How to talk to My Health Care Provider about Alternative Medicine

We all agree that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is nothing new to North Americans. Do you also agree that we are not utilizing CAM sufficiently enough?

How to talk to your Health Care Provider about CAM

Key Points!

• Ask your health care provider how he/she feels about complementary and alternative medicine
• If you find out that your health care provider doesn’t support CAM – you need to find yourself a new, more advanced health care provider even if you have been with your current doctor for years or decades.
• Once you both agree about complementary and alternative medicine you can move forward and tell him/her about all the supplements and therapies you’re incorporating into your own health management. Give him/her a list of all the supplements and the amount that you are taking so if there is a interaction or allergic reaction he/she can address that issue promptly.
• Be proactive! Don’t just sit on your bum and wait for your health care provider to first bring up CAM!
• Be  prepared! Go see your HCP (Health Care Provider) with a note pad. Make sure you put all your questions and key points on paper. You only have a couple of minutes at the time to chat with your HCP, so be prepared with questions ahead of time and note all his/her answers

Why do I need to tell my health care provider about the alternative treatments I’m considering?

1. Some herbal supplements, acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation and other CAM treatments could have an affect on the medication you are taking. It is vital that you inform your HCP about all CAM practices.
2. If one of the treatments work for you and you do feel more energetic, you can go back to your HCP and discuss and evaluate the positive outcome. With that information your HCP might suggest your successful treatment and approach to other of his patients.
3. Your research and involvement in your own health will make you more powerful and more involved.

What could be some important points to note on your list for the HCP

• My reason to take the supplements
• The research I have done
• Is it safe to take and how will the supplements interact with my current medication
• Will I have to reduce my current medication
• Is there something else I could try
• Do I need to do more research or ask somebody else

If you are not a fast writer you could take a tape recorder with you. Some newer phones have voice recording as well. Let the conversation with your HCP play out and listen back to it at home. If your HCP doesn’t have the answer to your question he/she will direct you to another HCP or a source on the internet that could help you with your answer.

Be proactive and take control of your own Health!

Stay Healthy!

Monika Baechler

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