Exploring the Boundaries between Alternative Medicine and Biomedicine

This, therefore, takes us to the most shared concerns people present about how homeopathic medicines are manufactured and of their safety. The raw materials used for various homeopathic medicines are known poisons. Samuel Hahnemann’s goal was to search for a means to treat patients less severely than the treatments used in his day, which often involved purging, leeching, bloodletting,

“Medicines appear to have greater power in affecting the state of health than the natural morbific irritation, for natural diseases are cured and subdued by appropriate medicines” – says Hahnemann. In my opinion, he holds the view that natural disease has the power to make us sick only when our organism is sufficiently disposed and susceptible to the attack of the “morbific cause” whereas the power of medicine is absolute and unconditional. It acts at all times, under all circumstances and on every living human being. Therefore, appropriately chosen medicine (remedy) that matches the symptoms of the illness, and produce an “artificial disease” that is similar to that which is to be cured, administered in the right dose and potency with a greater degree of intensity than the “natural disease” has absolute power to heal the patient.

Healing Philosophy or Mechanism. The belief on health and illness of homeopathic medicine is if given to a well person, the substances are supposed to cause illness, but given to a healthy individual, the substances are thought to cure illnesses (Synovitz & Larson, 2013, p. 129). The text book for this course, Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Health Professions: A Holistic Approach to Consume Health, gives a great example and clarification on the healing philosophy and mechanism of homeopathic remedies. It states, rather than treating a

In the speech, Day of Infamy, FDR talks about the events of Pearl Harbor. FDR talks about how the US is now entered into World War II basically because of this event, he tells that the US is going to war with Japan specifically at first. He is explaining to the Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and and the House of Representatives what conclusion he has come up with. He uses rank in the government to show that he knows what he is talking about. Mostly FDR is trying to get the people in the room on his side with facts, and emotion backing him in more ways than one.

The most extensively recognized potencies are the ones that are created by the conventional homeopathic processes and under the supervision of homeopathic principles. These processes of homeopathy were formerly conceived and developed by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843). He was an early medical researcher in the unique field of health sciences. In the honor of his work a monument was mounted as an acknowledgement of his services in Washington DC. The homeopathic potencies

Complementary and Alternative medicine, commonly known as CAM, includes all medical practices considered “nontraditional” or not part of standard medical care. This broad umbrella covers everything from acupuncture and massage therapy to use of herbs and probiotics. Over the last two decades, the use of CAM has increased rapidly, and continues to gain popularity and use (Nursing Times). The National Health Interview Survey of 2007 concludes that 4 in 10 adults are using some form of CAM (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health), and even larger numbers projected to be in use by this year. The term “CAM” is inclusive of a multitude of different methods of application, but there are few methods of treatment which are leading in popularity and usage.

We live in a world today in which we are continuously looking for the “new thing.” With the speed of technological advances in our society, individuals have become accustomed to reading up on the newest, most-innovative-to-date jet plane, new shoes with new technology for speed and agility, and, of course, new iPhones coming out twice a year with cool new applications. The common word here is ‘new’ and it is a simple syllable that has the power to make any novel thing be perceived as appealing. As modern medicines continue to develop, the public is also in demand for new-age therapies, and thus we have seen an increase in attention being directed toward the use of holistic medicines. Naturalistic and holistic methods are receiving positive criticisms leading to an increase in the attention it is being granted them from multiple fields of study. Due to the positive effects often observed as a result of such therapies, as well as their lack of negative side effects, therapies that exclude the use of chemical medicines and focus on natural healing are gaining international popularity.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is something that is becoming increasingly popular among individuals. CAM is better summarized as “diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention complements mainstream medicine by contributing to a common whole, by satisfying a demand not met by orthodoxy or by diversifying the conceptual frameworks of medicine” (Ernst and Fugh-Berman). Explained further, when faced with medical issues, individuals often seek conventional medicine. However, there are those who go a different path preferring to use a non-mainstream practice along with conventional medicine – commonly known as a complementary medicine. On the other hand, if people prefer a non-mainstream practice instead of conventional medicine they are engaging in the practice of alternative medicine (NCCIH).

Homeopathy is a form of alternative medication that has been increasing in popularity in today’s society. It is often substituted for conventional medication14. Homeopathy was created in the seventeen hundreds when German doctor Samuel Hahnemann concluded that if a substance can induce the symptoms of an illness in a healthy person, then it can treat those symptoms in an ill person. He first tested Cinchona bark, a treatment for malaria, on himself and said to have experienced the symptoms of malaria. He also concluded that the medicine was more effective in a lower concentration therefore he invented the process of succession to reduce the side effects of the medicine and to increase its ability to heal13.

Although "Alternative" or "Complementary" medicine has been kept on the fringes of the medical sciences in the past, it is becoming increasingly more popular, and more reputable. Alternative medicines are those medical systems which are not taught to or practiced by most conventional medical doctors. Alternative medicines seemingly have always existed, changing and conforming to the current climate of society. There seems to be an almost endless number of alternative medicines, each with their own method of gaining perfect health. Often people who are dissatisfied with conventional medicine turn to alternative medicine for their medical needs. Many similarities link the diverse extremities of alternative medicine.

There are two philosophies dominating the medical practice in the United States. The Allopathic, or Dualistic, philosophy, the most common, uses science to prove the value in treatment of diseases. The Homeopathic, or Holistic, philosophy treats the person rather than the disease (Spector, 2013). As the Holistic philosophy becomes more prominent, it is important to note that cultural diversity has always been present. The following discussion is to inform healthcare professionals about the use of herbs in the Wiccan culture and to better understand the differences and similarities in medicinal uses, both past and present, thereby decreasing cultural incompetence in the medical field.

“You have a sprained ankle? Let’s go to my friend who does acupuncture;” mom, “Yeah I have depression? But I just dance it all off;” Maxine.” While we are given hard evidences that alternative medicines, such as herbalism, natural remedies, or even ancient techniques, work miracles. Society still wants to discredit alternative medicine and some even go through great lengths trying to remove it completely as it is “misleading the public” (Quackery). Especially big pharmaceutical companies because the “idea of people could heal themselves or could grow their own medicines or relying on themselves or each other. This terrifies the medical establishments, it terrifies the pharmaceutical giants, it terrifies doctors and the hospitals” (Adam).

When one thinks of “traditional” African healing, images of tribal healers or witchdoctors covered in stereotypical garb, holding elaborately decorated sticks, dancing around a fire and chanting are likely among the first things that come to mind. There is a misconception that “traditional” African healing is static and synchronic and attributes all illness (mental and physical) to ancestors and witches. However, “traditional” African healing has been influenced by what is typically considered western biomedicine and continues to change. For centuries, while the colonizers stole resources and priceless artifacts from African nations, they left behind techniques typically associated with western biomedicine; in true colonizer fashion, they also adopted some aspects of “traditional” African healing and interwove it with western biomedicine. By examining the interactions between practitioners of “traditional” African healing and those of western biomedicine,

The global health care arena in the past three decades has been transformed by the growth in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by residents in both developed and developing countries. The increase in public interest in the use of CAM is particularly high in Western societies where conventional biomedicine has dominated the health care landscape (Bishop & Lewith, 2010; Bodeker & Kronenberg, 2002; Boon, 2002). CAM has become a critical component of the public health care system of many western countries, including Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (Andrews & Boon, 2005; Eisenberg et al., 1993; Fautrel et al., 2002; McLaughlin, Lui, & Adams, 2012; Thomas, Nicholl, & Coleman, 2001). Whereas there are many definitions and conceptions of CAM, the term is often used in references to medical and health practices that have different traditions, practices, and bodies of knowledge from conventional biomedicine (Adams et al., 2011; Hall, Griffiths, & McKenna, 2014; Reid, Steel, Wardle, Trubody, & Adams, 2016). Thus, it encapsulates both indigenous health traditions of the world (for example, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine) as well as, contemporary alternative forms of health care such as chiropractic, aromatherapy, and naturopathy. A distinct feature of these alternative forms of health care is their psychosocial paradigm of health and wellbeing (Anyinam, 1990; Bowleg, 2012). A fundamental

Homeopathy thus makes use of minute doses of generally natural substances which stimulate the body’s own healing abilities and initiate the body’s process of recovering from illness.