The Role Of Complimentary Or Alternative Medicine For Scorpion Stings

In Southern Africa, the occurrence of high risk species of scorpion, is closely aligned with rural areas that often have little or no medical facilities. In these areas, traditional healers are a culturally significant, trusted and much valued service within the community. In more affluent, urban areas, for example, homoeopathy and naturopathy plays a similar role in within those areas, serving a different kind of client. 

They are often the first person that the patient will seek assistance from. They are available, often close at hand, well known in the community and are in a position to provide guidance to someone in need.

In the case of class 1 and 2 symptoms, the assistance of these practitioners is vital for strengthening cultural bonds and as well maintaining community structures. However, class 3 or 4 symptoms are way outside of the capabilities of complementary and alternative medicine, delaying vital treatment can be detrimental to the patient, prolong recovery, increase medical costs and rare instances, result in the death of the patient. 

However, as close and respected member of the community, these practitioners have an important role to play in an emergency.

It is in the best interest of the patient that practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine have the capacity to recognise the limits of their influence, be able to identify circumstances that are beyond their ability to treat the patient, and redirect the patient to a professional medical facility. Time to treatment is important in preventing class 3 symptoms developing into class 4 symptoms. 

There is no doubt that complementary and alternative medicine practitioners have an important role to play in scorpion sting first response, however with no natural or alternative equivalent for medical science and antivenom that are so vital for effective treating class 3 or 4 symptoms, the only mode of effective treatment is from a medical professional in a medical facility.