What is Medicine?

You are having a heart attack. Immediately you are rushed to the hospital,{Delete the comma.} and find the cause for the heart attack is atherosclerosis or a build up of plaque in the arteries blocking blood flow to the heart. Typical medical treatment for such a problem would be prescription of medicine, or surgery depending on how severe the problem is, but not if you believe in holistic medicine. Holistic medicine treats atherosclerosis, along with many other medical problems, with chelation. Chelation is a process of administering a man-made amino acid, known as EDTA (also found in soap and beer), into the veins for at least two hours at a time with multiple treatments. The problem with chelation is that the FDA, AMA, and National Institutes of Health have approved chelation as treatment other than only when the patient suffers from heavy metal poisoning. "The American Heart Association's Clinical Science Committee has reviewed the available literature on the use of chelation (EDTA) in the treatment of atherosclerotic heart or blood vessel disease and finds no scientific evidence to demonstrate any benefit of this form of therapy. Furthermore, employment of this form of unproven treatment may deprive patients of the well-established benefits attendant to the many other valuable methods of treating these diseases (Questions and Answers…)."

Medicine, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is "to treat or cure (a person, condition, etc.) by means of medicine; to give medicine to." Holistic medicine is defined as "the art and science of healing that addresses the whole person-body, mind, and spirit," integrating conventional and alternative therapies to promote optimal health and prevent and treat disease. The practice of medicine can also be defined as a science and art, where technology and advances in treatments are essential ("Medicine"). Medicine bases its treatments and practice on the scientific method, which requires things to be tested and approved over and over again before accepted. 'Happy marriages prevent the flu' and 'wearing gemstones can heal' are concepts used in holistic medicine, which have not and can not be scientifically proven. If something can not be proved scientifically then it is not used in conventional medicine.

In medicine, one treatment is not the 'miracle cure,' but many different approaches are taken to treat a patient. A 'miracle cure' in holistic medicine is chelation. Not only is it used to treat atherosclerosis, but also it is used to treat Parkinson's disease. A close family friend with Parkinson's disease prefers holistic medicine over conventional medicine. For two years he has continued his treatments, but no improvement has shown.

Holistic medicine also gives natural herbs and mixtures to induce vomiting,{Delete the comma.} in order to 'rid the body of toxins.' This would be a clinically proven symptom of bulimia, {Delete the comma.} to those that practice medicine. Inducing the body to throw up ruins many parts of the body, like the esophagus. Psychological disorders are looked at as caused by underlying problems, where as medicine found that bipolar disorder is genetic. Scientologists, who use practices of holistic medicine, do not believe that chemical imbalances are the cause of psychological disorders, even though it has been scientifically proven. Treatment of psychological disorders under the practice of medicine would prescribe medication and have the patient seek counseling, whereas holistic medicine and scientology would try to change the patient's lifestyle, adding things such as yoga and healthier eating to their diet (Lamarine).

All physicians have to take the Hippocratic Oath in order to practice medicine, and therefore this helps to define the basis of practicing medicine. All physicians practicing medicine undergo this oath, but those that follow holistic medicine also follow their own principles. One of the first lines of the Hippocratic Oath states that the physician "will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone." This means that physicians will practice and prescribe medicines

to the best of their knowledge and ability, for the health of their patients.

The primary objective of holistic medicine is optimal health, using unapproved methods to attempt to cure their patient. Acupuncture, massage, yoga, and increasing circulation in the body are treatments used in holistic medicine that have helped muscle pain, headaches, and osteoarthritis. Holistic medicine avoids administering drugs, or using proven medical procedures that the physicians are aware of to cure a patient's problem. Instead, they use alternative medicines such as chelation, herbs, and other practices such as yoga and prayer, which goes against the Hippocratic Oath since those doctors are aware of medicines and surgeries that would otherwise cure the patient. Alternative medicines go against the Hippocratic Oath also as direct harm can result from the treatments. Examples are kidney failure, known to be associated with chelation treatments and, in the extreme, death due to heart attacks by not receiving the proven medical treatments immediately. Another line in the Hippocratic Oath the physician has to comply with is to not intentionally harm a patient. If the patient has an illness, the physician has an obligation to treat the patient to the best of their knowledge. Holistic medicine perceives illness, pain, and dying not as suffering, but rather as a learning process for the patients and physicians ("The Principles…").

The practice of medicine is the use of science and art, along with prescription of medications to cure a patient. Although the idea of holistic medicine proposes good intentions, conventional medicine has proven, by both practice and scientific research, that it is more beneficial to the patient. Ultimately it is the physician's choice whether or not to practice holistic medicine, but it is up to the patient whether or not to agree and follow with their views and treatments.

Works Cited

Bortman, Marci, Peter Brimblecombe, and Mary Ann Cunningham. "Holistic approach." Environmental Encyclopedia. 2003. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 05 February 2006 <http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/OVRC

"Hippocratic Oath." Wikipedia. 2006. 8 Feb 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_oath>

"Holistic Medicine." Oxford English Dictionary Online. 2006.

Lamarine, Roland. "Alternative Therapies Are Harmful." Journal of School Health, vol. 71. Greenhaven Press, 2004. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 8 Feb 2006 <http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/OVRC>

"Medicine." Oxford English Dictionary Online. 2006.

"The Principles of Holistic Medical Practice." 2004. American Holistic Medical

Association. 2 Feb 2006 <http://www.holisticmedicine.org/about/about_principles.shtml>

"Questions and Answers About Chelation Therapy." American Heart Association.

2005. 7 Feb. 2006.<http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3000843>