...Alternative Medicine vs. Conventional Medicine Nolan Roberts September 23rd, 2011 CHLH 100 Discussion: Thursday 9am Instructor: Charles Holmes When it comes to the use of alternative medicine, approximately 40 percent of the U.S. population has used alternative medicine in the past year (Nahin, Dahlhamer, and Stussman 2010). These days more people are turning to new areas when it comes to their health care and medication. Patients are looking for something different, not only because of the rising costs of conventional medicine, but also because of the dangerous side effects of conventional medicines. They are also trying to be more environmentally sound. Furthermore, people just aren't getting the care they want, or deserve, from their doctors. Alternative medicine has helped many people by giving them an alternative to conventional medicine's negative side effects, high costs and less natural development. Conventional medicine, though tested in laboratories and approved by the AMA and FDA, still has many side effects that seem to sometimes harm patients more than it helps them. This is partially due to negligent doctors who don't pay attention to all the medications their patients are taking. Also, because most of these drugs are synthetically made in a lab, rather than by nature, it can have negative effects on our bodies. They are given stamps of approval even when their side effects may harm people. It seems as long as the good they do outweighs that...
Words: 657 - Pages: 3
...Page There are many other alternatives to modern methods of medical treatment. With modern medicine being the standard there must be unconventional routes that one can take to achieve the goal of good health. Those alternatives include acupuncture, herbal remedies and yoga. Though modern medicine can be diverse it also can be very complex and in contradiction with the human body. Most medicine is animal based and experimented on animals and sometimes even humans. But can our expectations be a little euphoric for positive results set on miraculous when using animal based medicines? Moreover we cannot negate the fact that modern medicine and medical treatment has helped people avoid and control diseases for several decades. Reports show that since 1970 the death rate has decreased on average of 60% and strokes and death are down 70%. Cancer has dropped 16% since 1990 and HIV/AIDS death rate has decreased more than 75% since its peak in 1995. Therefore we cannot attempt to discredit the breakthroughs and innovations of modern medicine. Some of the biggest problems we can find in the way Medicine is practiced today are: 1. Modern Western Medicine is based on a narrow “scientific” model, and arrogantly ignores and rejects therapies and entire medical systems that don’t fit this model. 2. Doctors are trained in hospitals in “crisis care” medicine, not to take care of the “walking wounded,” which is the majority of people...
Words: 1775 - Pages: 8
...Alternative medicine is not new. It is accepted that it pre-dates conventional medicine and it is still used by many people all over the world. I am unconvinced that it is dangerous, and feel that both alternative and conventional medicine can be useful. There are several reasons why the conventional medical community is often dismissive of alternatives. Firstly, there has been little scientific research into such medicine, so there is a scarcity of evidence to support the claims of their supporters. Furthermore, people often try such treatment because of recommendations from friends, and therefore come to the therapist with a very positive attitude, which may be part of the reason for the cure. Moreover, these therapies are usually only useful for long-term, chronic conditions. Acute medical problems, such as accidental injury, often require more conventional methods. On the other hand, there remain strong arguments for the use of alternatives. Despite the lack of scientific proof, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest that these therapies work. In addition, far from being dangerous, they often have few or no side effects, so the worst outcome would be no change. One of the strongest arguments for the effectiveness of alternative therapies in the West is that, whilst conventional medicine is available without charge, many people are prepared to pay considerable sums for alternatives. If they were totally unhelpful, it would be surprising if this continued. I strongly...
Words: 283 - Pages: 2
...ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE by Deana M. Burgin, SVN Pharmacology, VN159 Mrs. Helen Rice, RN, MSN November 10, 2013 Alternative medicine has become more popular in the past decade, mainly due to rising health care cost. Alternative medicine (as defined by NCCAM) is “using a non-mainstream approach in place of conventional medicine.” Conventional medicine is medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (Medical Doctor) or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health professionals such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses. Over 40 percent of Americans today practice or utilize some type of alternative medicine to maintain their health. More physicians are accepting alternative medicines as a more holistic way to treat their patients. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has classified alternative medicines into five main categories: Whole medical systems, Mind-body medicine, Biologically based practices, Manipulative and body-based practices, and Energy medicine. The following paragraphs will briefly discuss each of these categories; and some of the common treatments utilized today. Whole medical systems are many practices that center on a philosophy, such as the power of nature or the presence of energy in your body. Examples include ancient healing systems that have origins from ayurveda from India and traditional Chinese medicine. There are two subcategories within the whole medical system;...
Words: 715 - Pages: 3
...Alternative medicine is something that has been around for thousands of years as Native Americans didn’t go to the drug store and pick up plastic pill bottles; they improvised with what they had and created various new medicinal techniques. Practices like these are starting to become more popular every day. It can range to anything from ancient Chinese recipes to the everyday chiropractor. They are environmentally friendly and for most of them are much cheaper than prescription drugs. They focus on treating the whole person not just physically but spiritually as well. It gives the individual receiving the medicine more attention, Prescription drugs were not made to fit just one person’s individual needs. So when consumers use an alternative medicine they can experiment and see what suits them best. They reduce their level of stress by doing something other than taking pills by doing things like, yoga and meditation. Many people consider medical marijuana one of these drugs; it is used to treat glaucoma, epileptic seizures and can even increase lung capacity. Alternative medicine is being used all around the world. Many people don’t even realize what alternative medicine really is. At the cobble health center in Brooklyn New York there’s a woman there by the name of Elizabeth Johnson. She is a patient in the Alzheimer’s unit. She has an advanced form of dementia, this used to cause her to have episodes. Previously the staff at Cobble hill health center would put her...
Words: 1044 - Pages: 5
...Alternative Medicine in the Philippines And Its Continued Popularity: A Study Bataan Peninsula State University Alternative Medicine in the Philippines And Its Continued Popularity The Philippines is one of the islands that were conquered by different countries back in the day. That is why a lot of foreign influences were brought up by those colonizations. One of them is alternative medicine. Alternative medicine is a variety of therapeutic or preventive health-care practices that are not typically taught or practiced in traditional medicinal communities and offer treatments that differ from standard medical practice. Homeopathy, herbal medicine, and acupuncture are types of alternative medicine. In particular, China was one of the countries that inhabited the Philippines. China and its traditional healing arts make up the integral part of Chinese culture. According to “The Practice of Shiatsu” (Anderson, 2008), acupuncture gradually took over in China as the primary form of medicine and traveled across Asia including the Philippines. As evidenced by the years of trade by the Philippines with China, the Philippines then inherit the traditional ways of healing through acupuncture that China practiced and it is still being practiced today. Alternative medicine was already popular back in history but it is taking popularity again nowadays. In order to understand what we know today, people go back to their roots and to the beginning of civilization. What we know...
Words: 2791 - Pages: 12
...What is CAM and how it may be applied Alternative medicine is any practice that claims to heal, but does not fall into the area of conventional medicine. Normally this type of health care is based on historical or traditions, rather than some type of scientific evidence. An example of alternative medicine is treating cancer with a specific diet instead of undergoing a surgical procedure or a chemotherapy treatment. Complementary medicine is a diagnostic and therapeutic discipline and is normally used in conjunction with conventional medicine. An example of complementary medicine would be a patient using acupuncture after a surgical procedure to assist in lessoning the discomfort after surgery. Integrative medicine (IM) is a combination of mainstream medical therapies with non-conventional complementary therapies; however, IM does in fact use complementary therapies if there is high quality scientific evidence of the effectiveness. Conventional medicine is and will still be a major focus when it comes to health care, but it is evolving into a broader area of concern. Traditionally conventional medicines only concern was getting to the main issue and resolving it by only looking at the flesh and bones of an individual. Now with the influence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) doctors are implementing a new focus that encompasses the entire body, including the mind, body, and spirit, therefore, broadening the possibilities of a treatment approach. There are a total...
Words: 1102 - Pages: 5
...The history of Alternative Medicine is an interesting one and has links with many different cultures. However it is difficult to say exactly when Alternative Medicine began, but we can say the history of alternative therapy nearly dates back to 6,000 years in the east and around 3,000 years in the western world. The culture and traditions of Asian countries are known as eastern culture. The Alternative Medicine means any form of medicine treatment approaches that fall outside the conventional medicine. There are more than 100 systems of alternative medicines still using in whole the world. Every country, region or area has its own traditional system of health and medical care such as the most common alternative medicine in China is Acupuncture, in French Magnetic healing, Heil praxis for the Germans, Herbalism for English, Ayurveda with Siddha being widely use in the southern part of the country for India, And Japanese use Shiatsu etc. There are many types of alternative therapy. First, Herbalism that is still the first choice in many cultures and there are common herbs uses in alternative therapy such us Garlic, Ginger, Gingko, Ginseng, and Lavender. Second, the Acupuncture is needles are inserted at specific...
Words: 867 - Pages: 4
...Complementary and Alternative Medicine “CAM stands for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a group of diverse therapies and products that are neither part of conventional medicine as taught in U.S. medical schools, nor generally available at U.S. hospitals,” (Bowling, Steward, 2007). Although, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the many different CAM practices, I believe, based on current research and individuals experiences, that CAM practices can benefit anyone who would like to improve their health and wellness. The research I will use to support my beliefs about CAM practices could help to integrate CAM as part of our regular health care system and reduce all the skepticism surrounding Complementary and Alternative therapies. There are also many reports and testimonies available today that support the positive effects CAM therapies can have. Still with these many clinical and laboratory research experiments and the reports and testimonies, people still have questions about Complementary and Alternative therapies and the benefits surrounding CAM practices as well as the safety of their techniques. Complementary medicine is becoming more integrated into our mainstream health care system largely in response to consumer demand, as well as the recognition of new scientific findings that explain the views of health and healing-which push against the limits of the current biomedical paradigm (Micozzi, 2006). There...
Words: 1456 - Pages: 6
...1 Alternative Medicine 101 By Jo Mendoza The term Alternative Medicine is somewhat erroneous since it was already in effect long before conventional medicine was introduced. Alternative Medicine is the natural treatment of disease which came before the tech nologically-based practices of conventional medicine. In this aspect, alternative medicine is traditional while conventional medicine is relatively new. Nevertheless, alternative medicine is termed as such since conventional or traditional Western medicine is the norm that is taught in all the medical schools and applied in most hospitals. There is a wide variety of alternative medicine that has accumulated over the years through different cultures. Whole medical systems such as homeopathic medicine, a treatment that originated in Europe, which stimulates the body’s ability to heal itself; Naturopathic medicine, also from Europe, a system that uses dietary and lifestyle changes as well as herbs, massages, and joint manipulation; traditional Chinese medicine from China which uses herbs, meditation, and acupuncture to correct the imbalance of yin and yang which causes the disease; and Ayurvedic medicine, a medical system from India that integrates the body, mind, and spirit to prevent and treat disease. A practitioner of alternative medicine tends to focus on the whole person when making diagnoses. They take great pains to figure out how one body system affects another. Cancer, for example, is seen...
Words: 970 - Pages: 4
...Complementary and Alternative Medicine Insert Name Subject Date Institution Complementary and alternative medicine now serves as a solution to many ailments in the society. It centers in providing care focused on the patient wellness. Complementary and alternative medicine is now acceptable by healthcare providers as a way to offer healing through therapies. The existing type of medicine cannot satisfy the needs for the growing demand for healthcare in the world. The economy of countries is sickling and this calls for alternative ways to offer treatment to chronic and serious ailments. Determinations to ensure that the society is free of society work best than using many funds to look for cure and healing. Complementary and alternative medicine now offered in the current healthcare system includes the massage, acupuncture midwifery, naturopathic and traditional medicine (Mariano, 2007). Patient self-care now is the primary aim of physicians. The patients manage their health with the help of the physician. Patient empowerment is now the key driving force to the physicians to help the patients know their health needs and requirements. The nurses receive education and training on patient centered care. The society faces chronic illnesses and conditions like stress that eventually lead to depression and finally death. If patients have that power to manage their health through complementary and alternative medicine, such cases cannot arise in the society. The patient collaborates...
Words: 643 - Pages: 3
...Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) describes a number of non-allopathic treatments which may or may not have benefit to the patient. According to "What Is Complimentary And Alternative Medicine"(2011),"Defining CAM is difficult, because the field is very broad and constantly changing. NCCAM defines CAM as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine”. According to"Types Of Complementary Medicine"(2009), "Complementary medicine is a nonstandard treatment or medicine that you use together with conventional treatment or medicine. For example, acupuncture, when used to treat nausea and vomiting that accompany chemotherapy or post-surgery pain, is a complementary therapy. Alternative medicine is a nonstandard treatment or medicine that you use instead of conventional medicine. If you use kava in place of prescription medicines such as benzodiazepines or tricyclic antidepressants to treat anxiety or depression, the kava is considered alternative medicine. Integrative medicine is, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a combination of standard medical therapies and complementary or alternative therapies about which there is scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness. As practitioners of conventional Western medicine pay more and closer attention to the benefits of many complementary and alternative therapies and determine how to...
Words: 1025 - Pages: 5
...Different views of medicine from different parts of the world are coming together to enhance our ability to battle disease and live optimal healthy lives. Two of the more common fields of medical thought are holistic medicine and allopathic medicine. The two terms allopathic medicine and holistic medicine are becoming more relevant when it comes to making proper health care decision. Allopathic medicine is the practice of conventional medicine that uses pharmacology active agents or physical interventions (like surgery) to treat or suppress symptoms or pathophysiologic processes of disease. Holistic medicine represents the idea that all the properties of a given system (physical, biological, social, etc.) cannot be truly determined or explained by its component parts alone. Instead, the system as a whole determines how the parts function together. Holistic medicine approaches your health by looking at the whole person, mind, body and spirit. It incorporates traditional medicine and also attempts to go beyond it by focusing on the "mind/body connection." This means that you focus on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of yourself as you work with your health-care provider to determine the root causes of your illness and find solutions through allopathic and/or alternative medicine. A holistic approach prescribes lifestyle, diet and activity plans that will promote overall health for the long term. The main emphasis in this health model is prevention of illness...
Words: 1335 - Pages: 6
...Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Shift in Medicare Policy to Benefit the Elderly Disabled Nursing Role in Leadership, Management, Current Issues, and Gerontology The United States Department of Health and Human Services identifies the disabled as individuals having difficulties in movement, deficiency in senses, impairments in emotional or cognitive functioning, which is usually in connection to some sort of health problem (Altman & Bernstein, 2008). Data from the National Health Interview Survey for 2001 to 2005 indicates that 61 percent of people aged 65 years and over have some form of disability (Altman & Bernstein, 2008). The main resource for the medical needs of almost all elderly disabled people is the Medicare program (Altman & Bernstein, 2008). The Medicare program provides them with access to primary healthcare providers, hospital care, nursing home care, hospice, home health, some medicines, and medically necessary services like durable medical equipment and supplies (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, n.d.). Unfortunately, according to the Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual (2012) it does not reimburse Complementary and Alternative Medicine services. The author proposes that Complementary and Alternative Medicine should be included in Medicare’s coverage for elderly disabled people as part of an integrative approach to their care. The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) offers the elderly disabled...
Words: 1898 - Pages: 8
...Lauren Schaap Mrs. Vanden Berg English 1: Research Essay 22 February 2018 The Rise of Alternative Medicine Certain medicines are used as substitutes to traditional, or conventional medicines, and they are known as alternative medicines. Alternative medicines have been around for ages, as far back as the ancient and Bible times, but suddenly they are becoming very popular. Some are more effective than others, and some are not as safe as they are claimed to be. Some may not be safe in the sense of being a hazard to one’s body and others are dangerous in how they relate to spiritual hazards. Alternative medicines have been increasing in popularity more than ever and are more effective to some people than to others. Alternative Medicines have...
Words: 1366 - Pages: 6
