Abbreviated as AM, alternative medicine is just, as the term suggests, an alternative to scientific methods of treatment. Its major setback is the inability to provide proof of efficacy in form of patient trials or research. The argument advanced by mainstream medicine is that one only stands to benefit from placebo effects of the treatment. If used in conjunction with conventional medicine, the patient may have the notion that they are improving yet what they could be experiencing is minimized side effects of the main drug. We will look at some of the key features of alternative medicine London Ontario people can learn from.
Complementary therapy engages the use of natural remedies including plant and animal products. Most of the preparations come in form of elixirs, powders or tablets. These are usually extremely unpalatable and the patient may only take them out of desperation and the strong belief that they will get healed. One needs to be extremely cautious with these natural remedies as some of them may contain poison. Commonly used substances include fish oil, flaxseed, minerals and fungi.
Another type of AM employs the use of supernatural powers. These includes use of electromagnetic waves, direct and alternate currents to manipulate disease conditions. While these may a domain in physics, its utilization in AM has no basis. One of the therapies purports to create energies that infuse the human body thereby providing healing. Examples of therapies in which supernatural energies are employed include bio field therapy, chiropractic and bio electromagnetic therapy.
Belief in religion is also a key concept in alternative therapies. It is based on prayers and faith to restore the health of the patient. Relying on religion alone can be detrimental to the patient as there is no evidence to back its use. This mainly work if it is supplemented with conventional treatment. Faith may be of benefit because it gives hope to the patient and even facilitates scientific treatment. This is evidenced by the fact that such individuals to be more compliant with their drugs.
Needless to say, complementary medicine is not without challenge. Adverse effects that occur in AM may be difficult to contain because there are no documented studies to guide treatment in case of unexpected events. Mainstream treatment takes the day because it is proven, more organized and it has provisions in case of any emergencies.
The other challenge of AM is delay in treatment which is normally caused by a patient not having total trust in pseudoscience. Minor ailments may respond to AM probably due to placebo effects. In instances where the individual gets a major illness, total reliance on the same pseudoscience may result in delayed diagnosis and deterioration to a point where salvage may almost be impossible.
Common side effects of these therapies include undesirable drug interactions, allergic reactions and organ damage. Damage to organs is common when using herbal medication. The liver and spleen suffer the most when it comes to chronic use of herbs. Some patients may be allergic to the medicinal preparations. This can be life threatening especially in a case where such is not anticipated and also in situations where the antidote is unknown.
In summary, alternative medicine is generally discouraged by those in conventional practice given the fact that it has no established proof. Moreover, it is associated with delayed diagnosis and response to treatment. Various approaches are used in pseudoscience including use of herbs, incorporation of religion and belief in supernatural powers.
Complementary therapy engages the use of natural remedies including plant and animal products. Most of the preparations come in form of elixirs, powders or tablets. These are usually extremely unpalatable and the patient may only take them out of desperation and the strong belief that they will get healed. One needs to be extremely cautious with these natural remedies as some of them may contain poison. Commonly used substances include fish oil, flaxseed, minerals and fungi.
Another type of AM employs the use of supernatural powers. These includes use of electromagnetic waves, direct and alternate currents to manipulate disease conditions. While these may a domain in physics, its utilization in AM has no basis. One of the therapies purports to create energies that infuse the human body thereby providing healing. Examples of therapies in which supernatural energies are employed include bio field therapy, chiropractic and bio electromagnetic therapy.
Belief in religion is also a key concept in alternative therapies. It is based on prayers and faith to restore the health of the patient. Relying on religion alone can be detrimental to the patient as there is no evidence to back its use. This mainly work if it is supplemented with conventional treatment. Faith may be of benefit because it gives hope to the patient and even facilitates scientific treatment. This is evidenced by the fact that such individuals to be more compliant with their drugs.
Needless to say, complementary medicine is not without challenge. Adverse effects that occur in AM may be difficult to contain because there are no documented studies to guide treatment in case of unexpected events. Mainstream treatment takes the day because it is proven, more organized and it has provisions in case of any emergencies.
The other challenge of AM is delay in treatment which is normally caused by a patient not having total trust in pseudoscience. Minor ailments may respond to AM probably due to placebo effects. In instances where the individual gets a major illness, total reliance on the same pseudoscience may result in delayed diagnosis and deterioration to a point where salvage may almost be impossible.
Common side effects of these therapies include undesirable drug interactions, allergic reactions and organ damage. Damage to organs is common when using herbal medication. The liver and spleen suffer the most when it comes to chronic use of herbs. Some patients may be allergic to the medicinal preparations. This can be life threatening especially in a case where such is not anticipated and also in situations where the antidote is unknown.
In summary, alternative medicine is generally discouraged by those in conventional practice given the fact that it has no established proof. Moreover, it is associated with delayed diagnosis and response to treatment. Various approaches are used in pseudoscience including use of herbs, incorporation of religion and belief in supernatural powers.
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