Alternative Medicine - Is There A Definition?

Alternative medicine is defined as the kind of therapy or treatment used to replace the current and widely used basic medication. Nowadays, you can see a rise of alternative medicine popularity. It is becoming a new choice for health conscious individuals. There are still many out there though who are hesitant about it. Some people even consult their physicians as to what exactly is alternative medicine. In the end, the answers are still unclear.

The bottom line of alternative medicine is that it is something used in the stead of the common medical practices people are accustomed to. What you are used to would probably be something like this. You getting sick and hauling yourself to the doctor's office. You get to sit and wait with other patients, hoping that you would not catch anything else. Finally, you get to see the doctor and you are given a prescription. You stop by the drugstore for your medicine and then go home. After a day or two, you might or might not be back to normal.

So do you want to find out what exactly alternative medicine is? Imagine it is a tree with multiple branches. The trunk is alternative medicine as a whole and the branches are the myriad medical practices that make up a whole. There are various choices available depending on illness or symptoms. What is the use of alternative medicine? It can be for curing diseases and also for improving health.

In the world of natural medicine, there are also some known alternative medicines. The following are the highly recommended and widely practiced alternative medicines.

- Chiropractic

- Naturopathy

- Herbal Medicine

- Homeopathy

- Acupuncture

Chiropractic is not intended to heal. This is a process of spine adjustment that clears the body's nerve pathways. This will encourage your body to heal itself.

Naturopathy is only for routine afflictions. People who believe in this practice also believe that the body has the ability to make itself well. This particular alternative medicine then is all about nature playing a huge part in the health of a person.

The usage of any plant parts for treatment is otherwise called as herbal medication. Herbal medicines can range from plant leaves to roots curing pain and sickness and promoting a sense of well being and calmness.

Homeopathy is based on the foundation that any affliction can be rid of by informing the body that something is wrong with it. This is done through using natural substances that create illness symptoms. With this, the body is then believed to rally itself and begin the healing process.

Fine needles are used in acupuncture to regulate body energy. It is used for various negative body issues.

So how is alternative medicine defined? It is many people's way of life and it continues to attract more individuals everywhere.

To read more about the various types of alternative medicine, visit my website at: http://onalternativemedicines.com

Alternative Medicine And Its Important Role In Your Healthcare

Alternative Medicine is redefining the boundaries of individual health and well being and is beginning to change the definition of what it means to be healthy in today's fast-paced, stress-filled environment and offers a whole new realm of options for today's consumer to choose from in the process of determining their healthcare needs.

You may be surprised to discover that Alternative Medicine may be covered in your healthcare policy, which offers a broader scope of coverage than managed care alone, and may well reduce your overall cost of healthcare in general and even improve the future quality of life that you and your family will enjoy in the years to come.

The realization that the definition of health should be, and can be, far better than simply, free from injury or disease, represents a gradual shift in the way of thinking for both the consumer as well as the healthcare provider. It is this realization that is allowing Alternative Medicine to not only enter mainstream modern medicine, but also to partner with Conventional Medicine in a new and profound way as one of many successful avenues of treatment available to today's consumer of health.

Fifteen to Twenty years ago, there were few recognized, alternatives to conventional medicine, at least not in the West. This is not to say that alternatives did not exist, quite the contrary, they were simply not considered a serious option in improving ones health. This is no longer the case.

Dissatisfaction with the managed care system of the past decade, coupled with one important event and a slight shift in thinking created the perfect conditions for Alternative Medicine to flourish.

First, the cost of healthcare skyrocketed. Rising costs for diagnostic and treatment of injury and disease fueled an inevitable shift in focus, primarily from treatment to prevention, and this created the perfect niche that would soon be filled by the proactive stance that Alternative Medicine prevention provides. Simply put, when costs rise people begin asking questions and seeking alternatives.

Second, with the Information Age in full swing, access to quality information from a variety of sources translated into patients being better informed of healthcare issues and therefore more involved in their treatment options, if for no other reason than as a means to reduce their overall healthcare costs.

Alternative Medicine and Conventional Medicine approach healthcare issues in very different ways.

Conventional Medicine hinges on "the diagnosis of a patient's condition. This means that conventional medicine enters the healthcare process after the patient has been injured or after an ailment or disease has progressed to the level where an accurate diagnosis can be made. Once made, the diagnosis dictates both the treatment, accomplished via drug therapy and/or surgery, and the cost. Conventional Medicine exits the healthcare process once the malady has been identified, cured, or removed and is normally a temporary fix.

Contrast this to Alternative Medicine, which is focused on "preventing a problem, meaning that Alternative Medicine by its very nature attempts, and prefers, to enter the healthcare process before the patient is injured or becomes ill. Prevention is the first line of defense. When this frontline is penetrated by injury or disease, Alternative Medicine makes every attempt to "assist the body in healing itself, via natural means, whenever and wherever possible.

Alternative Medicine is thus non-invasive, even passive and more long-term, meaning that it becomes part of a consumer's healthcare regime and does not so quickly exit the health process, if at all. This will translate into lower costs for wellness over the lifespan of an individual. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and at no other time has this statement been more true, especially if the cure requires an expensive antibiotic, surgery and/or an extended, or even brief, hospital stay.

Nutrition and lifestyle changes alone can easily reduce the incidence of costly injury and disease, decrease the need for costly maintenance medications and increase the likelihood of a better quality of life.

The healthcare consumer of today is expected to be both well informed and totally involved in the decisions surrounding their personal health and well being. Not limited to local or even national healthcare options, the patient of this next century will enjoy global access to both information and treatment options.

Healthcare policies are already positioning themselves for this global marketplace and are embracing Alternative Medicine as a means of lowering their own liability and costs as well as expanding their consumer pool. Consumers should make sure their healthcare policies reflect these changing attitudes and include a much broader spectrum of healthcare options.

What is the quality of your health worth? Today's "non-traditional healthcare programs are the cornerstone of holistic health and the mainstay of the future quality of life that you and your family will enjoy in the years to come. Make sure your policy answers this question to the greatest satisfaction for you and your family.

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The Facts About Alternative Medicine

The term "alternative" medicine is a far-reaching one that describes a number of health and healing methods. Generally, when using "alternative" you are talking about medicinal and general health practices, products, etc. that are not a part of society's conventional medical systems. Sometimes referred to as "complementary" medicine when used in addition to, as opposed to instead of, conventional systems, the term can cover everything from folk medicine to faith healing to therapeutic massage. In other words, if you can't learn it in medical schools or get it in conventional hospitals, it's considered "alternative."

Because so many different approaches to health and wellness are lumped under the alternative heading, it can be difficult to decide whether or not to take any of them seriously. Fad diets, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbology, yoga, probiotics and new age healing are just a few of the choices that fall under alternative medicine. But how are you supposed to know what is real from what is quackery?

There are many sources that attempt to back alternative medicine practices with scientific study. A quick search through the library or Internet will result in lots of studies and first-hand experiences that prove or disprove the worth of just about any alternative method you can name. Ask friends and family if they have tried a particular treatment or practice, you'll be surprised how many people go outside of conventional medicine for alternate therapies. Many of us already use alternative medicine without even realizing it.

Remember when grandma insisted on her special chicken soup when you were sick, or a friend recommended an egg yolk mask for acne just because that's what her mom did?

Those are great examples of alternative medicine, and there's plenty of research out there that shows them to have real world value. Chicken soup is easy to eat when you're sick and provides necessary hydration, vitamins, minerals, and protein to help you recover. The high protein in egg yolks soothes and enriches the skin, as it dries it pulls out impurities, and all without adding oils or over drying. Just because a medical doctor didn't proscribe them doesn't necessarily mean they don't work.

Some alternative medicines have become more accepted by the conventional medical community. Acupuncture, part of traditional Chinese medicine, has been practiced for thousands of years and is considered conventional in many Asian countries. However, acupuncture is accepted only for pain management in the US. Acupuncturists claim it can help everything from weight loss to infertility, but this has not been definitively proven in scientific study. Practitioners in the US are highly trained and must get a license before treating patients. Licenses aren't infallible, but it does lend extra assurance that a professional with high standards is treating you. Further proof of acceptance is that many insurance companies will cover treatment by a licensed acupuncturist.

It is still important to take care when choosing to use alternative medicine. Be sure and do your homework. While it may not hurt to put egg on your face, taking herbs without knowing how they may interact with other medicines or knowing proper dosages can cause serious problems. Going to an unlicensed practitioner for something like acupuncture can result in serious injury. You should consult with your present health practitioner to discuss the alternative medicines you are considering. Be sure to weigh the risks and benefits carefully before trying anything new. Always let each health professional know all of your medical history and present practices.

Many people find great results from alternative and complementary medicine. When you explore these "new" options, you may find that there are centuries old ways to take care of your body and mind that have been overlooked by today's western medicine. Careful research and a mindful approach can help you achieve a better lifestyle and enjoy good health.

Written by Jill Manty of http://alternativehealthremedies.org/

This article can be reproduced in whole or in part, providing this byline is included along with a followable link to http://alternativehealthremedies.org/

Alternative Medicine Seminars: What they Teach

Find Alternative Medicine Seminars in the United States and Canada. Much like traditional medicine workshops, alternative medicine seminars typically center on pathology-specific and/or innovative health treatments. In addition, a number of alternative medicine seminars will sometimes offer diplomas of completion, certification and/or continuing education units.

Some excellent examples of alternative medicine seminars may include classes in acupuncture treatment for particular health issues, such as auricular therapy for eye disorders. Other alternative medicine seminars may be strictly for practitioners and health care professionals who would like introductory courses in homeopathy, natural healthcare or other related subjects of study.

A number of alternative medicine seminars may involve integrative medicines that are used in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, and other health problems. In addition, there are alternative medicine seminars that have been specifically designed to help professional health care providers to better understand the theories and principles of alternative and complementary medicine, which help to erode stereotypes associated with these natural health modalities.

Some alternative medicine seminars are geared toward promoting healthier lifestyles and better nutritional concepts; while others present advanced and continuing education classes in glyconutrients, massage therapy, yoga, Tai chi, qigong and herbal remedies. Many alternative medicine seminars also include programs in guided imagery, chiropractic, homeopathy, meditation, mind-body medicine, and additional natural therapies.

Alternative medicine seminars vary in length and credit; some may be as short as an hour-long course, while others can range up to two weeks. Most alternative medicine seminars do provide certificates of completion, which is always a professional enhancement to any health career.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding appropriate alternative medicine seminars to help attain your dream job, let education within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs [http://school.holisticjunction.com/clickcount.php?id=6634739&goto=http://www.holisticjunction.com/search.cfm] near you.

Alternative Medicine Seminars: What they Teach
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