Western medicine is a medical system that focuses on scientifically proven methods for diagnosing and treating illnesses. These methods include drugs, radiation and surgery.
Alternative medicine is a healthcare practice that has evolved outside of Western medicine. Typically, these therapies are based on holistic principles.
What is Alternative Medicine?
Alternative medicine is a broad term that includes many different medical systems and practices. It can include herbal dietary supplements, acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, and energy therapies.
Acupuncture uses fine needles to stimulate specific acupoints on the body. The acupoints are believed to help send signals to the brain and spinal cord, relieving pain.
Another type of alternative therapy is naturopathy. Naturopathic doctors prescribe a mixture of traditional and alternative medicine, including herbal medicines, massage, diet, and exercise therapy.
Herbal medicines are made from plants and other natural materials. They can be used to treat conditions such as chronic pain and allergies.
Some types of alternative medicine have been around for hundreds or thousands of years, while others are new. Often, they have not been studied as thoroughly by scientists as more conventional methods.
How Does Alternative Medicine Work?
Alternative medicine is a broad term used to describe any medical system or practice that acts as a replacement for conventional medical care. It includes many different types of approaches, such as herbal supplements and special diets, acupuncture and chiropractic treatments, and energy therapies like tai chi and yoga.
Some alternative medicine practices have been around for thousands of years, while others are fairly new. Regardless of their age, many of these treatments lack strong scientific evidence that they are safe and effective.
In general, there is no strong scientific evidence that alternative treatments work to prevent or treat cancer. However, some people believe they do and may use them to replace or delay their standard treatment.
What Are the Disadvantages of Alternative Medicine?
Alternative medicine focuses on treating the whole person, not just their disease. This approach is particularly important for people with chronic illnesses or other health problems that can’t be treated effectively with conventional medicines.
While many alternative treatments can be effective, the lack of scientific proof means that some practices don’t work for everyone. This can make it hard for patients to get the care they need.
Also, some alternative practices can be dangerous or even harmful. For example, some forms of acupuncture, oxygen and ozone therapies and bio-resonance therapy can all have serious side effects, especially if you’re taking certain drugs or medications.
Another disadvantage of some alternative treatments is that they’re often not covered by insurance. This can be a major drawback for people who live in lower-income communities.
What Are the Advantages of Alternative Medicine?
Alternative medicine is used in place of standard Western-based medical treatment (medications, chemotherapy, radiation and surgery). It includes herbal dietary supplements, acupuncture, chiropractic, energy therapies and more.
The benefits of alternative medicine include relief of symptoms, lowered stress levels and better health. Many people try alternative medicine because they want to feel better and have more control over their health.
Some people also hope that their alternative medicine will help cure or control cancer. However, there is no scientific or medical evidence that these treatments can do this.
Using alternative medicine instead of conventional cancer treatment could interfere with the effectiveness of your medical treatments. It might also cause you to suffer more side effects or worsen your disease.
