Alternative medicine is a a comprehensive approach to healing that uses natural methods to bring physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual harmony. It does not rely on drugs, surgery, and other conventional medical procedures.
History of Alternative Medicine
Alternative medicine dates back as far as 5,000 B.C.E. with Traditional Chinese Medicine in China and Ayurvedic Medicine in India. Healing traditions also exist in most cultures, from African to South American.
These forms of medicine are based on the harmony between mind, body, and spirit and a belief in the vital energy of the body. True health is achieved when there is balance in the whole person and harmony with the environment.
Principles of Alternative Medicine
- Illness is a manifestation of an imbalance in the whole person.
- Alternative therapies use the healing power of nature. It is based on the body’s innate ability to establish, maintain, and restore health.
- The doctor facilitates the healing process and identifies and removes obstacles to health.
- The underlying cause of disease must be treated, rather than merely masking the symptoms.
- Alternative medicine is based on the harmony between physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and environmental.
- The doctor's role is to educate the patient on lifestyle changes, self-care, and prevention of disease.
- The ultimate goal of health is to promote optimal health. The doctor assesses risk factors and teaches the patient to improve these areas.
Why is this considered "alternative medicine"?
The separation of conventional medicine, based on drugs and surgery, and alternative medicine really occurred in the early 20th century. It can be traced back to the separation of mind and body, the legacy of philosopher Rene Descartes.
This dualism between mind and body was believed to have led to a medical focus on individual body parts and organ systems rather than looking at the human being as a whole.
The discovery of bacteria, viruses, and fungi was another factor that influenced the progression of medicine. Infecting germs were believed to cause disease, rather than the harmony and strength of a person's internal environment.
Users of alternative medicine believe that the focus of conventional medicine is too narrow. Drugs don't address the reasons why illness develops. People start to believe that chronic diseases such as digestive problems, headaches, allergies, and heartburn are a way of life, and once it happens there will be a pharmaceutical drug to take away the symptoms. The power of a person to prevent disease is forgotten.
Types of Alternative Therapies
Examples of natural treatments include: diet, exercise, counseling, herbal medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, bodywork, energy therapies, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and yoga.
Alternative Medicine is also known as... Holistic medicine, natural medicine, holistic medicine, and complementary medicine.
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