Weekly Comment 24 Oct 16: Complementary medicines and evidence
October 24, 2016
This week’s
contributor is
Carl Gibson,
CMA ceo.
THE high proportion of the
Australian population that uses
complementary medicines
(approximately 70 per cent) is
resulting in this increasingly
becoming a topic of discussion
amongst health care professionals.
One element of the discourse,
as indicated by the nature of the
questions raised in the recent
King Review discussion paper, is
that there are those who are quick
to make the blanket statement
that complementary medicines
aren’t supported by scientific
evidence. Not true. A quick search
of PubMed for any particular
popular herb will produce a
number of scientific studies linking
these phytotherapeutic agents to
research on a wide range of health
conditions. Many complementary
medicines have a robust evidence
base, with further analysis being
conducted on the cost effectiveness
of their use in preventative health
strategies. This is particularly the
case for major products like multi
vitamins, vitamin B and Omega-3
fatty acids, which together
account for about 50 per cent of
complementary medicines selected
for use in Australia. Healthcare
choices should be based as much
as possible on sound scientific
evidence and the fact remains
that all health disciplines need to
continue to expand their evidence
base. With continued investment in
complementary medicine research,
and the translation of evidence into
clinical practice and relevant policy,
the health of all Australians will
continue to benefit.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 24 Oct 16To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 24 Oct 16
