make modest changes in your diet, for instance, or begin a moderate exercise regimen unassisted. But if your condition is serious, the therapy is complex or if the lifestyle change is a major one, it's wise to seek out some assistance -- at least initially.
The advice of a properly trained practioner is important in making decisions. It's appealing to simply go to the natural foods store and pick up some supplements or herbs. But remember these can have serious interactions with drugs you may be taking, and the therapy may require taking higher doses than are indicated on the bottles. Similarly, Chinese or homeopathic remedies are available over the counter, but these "formulas" may bear little resemblance to the prescription a practitioner would write for you since they are highly individualized treatments. Also, never rely on "recommendations" by employees of health food stores -- their training in the use of herbs and supplements usually comes from sales representatives, not schools of naturopathy!
When seeking a practitioner, a personal referral is best, but it is also wise to talk to many people with the same condition until one name comes up two or three times. Support groups are also good places to find this kind of information as are local branches of support organizations. Referrals can also be obtained from another practitioner whose opinion you trust.If these kinds of direct referrals are not available, the state or national credentialing organization for that discipline will often provide referrals. "New Age" newspapers found at natural food stores and bookstores may contain ads and listings for local practitioners, as well. If all else fails, try the telephone book!
Once you have located a candidate, don't be shy about interviewing him or her.
- Find out what their training is and how long they've been in practice.
- Ask if they are licensed and credientialled.
- Determine if they have worked with many people with your condition. If you have cancer, find out if they have worked with other people with the same kind of cancer.
- Get a sense of their attitude concerning mainstream medicine and if they would be willing to work with your doctor.
If for some reason you decide not to work with that practitioner, ask for a referral to another.
Before you actually begin the therapy, tell your physician. If the physician is knowledgeable and open minded, he or she may agree to work with you to coordinate care from different sources. Be prepared, however, for the possibility that you will not be supported in your decision to use complementary medicine. You may be told you are wasting your time or even be warned of dire consequences. If this is the case, try to determine whether or not the physician's response is based upon an accurate understanding of the therapy you would like to undertake. If you have been able to locate research studies on a complementary therapy you find of interest, show these to your doctor. For some people, the support of their physician in this area is important enough that they will decide to seek out a doctor who will be supportive.
Increasing numbers of open minded practitioners on both sides of the alternative-conventional medicine divide are coming to understand that the future of medicine clearly lies in some form of integrated healthcare, where traditional, mind-body and lifestyle approaches take a place alongside Western allopathic medicine. But until that time arrives, it is up to the patient to put these pieces together. The challenge can seem daunting, but the task is not impossible and the rewards are well worth the effort.
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