While many doctors remain suspicious of natural medicine, a growing number now accept that there are compelling alternatives to leading drugs that are supported by just as much scientific evidence, without the nasty side effects, says one leading player in integrative medicine.

Dr Tieraona Low Dog is a clinical associate professor of medicine at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and has a doctor of medicine degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

Speaking at an event in Salt Lake Cityorganized by the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) to celebrate its 20-year anniversary, she admitted that many of her colleagues in the medical profession are still dismissive of alternative or even integrative medicine.

She also acknowledged that unscrupulous firms peddling snake oil to fight cancer have not helped the dietary supplements industry tackle negative perceptions.

The bottom line: Does it work?

However, a growing number of doctors now recognized that pitting conventional versus natural/traditional medicine is unhelpful, she said.

It is also illogical given that many conventional drugs are sourced from plants, or are synthetic analogs of compounds found in plants, she said.

Patients, meanwhile, just want products that work, that have strong science behind them, and don't come with costs - in the form of unwelcome side effects - that outweigh the benefits, she said.

If there is evidence behind it and it is safe, I dont care if it comes from Pfizer, a supplement manufacturer or the end of an acupuncturists needle.

Its not a case of either or. Conventional medicine can work alongside traditional medicine and dietary supplements.

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Is it time to move beyond conventional ‘vs’ natural medicine?