History has it that alternative medicine goes back 5000 years to Chinese traditional medicine, Indian (Ayuryedic medicine) and similar healing traditions in many cultures. The common belief was that the energy of the body had to be in harmony with the mind, body and spirit. A doctor merely facilitated the healing by identifying and taking away obstacles that would inevitably lead to a cure. Therapy included lifestyle changes, self-care and preventative measures.

Today, what we know of as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has roots going back 5,000 years to Chinese (traditional Chinese medicine), Indian (Ayurvedic medicine) and similar healing traditions. For thousands of years, these diverse medical traditions held a belief in the energy of the body and the need for harmony between mind, body and spirit. Doctor’s simply facilitated the healing process by identifying and removing obstacles.

Throughout most of the 19th century, doctors used the same skills as today’s herbalists, osteopaths and dieticians; they were generous with time and empathy, and relied on a good bedside manner. Prayer was important, as was “a change of air,” laxatives, bleeding and leeches. Right up until the early 20th century, sick people relied on much the same kind of therapies as their ancestors.

The decades following the Second World War brought significant changes. As GP and journalist, James Lefanu noted in his book, The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine, written in the 50s, a series of medical breakthroughs proved beyond a doubt that previous attempts at healing were nothing more than mere quackery. New medical breakthroughs included the discovery of penicillin, cortisone (a powerful anti-inflammatory medicine), streptomycin (a powerful antibiotic that is effective in treating tuberculosis), insulin (to treat diabetes) and chlorpromazine (an anti-psychotic that controls schizophrenia). Open-heart surgery, hip replacements, kidney transplants, intensive care and successful vaccination programs saved and improved the quality of countless of millions of lives.

It’s no surprise that so much power to alter human destiny would lead, as Lefanu suggests, “to the resultant abandonment of homely remedies such as massage, manipulation and dietary advice, only for them to be taken up by alternative practitioners.” This is exactly what happened – with a dramatic explosion in the growth of ‘alternative’ therapies throughout the second half of the 20th century. Alongside modern medicine, CAM began to develop as an entirely separate discipline – contemptuous of the achievements of mainstream medicine, while at the same time dismissed by mainstream practitioners as ineffective and fraudulent. For most people, getting the best from mainstream and alternative medicine was a delicate operation. Those who opted for both mainstream and alternative medical care found that the best strategy was to remain quite to avoid criticism. Those who did try to use both services learnt that in order to avoid criticism.

By: Elizabeth Morgan

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Take the natural route to a better health and life by looking for the qualified holistic and naturopathic medical doctor in town. The holistic or naturopathic doctor that is talked about is the one who has the capability to cure patients with devastating and hard to cure diseases through the unique blend of conventional western medicine and alternative medicine. Getting more particular with these two branches of medicine, holistic doctors are more concerned on dealing with from hard to cure diseases such as heart disease, cancer, HIV or AIDS, high blood pressure, depression, infertility, menopausal symptoms, prostatitis and diabetes. In the treatment procedure they usually use natural and dietary procedure to prove more efficiency in curing their patient’s illness. The other branch of medicine which is the naturopathic medicine mainly specializes in using natural cure and treatment procedures. Doctors under this field uses herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, diet, lifestyle and exercise modifications, natural hormone therapy, intravenous vitamins, minerals and herbs and all other treatments that fall under the natural treatment category. These doctors are regarded as alternative medicine doctor natural health practitioners.

Being an alternative medicine doctor natural health who promotes well being does not need to solely rely on the knowledge and skills that he earned during his study. He has to develop other values such like providing quality time listening to his patients to actually understand the problem and the pain that the patient is suffering from. With good listening skills, he will gain the wisdom to determine the patient’s sickness thus knowing the right and cost effective treatment that the patient could have. The naturopathic doctor is suggested to be consulted in cases of devastating and hard to cure diseases because of its capacity to determine the very root of the disease. Though their particular knowledge about natural treatments and cure they can dig into the problem and get the very cause of the disease whether it is improper nutrition, bad diet or insufficient body mineral supply. The findings and the advice of the naturopathic doctor will be very significant to improve the patient’s treatment procedure and recovery stage.

Just keep an eye on the well known and expert naturopathic doctor or alternative medicine doctor natural health practitioner in your area. It’s best to find the doctor within the town vicinity for consultation and regular check up accessibility and convenience. If you don’t know anyone in your town that specializes in naturopathic medicine, use the internet to locate one. Some naturopathic doctors had their advertisements online. There you will find their complete qualification, educational background, practice experience and other information that makes them excel in the medical world. All you have to do is to ask the internet for their list so that you can immediately make your choice and have your disease cured the natural and cost efficient way.

By: Ian Pennington

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Alternative medicine schools are educational institutions in which the processes and practices of non-Western medicine are taught and disseminated. This is a valuable addition to the health industry. There are a number of schools in the US, that offer education in various branches of alternative medicine including degree programs in holistic health care, naturopathy, Chinese herbology and medicine, acupuncture, nutrition, clinical counseling, psychology, spiritual psychology, Avurveda and more.

Three the well known alternative schools are Five Branches Institute, College and Clinic of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine an Southwestern College.

Five Branches Institute, College and Clinic of Traditional Chinese Medicine located in Santa Cruz and San Jose, California emphasizes traditional Chinese medical theory and diagnosis, acupuncture, herbology and Western Medicine. They offer a Master’s program as well as Doctoral degrees.

The University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine located in Connecticut awards a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine to students who complete four years of study. Naturopathic medicine is a system of primary health care that practices prevention, diagnosis and treating conditions of the human mind and body.

Southwestern College in Scottsdale, Arizona creates a holistic approach to learning, counseling and psychology. Based on psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, systemic and transpersonal psychology, each theory is applied to students’ personal transformation and professional development.

The interest in alternative medicine has prompted many medical schools to add complementary alternative medical (CAM) courses to their curriculums. It has become quite apparent that patients are seeing physicians who not only practice conventional medicine, but alternative medicine as well.

By: Elizabeth Morgan

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Alternative medicine has grown in so many ways in North America. More people are visiting alternative medical practitioners than Western medical doctors. People spend more money on alternative medicine than they do out-of-pocket on Western medicine.

Another way that alternative medicine has grown is in the different labels. We have so many!

What do they all mean?

All these terms refer to a wide variety of healthcare practices originating from various countries and cultures. They include acupuncture, yoga, herbs, vitamin therapy, nutrition, exercise, reiki, reflexology, polarity and many, many other therapies.

However, each label also has its own unique twist when referring to this set of practices.

Let me take the labels one-by-one and give you a short description. Please note that these are my descriptions for each term, and other people may not agree. But I think I’m using the most widely-used definitions here.

Alternative Medicine

The term alternative medicine is probably the oldest and most widely used term. Unfortunately, it is also the most misleading.

Alternative medicine means that these healthcare practices (acupuncture, yoga, etc.) are used instead of Western medicine. A patient swears off any type of pharmaceutical drug or surgical technique and uses only Chinese medicine or homeopathy or whatever.

This hardly ever happens. Few patients are so myopic to close themselves off from all Western medical treatments. It really isn’t advisable. I know many, many holistic practitioners and I’ve never heard any of them advise a patient to close themselves off from Western medicine. How silly! Western medicine has its own benefits to offer too, why ignore them.

But, that is the real definition of alternative medicine. You can see why it is being phased out slowly.

Complementary Medicine

A newer term is complementary medicine. This means that the practices I list above may be used as a complement to Western medicine. You go to your doctor, and he prescribes some drugs and/or surgery, then if that doesn’t work, he asks you to try some other complementary approaches. Or, it may also mean when the above practices are used side-by-side with Western medicine. An example of this is when acupuncture is used for chemotherapy cancer patients to relieve the nausea and pain. This would be considered complementary medicine.

Be careful of the spelling here too. Complementary means a side-by-side approach to medicine. Complimentary means that it is free, no charge.

Integrative Medicine

A term pioneered by Dr. Andrew Weil from the University of Arizona is integrative medicine.

This means that physicians (Western and otherwise) have an integrated system of medicine that involves certain pieces of Western medicine and certain parts from the Chinese, Indian, etc. therapies that I listed above. All the therapies intermix and you have the best possible “super therapy” as a result.

As much as I like and respect Dr. Weil, I have to say that my experience says that truly integrative medicine does not yet exist anywhere yet. I’ve never seen a physician or any kind of practitioner who has an integrated plan for his patients that includes little bits of Western medicine and bits from multiple holistic practices.

This is probably the “Holy Grail” of medicine, but I think it will be a long time coming. The clinics that proclaim themselves to be “integrative medicine” centers are usually just a collection of different practitioners who share the rent together in one building. True integration would be great, I just haven’t seen it happen.

Wellness

If the previous terms have been misleading or overly optimistic, this term is really succinct and accurate. The term wellness applies to everything a person does to stay well. It is all about prevention and achieving the greatest health a person can achieve.

This is extremely accurate in describing the Chinese or Indian systems of medicine. And it is the best possible advice for patients, to get them on the track of staying well, rather than fixing illnesses.

But, as you might guess, this term has a problem too. (Don’t they all?) Wellness has been hijacked as a label for “early detection of disease.” Many hospitals have a “Wellness Center” where they conduct cancer screenings and do unnecessary MRI scans to look for problems or potential problems. These are great profit centers for the hospitals, but unfortunately they have ZERO to do with wellness.

Wellness is about eating right, getting enough sleep, exercising, taking the right herbs and having great relationships. It is NOT about early detection of disease. That doesn’t help you stay well, it just allows you to jump on an illness before it has the chance to become life-threatening. Valuable, sure, but it is not wellness.

Holistic Health

Finally, we come to the term holistic health. You could also call it holistic medicine or holistic practices. It is also sometimes spelled “wholistic.”

Holistic comes from “the whole.” It means to take a person as a whole being. The Chinese and Indian healing systems see a person, not just as a physical body, but as a body-mind-spirit. Their healing practices allow for all parts of the person and treat all parts equally. They have methodologies for solving problems in all three areas, and especially for finding problems that crisscross between body, mind and spirit (which most health problems do).

Holistic health is my favorite term. It too has problems, though. Sometimes, holistic health is perceived as a “New Age” term, evoking angels and witches and crystal balls. These off-beat practices can certainly be included as part of holistic health, but they are not at its center. Practices like naturopathy, homeopathy, Chinese medicine, Indian ayurveda are truly about holistic health.

But it will be hard to shake the New Age association for people who use the term holistic health.

There’s your whirlwind tour of definitions for alternative medicine. I hope this has been helpful. Use the definition that makes most sense to you. And be well!

By: Daryl Kulak

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Alternative medicine has a number of benefits. It is a practice of consuming a medicine without the use of drugs. This may involve herbal medicines, self-awareness, biofeedback, or acupuncture. With alternative medicines, a person becomes an active participant in techniques involved in the cure. Individuals understand their physical body functions well and understand the way it relates to their health.

Holistic medicine comes under alternative medicine. Nature, as a whole, has an important role in the usage of fruits, herbs, detox, and vitamins for purification, stimulation and healing. Use of such therapies has gained popularity in recent times, since they offer great health benefits to users. Many people are directing their attention toward alternative medicine and natural therapies for prevention of illnesses and solving their day-to-day health-related issues.

Benefits and Usage:

The natural therapies present in alternative medicines are age-old as compared to western form of treatments such as antibiotics and surgeries. According to physicians, most alternative medicine therapies started with clinical impressions or scientific research. The medicines are safe and involve natural substances. One primary objective of alternative medicines is to relieve people from depending largely on drug usage and help them manage their lives naturally. For users’ convenience, below given are some ways to use alternative medicines:

1. People following an alternative medicine may do physical exercises such as osteopathy, yoga, infuse physical activity, tai chi, meditation and reflexology. To do these exercises, place the pillow on a surface providing comfort to the body, since these exercises stimulate and manipulate structural balance of the body. In addition, the exercises improve overall bodily functions. Users may practice these exercises for mental, physical, spiritual and emotional benefits.

2. Users may undergo massage therapy, which involves manipulating and rubbing the body tissue for mental and physical relaxation. They may do this either at home or at a massage clinic. When at home, apply massage oils to the neck, forehead, feet and hands.

3. Change the way of thinking. Exercise the mind first, so the body follows it. Meditate for relaxing the mind, thinking positively and clearing stress. Take deep breaths for better healing. Simultaneously, make use of enhanced visualization of objects for forming good thought patterns.

4. For relaxing the body, drink herbal teas. Improvement of bodily functions depends on what people eat and drink, since the same relieves, stimulates and has a healing effect on the body. Consume fresh fruits, vegetables and vitamins daily so that the body gets essential nutrients. Drink ginger tea since it is effective in the cure of nausea and heals the body naturally.

5. Those who wish to develop strong bones and healthy muscles may seek the help of a chiropractor. Chiropractic is a method of treatment that manipulates the body structures, especially the spine to relieve low back pain or even headache or high blood pressure. The chiropractor shows people their pressure points.

6. A simple, yet curable method that comes under alternative therapy is laughter as being the best medicine. People have experienced miraculous changes in certain health disorders due to mere laughing. As such, it is advisable people watch comedy shows on TV. Read magazines and books that promote laughter. Alternately, cleanse the entire body with essential oils, herbs, fruits that have certain therapeutic benefits on the skin. Combine herbs, natural products and fruits together as a remedy to skin disorders.

7. Users may try alternative medicines such as the electromagnetic therapy and biofeedback, which controls body functions such as heart rate, brain activity and blood pressure.

People have turned to using alternative medicine, since it offers multiple health benefits and cures them from long-term ailments in a natural way.

By: Caleb Anderson

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Many people suffering from an illness or injury may be reluctant to try alternative medicine over conventional forms of treatment because of the cost. Many health insurance companies do not cover numerous necessary modern medical treatments, let alone alternative therapies. In the long run, however, alternative medicine treatments are cheaper to fund than those used in conventional medicine.



In The Beginning

Providing any type of insurance is big business these days, and that includes group health insurance for alternative treatments. The insurance company is selling you a service only because they want the profit that goes along with it. Many insurance companies feel intimidating, but remember that they need your business. While it may not appear so, most insurance policies are not carved in stone, so don’t be afraid to try to personalize it a little.

Group health insurance for alternative medicine means that a group of people would buy into the same plan. This is the usual plan that you would receive from your employer. As of now, you cannot get health insurance that covers alternative medicine just for yourself. There are group health insurance for alternative medicine plans that can be obtained through a social service agency or through other organizations. You should check the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for help finding these plans.

Times are changing, and more and more people are realizing the benefits of alternative medicine and demanding access to these services. Now, some health insurance policies will cover alternative treatments like chiropractic care, acupuncture, and even hypnotherapy. Check with your insurance company and start requesting the addition of alternative treatments to your plan. Organizing group health insurance (alternative or conventional medicine insurance) takes time and patience. However, there are a few things you can do to move towards being able to get some sort of compensation for your alternative medical treatment costs:

* Ask your provider if they will accept installment payments, instead of paying for services all at once.

* Have your primary care physician explain in writing why this treatment is necessary for your health and well being.

* Get in touch with the Alternative Medicine Foundation or the National Centre for Complimentary and Alternative medicines for research papers and other information your insurance company may need to convince them that the treatment you received was absolutely necessary to help your specific symptoms and ailment.

* Know and don’t be afraid to use your insurance company’s appeal process. If your claim is denied and you think it has been denied unfairly, then follow the steps outlined in the appeal process.

By: Ken Eng

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There are so many advantages of alternative medicine over modern medicine, that I want to spend a few moments looking at possible reasons why these are kept so well hidden, at least from the public eye.

If you were to listen to the media of the so called ‘free’ (western) world, you could be forgiven in thinking that there is no scientific evidence for, let alone advantages of alternative medicine. You would be convinced that modern medicine was the way to go.

But, according to Reporters Without Borders (for press freedom), the so called ‘free’ world doesn’t have free press. Britain only rates 23rd, Australia ranks lower at 28th and America trails at a miserable 36th for the 2008 figures.

So can you believe all you read?

Reporters Without Borders say “It is not economic prosperity, but peace that guarantees press freedom.”

So economic prosperity actually makes us less free. How? Well, one example is if a prosperous company spends millions of dollars advertising in say, a newspaper, the editors are going to be very reluctant to print anything controversial about said company.

Next time you open your newspaper or switch on a radio or TV channel with advertising, check out the biggest advertisers.

That may give you some idea why alternative medicine is not as popular as one would expect from the documented results.

There’s a saying that all truth goes through three phases.

1. It is ridiculed.

2. It is violently opposed.

3. It is accepted as being self evident.

Judging by the media publications in 2008 at least in some parts of Europe, I think the west has now advanced to stage two!

So lets look at some of the advantages of alternative medicine. As my expertise lies with homoeopathy, I’m going to be focusing on this, but some of the reasons will apply to other alternative therapies too.

1. There are no side effects. This is because alternative medicine works WITH the body, not in suppressing symptoms, as modern medicine does.

2. Medicines are cost effective. This means they are generally affordable by even the most financially compromised families.

3. Alternative medicines are generally ‘green’. By that I mean that they use natural substances processed simply. No high tech manufacturing processes which use hazardous and polluting chemicals or carbon polluting energy.

4. Substances or ingredients of ‘complexes’ are readily available, so you can even grow some of your own medicines, allowing you to keep control of the whole process. No secrecy or patents here!

5. Alternative medicines don’t just heal ailments. In the process, they allow for growth. In homoeopathy we see children putting on a growth spurt after they recover from a naturally treated disease. This doesn’t happen with a medically treated disease. Rather, it appears to hold the child back.

6. Alternative medicine recognizes the true nature of disease and sickness. That it is necessary for a growing child to experience as only this experience allows the immune system to develop into a healthy one by adulthood. It’s a bit like learning to ride a bicycle. You need to practice before you can ride properly.

7. Alternative medicine recognizes that physical symptoms only develop when you ignore the mental and emotional signs and symptoms. Which allows you the freedom to deal with these problems as they arise, and so never develop physical symptoms.

When you can fully grasp the advantages of alternative medicine, it truly blows your socks off. No longer are you kept in a state of fear by what might happen. Instead, you know your healthy immune system will work well for you, and that when it struggles, you will know.

No more scare mongering of impending pandemics for you! Because you are now in control of your life and your health, and as you are fully aware of the advantages of alternative medicine, you can be at peace with the world.

By: Madeleine Innocent

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We live in a busy world, when almost everyone loves to take things within their reach. We live in a world where fast food, remote control, TV, automobiles, gasoline, and electricity are a prerequisite. Modernization has its own conveniences, but it has its own downfalls. It makes us become busy all the time with all the details, so that we don’t have the time to study new things. Take, for instance, the practice of medicine nowadays. A patient comes in, and, after examination and history-taking he is being bombarded with a handful of pills to take with illegible prescription handwriting. The same thing happens to the second patient, then the third patient, and so on. Modern medicine is so monotonous that doctors appear too busy to research on alternative ways on how to promote good health and well-being.

Few of us medical practitioners realize the importance of alternative medicine, and how it opens venues for future research and for the formulation of custom protocols for the individual patient. We think of alternative medicine as “quack” treatments, but do we ever pause to study and examine it in detail so that we can learn from it and apply it to our practice?

Alternative medicine has been defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) as a form of healing practice which is “used in place of conventional medicine, such as using a special diet to treat cancer instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has been recommended by a conventional doctor.” It is different from complementary medicine, which is a healing practice being used together with standard medical care, e.g. using acupuncture to help with side effects of cancer treatment; or, integrative medicine, which “is a total approach to care that involves the patient’s mind, body, and spirit and combines standard medical treatments with CAM practices that have shown the most promise”. These three concepts are grouped together as Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM).

Do Americans use complementary and alternative medicine in their daily lives? Absolutely. The NCCAM has reported in 2007 that in the United States alone, 38 percent of adults (about 1 in 9) and approximately 12 percent of children (about 1 in 9) are using complementary and alternative medicine. It has also been found out that CAM use is greater among women and those with higher levels of education and higher incomes.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is further divided into four major categories: biologically based practices, energy medicine, manipulative and body-based practices. In addition, complementary and alternative medicine involves whole medical systems, in the form of homeopathic medicine, which seeks to stimulate the body’s ability to heal itself; traditional Chinese Medicine which uses herbs, meditation, and massage to obtain balance in the body; Ayurveda which originated in India; and Naturopathic Medicine, which supports the body’s ability to heal itself through the use of dietary and lifestyle changes together with herbs, massage and joint manipulation.

Naturopathic medicine trusts in the healing power of nature, such that it avoids synthetics drugs, radiation and major surgery. It stresses the importance of preventive medicine, that is, prevention of illnesses through a healthy, stress free lifestyle.

In this world of pollution, garbage, junk food, bacterial and viral gene mutations, the practice of naturopathic medicine among health practitioners is essential. Synthetic drugs are but a part of the traditional medical system which sees patients as a group, not as an individual. Have you ever wondered why, as practicing health care practitioners, some patients seem to get better than the others? This fact has nothing to do with compliance and risk stratification, as many compliant patients and many young, healthy patients die. This only proves the fact that each of us has a unique genetic make-up. Each patient is unique, thus patient care should be individualized and not commercialized for mass consumption. Thus, we should pave the way for revolutionary medicine-medicine which changes as the world changes; medicine which is not stagnant but is adaptable to change, dynamic and patient-oriented.

The latest breakthrough in naturopathic medicine is plant stem cells therapy. Plant stem cells is a form of therapy which used extracts from buds, young shoots and young roots. These plant parts were chosen to be made into extracts because they were believed to be the center of a plant’s energy and thus, they are the main source of therapeutic effects. These parts, made into plant stem cells, also differ from the adult plant parts because they are less exposed to toxins and pollution.

Plant stem cells contain biologic energy and the genetic information for future plants. Plant stem cells also have an abundance of precious substances such as growth hormones, including auxins, gibberellins, ethylene, abscisic acid, cytokinins, nucleic acids, minerals, oligoelements, flavonoids, vitamins and enzymes. Plant stem cells contain auxins, which are plant hormones which were discovered by Charles Darwin in 1880. These plant stem cells stimulate cell growth and strengthen the immune system. These plant stem cells also contain Indoleacetic acud which helps regenerate tissues and lessens inflammation.

Plant stem cells also contain gibberellins, which stimulate RNA and protein synthesis. The cytokinins found in plant stem cells protect cells as they go into the process of cell division, thus they show promise in cancer therapy. Abscisic acid, also found in plant stem cells create resistance to stress. Thus it is not surprising that plant stem cells are now being used for athletes, growth problems in children, replacement therapy for aging, adjunct to would healing. Plant stem cell therapy increases exercise endurance, facilitates healing after illnesses and hospitalizations. Plant stem cells reverses skin and body aging, firms muscles, reduces weight and body fat, enhances memory, improves vision, makes skin soft, smooth and firm, reverses osteoporosis due to its osteoblastic action, and improves sleep.

Thus plant stem cells are a revolutionary type of therapy in the field of complementary and alternative medicine. Firstly, it is because plant stem cells, as a form of naturopathic treatment, makes the doctor practice the adage “primum non nocere” (first, do no harm), because this type of therapy is effective yet poses the least risk to humans. Secondly, plant stem cells support the healing power of nature inherent in each human being. Third is that plant stem cells remove the causes of diseases and does not suppress and eliminates the symptoms only, unlike synthetic drugs. Fourthly, plant stem cells make the doctor a teacher and a researcher because it encourages him to assume full responsibility over a patient’s health and not delegate it to pharmaceutical companies who do not recognize their patients as individuals but as a pack of people where they could throw their pills at without recognizing their specific individual needs. Fifth, plant stem cells treat the whole person and emphasize the condition of health to promote well-being and prevent diseases for the individual, community and the whole world.

By: Gabs Laguna

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Alternative Medicine

This is basically termed as any healing process or health care system that does not come under the sphere of conventional treatments but which has shown to produce reliable and commendable results, having the distinctive ability to cure most deadly diseases known to mankind including Cancer. The thought of a realistic Alternative Cancer Cure remedy emerging by exploiting these unique methods of healing has never been more important than it is today. It also needs to be stressed that medicine defined as alternative in one continent may be considered mainstream in another, especially in the Oriental and South Asian cultures. Alternative therapies are most often based on precise health regimens that generate unique and efficacious healing tendencies inside the body, even though little scientific evidence supports this theory, compared to the meticulous standards of authentication employed by traditional medicine to substantiate such beliefs of comprehensive cure. Rather it relatively entails exclusive methods of healing that literally encompasses cultural and historical inclinations, with even modest or no scientific verification desired or required by such alternative practitioners. Some examples of these therapies include: Herbalism, Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, and traditional Chinese medicine. In many of these treatments, in addition to a combination of other routines, it allocates considerable importance on healthy diet-based rehabilitation to accomplish rapid recovery of the body from any ailment.

Several mainstream campaigners have frequently begun to advocate that such alternative techniques should be complimented with conventional treatments as well, but quite appropriately an enormously significant section of the alternative therapy community have vehemently opposed this notion, as the diversity in these two healing foundations are understandably far too conflicting. It is therefore coherently preferred instead, to emphasize solely on this distinctly exceptional approach of healing rather than clustering the two procedures together which could simply complicate and compromise both methodologies adversely. Usually any claims of accomplishment made by alternative practitioners are rarely or never accepted by the conventional community, since there is almost always a lack of proof or strong collaborative evidence of efficacy and safety allied with these treatments. These unfortunate realities have caused the conventional lobby to brand alternative therapies as just a set of practices that either could not be confirmed, reject confirmation or even fail basic corroboration on a consistent basis. Conversely, if any alternative practice establishes credible scientific evidence of effectiveness with supplementary secure procedures of implementation, it is then considered mainstream medicine and not alternative any longer.

As a general rule, alternative medicine tends to fall short of the so-called scientific evidence required regardless of its time-tested and expansively proven efficiency in curing many infirmities of the human body. There again due to this scenario, it has caused many mainstream activists to characterize alternative methods as either evidence-less remedies or even refusing to describe it as medicine by any contemporary classification. Nevertheless, a few sensible mainstream researchers argue that imposing the credible evidence-based constrains on alternative therapies are inequitable since many modern measures of healing identified as mainstream, is deficient of these same stringent standards of concrete scientific evidence. But they all concur in unison that any system of therapy or medication, whether alternative or conventional, ought to have at least the very bare minimum standards of entrenched evidence in order to warrant unconditional acknowledgment.

Despite the setbacks faced by these genuine alternative methods of cure, which has been unjustly depicted as dismal, awkward or even fictional, the undeniable fact remains that the outcome it fabricates is extensively recognized and endorsed by the majority of the mainstream community. However, it is also clearly accepted by these traditional crusaders that an ideal state has still not been attained, by either alternative or conventional treatments, as ultimate evidence-substantiate medication.

Ayurveda Treatment

Ayurveda therapy is a particular native system of remedies that has been chiefly practiced in the Indian subcontinent, with claims of astounding accomplishments in the treatment and cure of countless so-called incurable diseases, including many common types of Cancer. It is now beginning to be acknowledged widely by the developed world as a viable Alternative Cancer Cure technique, as well as a promising method of treatment for many other discrepancies of the body. Having evolved effectively through the centuries, Ayurvedic remedies continue to remain a decisive and highly influential form of therapy in numerous South Asian cultures.

The word Ayurveda is of Sanskrit origin and is a combination of two meanings: Life and Knowledge or The Science of Life. The initial literature on these healing methods appeared during the Vedic period, while there were also significant works demonstrated in the Sushruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita texts of that era as well. At the time, practitioners of Ayurveda discovered a vast number of medicinal formulas and even surgical procedures that cured an array of diseases such as Cancer and others, with immense success. As maintained by heritage, Ayurveda is essentially an annexure of the four central Vedas or awareness frameworks. The most renowned of treaties were the Charaka Samhita, which dealt in minute detail to the prevention and cure of disease while the Sushruta Samhita concentrated solely on surgical solutions.

Ayurveda is fundamentally built upon the foundations of the five grand metaphysic elements: Air, Earth, Fire, Space and Water which is believed to be the edifice of the entire universe including the human being. The following seven constituents: Chyle or Bodily-Fluid, Blood, Bone, Flesh, Fat, Marrow, ***** or the female reproductive requisites are believed to be the key rudiments of the body. And in the scheme of Ayurveda the supreme balance of three specific essentials: Air or Spirit, Bile and Phlegm are strongly emphasized on, as these are said to be symbolized by divine might. Accordingly, these three regulatory basics that are envisaged are perceived to be of paramount importance to the human body, in maintaining an appropriate balance of the internal mechanism so that it could function flawlessly.

Therefore, in Ayurvedic treatment it is considered enormously imperative to provide these three prerequisites, along with the other seven, with an absolute equilibrium so as to enable the human being to survive and thrive on this earth, with little or no possibility of demise by way of disease. The Ayurvedic philosophy also propagates that preventing a malady merits wider prominence than curing it, and as such the radical changing of negative lifestyle is compellingly recommended. These transformations would ideally center on healthy diet and physical exercise which brings together mind and body or soul and conscience, into perfect unanimity thus guaranteeing vibrant health. Furthermore, this is primarily initiated to align, direct and harmonize the body with the four seasons of nature that would in turn ensure complete wellbeing of the individual.

By: Roger De Niese

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We Used Heart Disease as the Bench Mark

We took the most serious disease in modern history, heart disease, and compared the leading solutions from modern and alternative medicine.

Leading Alternative Treatment: The Transcendental Meditation Program

The Transcendental Meditation Program has been taught to over six million people world wide. The program offers many health benefits and is especially effective at treating high blood pressure and heart disease.

Leading Conventional Treatment: Lipitor

Lipitor is the most sold pharmaceutical drug in the world, with annual sales of $12.9 billion dollars. It is used for reducing cholesterol, with the idea being that this will reduce the risk of heart disease.

Comparison

Lipitor

Approach

Lipitor reduces cholesterol with the intention of also reducing the risk of a heart attack.

Effectiveness

While Lipitor has been proven to be effective at reducing cholesterol, there is no evidence that it reduces the risk of heart disease*.

Side Effects

Memory Loss, Muscle Pains, Headaches, fatigue, rashes and many more.

Transcendental MeditationProgram

Approach

Reduces stress in the body, resulting in lower blood pressure and improved overall health.

Effectiveness

Has not only been able to reduce high blood pressure, but also to reduce the risk having a heart attack. In a 17 year long peer reviewed study conducted by the NIH (National Institute of Health) the Transcendental Meditation Program reduced heart attack related moralities by 30%.

Side Effects

No known harmful side effects.

*Accept in patients who already had chronic heart disease whom account for only a very small percentage of the people taking the drug.

Conclusion

The world is spending 12.9 billion dollars on a drug that does nothing, and has many harmful side effects, when they could be using a simple meditation technique to achieve the desired goal.

The Transcendental Meditation Program has been fortunate enough to have been the subject of many research studies (over six hundred), which is why it served as a good example in this benchmark. However there are most likely many other cases where alternative medicine is more effective than modern medicine but which have not yet been researched as extensively.

Of course there are many situations where modern medicine is extremely useful. For example if you if you have a serious infection then antibiotics are obviously a good idea. But if your looking for the best way to prevent heart disease (or cancer), then stick with a proven solution like Transcendental Meditation.

By: John E Moore

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