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Alternative Health Articles
Alternative and Complementary Medicine:Venerable Medicine, Novel Synergies
By Howard Tiano
The phrases alternative medicine and complementary medicine
are often incorrectly utilized as synonyms. Really, the term alternative medicine
pertains to medicine systems like chiropractic or Auyerveda,
that are practiced instead of conventional medicine, while complementary medicine
refers to those treatments like massage that are practiced in league
with conventional, or allopathic medicine.
Both end up assuming the same role in many
western nations, who are beginning to perceive that these medicinal treatments
are a crucial ingredient of healing. That is why in popular parlance,
alternative medicine is commonly referred to as complementary
medicine.
Notably, a significant view of complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM) is that it focuses on the person as a whole. The
treatment is based not only on the person's physical symptoms,
but also on the person's lifestyle, surroundings, nutrition, mental
and emotional well-being; sometimes even their spiritual health.
That is why alternative medicine is sometimes called holistic medicine.
Most followers perceive acupuncture, osteopathy,
chiropractic, Ayurveda, homeopathy and herbal
medicine as the most significant varieties of alternative and complementary
medicine.
Barring homeopathy, most of the alternative and
complementary medicine disciplines developed in ancient times
in countries like Egypt, Tibet, Persia and the Far East. Some countries,
notably India and China, are employing their knowledge of alternative
and complementary medicine to foster what has come to
be known as medical tourism. A great number of westerners
are traveling to these Asian Countries to look for holistic cures.
In the West too, a large amount of women are applying
aromatherapy and massage, while men are moving towards
alternative and complementary medicine to recover from
sports traumas or back soreness.
The other medical issue for which followers are
turning to CAM are chronic maladies
like arthritis, cystitis,
asthma or chronic fatigue. Even the World Health Organization
(WHO) has recognized the value of holistic treatments. Amongst
the illnesses that WHO considers can be alleviated with these
methods are asthma, eczema, digestive disorders and
headaches.
This promising acceptance of alternative and complementary
medicine is a healthy signal for the planet, because the
Synergies that have been so created are helping to take on
many incurable diseases. In the ultimate analysis, we
should not forget that alternative and complementary
medicine systems originated thousands of years ago, and
have been successful in healing millions of people through
the ages.
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Copyright 2005 Howard Tiano, has studied optimum health
techniques for three decades, and came to alternative medicine
through a family health crises. Alternative-Medicine-Resources.com
was created to inform visitors of available treatments beyond standard
medical solutions, and cut through the politics and hype! Know your options,
and optimize your health! http://www.alternative-medicine-resource.com
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