Without the White Coat
By Dr. Florentino Alerta

Herbal Medicine… food supplement or guaranteed cure

The radio airwaves are always full of commercials from one herbal drink to another piece of tablet that promises to cure all the maladies in this world—from the simple fever, fatigue or body malaise to the dreaded disease of cancer. But when you ask BFAD (Bureau of Food and Drugs) about it, they are all food supplements. Even in hard times there are always people or companies that are trying to grab from the hands and pockets those hard-earned pesos intended for your family table and children. (I hope they can always live with a clean conscience, what gets the cauldrons boiling is the use of GOD's name by these so-called herbal specialists or “doctors” who market these products.) There was a time way back when an international company wanted the doctors that they recruited for the multi-level marketing company to push forward an “ALOE VERA” product that will render miracles for all patients with cancer aside from its toothpaste that will rid of bad breath. My house help was also amazed that with her little income she still find ways to buy their toothpaste. Now the companies have become so aggressive that they are employing the help of “naturolopathies”, “herbal specialist”,” natural healers” which are all categorized as the practice of alternative medicine. For me I always welcome the practice of alternative medicine using “Zilongjin Tablets” for those “hopeless” patients, but we can never promise the patient total cure and treatment.

As I sat down in the Belle Terrace of Amigo Terrace Hotel waiting for the pre-launching and seminar of another “herb” (H200 navigator) an hour had passed after the scheduled time of 3 p.m.(I came in early seeing that one of the speakers is an American, do they usually start on time?) After an hour of waiting for the LCD projector to come then the long unforgettable, tedious lecture on “alternative medicine” started (it took an hour for the entire lecture to finish). A physician was tasked to educate us all on “naturopathic medicine” with some quotations from the “Holy Bible” strengthening the speaker's view on “Herbal Medicine” using bible passages and linking it up with the use of herbs. It was the speaker's task to blend in the “scientific findings” with the use of herbs on cancer patient that were not “cured” by conventional medicine. (One thing I learned in the practice of medicine never ever promise your patient a cure or treatment, but always promise all your patients that you as the physician can always CARE for them.) A herb concoction in a liquid form that contains 200+ herbs in it, then comes a question from the lay person, what is the effect since you have a soup bowl or a cauldron and mixture of herbs?... I think you guess what the answer is… all the herbs work in a synergistic approach with one another which will render them very effective on all maladies including cancer. (Wow! that really pop off my head and mind hearing it and coming from a physician.) I was shocked again that this herb was supported and backed by one of the biggest health group providers in the country whose patients include ex-pats and former Armed Forces personnel of the US of A. I always smell a stinking rat if the business part is coupled and fused with the use and practice of medicine. (We should always remember that the practice of medicine is not a business opportunity, but the commitment of the physician for the care of the individual or person. (Remember, he/she never promised cure or treatment.)

Herbal medicine will always be a mainstay in our practice, we were taught as early as medical school their uses in our practice, but doesn't give us all rights to let go of the conventional type of medicine that we learn in medical school. In due time everything will be masked off and we will see the inner guts of this individuals. Hopefully not all of us will fall prey to this individuals, thus the question—is it really cure or just a form of deception that will rub us of our hard earned peso, for some may be a big and lucrative business venture for the entire cooperative, but always keep an open eye mind and eyes because the bold sucking parasitic vultures are always flying in our skies waiting and taking advantage if our guards are down. To all “ BEWARE and BE AWARE.”