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A royal pain

The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence 227 years ago this week, but the war for independence raged for another 5 long years. Since then our relations with England have improved noticeably. In fact, we get along quite well these days – being jolly good sports about letting bygones be bygones and all that.

But 11 score and 7 years later there’s a new struggle underway – a struggle not so much for independence as for the worldwide recognition and acceptance of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). And among the most vocal and high profile leaders in this fight for acceptance is the man who may still yet be King of England one day.

 

 

Tabloid headlines & CAM

 

I’ve never been a royal watcher. I even took a pass on waking up at 5 a.m. to watch the famous wedding all those years ago. But now, something from the Royals has finally caught my eye. To be honest, I had no idea that CAM was a cause near and dear to Prince Charles. I’ve seen myriad headlines about whether his Mum will meet his girlfriend, but it wasn’t until about a month ago that I read he had recently launched an initiative to include complementary medicine on Britain’s National Health Service (NHS). Writing in London’s “Daily Mail,” the Prince said, “Rather than choosing either complementary and alternative therapies or orthodox medicine, people want to integrate both. Tragically, that is not always possible. Most consultations with therapists are private and beyond the pocket of many patients.”

The Prince backed up his claim with research that showed 126 million (about US$1.88 million) was spent by Britons last year on herbal medicines alone, while 10% of the population had consulted with a practitioner of complementary therapy. Even more amazing is the fact that England’s 36,000 general practitioners are now well outnumbered by the estimated 50,000 alternative medicine practitioners.

And it appears that the Prince is not just a figurehead in this initiative. The Foundation for Integrated Medicine was established six years ago with 2 million from Prince Charles (a generous bequest, although not “beyond his pocket” at all). And in January, 2000, he announced that FIM had established an information database and resource center for practitioners who want to develop integrated services.

 

There will always be an England
It’s hard to come up with an American analogy for what Prince Charles is doing. We don’t have royalty, of course (we took a pass on that system 227 years ago), so try to imagine an American with so much authority that if he suggested a plan, for instance, to include alternative medicine in Medicare coverage, his ideas would be treated with consideration and respect by the White House and Congress. It’s inconceivable. Anyone who attempted that would be laughed out of Washington. The pharmaceutical and insurance lobbyists would run him out of town on a rail.

Like the American Colonists of the 18th century, the independent spirits who are the practitioners, researchers and proponents of complementary and alternative medicine will tirelessly continue the struggle to be recognized and accepted. I believe we’re lucky to have someone like Charles on our side – someone with clout who’s willing to be a royal pain to the powers that be.

 

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute

Sources:
“UK’s Prince Charles Urges Free Alternative Therapy” Reuters, May, 2002
“Charles Helps to Build ‘New Age’ Hospital” London Times, August, 2002
“Prince Calls for Alternative Research” BBC News, December, 2000
“Alternative Medicine Should be Available to all on the NHS”
Commentary by Prince Charles, Daily Mail, January, 2000

 

Copyright 1997-2002 by Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C.

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