The good news is you don’t have to decide whether to use Western or Eastern medicine exclusively—both have benefits, and each can work alongside the other. “It’s all medicine. Which to use depends on what you use it for,” says Andrea Joy Cohen, M.D., founder and former director of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research Program in Cancer at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Talk to your doctor.
Ask your physician how she feels about alternative or complementary medicine. “The way to broach it is just to be open and honest,” says Lisa Corbin, M.D., medical director of the University of Colorado Hospital’s Center for Integrative Medicine. Her reaction will tell you a lot. If she’s against it, hear her out, Dr. Corbin advises, but “be aware there are many physicians out there who are quite receptive to the blending of therapies.” If yours clearly isn’t ...
Go shopping.
Finding a physician who’s open to both disciplines is easier than it used to be. “A lot of holistic doctors are internists and family practitioners,” Dr. Cohen says. She recommends asking for referrals from people you know—family, friends, and your acupuncturist, massage therapist, or other holistic practitioners (remember, physicians go to acupuncturists, chiropractors, and yoga classes, too). Check the American Board of Holistic Medicine’s Roster of ABHM Board Certified Physicians (holisticboard.org/roster.html). Local clinics and hospitals may have added integrative medicine programs you can use. No luck? Go online and search integrative medicine + location name.
Know who’s paying.
Most consumers pay out-of-pocket for alternative medicine therapy and products, but some health plans offer coverage—though it’s usually limited and varies from state to state, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Ask your state insurance board about coverage requirements for the therapy you’re considering. And ask your health insurance company what it will cover and what rules may apply.
Pick your spots.
When should you try an Eastern therapy, and when should you pick a Western one? Black-and-white rules won’t work. Take diabetes, for instance. “There are some alternative treatments which can make a difference, but there’s nothing that can get you the type of control you need to prevent complications 20 years from now like insulin,” Dr. Corbin says.
General rule.
Try alternative medicine when your problem is not an emergency or when you can’t or don’t want to take medications. “It always makes sense, I think, for menopausal symptoms and for cholesterol. It is very easy and safe to try 6 months to a year of other [nondrug, non-Western] therapies to see how much of a dent you can make,” Dr. Corbin says. Then, if you’re still having symptoms or your cholesterol is still high, “it doesn’t mean you have to give up on the alternative treatment. You might want to blend it with conventional treatment,” Dr. Corbin says. For example, if Eastern practices brought your cholesterol down but it’s still too high, “you may still need a statin [cholesterol-reducing drug], but you may only need half the dose” that would’ve been prescribed without the other intervention, she says.
Stay safe.
Staying healthy is a team effort. You’re the captain, so it’s your job to communicate and make sure all your players cooperate and work together well. “One of the best ways to avoid problems is to make sure that all the different health care providers know what you’re doing,” Dr. Corbin says. Keep everyone informed, including your pharmacist, your physical therapist, your massage therapist, your acupuncturist, and your yoga instructor.
Adapted from “Hybrid Health” in the summer issue of YogaLife, on newsstands now. Click Here to subscribe today.
