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DOH-6 exec urges public to use alternative medicine
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| Depra-Ramos |
In this time of rising prices of almost anything including medicines, Dr. Lydia Depra-Ramos, regional director of Department of Health (DOH) Region 6, urged the public to use traditional and alternative medicines.
“Traditional and alternative medicines are accessible as it can be found in our backyards and it is affordable,” said Ramos during a press conference on the upcoming 4th National Conference on Alternative and Natural Medicine to be held here in Iloilo City.
Traditional and alternative medicines refer to herbal medicines and other modalities of natural healing like acupuncture, reflexology, nutrition therapy, enzyme therapy, visualization and imaging, and homeopathy.
Ramos said the promotion of traditional and alternative medicine is embodied in Republic Act 8243, otherwise known as Alternative Medicine Act.
For now, Ramos said, the DOH endorses only ten herbal medicines, namely, Sambong, Lagundi, Yerba Buena, Tsaang Gubat, Bayabas, Ampalaya, Akapulko, Ulasimang Bato, Niyug-niyogan and Bawang. But, she said there are other herbal medicines not yet included in the DOH's list which have been proven effective.
Ramos, however, noted that the proliferation of food supplements claiming to be a “cure all” for diseases do not have endorsement from the health department.
“There is still a big question on that because even the Bureau of Food and Drugs has yet to issue rules and regulations on alternative medicine,” Ramos said.
“It's up for the people to scrutinize the food supplements they buy,” she added.
The Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care and the Philippine College for the Advancement in Medicine will hold the 4th National Conference on Alternative and Natural Medicine on November 20-23, 2005 at the Amigo Terrace Hotel.
The confab with the theme “The Power of Natural Healing” hopes to gather private and government health practitioners who are interested in traditional and alternative medicine.
Topics in the conference to be imparted by respected alternative medicine advocates include, herbal medicine, chelation therapy, visualization, pain management, iridology, use of virgin coconut oil, tai chi, and cancer cure, among others.
Remnant Health Care Center based in Iloilo City has been tapped coordinator of the four-day event.