Q. What is alternate medicine?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Alternative medicine is an umbrella term that refers to healthcare practices and approaches which are not considered to be part of conventional medicine. It includes herbal medicines, acupuncture, massage therapies, homeopathic remedies, chiropractic care, naturopathic medicine and a variety of other treatments.
Alternative medicine has been around for centuries; however its popularity in the Western medical community has grown greatly over the past several decades. This growth can largely be attributed to increased research into safety and efficacy as well as greater patient empowerment in terms of their own healthcare decisions. Additionally, when choosing alternative treatments patients may feel less stress due to a lack of side effects or toxicity commonly found with many pharmaceutical medications.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines alternative medicine as any system or practice that does not necessarily conform with contemporary medical standards but which does work towards achieving improved health outcomes through diagnosis and treatment methods different from those accepted by mainstream science-based medicine. Common types of alternate medicines include Ayurveda (derived from ancient Indian texts on healing), Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Naturopathy (focused on natural techniques such as nutrition and lifestyle changes) as well as Acupuncture & Massage Therapy among many others. Each type of alternate therapy has unique characteristics but they share some commonalities: they all promote natural healing processes within the body instead of relying solely on drugs or surgery; they provide holistic approaches combining both physical and psychological aspects; they aim at preventing illness rather than simply treating it after it occurs; lastly many emphasize self-care for maintenance rather than frequent visits to medical professionals for more intensive interventions.
It is important however to note that no form of alternative medicinal practice should replace seeking professional medical advice if symptoms persist or worsen without relief from traditional treatments – therefore it is essential for one’s own safety & wellbeing that each individual consult a qualified physician before pursuing any form of alternate treatment protocol whatsoever!
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