Alternative and Complementary Medicine:
Enduring Medicine, Contemporary Fusions
by Howard Tiano
The phrases alternative medicine and complementary medicine
are often mistakenly utilized as synonyms. Actually, the designation alternative medicine
refers to medicine systems like chiropractic or acupuncture,
that are used in place of conventional medicine, while complementary medicine
refersto those therapies like massage that are practiced in combination
with conventional, or allopathic medicine.
Both end up assumining the same role in many
western nations, who are beginning to concur that that these medicinal therapies
are a significant element of healing. That is why in popular jargon,
alternative medicine has come to be known as complementary
medicine.
Noteably, an essential facet of complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM) is that it focuses on the patient as a whole. The
treatment is based not only on the person's physical symptoms,
but also on the individual's lifestyle, environment, nutrition, mental
and emotional well-being
; sometimes even their spiritual health.
That is why alternative medicine is considered holistic medicine.
Most followers concur that acupuncture, osteopathy,
chiropractic, Ayurveda, homeopathy and herbal
medicine as the most essential forms of alternative and complementary
medicine.
Barring homeopathy, almost all of the alternative and
complementary medicine disciplines developed in ancient periods
in countries like Egypt, Tibet, Persia and the Far East. Some countries,
notably India and China, are employing their expertise in alternative
and complementary medicine to foster what has come to
be known as medical tourism. A significant quantity of westerners
are traveling to these Asian Nations to look for holistic cures.
In the West too, a great amount of women are employing
aromatherapy and massage, while men are turning to
alternative and complementary medicine to feel better from
sports injuries or back trouble.
The other medical matters for which practitioners are
turning to CAM are chronic maladies
like arthritis, cystitis,
asthma or chronic fatigue. Even the World Health Organization
(WHO) has accepted the value of holistic therapies. Among
the maladies that WHO believes can be alleviated with these
methods are asthma, eczema, digestive disorders and
headaches.
This growing acceptance of alternative and complementary
medicine is a healthy signal for the world, because the
Fusions that have been so created are helping to tackle
many incurable diseases. In the final analysis, we
should not forget that alternative and complementary
medicine systems started thousands of years ago, and
have been successful in healing millions of people through
the ages.
Copyright © 2005 Howard Tiano, has studied optimum health
techniques for three decades, and came to alternative medicine
through a family health crises. Alternative-Medicine-Resources.com
was created to inform visitors of available treatments beyond standard
medical solutions, and cut through the politics and hype! Know your options,
and optimize your health! http://www.alternative-medicine-resource.com
