BOOK REPORT

Book Report: The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine



Book Report: The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine

Introduction

Keeping an open mind, being able to tolerate therapeutic uncertainty and approach all interactions with patients with immense flexibility seems to me to be a critical hallmark of a well-rounded physician. I always have some trouble with those who espouse a cause (or a therapy) with quasi-religious zeal and put it forward as the answer to everything without qualification. This handbook induces some of those wary feelings in me, but as long as it is clearly understood just what it is, then on the whole, it is very useful.

This 520-paged, well-bound, A5-size handbook derives from the 1620-paged (+150 pages for the index) A4-size Textbook of Natural Medicine (2nd edition 1999) from the same publisher by Pizzorno and Murray. This textbook is a massive, up-to-date presentation of the ideas, diagnostic techniques and therapeutics of 'natural medicine' (which may be more familiar as naturopathy). It is certainly the place to look for information and (perhaps more importantly) addresses of just about any kind of nutritional supplement or diet that your patient might happen to be taking or asking you about.

This excellent handbook is based primarily on the detailed and authoritative Textbook of Natural Medicine edited by Pizzorno and Murray. The authors have extracted the most common illnesses from their comprehensive textbook and inserted them into the handbook version, in conjunction with some excellent flow diagrams that will allow the clinician to work through a particular diagnosis or set of symptoms in a thoughtful and organized manner. The three authors are all Faculty members of Bastyr University, a school of excellence in Washington State for the training of naturopaths. Each section begins with a good diagnostic summary that will allow qualified naturopaths to be sure they have made a reasonable and appropriate diagnosis, and is followed by a section encompassing general considerations which effectively represents an accurate and up-to-date epidemiological and etiological description of each condition. Each of the relevant diagnoses discussed (from acne through to viral infections) is then dissected from the point of view of its potential for naturopathic management. In a sense, this represents both the strength and weakness of this handbook. For instance, chronic fatigue apparently is seen by the authors as an illness that is most likely to respond to a range of detoxification regimens combined with appropriate herbal preparations and nutritional supplements. The differential diagnosis of chronic fatigue within the context of diagnosing an organic illness is clearly described. However, the authors fail to mention that the main body of evidence with respect to treating chronic fatigue syndrome involves the use of techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy and progressive exercise programmes in conjunction with various other individualised approaches to physical and mental rehabilitation. It may be that naturopaths see themselves as the keepers of 'natural medicine', but my personal view is that natural medicine spreads far beyond naturopathy. The use of acupuncture, homeopathy and manipulative medicine, such as osteopathy ...