There are so many modalities by which people can be treated and healed. This is a central truism emerging in this issue, so elegantly put by Leon Chaitow in his column (page 19) and expressed throughout the bodywork and healing features. Dr J describes four case studies of eczema each requiring a totally different remedy, based upon each person's temperament, behaviour or physical symptoms. Even the research updates illustrate that treatments as diverse as Qigong and nutritional supplements can be effective for hypertension and heart disease.

One of the many reasons that complementary medicine seems to get the short end of the stick when it comes to money, recognition and validation, is that by espousing to care for the needs and aspirations of the whole person, rather than by simply fixing a particular physical or emotional ache or pain, the entire philosophy of wholism is out of sync with the prevailing political, economic and social climate with its emphasis upon rationalising budgets, value for money, and overpaying a few superstars at the expense of most everyone else.