Alternative medicine can be described as a medical treatment that rejects conventional medicine and follows other courses of action. This may include using herbal remedies, acupuncture, and aromatherapy whilst all the while incorporating the self awareness of the patient. This is probably the largest difference between alternative medicine and conventional treatment; it tries to incorporate an understanding from the patient in order for them to grasp how the treatment is helping them to recover as well as the physical body functions that are aiding the treatment.

Holistic medicine also falls under the realm of alternative treatment. Relying on natural methods plays an important part in this, using fruits, herbs and naturally occurring vitamins is widely used to help healing and recovery. Alternative treatment has gained in popularity in recent years, although not largely used for serious ailments; day to day problems and illness prevention seem to be the most powerful lures for patients.

While western medicine is heavily reliant on modern science, antibiotics and complicated drugs, alternative treatments instead rely on age old wisdom of societies in China and India. Modern alternative medicine however is taking a far more scientific approach using expansive clinical trials to assess effectiveness. Ultimately the objective of alternative practitioners is turn people away from relying on drugs and medicines that in the long run work towards harming the immune system.

Physical forms of alternative medicine include osteopathy and yoga, these types of treatment work towards strengthening the body and in general making it more physically healthy. Other forms of this therapy include practises such as tai chi, meditation and reflexology. As well as the physical benefits of these practises they also provide the patient with a means of relaxation as well as spiritual enrichment.

Massage that manipulates the muscles of the body can be extremely useful in combating ailments. Naturally the physical benefits of this treatment are well documented; less well know however is the relaxing of the mind that this form of treatment provides. Places of the body to focus on in massage are the head, feet, neck, shoulders and back.

Meditation while not being an explicit form of physical treatment can help the body greatly. By learning to control and focus the mind it is surprising how many benefits can be gained. Meditation allows patients to create a positive mental attitude to their wellbeing, perfect for hypochondriacs who are often stressed about their own health.

Some alternative medicine does not even require visiting practitioners; many people are now buying a range of herbal teas with unbelievable properties. In fact the number of boutiques offering substances such as dried jasmine flowers and camomile is increasing. As well as these two however many natural teas are available giving patients a means to relax themselves and improve bodily functions. Keeping an eye on what you eat and drink is also a vital constituent of healthy living and maintaining the body’s levels of nutrients.

Alternative medicine has become more widely used because of the dissatisfaction with conventional forms of treatment. Understandably patients are shocked by the stories they read in the press of ‘superbugs’ and wish to avid regular healthcare because of this. Obviously the most serious of conditions should be treated conventionally but for re-occurring minor ailments alternative practitioners have a vital part to play in people’s health.



Thanks to Thomas Pretty for contributing this article to our Ginseng blog:

Alternative Medicine Chinese Herb

Healthcare in the western world is experiencing a major shift in how people want to be treated and the treatments they choose to undertake. Seemingly patients are increasingly open to the idea of pursuing alternative medicine rather than the medical practises of established medicine. But what is behind this shift? Why are patients choosing alternative medicine over the regular variety and what implications will this have on not only the medical profession but also society more generally?

One of the most touted reasons for the increased use of alternative medicine is the increased cost of regular treatments. While in this country we have a nationalised healthcare system, in many countries around the world medical expenses are a major concern. This is why all over the western world; those who have to pay for medical treatment are choosing the alternative route instead of the conventional one.

The reason for this increase in cost is not due to medical staff receiving more money but instead a rise in the costs of supplies and operation. That said, the end result is the same, patients have to pay more for their treatments and understandably utilising alternative forms of treatment that prove to cheaper has become popular, especially when used over a long period of time.

Even countries that use a system of personal insurance to pay for medicine and treatments are experiencing this shift towards alternative medicine. The shift is a result of the fact that for minor afflictions and problems many policies are not paying out; as the patient then has to pay for their drugs, seeking alternative and cheaper forms of treatment is wholly understandable. As long as insurers refuse to pick up the tabs for patient’s bills, alternative practitioners will experience the financial benefits as people head to them in droves.

It may even reach the point where alternative medicine becomes the predominant form of treatment. Courses of naturopathy, hypnotherapy, yoga and chiropractic treatment are becoming evermore popular and challenging drugs and surgery as the primary means of treatment for a number of disorders. Doctors are already experiencing a downturn in patient numbers as they head instead to the alternative practitioners.

While this does not in itself worry doctors who are under high levels of stress already, one consequence is patients not telling their doctors of the treatments they have had for fear of disapproval. Understandably doctors want the entire picture of a patient’s past treatments, alternative or regular to work out a suitable course of action.

As peoples’ faith in western medicine clearly diminishes, alternative medicines are becoming popular for the relief they offer. This has worried doctors somewhat due to the fact that without a professional medical opinion it is easy to diagnose symptoms incorrectly resulting in patients undergoing treatments they do not need that could in fact harm their chances of recovery. The era of self diagnosis seems to be upon us, the ramifications of this have not yet been ascertained but if the fears of doctors are realised, a great deal of subsequent health problems may arise in the future.

The internet has played its own part in this rise of alternative medicine. As an information resource it is unrivalled but the questions remain over the quality of said information. If people continue to self-diagnose, the health implications could be great. Overall however if you are looking into using alternative medicine it is advisable to take a mixed approach. The knowledge of your doctor should not be ignored and is a far greater resource than the internet. By using this advice and finding a practitioner who is both knowledgeable and trustworthy is key to finding a healthy balance between existing treatments and alternative therapies.



Thanks to Thomas Pretty for contributing this article to our Ginseng blog:

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