Alternative and Complementary Medicine: Old Medicine, New Synergies


The terms alternative medicine and complementary medicine are often wrongly used as synonyms. Actually, the termalternative medicine refers to medicine systems likeAyurveda or Acupuncture that are used in place ofconventional medicine, while complementary medicine refersto those therapies like massage that are used inconjunction with conventional medicine.

However, both end up performing the same role in severalwestern countries. That is why in popular parlancealternative medicine has come to be known as complementarymedicine, giving birth to the term alternative andcomplementary medicine.

Most practitioners recognize acupuncture, osteopathy,chiropractic, Ayurveda, Homeopathy and herbal medicine asthe most important forms of alternative and complementarymedicine.

These may be the major alternative therapies but the listof alternative and complementary medicine does not endhere. The other medicinal systems that can be included inthis grouping are naturopathy, nutritional medicine,aromatherapy, massage, crystal healing and different typesof energy medicine. Barring Homeopathy, most of thealternative and complementary medicine systems evolved inancient times in countries like India, China, Egypt, Tibetand Persia.

An important aspect of alternative and complementarymedicine is that it focuses on the person as a whole. Themedicine is therefore based not only on the patient'sphysical symptoms but also on the individual's lifestyle,environment, diet, mental and emotional health; sometimeseven the spiritual health. That is why alternativemedicine is called holistic medicine.

Interestingly, alternative and complementary medicine isno longer limited to the mystic Orient. But the westernworld to is recognizing these medicinal therapies as animportant component of healing.

Countries like India and China are using their knowledgeof alternative and complementary medicine to promote whathas come to be known as medical tourism. A large number ofwesterners are flying to these Asian countries to look forholistic cures.

In the West too, a large number of women are usingaromatherapy and massage while men are turning toalternative and complementary medicine to recover fromsports injuries or back pain.

The other medical problems for which practitioners areturning to alternative and complementary medicine arechronic ailments like arthritis, cystitis, asthma orchronic fatigue. Even the World Health Organization (WHO)has recognized the value of holistic treatments. Among thediseases that WHO believes can be cured with theseapproaches are asthma, eczema, digestive disorders andheadaches.

This growing acceptance of alternative and complementarymedicine is a healthy sign for the world, because thesynergies that have been so created are helping to tacklemany incurable diseases. In the ultimate analysis, weshould not forget that alternative and complementarymedicine systems originated thousands of years ago, andhave been successful in treating millions of people acrossthe ages.


More Resources

Why Choose Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a system and philosophy of medicine that has been around for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. Before the advent of 'conventional' medicine, which uses a wide variety of drugs and surgical procedures, almost every doctor learned how to use herbs, minerals, homeopathy, and other natural methods to treat disease.
The 7 Best Ways To Use Your Subconscious for Pain Relief
Your subconscious has influence over 7 different factors that could be causing your pain. Here's what you need to know about them so you can try to get relief.
Headaches/Migraine
"Oh, how densely packed your head is, my sweet," sighs Grandmother Growth. "I'm afraid there's no room for new growth.
1st Textbook on Sleep Psychiatry
An informative textbook confirming a newly established field: Sleep PsychiatryBook Review by Nikos M. Linardakis, M.
Sick Building Syndrome and Indoor Climate Control
The problem of high levels of CO2 in ambient air appears to be a modern one. Yet, this is not one of the new fads that crop up from time to time and then disappear again, never to be mentioned again.
Fish Out Of Water
We measure our world by the limits of our knowledge and experience. If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to treat everything like nails.
Gallbladder Disorders And How To Treat Them Using Natural Remedies
The gallbladder is a 3 to 4 inch-long pear-shaped organ located on the right side of the body, directly under the liver. One of the functions of the liver is to remove poisonous substance from blood so that they can be excreted from the body.
Fight Cancer With Broccoli Sprouts
Mom was right to insist on us eating our vegetables. Sheknew they built health and gave us the minerals we need.
Drug Addiction Treatment Centers: A Fresh Start
Half a decade ago, I started working on a hotline to help addicts and their families find drug addiction treatment centers. Thousands of calls later, I still remember the first time I picked up the line.
The Tribrain and Trauma Therapy
When someone experiences a trauma they go into immediate shock. This is very similar to hypnosis.
Are You Really Overweight?
If you are overweight, you know it by how you feel, how your clothes fit or how you look. But, by how much are you really overweight? And how much weight do you need to lose? One measure of how much you should weight is by determining your Body Mass Index, BMI.
10 Essential Food Safety Tips For AIDS Sufferers
Persons with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) areespecially susceptible to illness from food-borne pathogens.Because they're at higher risk for severe illness or death,affected persons must be vigilant when handling and cookingfoods.
Prenatal Massage
What is prenatal massage? Prenatal Massage is a form of therapeutic bodywork that is geared to meet the unique needs of the pregnant woman. Promoting better function of muscles and joints, prental massage also improves circulation and overall body tone.
The Basics of Hypnosis
You've seen the stage acts where a hypnotist selects someone out of the audience and when he claps his hands, the unwilling participant struts around the stage clucking like a chicken. You've also seen movies where the hypnotist waves the pocket watch in front of the subject as he utters, "you're getting sleepy ? very sleepy.
Massage Magic - Music & Touch
What Massage Therapists Do!Have you ever thought what massage therapists actually do? Ideally, they provide a safe, warm and comfortable environment. There are soft clean linens, warm aromatic oils, background music, their knowledge of how the body works, warm hands and a sincerely caring touch that guides you into relaxation of those tired and stressed muscles.
Aromatherapy
Although the word aromatherapy has not been around forever, the use of plants, herbs, fruits and flowers for healing have been centuries long. Aromatherapy is still being researched today for it's wide variety of uses, including the healing effects that is has on the body.
Acid Reflux and Heartburn Natural Remedies Part I
Here is a list of natural remedies that you can use when you have acid reflux or heartburn. No need to use antacids, which have unwanted side effects and contain aluminum, which has been associated with senility and Alzheimer's disease.
Arthritis Pain: Why Visualizations May Be Able to Provide Relief
Over 100 different types of arthritis exist, but by far the most common are the "osteo" and the "rheumatoid" varieties. Both may be subject to influence by your subconscious through the use of visualization statements.
Check Your Colon Transient Time
Many doctors and others in the health field may tell you that it is ok not to have a bowel movement everyday. This really goes against common sense.
Reflexology
Reflexology, an ancient art practiced by early Egyptians. Reflexology is a science founded on the basis that areas of the feet, hands and ears are comprised of zones and reflex areas that correspond to all glands, organs, and bodily systems.

More Alternative Information:

Related Articles

Is Alternative Medicine Proven to Work?
The most common objection to alternative medicine from conventional physicians is that it is "not proven."What doctors mean by this is that alternative medicine has not been rigorously tested the way pharmaceutical drugs have been.
Home Remedies, Treatment To All Ailments By Herbal Homemade Remedies
Given below the list of Best Home Remedies for all common diseases and conditions. Try these effective home remedies for a few days and see the results.
Fight Cancer With Broccoli Sprouts
Mom was right to insist on us eating our vegetables. Sheknew they built health and gave us the minerals we need.
Is Shiatsu Massage the Ultimate Stress Relief Treatment?
My first shiatsu massageI opened my eyes suddenly. He was smiling at me.
The Whys and Habits of Anxiety & Panic Disorder
Just about everyone asks themselves why? Why did I get this?And chances are, you probably already have a fair idea of what possibly triggered it.I know for myself, I had a medical condition that played a huge factor into my trigger.
Emotrance & Well-Being
Are you ready to easily release worry, pain or fear and restore your emotional health?Are you ready for a dynamic way of processing life experiences in quicker and more joyful ways?Are you open to the idea of discovering a series of simple steps that lets you adventure into enhanced states of well being and emotional flow?Emotrance is just such a technique and it can be easily learned. The regular application of the Emotrance processes to a variety of emotional scenarios, past and present helps you discover more about your energy body.
Hemorrhoids - What Do I Need To Do?
There are many unpleasant symptoms and diseases associated with constipation. Hemorrhoids is one such symptom and many doctor or practitioners say, "its not a serious condition.
Why Choose Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a system and philosophy of medicine that has been around for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. Before the advent of 'conventional' medicine, which uses a wide variety of drugs and surgical procedures, almost every doctor learned how to use herbs, minerals, homeopathy, and other natural methods to treat disease.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Infertility
Although health and healing are the common goals of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and allopathic medicine, their ideas on the etiology of disease, disease itself and the process used to regain health are decidedly different. The allopathic physician learns that disease must be cured by prescribing medicine, which kills bacteria or renders a virus ineffective; at times surgical intervention is a necessity.
The Making of Essential Oils - Steam Distillation, Absolutes, and CO2s Explained
Aromatherapy Goes 'High Tech'New methods of essential oil extraction are entering the mainstream of aromatherapy, offering new choices in oils never before available. With the new labels of 'CO2' and 'SCO2', along with the traditional 'steam' and 'hydro' distillations, 'absolutes', and 'cold pressing', a little education for the aromatherapy enthusiast can go a long way in essential oil selection.
Aromatherapy Favorites - Beautiful Rose Oil
Ah, Wonderful Rose OilIf there's an aroma that more individuals find deeply moving than any other, it is the oil of rose. The scent is divinely sweet, rich, and deeply floral - exclusive to the extract of history's most revered flower.
Stuttering Treatment, Stammering Treatment
There are many different treatments for people who stutter/stammer. In this article I will describe some of the experiences and types of stuttering or stammering therapy people experiment with.
Purchasing Essential Oil
Tips on Purchasing Essential OilsIt is important to purchase your oils through a reputable supplier, food stores are often reputable suppliers of Essential Oils. In other cases you can buy from the manufacture but you must know something about the manufacturers reputation,- Do they belong to the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists?If so, it is a good indication that they are a reputable people.
Health Benefits of Noni Juice
Noni Juice, Morinda CitrifoliaMorinda Citrifolia , a deciduos creeping vine with twining stems and white flowers which is native to Malaysia, Austrailia, and Polynesia, is gaining popularity in the west due to it's apparently wide ranging health benefits. Part of the Madder family, Morinda's thick, intertwined purple roots are harvested in the spring and fall for use in herbal medicine and to make the increasingly popular noni juice.
Revolutionary Medicine: Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Pain Sufferers
Stripped from the scenes from science fiction novels and films, shockwave therapy is a newage alternative to chronic pain sufferers. Utilized not only on humans for over 25 years for urologic and orthopedic conditions, shockwave therapy has even been introduced to veterinary and equine medicine as well.
Healing and Transformation
Every symptom has a certain way of being with which it is associated. In order to release a symptom, one must release the way of being associated with it.
That Popeye Knew a Thing or Two!
For a few weeks the lumps in my throat were driving me mad. To make them go away I was eating more, just to try to push them down!! Of course this is the time when all kinds of crazy things go through your mind, especially as a close friend had died recently from thyroid cancer.
Aromatherapy - Part II: Mind and Emotions
The Sense of Smell forms the greater part of our Sense of Taste (note how your sense of taste and smell is affected when you have a head cold or blocked up nose. The sense of smell is also affected by pollution, smoking, trauma to the nose itself and a mucous forming diet).
Holistic Health
Holistic Health involves natural treatment options like holistic health nutrition, herbology, environmental medicine, energy work, mind-body medicine, anatomy, and many other holistic health practices.Holistic health allows an individual to be treated naturally and establishes a positive balance between body, mind and spirit.
An Aspirin A Day Can Give You Cancer
I want to share a health alert with you. So many people today are taking an aspirin a day - many upon the recommendation of their doctors and many simply because they think it is the "healthy" thing to do.