Alternative Cancer Care in Mexico

According to CNN, there are many cancer patients escaping to oasis-type of cancer centers in Mexico to receive alternative care for their illness. To many, the idea of receiving alternative medicine for cancer may sound absurd. It may be OK to take some herbs and vitamins for benign conditions such as headaches and arthritis. But for cancer? Can alternative therapies like herbs, vitamins, meditation, and relaxation cure malignant tumors? If they do, are we simply seeing cases of spontaneous regression where the body destroys cancer by sensing that something is wrong?

The idea of complementary medicine for cancer has been a really controversial topic lately because of the story of Danny Hauser, a 13-yr-old cancer patient who is receiving chemotherapy because of a court order. He's also receiving alternative medicine, including acupuncture, vitamins, and minerals (among others). Does he have the right to choose what type of cancer care he wants? This gets into the ethics of autonomy, but it gets complicated because Danny is not an adult. Hence, in the world of medical ethics, he doesn't have the same type of autonomy as an adult. It may not sound fair, but the world of ethics doesn't always revolve around fairness (depending on your point of view).

So, if an adult chooses to forego Western medicine for cancer and decides to receive alternative care in Mexico, that's OK (from an ethics standpoint). However, if a child chooses to forego Western medicine for life-threatening cancer, that's when we have some serious ethical issues. That's where the ethics committees get involved and pulls in the judicial system when needed. How do we really know what the child wants? What if the child is only 2 or 3 years old? Do parents have the right to determine what is best for the child? At what age should a child have autonomy over medical treatment decisions?

Maybe you don't like to think about any of these complex ethical issues. If you're an oncologist looking for some lucrative opportunities in a resort-like (think all-year vacation) setting, then take a look at the Oasis of Hope Hospital in Tijuana.

To read the CNN piece about alternative cancer care in Mexico, click here. Image source: CNN

Wrist Bands for Nausea

P6 acupuncture or acupressure wristbands have become really popular these days. You have some brands like Sea-Band calling the acupressure point as the Nei-Kuan Point. Others refer to it as P6 acupuncture. Do you believe that acupuncture works? What is your view of alternative medicine (or complementary medicine)? If you're a big advocate of holistic medicine, then you may want to consider joining the American Holistic Medicine Association.

Sometimes, old technology is the best medicine. Acupuncture has been effectively used for centuries in Asia. One of the major challenges with acupuncture in the United States is this: you may not know whether your healthcare practitioner is adequately qualified. You can get licensed and certified in acupuncture.

Here are some groups you may want to get familiar with:

• National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
• American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
• American Board of Medical Acupuncture
• Acupuncture Society of America
  

Herbal Nutritional Supplements in Medicine

I was trying to explain the concept of herbal nutritional supplements to someone the other day. This person really didn't seem to understand that herbal agents are not the same as prescription medications. We were talking about a bottle of 81 mg baby-strength aspirin that you can purchase at your local drug store. You don't need a prescription since this is an over-the-counter medication. However, Bayer has a new bottle of 81 mg aspirin called "Bayer with Heart Advantage." This is a bottle of aspirin that also includes a supplement called phytosterols, a natural plant-based supplement that are also known as plant sterols.

Some people are fanatical about nutritional supplements and they even become Herbalife distributors. I personally think you can have quite a successful business in this industry because there are so many people who want to engage in holistic medicine, complementary medicine, alternative medicine, herbals, nutritional supplements, and much more. Many clinicians are members of the American Holistic Medical Association (AHMA) and may even achieve board certification. Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit? Want to learn how to become an Herbal Life distributor? You don't need an MBA to build a successful business that integrates the distribution of herbal nutritional supplements.