WHILE many doctors shun complementary medicines as being little better than snake oil, surgeons at The Alfred are learning to embrace several of them.

After clinically testing a range of alternative therapies, The Alfred’s heart surgeons believe there really is method in what many colleagues had regarded as madness.

They found the benefits of taking a concoction of fish oil, magnesium and other antioxidants was so profound they have adopted it for all their patients – together with massage, stress relief and other treatments.

The hospital’s head of cardiothoracic surgical research, Prof Frank Rosenfeldt  , said patients who used the complimentary medication in the weeks and months before surgery recovered one day faster than others, had reduced rates of heart rhythm problems and saved the hospital $4800 a patient in bed and medical costs. 

“We felt it was so clear, the benefits of this treatment, that we should give it to everyone at The Alfred who was having heart surgery ,” he said. “And we are getting increasing acceptance from cardiac surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons , and we are gradually expanding the application of this therapy.

“It is a slow process. Overcoming prejudice takes time.”

Robyn Gordon, 48, was one of 115 surgery patients who supplemented her diet with six daily pills of naturally occurring substances coenzyme Q10, magnesium orotate, alpha lipoic acid, selenium and fish oils.

Although she had never considered alternative treatments before, Ms Gordon took the supplements for six months leading up to a double bypass in October and has vowed to continue using them now she had recovered from surgery.

“Anything that is going to help you, grab it,” she said.

“I had a heart attack in 2006, so whatever they tell me to do I am just happy to do because they are the experts.”

The Alfred is completing results of the trial for publication, and has since undertaken a successful test in knee replacement patients.

Prof Rosenfeldt said the research had been received warmly at international medical conferences and may be adopted at some US hospitals.