Vegetable - juice cure : a
case of victimising an alternative healer

The Nation Monday, March 2,1998

I am writing in response to the article in The Sunday Nation (Feb 22) concerning a local healer. I have never before responded to a newspaper article but really felt I must to this one, and I hope what I say may in some way clear this issue.

I am an American. I am also a certified acupuncture physician. As everyone agrees, America is a new country. Those of us in America who are referred to as the "alternative health-care practitioners" , as well as our patients, are often locking horns with the well- established Americal Medical Society. I have grown to expect such a battle in our new country but was saddened to hear of the similar situation in Thailand that your article so plainly points out.

Thailand has an ancient culture that is exceptionally rich in traditional medicines. The ancient arts of medical massage and herbal medicines are excellent examples of two of Thailand 's very powerful healing modalities. This is a legacy that Thailand should be very proud of and be honouring. Yet I fear that these healing arts are not only losing their acceptance but are being openly discredited in favour of (and often by) the Western medical model.

Do not get me wrong. I am not saying that "modern" medicine is unworthy and invaluable. It is miraculous in its abilities. But what I am saying is that Thailand 's traditional medicine is just as miraculous. What is more - and this is the most important point- there is room for both.

One must question why the government health authorities are taking such a biased position against this health-care practitioner, Rossukont Phumphanwong. Why has the Medical Council threatened this practitioner with legal action ?

Many patients have attested to the help that they received at her Baan Sukhaphap (Health House). Especially important to note is that many of them had been left with no remaining alternatives after having exhausted the conventional medical route. So what is wrong here ? People are being helped to healthy state. This is what a "doctor" is supposed to do.

The idea that the Ministry of Public Health felt it necessary to hold a press conference on how to drink vegetable juice safely would be laughable, except that its doing so is such a blatantly obvious effort to alarm people as well as to prejudice them against such a cure. If this press conference was done purely out of concern for the public's health and welfare, then why doesn't the ministry hold press conferences on the toxic effects of the over-the-counter and prescription drug use?

The article quoted many criticisms by Dr Banj as to the diagnostic techniques and treatments utilised by Rossukont in her treatments. Dr Banj 's lack of awareness of the diet, exercise and diagnostic techniques used by Rossukont does by no means prove that they are not valid, nor hat they are "ridiculous" as he so stated.

What it does show, and rather evidently, is his lack of know ledge in this field. For example, the ancient art of tongue diagnosis, which he ridiculed, has been used for 5,000 years and is still considered today a crucial part of medicine by the Chines. His statement about honey as dangerous shows just how hard he was scraping the bottom of the barrel to come up with some evidence to discredit her, Try to tell someone taking Western chemical drugs such as chemotherapy how dangerous honey is!

It seems to me thaqt this whole affair is an example of the big medical society trying to discredit anyone who is not one of their members. It is unfortunate that the general populace must be subjected to the tyranny of the "official" medical associations.

I agree that no one should practice health care without being properly trained. It appears from the article that Rossukont has the training necessary to practice at the level that she is practicing. I am not in agreement that she should, however, be practicing acupuncture ifr she has not been trained.

Dr Banjob stated that only 20 per cent of patient illnesses are actually physical. He suggests that Rossukont's patients are cured by their belief in the treatment. I don't believe that, nor do I feel that Sophon Sunsophon (done of Rossukont's patients) would. Sophon stated in the article that after five years and several operations he was informed by his doctor that his leg might need to be amputated. Now, since he is being treated by Rossukont, his leg is healing.

Of course, our beliefs can work miracles. It is because of this knowledge that medical doctors do give patients sugar placebo pills. Why are such placebo pills considered beneficial for the patient and yet a vegetable drink that has minerals, vitamins and other healing aids is being touted as useless and even harmful ?

The evidence speaks eloquently for itself in this case. There is a health-care practitioner who has helped 2,000 people and who has hurt no one. Yet she is nonetheless being targeted by the medical authorities. You be the judge as to why.