Alternative Medicine, What Is It
by Dave Owen
Do the following terms confuse you: "alternative medicine",
"complementary medicine", and "integrative medicine"? Would
it help to know what the difference is between these three
terms? Here is a simplified definition and illustration of
each of these terms for your benefit.
For you to understand alternative medicine, complementary
medicine and integrative medicine, one should first
understand what comprises alternative medicine and
conventional medicine. Medical doctors or doctors of
osteopathy and other allied health professionals such as
physical therapists, registered nurses, and psychologists
all practice conventional medicine. You may have heard or
read other terms for conventional medicine including
"Western medicine", "mainstream medicine", "orthodox
medicine", "regular medicine" or "allopathic medicine".
Alternative medicine applies to a practice that is used by
those who are completely substituting conventional ways of
dealing with symptoms and sickness. These individuals employ
the practices and processes associated with healing through
natural therapies and methods. Methods that may not have
anything to do with conventional medicine ways. These
conventional ways normally include practices such as
pharmaceutical drugs, and surgery. Conventional medicine
generally tends to address illnesses by the symptoms
exhibited. In room #5 is a broken arm, in room #8 is a
nosebleed, in room #2 is preterm labor. Each patient is
defined by the presenting symptoms and the treatment is
symptom-oriented. Subsequently, drugs are prescribed to get
rid of or block out the symptom typically without treating
the cause of the symptom. But, alternative medicine centers
the whole individual, not the presenting symptom.
Alternative medicine is founded on a 5000+ year history and
is strongly rooted in ancient Chinese medicine and Indian
(Ayuryedic medicine), along with other civilisations. There
is a common belief, irrespective of which culture we
examine, that says the energy of the body is required to be
in harmony with the mind and spirit to facilitate healing.
For alternative medicine healing to happen, a practitioner
or doctor merely identifies and then removes obstacles that
would preclude healing from taking place. Over the course of
the curing the individual is instructed on lifestyle
changes, self-care and preventative measures that can be
adopted to facilitate healing of his/her body, mind and
spirit.
By employing the art of healing using alternative medicine
the body will often be massaged, manipulated or relaxed and
brought into harmoniousness with the mind and emotional
state. Massage therapy, chiropractic care and reflexology
are all processes and therapies that embody the feelings
revolving around the body healing itself.
Another area of alternative medicine is energy medicine.
This calls for energy fields that are used to help the body
parts heal that have gotten out of harmony. Examples of
energy medicine are Tai Chi, Raiki, and therapeutic touch.
Complementary medicine, on the other hand, is applying the
patterns of alternative medicine in harmony with
conventional medicine. This way, the patient experiences the
benefit of the healing powers of a particular practice of
alternative medicine such as aromatherapy or acupuncture
along with a procedure that is conventional medicine such as
surgery.
A "complete approach to patient care" is integrative
medicine. Those that apply it are centered the whole patient
including the body, mind and spirit of the individual
presenting with an illness. - 15668
For more information about
(http://alternativemedicinefactsandinfo.com/) alternative
medicine, visit
(http://alternativemedicinefactsandinfo.com/) Alternative
Medicine Facts and Info
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New Unique Article!
Title: Alternative Medicine, What Is It
Author: Dave Owen
Email: articles@finetuninghealth.com
Keywords: alternative medicine,health,family health
Word Count: 524
Category: Health & Fitness:Alternative Medicine
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