Complementary medicine

Complementary medicine has a clear role in palliative care of cancer and AIDS. If one is to follow a holistic approach to medical care, one in which the focus is on healing and not just an attempt at cure of the underlying disease, then complementary medicine techniques are clearly appropriate. True, they have not received the type of scientific validation that might be desirable, but to the extent that the patient finds relief and has an improved quality of life as a result of these techniques, then the use of complementary techniques is clearly valid and appropriate. Furthermore, it is clear that patients use complementary approaches with or without their doctor's knowledge or recommendation, and it therefore behooves physicians to recognize that their patients may well be visiting complementary medical practitioners. That being the case, it is better that physician and complementary medicine practitioner work together as a team, understanding what each team member can add to the overall care and healing of the patient.