At the conference, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III dished out this prescription: "The poor and the rich should be able to access the same quality and level of care. Alternative health care modalities are safe, effective, but most importantly are accessible to all."
It’s a bitter pill to swallow that many a Filipino family can’t afford the cost of mainstream conventional medicine/health care, also called western medicine. That is, even if health care costs locally are much lower vis-a-vis those in the US and other countries of the First World.
"Under the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act of 1997, it is the clear policy of the state to accelerate the development of traditional and alternative health and to integrate it into the national health care delivery system," Duque noted.
Likewise, under the Act, licensed doctors are allowed to practice affordable, safe, effective, and evidence-based alternative medicine using natural remedies without fear of government persecution.
Secretary Duque pointed out that the law encourages the development of the country’s medicinal plant resources and the establishment of well-being clinics and health spas. Today, the government runs four herbal processing plants located in Tuguegarao, Tacloban, Davao, and Cotabato. The plants churn out a wide assortment of herbal products: herbal tablets, herbal teas, herbal soaps, and herbal ointment. Name it, they probably herb it.
These herbal plants are in the thick of producing sambong and lagundi. Sambong, an excellent diuretic, helps in dissolving kidney stones and curing urinary tract infection. On the other hand, lagundi is used to treat fever, asthma, cough, and bronchitis.
"Sometimes, you don’t have to look far to cure an illness," said Dr. Carmencita Yap, PCAM president. "Like, there’s garlic to help lower high blood pressure."
Duque elaborated, "Alternative medicine is not limited to acupuncture, massage or meditation. Rather, it is a comprehensive, holistic form of treatment."
Preventive alternative care options include Lamaze Birthing to prevent complications during childbirth. This method has been adopted by hospital-based medical practitioners. Then there are diagnostic options like the Navarro Beta hCG Urine Cancer Test, which can detect the presence of cancer three to four years before any physical symptom appears.
However, Secretary Duque was quick to add, "The law does not mean or intend to replace conventional medicine with alternative medicine. "
It is meant to allow alternative and conventional medicine to co-exist, and offer patients – especially the poor – a ray of hope in these seemingly hopeless times.
A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within three hours, he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke – totally. He says the trick is getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and getting to the patient within three hours, which may be tough.
The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now, doctors say even a bystander can recognize a stroke through these three simple procedures:
• Ask the victim to SMILE.
• Ask him/her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
• Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE. (Coherently – like, "It is sunny out today.") If he/she has any or all of these symptoms, call your city’s emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness, and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association’s annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of a stroke, and prevent brain damage.