Facts About Alternative Medicine

Facts About Alternative Medicine

Alternative Medicine is a term used to identify medical practices that are used to maintain good health. It refers to practices that include those that have been practiced and proven for thousands of years such as Accupuncture. The first recorded document that references accupuncture dates back to roughly 100 BCE. Herbal medicine is a form of Allopathic medicine (not alternative) and has been practiced by nearly every culture for thousands of years and is the very foundation of modern Pharmacology.

So if Alternative Medicine has been around for thousands of years, why are some people claiming it's unsafe? Most forms of Alternative Healing such as Accupuncture, Reiki and Therapeutic Massage are incredibly safe. However, a rise in misinformation about Alternative medicine and herbal healing has lead to some debate about the saftey of their use. Unlike Western Medicine , Forms (Modalities) of Alternative Healing are practiced as a way to preserve health as opposed to simply treating symptoms of disease (also called Allopathic Medicine). Since Western culture doesn't view health as a daily practice, this has lead to some people mistakenly believing that alternative healing should be used in place of allopathic medicine. The result is that diseases go untreated which in some cases, can have serious consequences. They forget that Alternative medicine is not intended to replace medical care for illness. Many Alternative Healing Practioners will tell you that their methods are meant to be practiced in tandem with Allopathic medicine as opposed to it.

To add to the confusion, herbal medicine (a form of allopathic medicine) has been lumped in with Alternative healing creating even more misinformation. The view that because something comes from nature, it's “alternative' has created a dangerous and very misleading precedent. Herbs are simply chemicals in a natural state. Salicylic Acid is still Salicylic Acid regardless of it's form. A hundred years ago, herbal remedies were the norm and handed down from generation to generation. As pharmaceutical drugs became widely available, people gave up their family wisdom in favor of a quick pill they could get at the local pharmacy. To compound the issue, pharmaceutical companies began a century-long campaign of building mistrust in natural remedies, creating terms like “Old wive's tales” and “Hippie Cures” to denegrate anything that wasn't sold by them and so the modern era of “Medicine” was born.

Today however, people are slowly beginning to realize that their ancestors were right about a great many things, including how to treat the sick. The danger arises when people, who have lost all touch with old wisdom, try to recapture it for themselves without any real study. To compound the problem, mass media has created the false image that if something is “Pure” or “Natural” then it must be safe. What's missing are the important facts about drug interactions, dosing and contraindications that our ancestors were aware of. We have become so complacent about our health care, that we have forgotten the most basic rules of medical care. In the United Sates in 2011, there were 98,518 deaths resulting from FDA-approved drugs and a whopping 573,111 serious injuries*. While to date, there has only been a handful of injuries resulting from Herbal Medicine. Still, even one injury is one too many. The key to using any type of medicine safely is to know what you're taking, the potential side-effects and why you need to take the medicine. If the risks of taking a particular medicine (herbal or prescription) outweigh the cure, don't take it.

If you are considering using any type of herb or herbal remedy there are a few things you need to know to keep yourself safe. The first, and most important thing to remember is that herbs are medicines just like the pills your doctor prescribes. In fact, many of the drugs on the market today, come from or are synthesized from herbs, so it's vitally important that you check with your doctor before using any herbal treatment, especially if you are taking prescription medications. Drug interactions can be deadly! Second, NEVER assume that more is better when it comes to any medicine, either herbal or over-the-counter. Proper dosing is essential to treating and maintaining your health. Remember, too much of anything can be dangerous, even water! Third, if you are harvesting herbs for yourself, remember that in many cases, the growth stage of the plant determines the medicinal value. Some herbs/roots can only be harvested when the plant is in a particular stage of growth so be absolutely certain you know EXACTLY what part of the plant to harvest and when before using it. And finally, always check with your doctor and be sure that you know what your condition is before taking any herbal supplements, including vitamins. Some supplements can actually make certain conditions worse. Ginger for example, though an anti-inflammatory, can aggravate symptoms in someone with Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Bottom line is that Alternative Medicine is simply another tool we have in maintaining our health. Proven over thousands of years to help keep the body running optimally, it's a great choice for those wanting to maintain and/or improve the quality of their health. It's important to remember however, that it is just that: A tool to maintain health and used as complementary care to treat illness. It is not used to replace standard medical care. Herbal medicine is another form of allopathic medicine and is not an alternative form of healing. Just like pharmaceutical medince, it has it's advantages and risks. Yes, there have been instances where someone attempted to treat themselves with an herb and ended up getting sick. But there are also instances where people have died taking over-the-counter medicine. It all boils down to common sense and education. The more you know and understand about your own health, the more likely you are to make safe decisions regarding your care. Just because something says it's “Natural” doesn't mean it's safe and just because a doctor prescribes a pill doesn't mean it won't kill you. Do your homework. Be informed and most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, it's not.

Until Next Time,

Be Well!

*Source: “AERS Patien Outcomes by Year” Food and Drug Administration (Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services, March 31, 2010).

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Surveillance/AdverseDrugEffects/ucm070461.htm