Click photo to enlarge
Dunedin School of Medicine senior lecturer Dr Monika
Clark-Grill (left) and medical herbalist Sandra Clair study
a 1588 medical text, which was the reference book of
doctors at the time and discusses more than 3000 herbs.
Many of the herbs it mentions are used in modern medicine,
such as digitalis, found in the foxglove plant held by Ms
Clair. Photo by Linda Robertson.
The place of complementary medicine in primary health
care has been considered by GPs in a course at the University
of Otago.
The course, the first in New Zealand, was held at Dunedin
School of Medicine.
Senior lecturer Dr Monika Clark-Grill said there had always
been a historic split between conventional medicine and
complementary and alternative medicine in New Zealand, but
with more people using complementary health treatments, it
was becoming "a must" for GPs to have knowledge of the field.
While people "naturally go to doctors when they need a
diagnosis or to be treated", many also went to complementary
health practitioners about long-term health issues, to
support other medical therapy or to maintain general
wellness.
One GP was surprised to discover, when she asked her patients
about it while doing the course, that at least 80% of them
were "taking something or seeing somebody".
She had no previous knowledge of complementary health
treatments and had since decided to collaborate with
practitioners.
The course introduced GPs to complementary treatments such as
herbal medicine, Reiki, traditional Chinese medicine and
homeopathy.
It also looked at the high use of complementary medicine,
research, and regulation and funding of complementary
medicine in New Zealand and other countries.
In Switzerland this year, five complementary medicines,
including homeopathy and herbal medicine, became publicly
funded treatments after a public referendum.
Dr Clark-Grill said she had done an Austrian postgraduate
diploma in homeopathy after her medical training.
In Austria, only medical doctors were allowed to practise
homeopathy.
Those who completed the course in Dunedin said it opened them
up to new ideas, Dr Clark-Grill said.
"There was quite strong discussion around the science . . .
"There was some scepticism at times, but also a lot of trying
to understand different perspectives."
In 2004, a desire for better information about complementary
medicine led to the formation of the Integrative Health Trust
Otago.
The trust includes GPs, complementary health practitioners
and members of the public.
It is in the process of creating a website with a directory
of health care practitioners in Otago and the treatments they
offer.
When it is launched, hopefully next March, people will be
able to look up profiles of practitioners, from GPs,
complementary health practitioners and physiotherapists to
midwives.
It is believed the website will be the first of its kind in
New Zealand, and perhaps the world, Dr Clark-Grill said.
edith.schofield@odt.co.nz
