Why people use complementary or alternative therapies

Both terms refer to treatments, like herbs or acupuncture that are out of the medical mainstream. But complementary medicine is when these therapies are used along with traditional Western medicine. Alternative medicine is when these approaches are used instead of traditional medicine.

Alternative Medicine: Pros and Cons

• Whole body care. Alternative medicine is focused not just on your body, but also on your mind.
• Personal attention. Because of the focus on your whole body, alternative medicines for back pain are more personal and unique.
• Natural/healthy approach.
• Less expensive.

• Using therapies to help you feel better.
• Reducing symptoms or side effects.
• Feeling more in control.
• Natural and healing therapies.
• Comfort from touch, talk and time.
• Staying positive.
• Boosting your immune system.
• Looking for a cure.

Overall, western medicine focuses on pathology and curing disease while alternative medicine focuses on the health and healing of the person. For both treatments, the majority of concern comes from general misunderstanding and a lack of compromise from both sides.

Among homeopaths and other alternative medicine advocates, “allopathic medicine” now refers to “the broad category of medical practice that is sometimes called Western medicine, biomedicine, evidence-based medicine, or modern medicine.” This description continued to be used to describe anything that was not homeopathy.

Examples of alternative practices include homeopathy, traditional medicine, chiropractic, and acupuncture. Complementary medicine is different from alternative medicine. Whereas complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine.

Traditional alternative medicine may include:

• Acupuncture.
• Ayurveda.
• Homeopathy.
• Naturopathy.
• Chinese or Oriental medicine.

Naturopathic medicine is a system that uses natural remedies to help the body heal itself. It embraces many therapies, including herbs, massage, acupuncture, exercise, and nutritional counseling.

NDs complete rigorous education in pharmaceutical drugs during their four-year, science-based medical education and they may prescribe medications when indicated as allowed by state regulations. However, naturopathic doctors typically don’t prescribe drugs at the first sign of symptoms or trouble.

Although herbal medicines are generally considered to be safe and effective, but conventionally it is said that if a drug is effective, it would have side effects. Hence, herbal remedies as drugs either have adverse effects or are not effective (2-5).

The NCCAM divides CAM into four major domains—Mind-Body Medicine, Manipulative and Body-Based Practices, Energy Medicine, and Biologically-Based Practices.

Mind-body interventions include relaxation, imagery, biofeedback, meditation, hypnosis, tai chi, yoga, and others. They often help patients experience healing for their illnesses in new and different ways.

The brain and body are connected through neural pathways made up of neurotransmitters, hormones and chemicals. These pathways transmit signals between the body and the brain to control our everyday functions, from breathing, digestion and pain sensations to movement, thinking and feeling.

Examples of mind–body techniques include art therapy, counselling, hypnotherapy, laughter yoga, life coaching, mindfulness meditation, music therapy, relaxation, spiritual practices, and support groups. Some techniques, such as support groups and counselling, have now become part of standard cancer care.