CAIRO: A medical researcher is warning against medical tips given on some TV satellite channels by those who claim to be medical specialists. She stressed that many people who followed programs on alternative or complementary medicine, suffered negative consequences as a result of unguided treatment. Dr Nevin Helmy Ahmed of the Complementary Medicine Research Department at the National Research Center pointed out that doctors are dubious about the advice dished out by personalities on satellite channels. Many of these so-called "experts are not graduates of medical schools. She has the same concern about fatwas (religious edicts) doled out by unspecialized persons on the same stations. Many of them are adding the title doctor to their names simply because they own or manage a medical center, said Ahmed. The fact that they keep appearing on these satellite channels has made people attach a lot of credence to their statements. Ahmed explained: When speaking about alternative medicine, they offer magic recipes, telling people these recipes can replace traditional medicine. And to cap it off, they claim the recipes would completely cure certain illnesses. Regrettably, people believe them, not knowing that in time they will suffer side-effects and many other health problems. The researcher also shuddered at the adverts that promote many different natural products which claim to eliminate some illnesses. I am shocked to see some commercials saying farewell to insulin or others which highlight obesity belts that would enable fat people to do without diets and exercise, explained Ahmed. All this is sheer illusion and could do more harm than benefit. Many diabetics who ignored traditional medicine and turned to these products have either died or had part of their bodies amputated as a result of a dramatic rise in their blood sugar level. Alternative or complementary medicine as it should be properly referred to, she says, is the medical heritage of ancient civilizations. "It should be used only to supplement traditional medicine, Ahmed said. We aren t against natural products that would remedy chronic illnesses, but we are just in need of restrictions so that those products are released only by permission from the Ministry of Health. The Complementary Medicine Research Department was established at the National Research Center three years ago. It was set up to study the possibilities offered by complementary medicine and the techniques that can be used to get the maximum benefit from it. The department evaluates these techniques in accordance with studies which follow guidelines set by the World Health Organization. The department is staffed by specialists of all kinds. Some of these [staff] have undertaken training in the different branches of complementary medicine like acupuncture, ozone treatment, herbal medicine, oil treatment, just to mention a few, continued Ahmed. Since a specialized staff is now available, the center will be able to tell if research conducted on a new complementary technique is sufficient, or requires more examination. There are 200 branches of complementary medicine that are currently known. But following recent medical advancement, where breathtaking methods have been used to isolate bacteria and viruses and invent antibiotics and vaccines, specialists find it implausible to return to ancient remedies. However, other groups in the medical field have warned against ignoring complementary medicine altogether. They underline that it should be properly researched before using it in the treatment of chronic diseases, some of which continue to present a challenge to modern medicine.
