Originally published September 12 2005
Common ailments increasingly out of reach of modern medicine, doctor says
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Dr. Alex Mauskop notes in a recent article for 50connect.co.uk that modern medicine has been largely ineffective in the treatment of common ailments such as headaches and colds, so many patients are turning to alternative therapies instead.
It is not surprising, then, that patients seek a variety of alternative or complimentary therapies.
Complementary techniques are those that lack definitive proof of efficacy and are not accepted by the medical mainstream.
The vast majority of people who suffer from headaches have either tension-type or migraine headaches.
Selective serotonin-agonist drugs like sumatriptan have revolutionized treatment of migraines and dramatically changed the lives of millions of people.
These concerns encourage many patients who have tried conventional therapy for migraines to explore complementary therapies.
In numerous double-blind treatment trials, a large proportion (30-40%) of headache patients respond favourably to placebo.
Acupuncture This ancient method has recently received a boost in popularity because of the consensus statement by a panel convened by the National Institutes of Health.
The panel concluded that nausea and acute dental pain clearly respond to acupuncture, while many painful conditions, including headaches, may respond to acupuncture but require additional studies.
Acupuncture treatment is done using very thin disposable needles, which cause very little discomfort or pain.
Double-blind study of acupuncture is very difficult because blinding for insertion of a needle is impossible, and inserting needles into non-acupuncture points has been shown to relieve pain.
Despite the lack of definitive proof of its efficacy, acupuncture has a significant potential to help some patients with headaches.
Most specialty headache clinics offer biofeedback, which strongly suggests that a large number of patients benefit from it (but does not prove its efficacy).
Migraine can be triggered in susceptible individuals by tyramine-containing foods, some food additives and sugar substitutes, as well as by skipping meals.
Magnesium is a vital element which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of migraines.
Chiropractic manipulation has several potential benefits, which must be weighed against possible complications.
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