In Western culture Western culture refers to cultures of European origin, alternative medicine is any healing practice "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine Medicine is the art and science of healing. It encompasses a range of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness",[1] or "that which has not been shown consistently to be effective."[2] It is often opposed to evidence based medicine Evidence-based medicine aims to apply the best available evidence gained from the scientific method to medical decision making. It seeks to assess the quality of evidence of the risks and benefits of treatments (including lack of treatment) and encompasses therapies with a historical or cultural, rather than a scientific, basis. Commonly cited examples include naturopathy Naturopathy is the systematic application and philosophy of lifestyle and natural forces to allow the body's innate healing potential to restore and maintain health. Naturopathy recognizes the natures inherent processes of healing, and acts in no way to suppress, antagonize or hinder these vital life forces, but rather to arouse, assist and, chiropractic Chiropractic is a health care discipline and profession that emphasizes diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine, under the hypothesis that these disorders affect general health via the nervous system. Chiropractic is controversial, and it is generally considered to be, herbalism Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy. The scope of herbal medicine is sometimes extended to include fungal and bee products, as well as minerals, shells and certain, traditional Chinese medicine Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM , includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. Although well accepted in the mainstream of medical care throughout East Asia, it is considered an alternative medical system in much of the Western world, Unani Unani or Yunani means "Greek", and has its origins in the Greek word Ἰωνία (Iōnía) or Ἰωνίη (Iōníe), a placename given to a Greek populated coastal region of Anatolia, Ayurveda Ayurveda is a system of traditional medicine native to the Indian Subcontinent and practiced in other parts of the world as a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, the word Ayurveda consists of the words āyus, meaning 'life', and veda, meaning 'related to knowledge' or 'science'. Evolving throughout its history, Ayurveda remains an, meditation Meditation is a mental discipline by which the practitioner attempts to get beyond the reflexive, "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness. Meditation is a component of many religions, and has been practiced since antiquity. It is also practiced outside religious traditions. Different meditative disciplines, yoga Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. The word is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. In Hinduism, it also refers to one of the six orthodox (āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy, and to the goal toward which that school directs its practices. In Jainism it refers to, biofeedback Biofeedback is a non-medical process that involves measuring a subject's specific and quantifiable bodily functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, skin temperature, sweat gland activity, and muscle tension, conveying the information to the patient in real-time. This raises the patient's awareness and therefore the possibility of conscious, hypnosis Hypnosis is a mental state or set of attitudes and beliefs (non-state theory) usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a series of preliminary instructions and suggestions. Hypnotic suggestions may be delivered by a hypnotist in the presence of the subject, or may be self-administered ("self-, homeopathy Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine, first proposed by German physician Samuel Hahnemann in 1796, that attempts to treat patients with heavily diluted preparations which are thought to cause effects similar to the symptoms presented. Homeopathic remedies are prepared by serial dilution with shaking by forceful striking, which homeopaths, acupuncture Acupuncture is the procedure of inserting and manipulating filiform needles into various points on the body to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes. The word acupuncture comes from the Latin acus, "needle", and pungere, "to prick". In Standard Chinese, acupuncture is called 针砭 , or a related word, 针灸 (zhēnjiǔ),, and diet-based therapies, in addition to a range of other practices.[3] It is frequently grouped with complementary medicine, which generally refers to the same interventions when used in conjunction with mainstream techniques,[4][5][6] under the umbrella term complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM. Some significant researchers in alternative medicine oppose this grouping, preferring to emphasize differences of approach, but nevertheless use the term CAM, which has become standard.[7][8]
Alternative medicine practices are as diverse in their foundations as in their methodologies. Practices may incorporate or base themselves on traditional medicine Traditional medicine comprises medical knowledge systems that developed over generations within various societies before the era of modern medicine. Practices known as traditional medicines include herbal, Ayurveda, Siddha medicine, Unani, ancient Iranian medicine, Islamic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, Muti, Ifá, and other, folk knowledge A home remedy is a treatment to cure a disease or ailment that employs certain spices, vegetables, or other common items. Home remedies may or may not have medicinal properties that treat or cure the disease or ailment in question, as they are typically passed along by laypersons . Many are merely used as a result of tradition or habit or because, spiritual beliefs, or newly conceived approaches to healing.[9] Jurisdictions where alternative medical practices are sufficiently widespread may license and regulate them. The claims made by alternative medicine practitioners are generally not accepted by the medical Medical consensus is a public statement on a particular aspect of medical knowledge available at the time it was written, and that is generally agreed upon as the evidence-based, state-of-the-art knowledge by a representative group of experts in that area. Its main objective is to counsel physicians on the best possible and acceptable way to community because evidence-based Evidence-based medicine aims to apply the best available evidence gained from the scientific method to medical decision making. It seeks to assess the quality of evidence of the risks and benefits of treatments (including lack of treatment) assessment of safety and efficacy is either not available or has not been performed for many of these practices. If scientific investigation Biomedical research , in general simply known as medical research, is the basic research, applied research, or translational research conducted to aid and support the body of knowledge in the field of medicine. Medical research can be divided into two general categories: the evaluation of new treatments for both safety and efficacy in what are establishes the safety and effectiveness of an alternative medical practice, whereupon it becomes mainstream medicine and is no longer "alternative", and will therefore become widely adopted by conventional practitioners.[10][11] Because alternative techniques tend to lack evidence, some have advocated defining it as non-evidence based medicine, or not medicine at all. Some researchers state that the evidence-based approach to defining CAM is problematic because some CAM is tested, and research suggests that many mainstream medical techniques lack solid evidence.[12]
A 1998 systematic review A systematic review is a literature review focused on a single question that tries to identify, appraise, select and synthesize all high quality research evidence relevant to that question. Systematic reviews of high-quality randomized controlled trials are crucial to evidence-based medicine. An understanding of systematic reviews and how to of studies assessing its prevalence in 13 countries concluded that about 31% of cancer patients use some form of complementary and alternative medicine.[13] Alternative medicine varies from country to country. Edzard Ernst Edzard Ernst is the first Professor of Complementary Medicine in the United Kingdom believes that in Austria and Germany CAM is mainly in the hands of physicians,[8] while some estimates suggest that at least half of American alternative practitioners are physicians.[14] In Germany, herbs are tightly regulated, with half prescribed by doctors and covered by health insurance based on their Commission E The German Commission E Monographs are a therapeutic guide to herbal medicine . There is an English translation by the American Botanical Council, with 380 monographs evaluating the safety and efficacy of herbs for licensed medical prescribing in Germany. The commission itself was formed in 1978, and no longer exists legislation.[15]
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According to About.com's Alternative Medicine page, dryness, redness, irritation and damage to protective skin layers are effects of synthetics, ...
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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:00:00 GM
Med Students Back Advances In . Alternative. MedicinePersonal Liberty DigestAccording to a large-scale national survey, most current medical students believe that.
Q. I am drugged up on so much medicine that I can't live my life. Does anyone know of an alternative medication that I could take?
Asked by Persita26 - Tue Nov 18 16:35:02 2008 - - 9 Answers - 0 Comments
A. Schizophrenia or a Split Personality as it is commonly known is not very easy to treat. Homeopathy does offer solutions but it needs treatment and follow-up over a long period. Homeopathic science is an uprising in the treatment of all types of psychological illnesses including Schizophrenia. Homeopathy treats the person as a whole, which means that it focuses on the patient s body, mind, emotions and the pathological condition. Homeopathic treatment is the most curative, non-toxic, gentle and modern treatment. In view of the fact that it works with the person s own vital force towards equilibrium and healing, it will influence the brain chemistry and assist the patient in resuming psychological strength and symmetry. In conclusion, the… [cont.]
Answered by Extreme Dude - Wed Nov 19 04:27:54 2008
