A lot of my patients ask me about the role and effectiveness of treatments other than those available in the Modern Medical methods such as I use. I feel the decision about which system of medicine to choose is entirely of the patients. No doctor should discourage or condemn another form of treatment.
These approaches include faith healing, prayer, magical- religious rituals, homeopathy, ayurveda, siddha, etc
In Psychiatry, no treatment or belief system has been found to be clearly ineffective. Especially, for common mental disorders (CMDs) such as mild forms of fearfulness, depression, low energy states, difficult personalities, etc there is no rule that ONLY treatments of modern medicine work. By their nature these disorders have increasing- decreasing pattern. Based on their values and beliefs, patients may recover from such problems by use of alternative approaches.
For major mental disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe forms of depression, obsessive compulsive disorders and severe personality disorders, modern medicine works better and faster and more predictably.
Of the well-organised systems of medicine like homeopathy or ayurveda or Unani, I would say that people should always go to qualified and experienced professionals. MBBS. MD persons who later practice these forms of medicine by reading books are to be avoided as they are nothing but quacks. Patients should follow the instructions of their doctors and find out what is the reasonable time by which they can expect improvement. One should always make a time-bound plan. If you are not improving within a reasonable time or even getting worse, then you should really consider changing the doctor or system of medicine.
Patients can choose any form of treatment. But I strongly recommend a practical approach. Please choose whatever gives you results in reasonable time and fees. Always take a psychiatric opinion about the diagnosis and prognosis. Sometimes people spend so much time doing these things that their illness becomes severe and beyond repair by any form of treatment. Otherwise they spend so much money, there is none left for proper treatment. Taking an opinion prevents this problem by letting you know what you are dealing with in advance.
There has really been no research comparing the effectiveness of different systems of treatment for different psychiatric disorders. There is also no research about how different forms of medicine will interact when given together. So if any patient asks me what is better, or can I take both together then I can give no answer. I really never argue with people who claim some forms of treatment have absolutely no side-effects and offer absolute cure. Because I know Psychiatric disorders are not like that. They are not diseases but disorders and the dysfunction permeates every corner of the individual. Most are chronic and caused by brain changes. So it is very difficult to target the 'abnormal' portion and treat in such a focussed way as to have no side effects. Or to rid the body of the abnormality so easily.
These approaches include faith healing, prayer, magical- religious rituals, homeopathy, ayurveda, siddha, etc
In Psychiatry, no treatment or belief system has been found to be clearly ineffective. Especially, for common mental disorders (CMDs) such as mild forms of fearfulness, depression, low energy states, difficult personalities, etc there is no rule that ONLY treatments of modern medicine work. By their nature these disorders have increasing- decreasing pattern. Based on their values and beliefs, patients may recover from such problems by use of alternative approaches.
For major mental disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe forms of depression, obsessive compulsive disorders and severe personality disorders, modern medicine works better and faster and more predictably.
Of the well-organised systems of medicine like homeopathy or ayurveda or Unani, I would say that people should always go to qualified and experienced professionals. MBBS. MD persons who later practice these forms of medicine by reading books are to be avoided as they are nothing but quacks. Patients should follow the instructions of their doctors and find out what is the reasonable time by which they can expect improvement. One should always make a time-bound plan. If you are not improving within a reasonable time or even getting worse, then you should really consider changing the doctor or system of medicine.
Patients can choose any form of treatment. But I strongly recommend a practical approach. Please choose whatever gives you results in reasonable time and fees. Always take a psychiatric opinion about the diagnosis and prognosis. Sometimes people spend so much time doing these things that their illness becomes severe and beyond repair by any form of treatment. Otherwise they spend so much money, there is none left for proper treatment. Taking an opinion prevents this problem by letting you know what you are dealing with in advance.
There has really been no research comparing the effectiveness of different systems of treatment for different psychiatric disorders. There is also no research about how different forms of medicine will interact when given together. So if any patient asks me what is better, or can I take both together then I can give no answer. I really never argue with people who claim some forms of treatment have absolutely no side-effects and offer absolute cure. Because I know Psychiatric disorders are not like that. They are not diseases but disorders and the dysfunction permeates every corner of the individual. Most are chronic and caused by brain changes. So it is very difficult to target the 'abnormal' portion and treat in such a focussed way as to have no side effects. Or to rid the body of the abnormality so easily.
