Medical schools » Medical resources » Alternative Medicine

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE


Alternative Medicine

The term "alternative medicine" is used to explain curative treatments that are not part of conventional medical training as acupuncture, massage therapy, or herbal medicine. People used to consider practices like these outside the conventional, which is why they obtained the name "alternative."

Eastern countries contain a longstanding tradition of teaching alternative medicine. But until recently, most Western hospitals didn't offer any alternative treatments and Western medical schools didn't prepare them.

Patients in Western countries are becoming more interested to trying alternative techniques, and have been asking for them. As a result, many Western medical schools are becoming to teach these medicine techniques and theories. Some hospitals and doctors are complementing their regular medical care with alternative techniques.

Many patients and health care providers work with alternative treatments mutually with conventional therapies. This is recognized as complementary medicine.

Both alternative and complementary medicines use the equal kinds of remedies to treat a health condition. The difference is that alternative medicine is frequently used instead of conventional medical techniques. Complementary medicine is used in addition to conventional medicine, not as a substitute. The field of complementary and alternative medicine is identified as CAM for short.

How is it different?

  • Conventional medicine is chosen in the treatment of trauma and emergencies while alternative medicine surpasses in the treatment of chronic disease, although homeopathy can also be very efficient as a first-aid.

  • Conventional medicine concentrates on the relief of symptoms and infrequently places emphasis on prevention or the treatment of the cause of a disorder. All alternative systems, on the other hand, strive to discover and treat the cause of a disorder and frown on covering up the symptoms. Alternative therapies are also much more focused on prevention.

  • Conventional medicine is organ particular, hence ophthalmologists, cardiologists, nephrologists, neurologists, etc. Alternative medicine, without exception, considers each person as a exceptional individual and uses a holistic approach in treatment.