Over the last few years there has been a growing interest in alternative or complementary health care. People are not giving up on conventional (or allopathic or Western) medicine, but rather combining the best aspects of both to increase wellness. For example, a conventional doctor is best for fixing a broken bone, but an alternative therapy might be best for a chronic health problem.
There are many healing therapies that fall under the definition of alternative medicine, including acupuncture; chiropractors, naprapaths and massage therapists; herbs, nutritional supplements and diet; naturopathy and homeopathy; aromatherapy; energy therapy; Ayurvedic medicine; traditional Chinese medicine; and yoga.
The main reasons people choose alternative health care (not in any particular order of importance) include:
1) Alternative medicine treats the underlying cause of a problem. For instance, conventional medicine uses drugs to kill the bacteria that cause a urinary tract infection; and often the infection returns repeatedly. Alternative medicine would rid the body of the bacteria plus cleanse and tone the whole urinary tract to bring it back into healthy balance; and it would try to pinpoint the original cause of the trouble, whether an infection or habit, to keep it from happening again.
2) Complementary medicine is holistic: working with the whole person – body, mind and spirit. Rather than simply focusing on specific symptoms and problems, it aims not just to alleviate the specific complaint, but to enhance the person’s quality of life as well.
3) Practitioners of alternative medicine offer more personalized care. They spend more time with their patients, getting to know them, so they can effectively treat diseases. Chronic problems, for instance, can have more than one source. A naturopath or other alternative medicine practitioner will search with you over time to discover all the causes of a problem. Conventional doctors do care about their patients, but they are often overbooked and overworked, and will go for a simple solution to try to save time. Their patients are usually looking for a “quick fix” as well.
4) Side Effects: The “quick fix” drug for one symptom can often mean long-term problems elsewhere in the body. Conventional drugs are generally poisons for whatever disease is being treated. They can build up and move to other parts of the body and do damage to areas they were never meant to touch, changing the form and location of a problem. Look at the long lists of possible side effects that must be handed out with any prescription. Lots of people, especially seniors, have medicine cabinets full of drugs they take daily to treat an array of different symptoms. Most herbal and homeopathic remedies will have no side effects unless you are allergic to them or they react with drugs you are taking. Many are helpful for more than one thing since they are used for cleansing and balancing the system. You should always check with your doctor or naturopath before starting any type of remedy.
5) Alternative medicines are usually less costly than conventional drugs and can be obtained over the counter. In fact, you may have some of them in your own kitchen cabinet or refrigerator! Research by both the University of Michigan and Michigan State University shows that tart cherry juice is good for alleviating joint pain and may help lower your cholesterol and get a good night’s sleep!
6) Finally, alternative medicine allows – indeed requires – you to take charge of your own health. When you are actively involved in your own health you can make better, more informed, more cost-effective decisions. No one knows your body, mind and soul better than you do. You will not only get well, you will stay well over your lifetime. Yes, it will take more of your time for research and decision making – but this is your LIFE we’re talking about here. Do you want to spend it in good health or not?
