Alternative medicine into the mainstream<\/p>\n
Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The growing popularity of alternative medicine can be
\nattributed in part to an underlying distrust in what conventional
\nmedicine here has to offer.<\/p>\n
It also has something to do with our cultural beliefs in
\nmysticism and the supernatural.<\/p>\n
Many people, even those caught up in a thoroughly modern
\nlifestyle in urban Jakarta, have come to believe in the claims of
\nalternative medical practitioners.<\/p>\n
Young and old are seeking out alternative medical therapists
\nto cure what ails them -- and their confidence in the programs
\nmay be integral to whether they work.<\/p>\n
A private company employee, "Dini", chose to visit an
\nacupuncturist to treat her ulcers after a doctor told her she
\nwould need a diagnostic endoscopy at a cost of Rp 800,000.<\/p>\n
"My mom and I only spent Rp 150,000 for one acupuncture
\ntreatment. I don't know if the acupuncture has healed me but I
\nfeel better," she said, adding that she had always been skeptical
\nof the advice of doctors.<\/p>\n
Her colleague, "Bertha", also went to an acupuncturist to lose
\nweight. She has lost seven kilograms after several meetings, each
\ncosting her Rp 250,000.<\/p>\n
"The effect is I've really lost my appetite to eat. Besides
\nthis acupuncture, I also have to follow a diet suggested by my
\nacupuncturist," she said.<\/p>\n
The term alternative medicine is a misnomer in this country,
\nwhere people have long relied on traditional healing methods even
\nafter the advent of western medicine. Now, however, it has become
\npart of the mainstream in modern society.<\/p>\n
Newspaper classifieds are crammed with services, from
\nacupuncturists to metaphysical practitioners claiming to be able
\nto transfer diseases from patients to animals or objects. There
\nare many book titles and several TV shows on the topic.<\/p>\n
The practitioners do not keep their claims to simple medical
\ndisorders, with some boasting they can cure HIV\/AIDS or cancer.<\/p>\n
Mardan Sadzali runs an ad claiming that he can cure drug
\naddiction, mental illness, epilepsy, diabetes, stroke, coronary
\nheart disease, infertility, hypertension and even Parkinson's.<\/p>\n
"Father's efforts will only work if the people believe in him.
\nIf it's just a test, it will be useless," his wife, Wahidyah,
\nsaid, speaking for her husband who cannot be disturbed except for
\ntreatments.<\/p>\n
At his practice in Bekasi on the outskirts of Jakarta, Mardan
\nonly uses prayer and water in the healing process, which his wife
\nsaid was a God-given gift. After he has prayed over the water,
\npatients are instructed to drink the liquid.<\/p>\n
For each type of ailment, the course of treatment is 10
\nvisits, with each treatment costing Rp 300,000.<\/p>\n
"Trust me, our intention is only to help people. It is God who
\nheals them," Wahidyah said, adding patients ranged from
\nhousewives to business executives and Army officers.<\/p>\n
But the popularity of the treatment and the potential to make
\nmoney from people desperate to find a cure inevitably attracts
\nquacks.<\/p>\n
The health ministry's director general of community health,
\nAzrul Azwar, acknowledged there were now many alternative healers
\nmaking false claims.<\/p>\n
But he argued that the ministry could not police those
\npractitioners claiming supernatural powers.<\/p>\n
"For treatments based on the supernatural, that is beyond the
\nhealth ministry's jurisdiction to handle ... we have asked the
\npublic not to go to such practitioners but who can stop them?<\/p>\n
"Those who are terminally ill and have lost all hope with
\nconventional medicine will turn to such practices."<\/p>\n
Azrul said the problem with Indonesian traditional treatment
\nwas there was no clear concept of the health aspects -- all
\nillness is considered caused by supernatural mistakes.<\/p>\n
"If you're sick it is because you have just disturbed a sacred
\nobject. Unlike in other countries such as China and Korea with
\nthe yin and yang concept, and India with Ayurveda."<\/p>\n
The ministry argues it is hard to clamp down on the charlatans
\nbecause patients are reluctant to come forward with complaints.<\/p>\n
"I can understand victims of such practices will feel ashamed
\nto report cases because they are victims of fraud. We can't do
\nanything about it. If the practices cause deaths, it is the task
\nof law enforcers to deal with it."<\/p>\n
Ultimately, the "success" of the treatment may have a lot to
\ndo with mind over matter, psychiatrist Danardi Sosrosumihardjo
\nfrom Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital said.<\/p>\n
Many of the people who resort to the treatment have a highly
\nsuggestible personality type, he said.<\/p>\n
"These people are easily influenced. Medically, it's the
\nplacebo effect."<\/p>\n
Those people were easily convinced by the presence of an
\nofficial sounding prescription, the figures of "doctor" and
\ntreatments, so they would believe they are better, Danardi said.<\/p>\n
"These kind of people are usually those who lack self-
\nconfidence and are immature in terms of psychological
\ndevelopment," he said, adding the type was shaped by the pattern
\nof childhood upbringing.<\/p>\n
Although some firmly believe that alternative therapy works
\nfor them, Danardi cautioned others to discontinue treatment if it
\ndid not bring the desired results.<\/p>\n
"One has to be able to stop once there is no efficacy shown
\nand too much money has been spent. Just be rational," he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/alternative-medicine-into-the-mainstream-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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