Jun
Is alternative medicine better than conventional medicine?
Sometimes it is, but not always. And sometimes, we simply don’t know.
Some kinds of alternative medicine have been proven effective in controlled studies. Acupuncture helps relive pain. Yoga, art therapy and aromatherapy are good for stress. Ginger can reduce nausea, and turmeric fights infections. Others, like therapeutic touch, seem to be harmless.
Some seem to be harmful, and for others the evidence is mixed or simply hard to find. Colon cleansing as a detoxification and weight loss procedure can cause dehydration. Ayurvedic medicines sometimes heal, but they can contain harmful heavy metals, and because the manufacturing is not standardized, the amount of the effective substance can vary from batch to batch of the same medicine. So they are not always safe, and they may have side effects too (in fact, anything when taken in excess has ’side effects’, or harms the body, even water).
Many alternative medicines are not proven. This is important to remember if you are thinking of taking alternative or complementary treatment for something serious like cancer or AIDS. There are conventional treatments that have been proven to cure or improve the prognosis for these illnesses, even though they make you feel worse in the short term.
On the other hand, if you go for alternative treatments, you may not have to deal with going bald or severe nausea, but you are choosing to trust the unknown. No alternative/complementary treatment has been proven to cure serious diseases, and if you reject conventional treatment altogether you may be seriously risking your health. Some people use alternative medicines as an adjunct to conventional treatment, but it is best to be open about this with your doctor because herbal medicines change the way other medicines work.
You need to investigate alternative medicines, just as you investigate conventional medicines. Nothing is totally safe.
Susan Vinodh Pandian
Read some more about alternative and conventional medicine:
1. About alternative and complementary medicines
2. Alternative medicine health news
January 23rd, 2010 at 7:17 pm
I myself use natural medicines because it is 100% natural. It helps, and almost no side effects. For any remedy a solution.
January 24th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
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March 15th, 2010 at 7:01 am
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Medindia Blogs» Blog Archive
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March 16th, 2010 at 4:15 am
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Medindia Blogs» Blog Archive
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March 31st, 2010 at 7:56 am
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March 31st, 2010 at 3:49 pm
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July 17th, 2010 at 4:44 am
Some alternative medicine works pretty good. A combination of Yoga with acupuncture has really increased my health.
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August 31st, 2010 at 2:16 pm
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October 6th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Many alternative medicines are not proven. This is important to remember if you are thinking of taking alternative or complementary treatment for something serious like cancer or AIDS. There are conventional treatments that have been proven to cure or improve the prognosis for these illnesses, even though they make you feel worse in the short term.
October 8th, 2010 at 11:20 am
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October 23rd, 2010 at 8:57 pm
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November 8th, 2010 at 6:23 am
Keep up the good work! Ya Alternative medicine works pretty good. A combination of Yoga with Ayurvedic treatment has really increase the metabolism, induce deep relaxation and peace of mind.
November 12th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
I don’t believe it’s a choice of which one is better than the other it’s more why not do both. As a Pilates Instructor I’ve discovered that the people who practice Pilates on a regular basis need conventional medicine less than those who don’t.
At the end of the day modern medicine does a fantastic job in some areas but misses the point in others. You can’t treat the body in isolation and hope to be successful the mind plays an enormous part in how well we heal and ignoring it is a big mistake.