KZN Health Dept joins hands with natural health practitioners

In a first for KZN, the Department of Health demonstrated its support for complementary health therapies by attending the launch of the Glenwood Natural Health Centre on Friday 28 June 2002. KZN MEC for Health Dr Zweli Mkhize officially opened the Centre in a private ceremony earlier in the day, and his Deputy, Professor Steven Hendricks, addressed guests at an evening function. The Centre, which offers homeopathy, acupuncture, network chiropractic, reflexology and herbal remedies, is owned by leading alternative health practitioners, Doctors Colin La Grange and Cheryl Morris.

La Grange and Morris paid tribute to Dr Mkhize for his interest in the Centre's health care programme, saying: "As practitioners, we share a common thread - a commitment to keeping people healthy, energetic and free from physical suffering. We are honoured that the Minister, who has contributed so much in serving our province as its health leader, could meet with us during his busy schedule to discuss the removal of barriers between practitioners from different medical disciplines, and how to unite and work towards a common goal - the wellbeing of all KZN's people."

La Grange specialises in paediatrics, fertility and the treatment of chronic fatigue, while Morris is considered a pioneer in the field of Network Chiropractic, a gentle technique that encourages the body to self-regulate and self-correct spinal problems. "Our experience has shown that our methods help patients who are receiving chronic treatments from conventional practitioners, and if we are achieving this on a small scale, therein lies the promise of something bigger for the community at large," say the husband-and-wife team.

Commenting on how complementary health treatments can help HIV-positive and AIDS patients, La Grange said: "The HI Virus attacks the immune system - our natural remedies and techniques support the immune system, and so are capable of retarding the progress of the virus. Homeopathic remedies such as sulphur and phospherus, as well as the indigenous plant extract Sutherlandia, have all proved to be very effective in alleviating symptoms such as diarrhoea, coughing and weakness."

"Our approach involves more than relieving symptoms," he said, "because selection of the appropriate remedy is done on the basis of the individual's physical, mental and emotional condition. To assess this, we offer an empathetic ear and time to engage fully with our clients, and in so doing we treat the fear and the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. Whatever the patient's prognosis, once they feel comforted and worthy, they can develop a joyful attitude towards life and this is very beneficial to their health."

Professor Hendricks, in his address to those gathered at the Centre's launch ceremony, endorsed this perspective: "This Centre constitutes a true healing partnership," he said, "not only by combining different health services like homeopathy and chiropractic - but by offering such soothing, caring modalities to patients who are crying out for compassion, and the energies and effects are obvious."

"We in the KZN Health Ministry are very sincere about supporting these services," he continued, "and will schedule follow-up meetings to explore ways in which we can take them further into KZN communities. We are already making headway with certification processes for traditional healers and regulating the use of indigenous plants. These are important seeds which we want to nurture, so that one day, ALL our citizens can come away from the healer of their choice and say 'Today, I've been taken care of.'"

The Glenwood Natural Health Centre is situated at 52 Cromwell Road, Glenwood, Durban 4001.
Contact:
Dr Colin La Grange (M.Tech.Deg.Hom)
by telephone on 031 201 0875
or via e-mail on [email protected]
and
Dr Cheryl Morris (M.Tech.Deg.Chiro)
by telephone on 031 202 6574
or via e-mail on [email protected]

For general information on the Centre's natural health options, click on the hyperlinks in the righthand column.