Complimenraty/ Alternative Medicine

Abstract

Last year a medical student brought a'miracle substance' to be analysed in the toxicology laboratory at MEDUNSA. His grandmother suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis and was finding it exceptionally helpful. lt was supposedly a traditional chinese medicine given to her by a doctor from one of the far eastern countries. lt was found to contain methadone. Many of our patients are ingesting substances which they've obtained from supermarkets, health shops, so-called 'complementary/alternative medicine'(CAM) practitioners,and traditional healers. Theret a widespread mythology that'natural' is better, that herbal remedies are completely safe, and that they're cheap.