Alternative medicine information
Alternative medicine is a broad term that refers to any form or approach to health care that falls outside the scope of conventional Western medicine. It comes in many different forms and is also sometimes called complementary or integrative medicine. Technically, alternative medicine refers to forms of treatment that are used in place of Western medicine, although in practice the terms alternative, complementary and integrative medicine are often used interchangeably.
A wide variety of approaches falls under the umbrella of alternative medicine, from cutting-edge treatments to approaches to medicine that are thousands of years old. Some of the common ones include acupuncture, massage and meditation. Movement therapies like tai chi, yoga and qi gong are considered to be a form of alternative medicine in many circles, as are the spinal manipulations performed by chiropractors and osteopathic physicians. Relaxation techniques like deep breathing fit the alternative medicine category as well. And vitamins, herbs, probiotics and foods that are treated as medicine are another large category of alternative medicine.
Though the term alternative technically means in place of, the reality is that the majority of people who practice alternative medicine do so as a complement to conventional or Western medicine. For example, someone might attend acupuncture and massage sessions for pain management along with seeing a medical doctor (an M.D.) Similarly, older adults might take a daily fish oil capsule to protect heart health, but then seek more direct conventional treatment if needed. And movement methods like tai chi and yoga can often be incorporated into everyday practice for overall health and well-being. In recent decades, the appreciation and respect, as well as the validity based on scientific research, of many forms of alternative medicine have grown. Today, its not uncommon for many practitioners of Western medicine to accept and recommend some of these treatments to their patients as complements to their standard care. Alternative medicine is a term that describes medical treatments that are used instead of traditional (mainstream) therapies. Some people also refer to it as integrative, or complementary medicine. About 40% of adults in the United States say they use some form of alternative medicine. But exactly what types of therapies are considered alternative? The definition changes as doctors test and move more of them into the mainstream.
This article examines some popular alternative medical treatments and their potential risks and benefits. This is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that uses needles to stimulate specific points around the body. The person who performs this therapy (an acupuncturist) sticks thin, sterile needles into your skin. The goal is to help your bodys natural healing process kick in. Studies show that acupuncture can be effective in treating a number of conditions, like neck and back pain, nausea, anxiety, depression, insomnia, infertility, and more. This practice focuses on the bodys structure -- mainly the spine --and how it functions. A trained professional called a chiropractor uses different techniques to adjust (manipulate) your spine or other parts of your body so that theyre in proper form, or alignment. The goal of chiropractic medicine is to ease pain, improve body function, and help your body to heal itself naturally. Much of the research around it has focused on low back pain. But studies show chiropractic can also be helpful for a number of other ailments, like headaches, neck pain, joint problems in your upper and lower body, and disorders caused by whiplash.
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