HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kuruppuarachchi, K. A. L. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Kuruppuarachchi, K. A. L. A.

Surely you take complementary and alternative medicines?

Professor of Psychiatry, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka

The article ‘Surely you take complementary and alternative medicines?’ (Psychiatric Bulletin, February 2004, 28, 36-39) has been read with much interest. The content of the article is highly relevant to developing countries as many patients seek complementary and alternative medicines for a variety of illnesses, particularly for long-standing problems including psychiatric disorders. Many patients and their relatives seem to go for alternative therapies in addition to Western medicine. For instance, a study done with regard to puerperal mental disorders in Sri Lanka demonstrated that up to 80% of patients were seeking alternative or complementary medicines in addition to conventional ones (further details available from the author upon request).

It is noteworthy that many herbal preparations seem to contain cannabis, and sometimes alcohol, in addition to the other chemicals. Certainly these substances can precipitate psychiatric disorders or exacerbate existing symptoms. The other important issue, as correctly mentioned in the article, is their potential dangerous drug interactions with prescribed medicines.

Many patients appear to have a good rapport with traditional healers and people who practise complementary and alternative medicine in our countries. Hence, those of us who practise Western medicine must be aware of this important issue and deal with it tactfully and effectively. Undergraduate and post-graduate medical curricula must be strengthened with regard to this in order to improve the awareness among doctors.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kuruppuarachchi, K. A. L. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Kuruppuarachchi, K. A. L. A.