The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7330 p880
18/25 December 2004

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· Dispensing
· Levothyroxine
· CAM
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· CPD (2)
· The Society (2)
· The register (5)
· Retention fee (7)

Letters to the Editor

CAM

I know enough to know I don’t believe it

From Mr C. Morris, MRPharmS

In his Broad spectrum article on complementary and alternative medicine (PJ, 11 December, p848), Mike Price mentions taking a holistic approach. Have any studies been done to test the efficacy of prescribers spending more time with their patients and supplying conventional medicines? If not, maybe this is an area of study that needs exploring; maybe a holistic approach to conventional medication would improve patient outcomes. Maybe this is the answer to the powerful placebo effect.

I disagree with Mr Price’s statement that “pharmacists should ask whether their knowledge is sufficient [regarding giving advice on CAM] and if it is not, to recognise the training gap”. I do not supply advice on CAM. I do not know enough to do this but I consider that I know enough to know that I do not believe it is a sensible treatment.

I have always taken the stance that if someone told me that for years they have jumped in the River Exe every morning and eaten a pound of mud from the river bed to treat their sciatica and it does them the world of good I would be loath to talk them out of doing it — but I would not recommend that course of action to everyone who complained of sciatica.

I do have a knowledge gap regarding CAM but I consider it the same as my knowledge gap of cold fusion or contacting the dead: I believe I know enough not to waste any more time on it.

Chris Morris
Newquay, Cornwall

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