The Rise in Popularity of Alternative Medicine over Mainstream Medicine

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.

Today we have alternative medicine which was developed thousands of years ago and have a long-standing historical value of effectiveness, advantages, and some drawbacks. Diagnosis was the first approach to any illness. Alternative medicine looks at the factors of equilibrium and the environment in which one lives and the disease is considered an imbalance between the two; cleansing the whole body than on a particular problem to get the balance back in sync. Very much the description of the Buddhist and the Greek cultures of medicine and healing the

Several treatment methods have been used by humans for cure diseases over the centuries. Two of the treatment methods are traditional medicine and modern medicine. In fact, these two types of treatment methods share the same objective from different approaches. Traditional medicine can be defined as health practices based on the use of plants, plants extracts and animals. It is a theory with a non-scientific approach used to treat illness in the contrary of modern medicine which is a health practices based on the use of pharmaceutical drugs. It is a scientific approach used to diagnose, prevent and treat illness. Although traditional and modern medicine are similar in some ways, the differ in cost, side effects and availability.

Over the past few decades, herbal drugs have become more popular among the people in the world. A regular and widespread use of herbs throughout the world has increased serious concerns over their quality, safety and efficacy. Further about 80% of world population depends on herbal preparations for primary healthcare needs. In many developed countries, 70 to 80 per cent of the populations have used some form of complementary or alternative medicines composed primarily of herbal medicines (Firenzuoli, 2007). Herbal medicine is termed as "the people's medicine" because of their easy accessibility and the mode with which they can be prepared. Use of herbal medicines in the treatment of diseases has a long tradition of use when compared to conventional medicines.

People used nontraditional medicine before modern medicine or because they can not afford modern medicine. Non Traditional medicine has

Alternative medicines have existed for many years, and are practiced by different cultures around the world. Traditional Western medicine which is practiced by most physicians in the United States focuses on the physical aspects of the body and employs scientific methods of treating. The effect of the mind on the body is not generally considered to be important except for those who practice holistic medicine (Mitchell D. & Haroun L., 2007). A holistic approach means that all aspects

Today, many people are now opting toward Alternative which is also called Complementary Alternative Medicine

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine: Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy is the premier peer-reviewed journal of scientific work for healthcare professionals, practitioners, and scientists seeking to evaluate and integrate Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) into mainstream practice. The Journal delivers original research that directly impacts patient care therapies, protocols, and strategies, ultimately improving the quality of physical and spiritual healing. The article is great for alternative medicine practitioners, researchers and students. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine includes exclusive topics that focus on alternative and complementary treatments and ideas that are not duplicated elsewhere. It gives insight that I can incorporate into research and knowledge about this wide-ranging topic. One part of the article I found especially fascinating is about our modern culture, constantly offering and encouraging the use of painkillers and other pills to momentary sooth pair or illness. “Pills have been a part of a revolution of medical science that has yielded relief

Mainstream medicine, defined as methods such as drugs, radiation, and surgery used to treat illness, is contrasted against natural medicine, defined as unorthodox therapies used to treat illness that are not accepted by the mainstream medical community. Natural medicine was used throughout history in many different cultures for treating all sorts of maladies and diseases. The discovery of penicillin brought on the dispensation of, what is referred to as, the mainstream medical era until the comeback of alternative remedies and natural medicine in the 1970s. Mainstream medicine is practical in certain situations in which the cause can easily be ascertained and prevented in future cases. It is also used to cover up symptoms of illness or disease in situations where a root problem needs to be discovered and addressed. These are the situations in which natural medicine should be utilized. Acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, and reflexology are a few practices that have been shown to greatly reduce pain and stress in the body. These techniques have also been displayed as effective methods in promoting the restoration of the body to homeostasis, a relatively stable balance. Natural medicine should be viewed as a feasible option, alongside

Natural products used are probiotics, omega 3 oil, Echinacea, acai, soy, and green tea. Acai palm tree produces berries that are commonly used at medicine. Some complementary and alternative medicine therapies are found to be effective and safe. However, there still are some treatments that are ineffective or can possibly harm you. It’s difficult to find research on CAM treatments because there are problems finding institutions and cancer researchers. They also have funding and regulatory issues. CAM treatments have to be evaluated with the same process used to evaluate standard treatments. Complementary and alternative medicines are known to be natural, but that isn’t the case every time. Some natural medicine can prevent anticancer drugs from working as usual. Taking high amount of vitamins can affect how radiation and chemotherapy work. Taking too many vitamins isn’t the best idea. Herbal supplements aren’t safe either. It can cause problems when taken in high doses, with other medicine, and also may be harmful when taken by themselves.

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.

Here is my analytical report on whether taking on more alternative therapies will help our family with our overall health and budget. In researching this topic, I found out that even though most adults use some form of alternative medicines, there is a lack of evidence based information regarding efficiency, safety,

When someone chooses alternative care he must take into consideration its dangers. One could actually overdose on vitamins or misuse herbal therapies. "Instead of feeling better, I felt increasingly worse, like a spaced out zombie" complained Carol Copeland, a former holistic patient who almost lost her life to cancer because her homeopathic physicians were too proud to think they were wrong thus they neglected an ovarian cyst (Copeland 104 & Wekesser 95). Another problem with these unconventional health care alternatives is that they give false relief. What this means is that when someone uses a holistic remedy and then feels relief he tends to credit the remedy. This method does not hold water because most ailments resolve themselves (headache for example). Nevertheless, holistic medicine has strengths. One, it recognizes the psychological, environmental and social aspects of illness. Two, it involves the patient in his own treatment with activities etc... And three, it emphasizes preventive medicine as its base (holistic). Holistic medicine is a practice of health cares that that emphasizes treatment of the entire patient's body, mind and spirit. Homeopathic care, compared to allopathic is expensive. There are no doctor's visits or expensive antibiotic prescriptions necessary. This is not to say that doctors are not useful; obviously, if there were a serious injury one should not hesitate to go to a medical (allopathic) doctor (Smith

“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).

The practice and participation of alternative medicine or complementary medicine is becoming more and more accepted, accessible, and utilized on a worldwide scale. Some possibilities to explain this are the perception of alternative medications and therapies as being more effective when reversing or treating chronic conditions and having fewer and less harmful or painful side effects as the pharmaceuticals which the majority of doctors prescribe to their patients in need (Belew, 1999). Estimations have been systematically calculated claiming that the earth contains approximately 600,000 species of plants with only five percent of them investigated chemically or pharmacologically (Bunce,1987). During current times, many have shifted