Advance Access Publication 20 June 2006 eCAM 2006;3(4)549–550
doi:10.1093/ecam/nel039
Congress Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Clinical Practice.Complementary and Allopathic Medicine: The Hospitalas a Place of Possible Integration
December 2–3, 2005, Conference Room, S. Carlo Borromeo Hospital, Milan
Francesco Marotta
Hepato-Gastroenterology Unit, S. Giuseppe Hospital, Milano, Italy
This congress was organized by the Psycho-Somatic Medicine
outpatient clinic of S. Carlo Borromeo’s Hospital in Milan, and
S.I.R.I.U.M. (International Society for Research, Integration
and Humanization in Medicine) to promote knowledge about
CAM within S. Carlo Borromeo Hospital and other health
centers.
CAM was introduced in Lombardia with a regional council
resolution in 2000. In his opening speech, Dr Umberto
Fazzone (General Manager of Direzione Famiglia e Solidarieta
Sociale, Lombardia’s Regional Council) recounted the stages
of the resolution and reported the progress of the past 5 years.
The first step was the observation and evaluation of CAM
techniques, informing how some projects for observational
trials were drafted through Lombardia’s health and social net,
to arrive at a characterization of all CAM modalities such as
Acupuncture, Phytotherapy, Ayurvedic medicine, Anthropo-
sophic medicine, Homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine,
Homotoxicology, Osteopathy and Chiropractic medicine.
At present, after observational trials were approved in 2000
(99, 42 ended), 126 have been deemed eligible to receive
support loans from the Regional Council to conduct clinical
trials as provided in the 2003 resolution.
Next, there was a discussion by the members of the Clinic
of Psycho-Somatic Medicine: Dr Luisa Merati (Chief of the
Centre) explained the kinds of CAM they practiced (Hypno-
sis therapy, Homeopathy, Homotoxicology, Bach Flower
therapy, Acupuncture, Reflex therapy and Reiki); she also
expounded the results of an observational trial: ‘Hypnosis as
a CAM practice for tabagism and obesity’. Dr Flavia
Barbagelata (Hypnotist, Allergologist) introduced hypnosis
in allergology as an integrated therapy at Complementary
Medicine Practice (CMP); at the end Dr Barbara Mantellini
(Psychosomathist, Homeopathy) explained the final results of
an Observational trial about the use of homeopathy to treat
headache.
The speakers from S. Carlo Borromeo’s Hospital are as
follows: Dr Giuseppe Cammarano (Health Chief) discussed
Ethical Committee’s rule toward CAM. Dr Maurizio Poli
(Chief of the Department of Internal Medicine I) discussed
his experience in a department of internal medicine with a
CMP. Dr Damiano Abbate (Acupuncture) put forward his
experience at the Pain Centre; Dr Alberto Vignati (Gynecolo-
gist) showed the trial results using acupuncture in footing
presentation; Dr Antonino Lania (Physiatrist) discussed anal-
gesic homeo-mesotherapy. Dr Donatella Noe (Nutritionist)
introduced the features of personalized nutritional therapy;
Dr Antonino Giordano (Nephrologist, Homeopathy) discussed
about the introduction of homeopathy/homotoxicology in a
department of nephrology. Dr Elena Gandini (Anaesthetist,
Hypnotist, Homeopathy) in her speech proposed an integration
between homotoxicology and Bach Flower therapy;
Dr Manuela Posca (Internist) compared Western semiotics
and Traditional Chinese Medical semiotics; Dr Patrizio
Piacentini (Hospital’s Chemist) examined the cost of CAM’s
drugs; and at the end, Dr Piero Vigorelli (Psychiatrist)
discussed speech therapy for Alzheimer’s disease.
Among the non-resident speakers, Prof. Emilio
Minelli (Homeopathy, Acupuncture, University of Milan,
S.I.R.I.U.M.’s President) discussed acupuncture education at
the University. Dr Leonello Milani (Homotoxicology, Homeo-
pathy, AIOT’s Vice-President, Milan) explored the historical
For reprints and all correspondence: Francesco Marotta, Consultant inGastroenterology, Consulting Professor of Nutraceutics, WHO-Centre for Nat.Med & Biotechnology, University of Milano and of Biogerontology, UrologyDepartment, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]
� The Author (2006). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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and methodological pathways of clinical-experimental trials,
underscoring how it was possible to demonstrate the thera-
peutic effects of homeopathic drugs. Dr Alberto Laffranchi
(Radiologist, Homeopathy, National Institute for Research
and Treatment of Cancer, Milan) discussed the results of a
trial employing homeopathic drugs against radiotherapy
complications; Dr Maurizio Italiano (Homeopathy, Dulcamara
School, Genoa, Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital) brought
his experience in one of the most important homeopathic
hospitals, the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital. Dr Mauro
Saruggia (Homeopathy, S. Gerardo hospital, Monza)
explained a hypothesis about how ultra-high doses work in a
trial on thermo luminescence. Prof. Francesco Marotta
(Gastroenterologist) and Dr Aldo Lorenzetti (Hepatologist)
discussed new promising areas where such biotherapeutic
approaches may be a better way to treat chronic diseases
such as inflammatory bowel diseases, chronic arthritis and
liver disease. This would be true for subclinical disorders,
aggravating factors and for aging itself. Prof. Emilio Del
Giudice (Physicist) introduced the connections between
physics and medicine and possible ultramolecular interactions
of homeopathic drug action.
Dr Mara Ramploud (CAM commission at Ordine dei
Medici, Milan, S.I.R.I.U.M.’s national secretary) ended the
congress with remarks on the integration of complementary
and allopathic medicine. Although the weather conditions
were bad, with snow on Friday evening, the congress enjoyed
much success and the physicians attending it were eagerly
interested in CAM’s diffusion and development. This demon-
strates the necessity of a thorough permeation of CAM at
the hospital level and the possibility of integration with
allopathic care. All the participants agreed that CAM is not in
opposition to allopathic medicine but is an instrument to
empower patients to heal. The meeting concluded with strong
confidence that it would be the first of a series of meetings
to exchange ideas and results of trials.
550 Physician attitudes and knowledge about CAM
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