Alternative Medicine



In the modern world, alternative medicine covers any curing practise, which includes herbs, yoga, meditation, as well as diet-based therapies. Frequently, alternative medicine is grouped with complementary medicine; however some researchers oppose this setting as they choose to emphasise the contrasts of approach, but still they use the term CAM for standard use.

Alternative medicine practises differ in terms of methodologies, which may incorporate traditional medicine, home remedies, and spiritual beliefs. Generally, the claims created by alternative medicine practitioners are not allowed by medical researchers due to the unavailability of safety records and efficacy of practises. Scientific researchers define that alternative techniques are a non-evidence based treatment. The systematic review of studies in 1998 concluded that around 31% of patients with cancer use complementary and alternative treatment forms. Dr. Edzard Earnst, the first professor of complementary medicine, believed that mostly in Germany and Austria herbs are firmly regulated, and based on their Commission E legislation. Any conventional or alternative treatment with biological and psychological effects may also have side-effects on a patient regardless of his symptoms. In 2002, Scott Lilienfeld, a mental health journalist, stated that logically unsupported psychological health procedures can lead people to forgo efficient treatments.

Treatments for acute diseases, like cancer as well as HIV infection, possess major side effects. Many patients do not pursue conventional treatments if they lack health insurance, and instead are directed to lower-cost alternative treatment, and also avail themselves of alternative medicine to avoid the harmful effects of conventional medicine. Likewise, some doctors also market alternative medicine for extra profit.

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