Alternative Medicines

What is alternative Medicine?

Alternative medicine can be simply defined as the way of treating health ailments using any technique other than the mainstream i.e. allopath – modern medicinal science. It does not fall under the category of conventional medicinal system. Before modern drugs existed, the mankind used to utilize different methods to tackle stubborn and acute health problems including their signs and symptoms. Other than chemicals and synthetic derivatives, alternative medicine uses herbs, flowers, earth, soil, magnet, water etc. to alleviate health problems.

Therapies and treatments under alternative medicine

Alternative medicine is basically an umbrella term that includes a lot of other therapies and treatments. Most famous among all include – Ayurveda (ancient Indian healing system) and Herbalism. Chinese medicine, naturopathy (using natural elements to cure diseases), Massages (application of natural/herbal solution onto the body and rub it in a particular way), Aromatherapy (using flower extracts), Magnet therapy (using magnets), Color therapy (using different color shades), Home remedies (using kitchen and garden ingredients), Hydrotherapy (using water), and Mud therapy (using mud and soils) etc. are also very popular.

Many health care providers include holistic exercises as alternative medicine such as yoga, meditation and Pranayama since they all do not use any synthetic product or ingredient. Alternative medicine has its own importance and surprisingly, there number of people undergoing alternative medicines one or the other way are much more than patients on modern medicines and treatments!

Alternative medicine benefits and advantages

Alternative medicine treatment generally uses natural medicine to heal health ailments. That is why, it is also called as complementary medicine. Even today, a large number of natural health care providers use traditional medicines to treat different kinds of health diseases. There are some advantages of alternative medicine treatment over modern medicines such as…

• Alternative therapy is comparatively cheaper than modern medicines and treatments
• Complementary therapy or treatment is easily available (as home remedies or kitchen remedies)
• Unlike allopathic medicines, natural and traditional medicines using herbs, vegetables and fruits are free from any unwanted, undesired side effects.
• Natural medicine generally does not produce any reaction unless intake of such medicine (the dosage) is not followed as per advice.

There are some other benefits that come with alternative medicines for health ailments cure such as…

• Complementary treatment or alternative medicine is less likely to affect other bodily systems and hence is comparatively safe.
• Alternative medicines, being general daily health supplements, not only help in curing the main disease but also soothe other body systems.
• Holistic medicines help in rejuvenating and revitalizing the human health.Rather than working precisely on signs and symptoms, alternative natural herbal medicines treat the root-cause. Thus, helps in terminating health ailment permanently.

Alternative medicines have a huge demand across the globe due to its word-of-mouth spread. Special treatments such as Ayurvedic Panchakarma, Aromatherapy, Swedish massage, Thai Massage, Chinese Traditional therapies, Acupressure/acupuncture etc have been few of the most sought after treatment ways due to increasing hazards of modern medicines.



Alternative medicines Precautions


Nevertheless, alternative medicines or complementary therapies should be adopted under qualified natural physician and their efficacy about treating the diseases as first line treatment is to be evaluated before implementation.