Alternative Medicine Essay

Also, there is not enough evidence to show the benefits of alternative medicine other than people’s stories. However, insurance companies still should cover alternative medicine because they have been proven successful around the world and are used in some hospitals and clinics in China. In addition, Western medicine has its faults: ”The patient is a machine composed of individual body parts that when broken or lost, can be fixed or replaced by new parts”(Marcum, 2008, 105). In other words, they compare us to machines, which is not true and it’s a fallacy, because not any parts of our body can be replaced. Thus, the choice for patients should be theirs to satisfy their

It could be considered that conventional medicine has indirectly contributed to the rise of complementary and alternative medicine. A broad definition of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is “a broad set of health care practices that are not part of that country’s own tradition or conventional medicine and are not fully integrated into the dominant health-care system” (The World Health Organisation, n.d.). Expanding on this definition it is important to address the variable similarities of CAM modalities. CAM therapies across the various modalities have in common a shared, in varying degrees, holistic approach and subscribe to some form of vitality - a contrast from the science-based view point of conventional medicine prevalent in western society. In spite of CAM therapies empirical nature and efficacies, it is suggested that dissatisfaction of conventional medicine underpins the popularity it has garnered, thus, it will be examined further as to how and why. A further discussion will be made to related dangers of both alternative and science-based medicine; providing an opportunity to constructively educate the public on the differences between the two systems.

Throughout the years there have been two traditions within the practice of medicine. One is the 'art of healing ' which involves its own specialised brand of training. The art of healing is dependent on the prescriber 's foreknowledge and the clients’ viewpoint of the prosperous results. The 'Science of healing ' is based on scientific and technological ideas. This tradition results in a lower liability for practitioners regarding the showing of an original approach to medicine, however the results of this method are more calculable (Kayne 2002). It is believed that the tradition of the ‘art of healing’ is increasing in popularity. The World Health Organisation states ' 'that the terms ' 'complementary medicine ' ' or ' 'alternative medicine’ ' are used interchangeably with traditional medicine in some countries. They refer to a broad set of health care practices that are not part of that country 's own tradition and are not integrated into the dominant health care system” (World Health Organization 2000). This type of treatment, is commonly known as ‘Complementary and alternative medicine’ (CAM). The word complementary derives from the meaning ‘together with’ established practices and the word alternative refers to ‘in place’ of established practices. Some patients choose to participate in complementary therapies along with the medication prescribed by their general practitioner whilst others prefer complementary therapies as opposed to the medications

Because many of the treatments of alternative medicine do not adhere to the principles of conventional medicine, whether or not to allow practice of these techniques in the United States is a major concern of the medical community today. The Food and Drug Administration is the decision making body of issues such as this and more often than not, does not approve many of these practices. Due to the fact that holistic medicine sometimes contradicts the fundamentals of biomedicine, health care regulation boards such as the FDA find it difficult to accept many of these treatments. Because the Western world is so unfamiliar with these techniques it is only natural for medical community to often disprove these methods. However, as more and more doctors discover the limitations of

Complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM, can be characterized as a gathering of restorative, human services, and healing systems other than those incorporated into health care in the United States. CAM incorporates the perspectives, speculations, modalities, items, and practices connected with these systems and their utilization to treat disease and advance health and prosperity (McKenzie, 2012). Even though heterogeneous, the significant CAM frameworks have numerous normal attributes, including an attention on individualizing medications, treating the entire individual, advancing self-consideration and self-recuperating, and perceiving the otherworldly way of every person. What's more, numerous CAM frameworks have attributes generally found in standard human services, for example, an emphasis on great sustenance and preventive practices. Dissimilar to standard medication, CAM frequently needs or has just restricted trial and clinical concentrate; then again, experimental examination of CAM is starting to address this learning crevice. In this manner, limits in the

There are still many people on both sides of the spectrum that are skeptical about treatment methods that differ from what they are used to. The validity of an herbal healer in the western world is more likely to be questioned than that of a medical doctor; while in the east, families may have been seeing a healer for decades and are more likely to question the validity of a doctor practicing western

This is not merely a response to an article in The Atlantic it is a crying scream for mankind. To wake-up and stop being force fed lies about modern medicine, yes, but also what society wants and needs from doctors and practitioners. What is needed per Sullivan is time, patients, and understanding. By reaching his audience through subtle means using the facts that death from heart disease and stroke has been on the decline. Diseases like HIV/AIDS rankings are lower than ever before. New medicines for diabetic patients has reduced the cost of treatment. He addresses key points leaving other issues to those who desire more incite a place to go by referencing The Atlantic article. It is intolerable and unjustified to think alternative medicine can replace modern medicine yet the trend seems to lean toward an alternative solution. Without the Sullivans of the world people are left with what is dealt to them. Going through life uninformed and abandoning all rational

“More than 500 types of alternative medicine exists, and thousands of treatment approaches are possible.” (Billitteri, 9). If we have so many other options why are so many people relying on solely western medicine that can be addictive and make you sicker than you already are? Modern medicine has not always been around and sometimes people can’t afford it so they have no choice but to use nontraditional medicine. Nontraditional medicine should be assimilated into modern medicine because people used it before we had modern medicine, they can not afford it, and prescribed medication can be extremely addictive.

Alternative Medicine is defined as any practice that is not included in traditional medicine care. There are various reasons why hospitals or health care settings include alternative medicine. Some health care facilities are experimenting with different therapies to advance the health care system. One therapy that has been proven to have positive results is the doll therapy for patients with dementia. In “Doll therapy: Therapeutic or Childish and Inappropriate?”, doll therapy is examined and the ethicality of the medicine is discussed. The qualitative experiment carried out in the article shows the ways that patients, families, and staff feel about using dolls in the care plan of dementia patients. The authors, Julia Heathcote, and Moira Clare, hypothesize that the dolls are positive ways to increase patients’ wellbeing because the dolls encourage a childish happiness for many clients (Heathcoat & Clare, 2014).

In this standard report on a convention of science meeting alternative medicine in Philedalphia, Pat Rich examines the deep-set conservative values that became apparent through the "unpleasant sneering attitude" (para. 2) of the scientists. Rich delicately describes the opinions of the professionals by citing their "chortling and scoffing" (para. 1) when presented with the alternative practices such as "homeopathy, chiropractic, [and] traditional Chinese medicine" (para. 3). The reluctance and dismissal of alternative therapies by Western medicine supporters is subtly related to a sense of superiority amongst the group. Rich earnestly implores the readers to think otherwise.

It is true, alternative medicine is growing within the scientific community. If you think about it, all of the medical research at one point was an alternative or uncharted territory of medicine. Maybe soon, the alternative methods will be the new standard with research to back it up. Even with well-known prescription drugs, there is limited research; just as here is limited research with alternative medicine. I think you have a great point that “education and knowledge of the topic is needed throughout hospitals and the healthcare field.” It would be a great addition to the medical education system if soon-to-be doctors, nurses, physician assistants, etc. learned about natural remedies as well as synthetic remedies in school. It would not

The physician-patient relationship has greatly evolved in the twenty-first century when compared to previous centuries in which the Hippocratic Oath and not patient’s rights was the forerunner of the medical system. The shift to a balanced physician-patient relationship has entailed more rights for patients, such as less abortion restrictions and physician-assisted suicide. As patients obtained more medical rights, individuals explored more nontraditional medical practices as a way to heal. As a result, alternative medicine gained a lot of traction. However, homeopathy, a prominent alternative medicine treatment, has received a great amount of resistance. Within this practice doctors believe the use of “large doses of a

There are success stories from all over the globe, and a rise of many other holistic and natural based therapies and medicines.

By examining some of the most popular, enduring alternative medical systems, one can begin to see some general trends of the systems, understand some recurring flaws, and understand the attraction and usefulness of alternative medicine in today's health care system. However, alternative medicine remains controversial. Whether it can be supported scientifically or not, alternative medicine may be useful to encourage both physical and mental well-being via a placebo effect. For this reason, alternative medicine must be considered by physicians as a complement to modern medicine.

These therapies have proved to be of much benefit in supporting the normal healing course of the body. Even though there are many modern alternative remedies, with different beliefs, all of them operate under some common principles. One of these principles is that the body has the capacity to heal naturally and maintain stability (Paquette, 2000). The other one is that adverse health conditions can occur as a result of factors emanating from mind, emotions and the body. Alternative medicine, according to Goldberg, Trivieri and Anderson, (2002), focuses on determining the chief cause of a particular condition, and dealing with the whole person rather that concentrating on symptoms. If a person pays close attention to his/her health he/she can contribute to his/her wellbeing. Alternative medicine holds firmly to the principle that one treatment cannot be used for all people even though they may be suffering from the same condition. Each and every person as per alternative medicine has distinct bodily, mind and spiritual make up (Goldberg, Trivieri and Anderson, 2002).