Is Alternative Health Medicine Right For You?
Unlike conventional medicine, alternative health is focused on healing, not on disease. This form of medicine is not tested in clinical trials. Its biological plausibility is also limited, despite its claims.
Integrative medicine
Using integrative medicine and alternative health therapies can help you reduce distress, relieve pain, and promote overall well-being. These therapies are often used in conjunction with conventional treatments. If you’re considering using a complementary therapy, talk to your healthcare provider. You don’t want to take medications or supplements that can interfere with your conventional treatments.
Using integrative medicine can help you address stress and behavioral factors. You can also learn about dietary recommendations and exercise. Integrative health practitioners can work with your primary care provider to develop a personalized wellness plan.
Many people have used alternative therapies to treat illnesses such as arthritis and cancer. These treatments are less invasive and often cheaper. Many people also want to use more therapies, so it can be difficult to find a healthcare provider who offers integrative medicine and alternative health.
Integrative medicine practitioners use proven CAM therapies. They also commit to self-exploration and personal development. They are trained to assess a patient’s health history, explore physical and emotional factors, and develop a personalized wellness plan. They then send therapy recommendations to their primary care provider.
Integrative medicine is based on a solid understanding of the science behind the therapies. It also emphasizes a therapeutic relationship with the patient. These providers may use all types of therapies, including massage, meditation, yoga, and nutrition counseling. Depending on your healthcare needs, an integrative health plan may include conventional medicine, alternative therapies, and self-care strategies.
Integrative medicine and alternative health are not interchangeable. Some therapies are backed by scientific evidence, while others are not. Also, evidence for CAM practices may not meet the most rigorous standards of safety and efficacy. You can find out more about complementary therapies by researching the options online or by talking with your healthcare provider.
Common uses of alternative therapies
Several alternative medicine therapies have been around for centuries, but many of these have not been rigorously tested. It is a good idea to find out what the research indicates about the effectiveness of these methods before deciding on a course of action.
A good place to start is with the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. This website has links to research, studies, and news. It also has a chart that lists common therapies.
Some of these include yoga, meditation, and acupuncture. The best alternative therapies should be provided by licensed practitioners who are equipped with the training to safely deliver them.
The best alternative medicine treatments are not a replacement for conventional medicine. Depending on the condition, they may improve your health, or worsen it. They are often used as a last resort after conventional treatments have been exhausted. However, it is important to discuss these methods with your healthcare provider.
There is little scientific evidence that alternative medicine is effective, but it is possible that it can be beneficial. Some studies have shown that alternative therapies can reduce the symptoms of chronic illness. Others have shown that they can alleviate nausea and pain.
Using an alternative medicine treatment can improve the quality of life of cancer patients. Some of these methods can reduce anxiety and improve feelings of well-being. However, they may also interfere with conventional treatment.
The best alternative medicine treatments are those that have been deemed effective by both the research community and your doctor. They should be documented in your medical record and should be discussed at every visit. This will not only allow you to get the most out of these therapies, but it may also alert you to possible complications or side effects.
Research into alternative therapies
Despite the widespread belief that alternative therapies are effective, there is little evidence to support the theory. Researchers have conducted many studies of alternative medicine with variable results, many of which failed to follow proper research protocols. Some studies have had major flaws, including insufficient statistical power, lack of comparisons with other treatments, and inadequate research design.
A recent CDC study identified 208 condition-treatment pairs, with approximately half having been studied by a randomized controlled trial. The most common health problem treated as chronic fatigue syndrome, followed by headaches, arthritis, and urinary tract problems. Other problems treated included stress, anxiety, and exercise/movement.
A third of the condition-treatment pairs had been studied by a meta-analysis, with approximately 23% assessing the effectiveness of alternative therapies. However, a substantial number of individuals reporting poor health may be Somatizers, who misattribute their symptoms to diseases and seek medical attention.
Researchers have also conducted observational studies to examine issues surrounding complementary and alternative medicine. Observational studies have the advantage of measuring rare adverse events and can be useful in evaluating whether an alternative therapy has been effective.
There is also evidence that alternative healthcare use is higher among older people. Women are also more likely to use alternative health care. People with higher educational levels are also more likely to use alternative health care.
People with poor health status report lower success rates with conventional treatments. Individuals with chronic health problems are also more likely to use alternative health care.
Researchers have also conducted studies to explore alternative medicine from a critical public health perspective. The results of these studies have not been positive. Rather, they suggest that alternative healthcare systems are more likely to influence people’s beliefs and practices and that these systems are less regulated than other healthcare sectors.
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Harvard Health. (2015, November 17). Health A to Z. https://www.health.harvard.edu/health-a-to-z
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