arcie Good Comba Writer DR. Chris Lam doesn’t want his patients going behind his back and vis- iting herbologists, homeopaths, or tradi- tional Chinese medicine practitioners. He wants to know up front, and he'll even make referrals. “1 stilt get lots of patients who tell me, ‘I don’t dare talk to my doctor about that’,” he said. “That unwillingness ‘(on the part of the doctor) i is really through ignorance.” The Victoria medical doc- tor, who also practises acupuncture, says many Ie are looking for different answers to their health prob- lems. Worried that their family doctors will scoff at the other therapies they have tried, they simply don’t tell them. That can lead to serious problems, -for example, if. certain herb is taken along with prescribed - drugs. Doctors should strive for 2 more integrated approach to health, Lam says, combining “the best of the West with the “best of the East.” ". ‘Towards that end, he spear- headed a program for medical students at the University of Foearueh eedaack promo: Stress reduction through and relaxation techniques. British C olumbia, With help from other doc- tors who belong to the Association of Complementary Physicians, he developed a clinical clerkship for fourth- year students. For one month, they spend time with doctors who practise therapies includ- ing acupuncture, homeopathy, orthomolecular —_s medicine, Ayuveda, traditional Chinese medicine and neural therapy. ‘Within the clerkship peri od, the student will observe eight different physicians. The program is the first of its kind at Canadian medical schools, but it is part of a slow acceptance of complementary therapies by university pro- grams. Of 16 medical schools in Canada, all but three offer at least some iessons on comple- mentary therapies. Last year was the first for the clerkship, in which six stu- dents participated. This year, five more will cake part. Dr. Lam received his med- ical degree and acupuncture taining in Canada, but has spent time in China studying traditional medicine and acupuncture. Going, to China, he said, was an “eye-opening experi- ence.” we teaod 16 ee way cf looking at illness and healing. Western medicine, he says, focuses on “killing the bug.” “When in doubt, cut it One- out,” he says. “It’s an aggres- sive approach. When you've eu! symptom, ve got a itl. P Eastern medicine, however, focuses more on treating the patient rather than treating the bug. With more emphasis on prevention and a more holistic approach, patients can take more of a role in their own health. While many of his own paticnts are becoming more interested in other therapies, Dr. Lam is frustrated that many family doctors are still unwilling to take them serious- “Ie’s wonderful that some Patients are so knowledgeable, t now they know more than their family doctor,” he said. “And understandably. Doctors are behind because they don’t have time to keep up with aif the new research, They” ve got enough on their plates.” The clerkship, he hopes, will make future doctors more accepting of other therapies. He wants to see 2 truly com- plementary medical system which offers plenty of treat- ment options, and in which the family doctor is “the cap- tain of the ship.” “Hopefully now, these doc- tors are not going to tell their patients, ‘Don’t bother me with Chinese medicine or, homeopathy or those kinds of things.’”” Stop ~ Reaching g for fitness ROSE Landry calle out instructions to her seniors stretch class ‘et the: Weat Vancouver Seniors’ Activity Centre. 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