Those unfamiliar with alternative medicine might imagine it as a bizarre practice reserved for witch doctors, herbalists, and anti-government crusaders who don’t trust scientific research. The truth, however, is quite a bit different.
Alternative medicine does indeed refer to any medical therapy without scientifically proven health benefits, but a lack of supporting data doesn’t mean that these health treatment approaches have no value. Alternative therapies can provide patients with a variety of treatment options not offered by traditional medicine.
Alternative medicine encompasses a wide range of specialties, which may include:
Alternative Medicine Advantages
The benefits to these therapies can be significant for those willing to try them. Alternative therapies, unlike traditional medicine, don’t usually rely on pharmaceutical treatment of issues and instead try to address underlying causes of problems. These therapies:
Detractors decry the positive results that may come from alternative medicine as delivering only a “placebo” effect, but those in favor of these therapies argue that any method of healthcare that can provide symptom relief without the need for expensive examinations and drugs is worth considering.
Drawbacks
Alternative medicine is not without its downsides, though. Some of the problems associated with its use include:
The lack of scientific research behind many alternative medicine therapies makes their use controversial. While some patients have seen results from their use, their effect is hard to measure and often can’t be replicated, making them a wild card in the healthcare industry.
Alternative medicine does indeed refer to any medical therapy without scientifically proven health benefits, but a lack of supporting data doesn’t mean that these health treatment approaches have no value. Alternative therapies can provide patients with a variety of treatment options not offered by traditional medicine.
Alternative medicine encompasses a wide range of specialties, which may include:
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic care
- Homeopathy
- Energy manipulation
- Faith healing
Alternative Medicine Advantages
The benefits to these therapies can be significant for those willing to try them. Alternative therapies, unlike traditional medicine, don’t usually rely on pharmaceutical treatment of issues and instead try to address underlying causes of problems. These therapies:
- Don’t require constant regimens of medication
- Have fewer side effects
- Are often less expensive
- Take a more holistic approach to health care
Detractors decry the positive results that may come from alternative medicine as delivering only a “placebo” effect, but those in favor of these therapies argue that any method of healthcare that can provide symptom relief without the need for expensive examinations and drugs is worth considering.
Drawbacks
Alternative medicine is not without its downsides, though. Some of the problems associated with its use include:
- A lack of proven effectiveness
- Common use of untested or unknown variables
- Easy for practitioners to be fraudulent
The lack of scientific research behind many alternative medicine therapies makes their use controversial. While some patients have seen results from their use, their effect is hard to measure and often can’t be replicated, making them a wild card in the healthcare industry.