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Alternative Medicine - What is it?

The term Alternative Medicine means any form of medicine that is outside the rnain stream of western medicine as practiced by the majority of doctors today. Alternative medicine exists in all cultures to some degree and terms such as traditional medicine, indigenous medicine or folk medicine etc. are used to describe such practices. These medicines date back hundred or even thousand of years depending on the country and culture concerned. Because two thirds of the world's population (mainly in the developing countries) relies entirely on such traditional medical therapies, the World Health Organization has declared its intention actively to encourage traditional medicine world wide....

There are more than 100 systems of alternative medicines, still in practice all over the world. Every country, region or area has its own traditional system of health and medical care such as for the Chinese it is acupuncture, for the French, magnetic healing; for the Germans, Heilpraxis;for the Sfitish - Herbatism, for India - Ayurveda; for the Muslim countries - Unani; for the southern part of India - Siddha; for Japan - shiatsu etc.

These forms of medicine are known by various other names such as:

Salient Features Of Alternative Medicines

Although Alternative Medicine includes many systems of healing and every system has its’ own features and merits, there are some common features which differentiate these from modern medicine.

  1. It considers the health of a person as well - being in Its physical, mental, social and spiritual planes whereas modern medicine treats the body as a machine i.e. main emphasis Is laid upon the physical aspects of life. Now-a-days It has been established that there Is a certain link between the various dimensions of life. Mental, social and spiritual arena have its definite role on the physical human body. Hence, to achieve permanent cure and to maintain good health one has to re-adjust the other aspects of human life too. Health is defined as a state of physical well being, mental alertness, socially adjusted, and spiritually developed.
     

  2. Most of the systems under alternative medicine stress upon the maintenance of health by following healthy life styles i.e. they stress upon proper diet. exercise, human relations, sexuality, positive attitudes, clean environment, moral and spiritual values etc. Thus preventive and primitive aspects of health is given its due importance. The person is made conscious to maintain his total health.
     

  3. Simplicity of the practices avoiding the intake of potent and hard drugs and undergoing unnecessary diagnostic and surgical interference. Every system in alternative medicine has its own unique philosophy and inexpensive methods of diagnosis and treatment.
     

  4. Less or no side effects.
     

  5. The time tested traditional system of medicine has a reasonable alternative and answer to most of the diseases which have no amenable answer from modern medical treatment such as collagen disorder, degenerative diseases, diseases of the bones and joints, psychosomatic disorders where behavioral, emotional and spiritual factors have a major role.
     

  6. Faith – The sum total of above reasoning have produced a positive faith in alternative medicine among the people. It is a well known fact to all doctors that faith often cures where medicines don't. More and more persons hence turn to other systems with faith in their hearts and a prayer on their lips and this has a magical power that can move mountains.

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