Alternative modes of treatment are becoming increasingly popular these days. There is a greater interest among people in understanding what alternative medicine is all about. There is a certain degree of disappointment with conventional method of treatment and hence a search for new avenues of treatment among the public. But unfortunately they are not able to get the right kind of information. It is but natural for one to have some basic doubts in trying out a new kind of treatment. I would try to answer some basic questions regarding alternative medicine here:
What is "Alternative Medicine"?
If you are asked what you think alternative medicine is, you might answer that it is a mode of treatment other than allopathic or "traditional" medicine. Actually speaking, alternative medicine means different things to different people. Alternative therapy encompasses various techniques of treatment that are different from and not provided by typical allopathic professional. The term covers various treatment systems such as Acupressure, Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Astrology, Ayurveda, Biofeedback, Bach Flower Remedies, Cellular Therapy, Color Therapy, Colon Therapy, Chelation Therapy, Chinese or Oriental Medicine, Colonics, Psychotherapy,Cupping, Dance/Movement Therapy and yoga therapy.
You might be surprised if I were to tell you that knowingly or unknowingly we all might have used any one of these therapies for our well-being. For example some have a habit of fasting once a week; some people use honey in their tea; some take ginger, honey and lemon along with their tea, etc. These are all simple and usual but integral part of alternate therapy. Have you had a massage for your forehead or temples to ease your headache? How about applying ice pack for a sprained ankle? These are suggested by allopathic medicines but also practiced in some of the alternative techniques.
Why are people looking for alternative therapies?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) about 65 to 80 percent of the world's population depend upon alternative therapy for their ailments. While allopathic method does not solve all health problems, it also causes a lot of side effects by drugs and surgery, which are the usual modes of treating health problems. In this system of treatment, a patient is treated mostly for his symptoms rather than the cause. Alternative therapy on the other hand tends to treat a person as a whole. In alternative mode of treatment importance is given to body and mind aspects of a patient's illness. Symptoms are noted and observed during initial consultations and treatment is aimed toward the root cause of such symptoms.
What are some of the major differences between allopathic and alternative medicine?
Allopathic treatment is much different from alternative medicine in its treatment approach and modes of treatment. Allopathic medicine treats the symptoms and not the cause of an illness. But alternative medicine follows certain principles and methods that help to assess a patient's symptoms and treats the root cause of his illness.
Basic differences between the two types of treatments are as follows:
- Alternative medicine believes in healing power of nature. This system believes that we all possess an inherent ability to heal naturally and therefore employs natural herbs, flowers, etc. as part of therapy. Conventional or allopathic treatment depends on a more scientific approach and involves physiological and psychological interventions.
- In allopathic treatments more importance is given to an attending physician's opinions and beliefs than his patient. In alternative medicine, more importance is given to the patient's feelings, beliefs, etc.
- Whereas allopathic treatment might give an immediate but temporary cure, alternative medicine gives a delayed but permanent cure
- Allopathic treatment uses a lot of chemicals in treating while alternative medicine uses a lot of natural foods and supplements and herbs in treating a patient. That is the main reason for patients to experience a lot of side effects from chemicals and none from natural substances used in alternative medicine.
- The main goal of alternative medicine is to incite the body's natural healing ability in healing and allow nature to take its course in treating the patient.
Many wonder if alternative medicine works for everyone.
Faith is they key to cure, whichever mode of treatment you choose. Each system has its own merits and demerits in treating certain health conditions. You might need to consider certain factors such as your existing health condition, your endurance to pain, modes of treatment that is easily available to you, cost of treatment, etc. If you go for allopathic treatment your doctor would run some lab tests and ascertain your health condition and suggest proper treatment based on his training. If you go for alternative medicine, there won't be lab tests involved. But you need to provide a lot of accurate information that would help the therapist to draw some natural ways of treating your condition.
We all want cure and not just temporary relief from illness. Wouldn't you agree?
