lab tests

[Guest guest]

Thaddeus Jacobs wrote:

I'd

like to know that even a half brain-dead N.D. would order simple CBC and

chem studies given any patient with these signs and symptoms. I'd

also hope that, in the future (especially where "acus" are considered primary

care providers), most acupunturists would implement this and other diagnostic

measures or at least refer to have these performed by a practitioner who

provides these services. There is nothing allopathic about lab tests.

Lab tests simply provide information, just as does viewing the pulse and

tongue.

Thad,

I didn't mean to imply that lab tests

were inherently allopathic. I actually consider them valuable information

for holistic medicine. It was just that the ND in question has a

decidely allopathic bias in her practice. She relies almost exclusively

on disease diagnosis and selection of therapy according to narrow biomedical

parameters. Her own husband, also an ND, who practices eclectic herbalism

and holistic forms of naturopathy, first pointed this out to me (he frequent;y

said, "my wife is such an allopath"). However, both husband and wife

both order lab tests on all patients. However, where the wife worked,

the other staffers (ND, Lac,DC) were more inclined to make unverifiable

dx like fibromylagia, etc. However, I should have said it was the

wife's SCIENTIFIC (not allopathic) bias that led her to make this call.

sorry.

Thaddeus Jacobs wrote:

I agree that the lesson learned by

this study is taken to heart by other "acus" less inclined to utilize lab

testing even if the state in which they practice does not allow them, themselves,

to supply these basic medical measures. I also must admit that I

feel that the information obtained by a standard TCM intake is often of

superior value compared to what lab testing provides. This said,

I also think it prudent to consider that not everyone is truly a master

observer and has seen and remembered the physical presentation of many

extraordinary diseases. Out of humility, then (at least), should

we consider the use of lab testing.

Thad,

I'm not sure that even the keenest

observer would have discerned the severity of this woman's condition without

a lab test. she was still working fulltime in her small business,

riding a bicycle to work, raising her child, etc. She did not have

any systemic sx. While agree that tcm intakes can catch subclinical

subtleties missed by grosser lab tests, I think the converse is true also.

that is lab tests often reveal serious illnesses that are missed by interview.

Even pulse and tongue may appear relatively normal in the seriously ill

at times. I do not think acus can achieve adequate training or experience

in these areas without studying them in their own right (which you did

at NCNM) . for that reason, I reiterate my point that undiagnosed

complaints that do not improve with careful TCM (or CCM) tx in a reasonable

length of time bear referral for testing. However, once testing has

occurred, I like to give my patients an option to continue with TCM .

I do not think there is any evidence that TCM can treat mutiple myeloma,

however I have often succersfully treated strep.

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Chinese Herbal Medicine