MODERN VS. ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Modern: symptomatic treatment
Alternative: prevention with healthy lifestyle and nutrition
Modern: according to symptoms, focus on the diseased organ with treatment
Alternative: healing of the body as a whole
Modern: symptom-medication-side effect-more medication-vitamin deficiency due to medication-even more medication.
Alternative: diet, combination of herbs, nutrition and vitamin replacement to help the body to heal itself
POSSIBILITIES OF INTEGRATION
The discoveries in modern medicine offer quick diagnosis, life saving treatments and surgeries but are not really equipped for the prevention or the treatment of chronic conditions. In integrating modern and alternative medicine, we can reach better health and also keep it.
Modern medicine offers mostly one size fits all medication, diet and exercise. Alternative medicine is more personalized. It takes into account the patient's physical and mental state as well as preferences. Aerobic exercise is a good cardiovascular workout, but for sedentary, heavy people it is torture. For them, the longer walk will be satisfying and they will do it, while if we insist on the aerobic exercise, they will sit on the couch feeling guilty and munch on a donut. For energetic, fidgety people, the walking exercise is not enough, they will be happy to do aerobics and feel satisfied.
The diet advice is usually one size fits all as well, not to mention the ever changing opinions of diet requirements. Today drink milk, tomorrow it is a poison for you. Today eat meat, tomorrow be a vegetarian but after tomorrow you need some meat anyway. No fat at all today but tomorrow have some because of your deficiency in fat soluble vitamins. Sounds familiar?
According to natural healing methods, what is medicine for one, can be poison for another. A good alternative practitioner takes into account the physical and emotional factors, medical history, chronic conditions and medication usage of a person in order to develop a diet plan for that person. With good nutrition, healthy lifestyle and exercise, many conditions, organ damage or the development of chronic diseases can be prevented by giving the body what it needs to build and heal itself.
Modern medicine mostly concentrates on symptomatic treatment with aggressive therapy, alternative therapy focuses on restoring the balance and enhancing the body's self healing abilities.
Can we integrate the two healing methods? Yes, to meet in the middle. How?
In asthma attacks, the inhaled or injected medicine is a lifesaver but herbal teas, diet change or acupuncture can reduce the frequency and strength of the attacks.
Throat cancer can be treated with radiation but it burns very painful blisters in the mouth and throat. Rinsing the mouth with sesame oil before treatment will prevent the mucus from burning but will not interfere with the treatment. Chronic rheumatoid pain is debilitating, the side effects of the pain medications are even worse. Using aromatherapy massage, acupuncture and anti-inflammatory herbs can make the pain tolerable without the side effects. With gout, get advice from an alternative practitioner on diet, to reduce uric acid buildup which is the cause of the condition.
In the case of Insulin dependent diabetes, follow the doctor's advice, but talk to an alternative therapist to develop a diet and exercise plan, as well as herbal therapy for liver and circulatory system protection. The examples are endless
The solution? Take your health into your own hands. Use both healing methods to your advantage for prevention as well as treatment wisely.
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In case of appendicitis, please, call the surgeon, not the alternative practitioner!
