Alternative Therapy
The
True Meaning of Alternative Medicine
Many people who are suffering from disease or pain have thought about trying
the alternative medicine route. Before you try alternative medicine, you may
want to learn a bit about it. There are a lot of different types of alternative
medicine and they all may not be right for you.
Alternative medicine is a type of therapeutic practice that is not considered to
be a part of traditional or conventional medical treatment. People use
alternative medicine instead of using traditional medical treatment. This is
often because they feel it is a natural way to get better.
There are many types of alternative medicine. Some are covered by medical
insurance, but most are not. Some forms of alternative medicine that may be
covered are chiropractic and osteopathic therapy. These forms of alternative
medicine are widely used.
There are other forms of alternative medicine that are not as widely used, but
are becoming more popular by the minute. These are: massage therapy, therapeutic
touch, folk medicine, herbal medicine, special diets, homeopathy, music therapy,
aromatherapy, naturopathy, faith healing, and new age healing. There are also
some non-western forms of alternative medicine such as: Chinese medicine, gi
gong, reiki, and ayarveda.
There are some less commonly practiced forms of alternative medicine as well.
One is called biofield therapy. This is a form of alternative medicine that
works with your so called "energy fields" to heal you. Another is bioelectrical
magnetic therapy. This alternative medicine uses pulse and magnetic fields to
heal you.
Alternative medicine is quite popular for people who are terminally ill. Many
AIDS and cancer patients prefer it. An example of this is a cancer patient who
uses alternative medicine instead of receiving traditional chemotherapy or
radiation therapy. People also use alternative medicine to heal ailments such as
back pain or migraines. Instead of traditional painkillers, the patients would
use aromatherapy, sound therapy or herbal therapy. Alternative medicine is even
used on animals. Have you ever seen the movie "The Horse Whisperer?" That was
about a form of alternative medicine used on an animal. Acupuncture, herbal
therapy, and others have also been used on animals.
The last thing you should know is that there is no scientific evidence that
alternative medicine is effective. There have been no scientific studies to
prove if they are safe or if they work for the diseases or ailments they are
used for. Before using an alternative medicine, talk to your doctor, make sure
your doctor feels it is safe and will not harm you.
There are many different kinds of alternative medicines to choose from. Now that
you understand it a bit better, you can decide if it is right for you. For more
information talk to your doctor or research it online. With careful research,
you may find one that is right for you.
What
Is Herbal Medicine? Is It Safe?
by: Charlene J. Nuble
Herbal medicine is the use of plant and herb extracts for their therapeutic
value. Most plants contain and produce chemical substances that aid in healing
and other physical treatments.
Herbal medicine is the oldest form of healthcare and constitutes a key role in
the development of modern medicine as we know it today. Back when technology was
still unheard of, primitive men utilised the vast flora around them to the
fullest extent, observing both plant and animal life and their components,
eventually giving birth to herbal medicine. In a study by the World Health
Organization on herbal medicine use, about 80 f the world's populace still rely
on herbal medicine to cure certain ailments and about 74 f the drugs we use
today contain at least one botanical element. For instance, Chinese Herbal
Medicine's use of ephedrine to cure respiratory conditions still exists in the
present time. Ephedrine remains an active ingredient in most of the commercial
drugs that are being prescribed to relieve asthma symptoms.
Herbal medicine is defined by three schools of thought: Ayurvedic Herbalism,
Traditional Chinese Herbalism and Western Herbal Medicine. While both Ayurvedic
and Chinese herbal medicine have moved on to advanced forms, western herbal
medicine remains a part of folk treatments. Herbal medicine is, first and
foremost, holistic. It aims to address not just a particular symptom, but also
to help the whole body rejuvenate strengthen itself. And while there is no
scientific evidence that all herbal medicines claiming to have healing powers
are actually effective, the number the herbal medicines that have been placed
under clinical testing have proved their worth. The list of known kinds includes
echinacea, which is used to temper colds, St John's wort, used to treat mild
depression (without using Prozac), and hawthorne berries, which help in the
recovery process from mild heart failures.
Is herbal medicine a direct substitute to modern medication? It depends. While
herbal medicines are extracted naturally from plants, not all are safe to use;
particularly if they are taken with other types of treatments that may not be
complementary. Also, herbal medicine is often used only for mild ailments. If
the symptoms are more serious, it is best to consult a trained practitioner of
herbal medicine who can tell you which ones are appropriate and recommend dosage
levels and frequency. Presently, most of the recommended herbal medicines fall
outside of standard drug regulations, thus, not all of their claims to fame are
guaranteed and true. And even as common sense tells us that herbal medicine has
been around for thousand of years, giving an impression that it is quite an
authority, it is not recommended to self-diagnose.
Always keep in mind that herbal medicines are still medicines and, therefore,
share the likelihood of having side effects as regular commercial drugs. Some of
us have this misconception that because herbal medicines are natural, they are
100 afe. This is not true all the time. The best defense against the possible
side effects herbal medicines might give is to educate ourselves with the basics
on the herbal medicine in question and to use it with caution.