Alternatives - How To Succeed 3

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Background: Continued

Alternative medicine and Complementary medicine are often thought of as mutually exclusive. Accordingly, the two are usually classified under the general term of complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM. On the other hand, there are those who disagree with this classification and are keen to concentrate on the differences in approach.

Alternative medicine adopts methods that are varied, to say the least. In fact, the original treatments were secured from origins that were sometimes obscure, but certainly diverse. It is recognised that many of the techniques used combine some of the practices inherent in traditional medicine, which describes medical systems developed over centuries within various societies before the era of modern medicine. Further, the roots of some of these practices may also be traced to home remedies, sometimes referred to as folk knowledge, together with spiritual beliefs, and newly conceived approaches to healing.

In certain parts of the world, where alternative medical practices are sufficiently widespread, the authorities in that region may take a view that the remedies could actually aid some patients who fall through the net of traditional medicine. Accordingly, they may grant licenses to practice and regulate the practitioners in much the same way as they would regulate conventional doctors.

Some alternative practitioners have produced remedies that are not only effective but also respond quickly. However, such outcomes are generally not accepted by the medical fraternity who, without evidence-based assessment, are unable to vouch for the safety and efficacy of many of these practices. On the other hand, if evidence established the viability of alternative remedies, then it is clear that nothing would stand in the way of it’s applicability to the wider public.

Since alternative techniques, in general, tend to lack specific evidence to explain the results of their treatments, some have advocated classifying it as a non-evidence based medicine, or even as not medicine at all.

Independent research has amassed numerous examples of traditional medical techniques that, contrary to the norm, have not been rigorously tested in order to validate their efficacy. In such cases, some might infer that there possibly exists a form of bias against alternative medicine in respect of the requirement for scientific evidence.

It has been found that around a third of cancer patients were found to use some form of complementary or alternative medicine. This result stemmed from a recent review covering some 13 countries.

It has been found that some countries are more enthusiastic than others in the adoption and application of alternative medical techniques. Doctors in the US, Germany and Austria are sensitive to the benefits offered by alternative medicine and it is this group of the traditional medical fraternity that normally includes the technique alongside conventional remedies. However, in Germany, it is not easy to obtain consistent supplies of herbs, with half being prescribed by doctors and covered by health insurance.

Alternatives – How To Succeed