THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 19, 1996 TAG: 9607180138
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAM STARR, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 94 lines
Dr. Daniel Redwood isn't one in a million, but he is one in 52,000.
Out of the 52,000 doctors of chiropractic in the United States, Redwood was chosen by medical publisher Churchill Livingstone to write a chapter on chiropractic in a first-ever textbook on alternative medicine.
It marks a milestone in chiropractors' longtime efforts to be recognized by the medical profession as a legitimate part of patient care.
The book, ``Fundamentals of Complementary and Alternative Medicine,'' represents the first time a major medical textbook publisher has recognized alternative medicine, including chiropractic. Churchill Livingstone, publisher of ``Gray's Anatomy,'' is among the nation's top medical textbook companies. The new book in which Redwood's writings are featured was published in January and is already in use at medical schools such as the University of Virginia.
Redwood, whose practice is on Laskin Road, is no stranger to writing. His first book, ``A Time to Heal,'' was published in 1993 and he has written dozens of articles, book reviews and commentaries on alternative medicine. The textbook publisher was so pleased with Redwood's contribution that he was asked to write a textbook for chiropractic students. ``Contemporary Chiropractic'' is due for release in early 1997.
While Redwood said he is ``truly honored'' to be chosen for these two projects, he would rather talk about his profession than his personal achievements.
``Chiropractic is far more accepted now than when I entered practice in 1980,'' said the slightly-built Redwood, who has a full head of wavy gray hair and few lines on his 48-year-old face. ``The biggest change has been the creation of a solid scientific research base. It was realized that there was no way chiropractic could be integrated into mainstream medicine without clear research validation.
``It's very important for chiropractors to clearly distinguish between the proven, the probable and the speculative,'' he added. ``That's where chiropractic has gotten into trouble in the past - by blurring that distinction.''
Chiropractic used to be the black sheep of the health care world, dismissed by medical doctors as quackery. But rising health care costs, coupled with strong scientific evidence of chiropractic's effectiveness in treating chronic back pain, has given respect to this alternative treatment, Redwood said.
Medical doctors are now sending their patients to doctors of chiropractic. Insurance companies are covering all or part of their treatments.
``We are approaching 20 million Americans who are treated by chiropractors each year,'' Redwood said. He is on the board of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine and served as chiropractic adviser to WorldMed '96, a May conference on complementary medicine chaired by former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. ``I see a new health care emerging based on a healing partnership between doctor and patient, one in which doctors welcome questions from patients and take the time to go behind the immediate symptoms.
``I believe that all practitioners should emphasize good, natural nutrition, exercise and stress reduction methods like meditation,'' added Redwood, who has practiced yoga and meditation for 25 years and uses Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India. ``There is a tendency in conventional health care to rely on high-tech, high-cost procedures as methods of first resort rather than last. I believe that low-tech (prevention and self-care) needs to be the centerpiece.''
``Fundamentals of Complementary and Alternative Medicine'' covers chiropractic, homeopathy, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, osteopathy, Western herbalism and naturopathic medicine. Redwood was chosen to write about chiropractic because of the way he presents chiropractic, said editor Marc Micozzi, executive director of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Micozzi met Redwood in 1993 when Redwood spoke at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington, D.C., where Micozzi was the medical director.
``Dan is a thoughtful, serious healer who understands the art of medicine,'' Micozzi said. ``He has a very rigorous view of the evidence which supports chiropractic. And he's a very good writer, very responsible in meeting deadlines. I asked my top pick and he accepted.''
Micozzi said that this textbook is the first to give an overview of alternative health systems in a Western medical context. And the mainstream medical community, he added, has been very supportive about the textbook.
``The book is an exploration of the possibilities offered to us by alternative therapies,'' Micozzi said. ``It's not an insult to the medical profession - it's meant to be friendly for anyone with a healing orientation. It's the thinking person's guide to alternative medicine.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Dr. Daniel Redwood, whose practice is on Laskin Road, is no stranger
to writing. His first book, ``A Time to Heal,'' was published in
1993 and he has written dozens of articles, book reviews and
commentaries on alternative medicine.
Graphic
LEARN MORE
Redwood Chiropractic & Wellness, 1645 Laskin Road, will hold an
open house from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. The public is invited. Dr.
Daniel Redwood also will give a free talk on ``Ayurveda: Mind Body
Healing'' at 7:30 p.m. July 30. Registration is required for the
lecture. Call 491-4888.
KEYWORDS: CHIROPRACTOR by CNB