Complementary medicine and medical education: teaching complementary medicine offers a way of making teaching more holistic

British Medical Journal, Jan 20, 2001 by Brian M Berman

We know from research that people are drawn to complementary and alternative therapy mostly out of a desire for a more humanistic, "holistic" approach.[9 10] Medical education should re-examine the emphasis it places on the importance of the integration of mind, body, and spirit and acknowledge the role of social, cultural, and environmental influences and the power of self care and healing. Healthcare professionals, patients, and our healthcare system can only benefit if medical education bridges the gap with complementary and alternative therapy.

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Brian M Berman professor of family medicine and director

Complementary Medicine Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2200 Kernan Drive, Baltimore, MD 21207 (bberman@compmed.ummc.umaryland.edu)