Does Center Need Millions to Study Alternative Treatments?

I was in shock when I read “Finally, Science Weighs In” (March 18). The new head of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine indicates that he plans to study unconventional medicine using scientific methods.

The center, which he heads, has already been in existence for 10 years and has spent millions of dollars doing this but to date has not proven the efficacy or value of even one alternative treatment.

When a treatment that appears to be of value does surface, medical scientists study it using scientific methods and, if it proves to be of value, it’s added to the physicians’ medical armament.

Most alternative treatment methods have proved to be totally useless, and sometimes harmful, especially if using them delays the use of evidence-based conventional treatment.

DR. MELVIN H. KIRSCHNER

Van Nuys