For Dr. Carlos Alejandro Betancourt Roja, 2025 has been marked by an increase in the number of patients seeking relief for a wide range of conditions at his Natural and Traditional Medicine clinic (MNT by its Spanish acronym). With a touch of professional pride, he asserts that the population of Las Tunas is beginning to understand that his specialty offers a wealth of possibilities to those who seek help promptly.
The patients waiting outside his office vary greatly in age and pathology. Among them, he recalls the parents of an infant with significant psychomotor developmental delay who, several days later, left the office marked by gratitude at seeing their child's progress and growing vitality.
Similarly, he does not forget the last woman referred to him with uterine fibroids, who, with the right combination of acupuncture, was able to significantly reduce the source of her discomfort. He also remembers the skeptical man who walked through the doors with a herniated disc and, sometime later, declared himself pain-free.
ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE
The Department of Natural and Traditional Medicine is adjacent to the Physiotherapy Service at the Doctor Ernesto Guevara de la Serna General Teaching Hospital. The specialty, often associated only with syrups or acupuncture, demonstrates the benefits of this knowledge in Las Tunas, where more than 20 pathologies are treated.
Dr. Betancourt Roja, head of the nursing staff and six residents, takes on patients referred from all specialties, although the largest number comes from Orthopedics and Traumatology.
“With TCM, almost any disease can be treated,” explains the doctor. "The spectrum is very broad. When people hear about traditional medicine, they often think only of needles and herbs, but they are mistaken.
"There are 11 modalities that are approved by the Ministry of Public Health in Cuba, and the vast majority can be applied in our institution. In the territory, we have a well-established approach based on acupuncture and related techniques like moxibustion, cupping, electroacupuncture, acupressure, and others.
"Here, there is also extensive use of ozone therapy, which is in high demand due to its very good results. It can be used for almost any type of disease."
"Ozone, as a treatment, has many proven biological effects, and patients show remarkable improvement. For example, children with psychomotor development delays, who often come in a little late due to lack of knowledge, their parents immediately tell you that they see satisfactory progress and are very happy. This is very rewarding.
"Knee osteoarthritis improves greatly with this procedure. We have had patients who have arrived practically unable to walk, with limited movement and pain, and after several days, they show noticeable improvement. We treat hearing loss and fibromyalgia.
At the same time, we provide nutritional guidance to the patient, which is another aspect of the specialty. We like to listen to the person and learn about their environment."
Patients leave his office with a comprehensive treatment plan, which in some cases includes traditional and therapeutic exercises, knowledge about their condition, healthier lifestyles, and tips for coping with any pathology with optimism, focused on achieving quality of life.
FOR BETTER CHANNELS
In a context marked by shortages of medicines and medical supplies of all kinds, the guarantees of MNT are a lifeline in times of crisis, but these possibilities are not always properly exploited by the medical staff themselves.
"It is a long-standing struggle that has not been successful, despite the efforts made, including by the institution's management. Traditional medicine could be exploited more, especially given the shortage of so many resources.
“There are services that still do not contribute enough and do not exploit the benefits of traditional medicine. Here in the internal pharmacy, there are medicines that hardly ever leave the premises because they are not prescribed.
“For example, there are more than eight homeopathic medicines, known as alluvium, that can be used on almost any patient. There is relief for insomnia, for the immune system, and for headaches. Some phytopharmaceuticals can be used for respiratory disorders, osteoarticular, and circulatory problems.
“I believe that there is a lack of knowledge and respect for traditional medicine. There are many examples of its positive impact. You only have to see a patient with facial paralysis and observe how they recover in a few days to understand that we have to take advantage of this knowledge. The department works, more than with technology, with sensitivity and a desire to provide quality of life.”
