March 2004
What's Up, Doc?
PRACTITIONER PROFILE
Who: Patrick B. Massey, M.D., Medical Director, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Alexian Brothers Hospital Network, Elk Grove Village, IL.
Quick Take: Says that Western medicine’s dominant health care paradigm, called allopathy, is based on treating the disease (usually with drugs and surgery) rather than promoting health. Massey’s work incorporates a blend of meditation, nutritional supplements, acupuncture and other "alternative" methods to help patients with prevention and maintenance. He considers allopathic medicine "very good" in some respects and prescribes drugs for acute conditions, but recognizes the model’s shortcomings.
Old vs. New: As a medical resident, Massey successfully experimented with herbal compresses to treat bedsores, encountering no resistance from conventional practitioners. Finding resources to further his explorations proved more difficult. "Ten years ago when I’d give a lecture on herbs, I only had anecdotes," he says. Now hundreds of studies help him identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative therapies.
Knowing the Difference: Massey looks forward to a day when labels do not exist in medicine. "I want to get rid of all these words and get back to good medicine," he says, which he believes blends allopathic and alternative methods for the patient’s greatest good. Call it "integrative medicine."
Biggest Myth: All supplements are created equal. Not true, says Massey. Yet, "when 18 to 20 brands make the same claim, it’s hard to know which one to buy," he notes. So Massey visits manufacturers then suggests quality brands to patients.
Case History: Massey struggled with severe back pain as a student and walked into a Chicago tai chi school "on a hunch." After watching the class stretch, Massey adapted the movements, letting his body tell him when to ease up. Now a six-degree black belt, he’s published a report on how his modified tai chi program helps hundreds live pain-free.
Personal file: 51, married with one daughter and three sons. His wife runs Alexian Brother’s PT department and also incorporates alternative methods into her work.
HEALING IS HAPPENING!
We are sharing real life experiences of people who have found health solutions by using complementary and alternative medicine. This is from Ana Micka in Washington, D.C.
Ear infections and toddlers seem to go hand-in-hand. As a parent who knows full well the downsides of antibiotics and the benefits of alternative approaches, I found myself dosing my daughter with antibiotics twice during the past six weeks. Finally, at ear infection number three, I turned to homeopathy and dietary changes for help. The treatment involved infusing mustard oil with garlic and placing several drops in each ear, removing all dairy from my daughter’s diet and a dose of a homeopathic remedy for four days.
The results, while not as immediate and dramatic as antibiotics, have lasted. The oil seemed to relieve her pain quite quickly. Her fever reduced and all complaints were gone by day three. This approach is healthier and has reduced the reoccurrence of the condition in our household. I wish M.D.s could suggest a few less invasive and less costly approaches instead of reaching immediately for the prescription pad.
A story from www.betterhealthcampaign.org, a group helping to expand the dialogue about health care.
![[Send]](http://consciouschoice.com/sendlink/send.gif){kind=small}
Recommend this page to a friend
Top Ten pages recommended to friends:
