What is alternative medicine and what illnesses can it treat?

alternative medicine

We all hear about alternative medicine, which occupies a space in the methods of treatment. Many people nowadays use alternative medicine as a way to heal their illnesses, which may be physical or psychological.

Many research was done, and is still being done about the widespread of alternative medicine, types of A.M., whether are they effective or not, and their effect on both children and adults, even their effect on different types of diseases like cancer.

Alternative medicine is the use of methods to cure the illness rather than the conventional methods of medicine. Many kinds of alternative medicine differ from one culture to another, the habits of the people, and the degree of their faithfulness in the power of the alternative medicine methods

Acupuncture is one of the Chinese methods which is considered one of the eldest and most common methods of treatment in history. Also, herbal medicine is very common in China. They use herbs for almost everything and believe in their healing powers.

In Arabic countries, the use of herbal medicine is common as they use the herbs in their daily life.

Also, there is massage which is the Chinese method also, massage is one of the commonest methods used for the relaxation process, now it’s worldwide spread and a lot of people do.

Many people seek to get rid of their daily stress by doing yoga.

Many other people like naturopathy, chiropractic medicine, meditation, Ayurveda, homeopathy, and hypnosis.

Also, many methods appear nowadays, which were not known, many people seek to treat the other by making the patient think that they are the only savior from their illness, which leads to surprising they get better.

There are many reasons which make them use alternatives.

Some arise in cultures, which believe that alternative medicine is the only way to get rid of their illness, so alternative medicine will be more congruent with their values, beliefs, and philosophical orientations toward health and life. Some are afraid of drugs’ side effects and any kind of medical intervention so they go to alternative methods. Or they get uncomfortable with conventional medicine; some seek it as the final step when they had an end-stage illness and no hope by conventional methods.

Now trend to teach alternative medicine in the university with conventional medicine is existing, and some universities started to teach A.M.

Alternative medicine is used by rheumatology patients, obese patients, multiple sclerosis, cancers, and psychological patients.

JeffN

Amna Sheikh is a medical doctor with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Bachelors in Economics and Statistics.  She is also a medical writer working as a freelancer for 10+ years and she is specialized in medical, health, and pharmaceutical writing, regulatory writing & clinical research. All her work is supported by a strong academic and professional experience.
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