If you have ever changed doctors, you have undoubtedly noticed differences in the way they practice medicine. This is especially true if you have changed alternative doctors.
An interesting study from Southern Medical Journal sent the same patient complaining of low back pain to seven different acupuncturists. Five of seven were in agreement that the Oriental treatment should be used. However, there were wide differences in how the treatment was administered. Of 28 acupuncture points selected, only four (14%) were prescribed by two or more acupuncturists.
Why is this important? There is a striking difference between complementary therapies and orthodox medicine. Orthodox medicine with only linear thought usually will treat a patient with one of two options: a chemical to reduce symptoms or a surgery to cut it out.
Integrative medicine, on the other hand, takes a more circular view, and can deal with the patients problems in multiple ways.
I recently was presented with a patient who had long-term multi-system complaints ranging from pain to circulation, and with possible hereditary components. I offered over 10 different ways to treat her. These included a homeopathic remedy, detoxing her mercury and other chemicals, cleaning up her diet, nutrient therapy, addressing hereditary risk factors for vascular disease and coagulation disorders, acupuncture, neural therapy, meditation, and much more.
I believe any one of these approaches would work far better than any drug.
Be aware that seeing different practitioners of integrative therapies might lead to different strategies, but that does not mean only one is right. Illness has many causes and those you entrust with your health will use methods that they are most familiar with.