When the Berlin Wall fell, physicians in the West realised that the Wall was not only a symbol of politics, but also a sign of the very different attitudes and practices of alternative medicine and other non-invasive medical techniques that were, at one time, literally laughed at in the West. But many who laughed never stopped to think that herbs, plants and other natural fauna go into over 50% of all prescription medicines. The major pharmaceutical firms of the world have research teams located in the most remote regions of the planet: in rain forests, jungles etc., searching for new botany that might become part of the recipe for the "newest" cancer or anti-HIV medicine.

Yet, the bottom line is money. Eventually, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) legalises many of the major herbs which are non-toxic and used in various healing arts, these same pharmaceutical companies that spend millions of dollars to lobby against these natural herbs today, will buy them once cleared and make them available by prescription only. The bottom line is C-A-S-H.

Alternative medicine and healing methods have been around for over 4,000 years. In the West, it is taken for granted that there is always something in tablet form that will help us get by or feel better. When I moved to Slovenia, I soon realised that the rest of the world just doesn’t pop a pill when they're not feeling 100% well. Luckily, attitudes are starting to change back home as well. In the U. S. many clinics, health centres and hospitals now have "therapeutic centres" attached that are considered "complimentary" to the hospital. These facilities offer acupuncture, yoga, bio-feeback and cigarette cessation programs. It’s really only within the last decade that American doctors have become more open to alternative methods of healing and sympathetic with their patients that use them. Western medicine is diametrically opposite of Eastern medicine which is rooted in preventative medicine.

Here in Ljubljana, there is a wide variety of alternative medications and practitioners of alternative medicine such as homeopathy. Whether it is deep tissue massage or primal therapy, this city has many things to choose from. As for myself, in my 8 year period living in Ljubljana, I’d become ill several times. For years I was a migraine sufferer and was one of the millions of "silent sufferers" who felt like half a human while enduring the pain of a migraine. A friend suggested an acupuncturist named Jani Osojnik. I can only tell you what I experienced; the treatment was painless and Jani, who had trained 8 years in China, explained every question I had asked about the condition. He's an incredibly amazing human being and oh so gentle with those needles!

There are also a wide variety of massage therapies in Ljubljana. Many places offer several different techniques depending on what your condition is and/or what the on site doctor has diagnosed. Any professional massage centre has trained staff and I have found that they truly believe in what they do. A long massage session can be very relaxing and healing, but can be a bit expensive. Of course there are to many to list, I suggest the phone book or ask around for the kind of "therapy" your interested in.

This country has always been open to "alternative "strategies", out of nesscesity. The terrain in many places, with small villages far apart, was partly responsible for the popularity of natural herbal remedies. In America if someone doesn’t feel well, 80% would reach for a tablet to hide the pain. I found the percentage of Slovenes who "don’t like pill" amazing… most have never thought about the idea of popping a pill to feel better. In Slovenia there is a centuries old tradition that prefers natural remedies handed verbally through generations that people rely on before going to a doctor.

Especially popular are the local toplices or spas that have been built up around natural thermal springs, attracting people from all over the word. At the beginning of the last century, Bled was famous for several doctors who prescribed sun and air baths. Rich tourists would come to get this cure, and for quite some time this was considered a legitimate therapy. Alternative healing methods, medicine and herbal remedies are nothing new here.

One can also find a variety forms of yoga and meditation - there are even some schools in this city that annually go to India. Accupressure is also a great relief for many, as well as "magnet therapy", which is becoming popular. Reiki, widely practiced both here and in the States, is based on visualising and sending out energy to those you feel need it. Out near the town of Logotec there was, for quite some time, a "Celtic priest" who would regularly drive down here from Germany and hold traditional Celtic and Native American sweat lodges. "White Magik" or Wicca can be found if one looks hard enough. If it becomes too difficult to decide - there is always religion and/or group prayer. Something we all could use is better knowledge about stress reduction. Whatever works for you: "go for it!"

In America, doctors have always been sceptical and suspicious about herbal medicines and alternative healing. Private practitioners were canonised and represented an elite status group, looked upon as infallible by patients who forgot that their doctors were just human and as prone to mistakes as anyone else. There were also other reasons why traditionally trained MD's tended to shun alternative methods and herbal treatments. Consider the fact that the pharmaceutical companies often supplied doctors with free samples. Also consider that when today's doctors were studying medicine, alternative medicines and healing were simply not part of their curriculum.

It was only at the beginning of the 90’s that classical MD's began to look at herbs and other treatments seriously. If the therapy that their patient wanted would at least enhance their mental attitude, most physicians let it be. Yet it is interesting to note that many pharmaceuticals made in the U.S. have herbs in the medicine as a base: i.e.: Valium has valerian root, which is sold over the counter here, but in America it is a prescribed medication.

In the U.S. herbs which are used in various therapies for healing come with a disclaimer that says something to the effect of: "this herb has not been tested…take at your own risk". Moreover, they are classified as dietary supplements. While herbal medicines are quite common in Europe and widely available, in the States, most alternative medications face strictly controlled studies and are, for the most part, scrutinised and face impassable testing procedures. It is also true that consumers have only recently chosen to learn more about the herbal medicines that they are taking and about possible interactions that they may have with traditional medication and other herbs. Sadly, many who turn to the alternative route still know little about what they are taking and usually they have begun a herbal therapy or other form of treatment because of "word of mouth".

Unfortunately, some herbal remedies develop mainly as "fads" - for example, several years ago there were articles about St. John's Wort in medical journals and alternative presses claiming that a common weed found almost anywhere in the U.S. could be a "natural" anti-depressant. The word spread like wild fire and many folks just stopped using their prescribed drugs - it is dangerous to just cease taking a medication like an anti-depressant). After several months more and more stories turned up in the newspapers questioning the dependency on this natural anti-depressant. There were more than a couple of cases in which patients who began medicating themselves with St. John's Wort found themselves in very severe emotional states.

Taking or deciding upon alternative methods for healing started long ago and the main philosophy is "self-care" and being responsible for your body and health, not just letting a doctor or the latest fad blindly determine what course of action you will follow. Most herbs and alternative methods are used in order to help eliminate a specific illness, and with the hope that the combination of traditional medicine and alternative methods will enhance healing. Often alternative healing methods are "integrative" therapies and based on "self-care" and preventing the problem from recurring. This also means the practitioner relies on the patient's emotional, physical and other aspects for curing their disease.

Most classically trained MD's focus strictly on the immediate problem that is disrupting the patients life: a gallbladder can be taken out, just as we are told that our spleens aren’t important, yet they are vital for filtering toxins in our bodies. By the early 90’s a large number of traditionally trained MD's began to take the alternative methods more seriously as they became aware of the growing numbers of their own patients who supplemented traditional medicine with herbal remedies. Herbal medicines are quite common in Europe and often are the first line of treatment before chemical remedies. Here at the open market in Ljubljana, there are two stalls that sell herbs and often will read a doctor's prescription and mix the proper herbs for an infusion tea or other method for administering the herbs.

One thing to remember is that if you begin a treatment with herbal remedies or an alternative method, you should always discuss this first with your doctor. Needless to say, if you are pregnant or on many prescribed medications, consult your doctor before starting any form of natural therapy. Again, self-education is a major factor because some herbal treatments can not be given to patients with specific illnesses. People with liver problems or disease should not go near chaparral. There are endless examples of herbs that can contradict health conditions - thus it is your responsibility to learn about whatever you decide to put into your body.

The usage and popularity of alternative healing methods and herbal remedies has grown exponentially despite the medical tradition’s negative bias. Yet, these MD's have a valid reason to be truly concerned because of the lack of standardisation from brand to brand, plus the fact that there are so few regulations regarding certain practices and herbs, and the fact that there is no guarantee that you are getting the proper dose of the herbal remedy you choose. The key to any thing that deals with your body and health is to know as much as possible about your self, your health and your choice of treatment beforehand. It is your body and your responsibility.

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