President ’ s Report
Peter Berryman | ATMS President
Is mechanistic medicine the only kind that really works ? Since the late nineteenth century , materialism has been taken for granted as the dominant philosophy of a scientific world view . The central assumption of materialism is that everything is essentially physical , even the thoughts in our mind . A lifestyle preoccupied with gathering material wealth and possessions is an everyday experience of materialism , in contrast to the existence of alternative intangible goals and the potential of a spiritual reality .
I attended an ANZAC Day dawn service , praying for world peace , especially in the Ukraine . So , who did I think I was really talking to in my mind ? We have recently had floods , we still have a pandemic , and before that - bushfires and even hailstorms , not to mention cyclones and shark attacks . Do you know of anyone who might have prayed during any of these calamities ? Not the materialists . In my opinion , this philosophy is currently the greatest hurdle to human progress , hindering the curiosity of scientists and having a grave impact on our profession as natural medicine practitioners . Materialism is why we can no longer prescribe medicinal plants containing any amygdalin ( also known as laetrile , hydrocyanic acid , or “ vitamin B17 ”), such as an extract of Wild Cherry Bark ( Prunus serotina ). Traditional plant medicines containing even as little as one part per million of amygdalin are now banned . So , if you have been in the habit of eating your apple cores , including the seeds , you are now deemed to be at risk of being poisoned by the naturally occurring amygdalin that the seeds contain . And let ’ s just not mention the deliciousness of marzipan cake icing made from almond kernels , yet seventy percent of modern drugs are derived from natural plant sources .
It was the historical “ Father ” of pharmacy , who took the name of Paracelsus ( also known as Philipus Aureolius Bombastus von Hohenheim , 1493 - 1541 ) who is credited with saying “ sola dosis facit venenum ” ( or “ the dose makes the poison ”). All substances are capable of being toxic if administered in a sufficient dose . Fifty cups of real coffee consumed in one hour is lethal . Ten litres of water consumed in ten minutes – lethal . Two kilograms of glucose consumed in thirty minutes – lethal . Fifty apricot kernels consumed in one hour – lethal . Nothing is absolutely safe , or completely free of risk . This led Hippocrates of Kos ( 460-370 BC ), the “ Father ” of medicine , to proclaim , about the challenge in practising the art of medicine , that “ Life is short , Art is long , the opportunity fleeting , experience is treacherous , and the decision difficult …”
So how then are we to practise medicine ? We can thank materialism for the successful technological advances that have been made in medicine over the last century , though science will have its next revolution when it is liberated from this dogma that now hinders it : its exclusive focus on chemical and surgical methods to the exclusion of all else . In developed countries , the current disease burden focusses more on chronic conditions than acute ones , and is frequently based on lifestyle-induced problems , like the obesity epidemic . Clients with these difficult chronic conditions are increasingly likely to consult a natural medicine practitioner , partly because of initiatives like ATMS ’ s promotion of Natural Medicine Week during 23-29 May 2022 and our latest Work Force Survey that demonstrated increasing public awareness of the extended time we spend with clients , the holistic integration involved in our case analysis , and the implicit safety of our suggested interventions ( not to mention our excellent success rates too ). Comparative effectiveness research compares different therapeutic methods to find out what works the best and is the most cost-effective . This research could lead to a genuine evidence-based system of medicine that could include any of our therapies , even if they do not fit with an exclusively materialistic belief system . Such a truly integrative and inclusive medical system could work better , cost less , and empower people to lead healthier lives .
Always in your service …
Peter Berryman President
JATMS | Winter 2022 | 65