JEDDAH, 7 January 2004 — There are many reasons why people both in the developed and the developing world look for alternative treatments for anything from hair loss to cancer. Some seek a return to traditional herbal medicine; others reject modern medicine in favor of spiritual healing or natural energy while others still try to complement modern medicine with acupuncture or chiropractics.
Many conventional doctors are suspicious of alternative and complementary methods because they have not been proven consistently effective; in fact, they say some methods can be detrimental to health. One concern is that few alternative healers are subject to the same regulations, scrutiny and accountability as mainstream medical practitioners.
“Herb and spice stores and all other alternative medicine clinics are not medically licensed by the Ministry of Health, and therefore they are not subject to any regulations or supervision,” said Dr. Ibrahim Al-Showayer, the director of medical and pharmaceutical licensing at the Ministry of Health.
Unlike many other countries that have regulations and licensing procedures from accredited institutions, Saudi Arabia requires only a registration license from the municipality for opening a clinic or store. Imported herbs are tested for quality on entry by the Ministry of Commerce, and locally grown herbs are subject to random tests. The stores selling the herbs, however, are not checked for how they are prescribed or for what purpose. The Ministry of Health only analyzes containerized supplements and herbs in the form of pills and capsules, which are sold in pharmacies with the ministry’s seal of approval.
The Council of Ministers recently decided to establish a Saudi FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) that would supervise and regulate all food and drug products — as well as herbs — related to public health, but it has not began its work yet, according to Dr. Al-Showayer.
Meanwhile, some herbalists and practitioners of alternative medicine interfere with physicians’ diagnoses and treatments — sometimes asking patients to stop taking medication or follow up on their therapy. Hospitals report health problems and even fatalities caused by the intake of herbal mixtures containing obscure ingredients and dangerous substances given by herbalists who are ignorant of the substances’ chemical properties.
“The Ministry of Health does not receive any complaints regarding these alternative medicine clinics because they are not licensed by the ministry,” said Dr. Al-Showayer. This means there are no statistics of the number of people who suffered under their care or any kind of investigations or reprimands enforced on the practitioners of alternative medicine.
Why do people seek out herbalists, alternative therapists and spiritual healers despite the risks and uncertainties associated with them? What should the government’s policy be toward them?
“Herbal medicine is the original medicine. It is being taught at universities and even medical colleges,” asserts Khaled Haddad, a herbalist from the Abazeer store and clinic. “Many people around the world use herbs, whether in a simple or complex form, because they have not benefited from modern medicine or have been harmed by it.”
He sees a struggle between traditional medicine and herbalists. “There are some quack herbalists who cause harm,” he admits, “which is why we need official regulations to protect the profession and certify institutions.”
Although he prescribes herbs for diseases including lupus, diabetes, asthma, skin problems, digestive problems, bone complaints, infertility and obstetrics, he acknowledges that herbs can’t cure everything and that he personally does not prescribe herbs for serious diseases such as cancer as some other alternative medicine practitioners do.
“People seek alternative medicine as a reaction to their discomfort or distrust in the current state of modern medicine,” said Dr. Muhammad Albar, an internal medicine consultant and expert on Islamic medicine. He criticized modern medicine for becoming a business, with a lack of medical ethics, especially given recent advances in infertility treatment and genetic engineering. “We cannot deny the many great achievements of modern medicine, but we have to be careful how far we go. There must be moral boundaries set by religion.”
Dr. Albar also points to what he considers the shortfalls of modern medicine. “There is negligence in the preventive side of medicine. Research shows that unhealthy lifestyles and diets cause 80 percent of most diseases. Modern medicine cannot solve these health problems unless people follow a healthy and ethical lifestyle, and this is what Islamic medicine is about.”
Misunderstood by people as an alternative to modern medicine and misused by some claiming to heal ailments with the Qur’an, Islamic medicine, explains Dr. Albar, is concerned with treating the human body as a whole, physically and spiritually. “Islam instills a holistic approach to health. It encourages people to be physically active, to eat healthy and behave morally.”
Dr. Albar believes some alternative medicines should be integrated within the health system and regulated.
