Alternative Medicine

There is a lot of talk about alternative medicine these days. It can be hard to make sense of all the information out there. Let’s take a quick look at what we mean by “alternative medicine”. Alternative medicine is a term that describes medical treatments that are used instead of traditional medical treatments. You may also hear it referred to as “complimentary medicine”.

Contrary to what some sources may lead you to believe, alternative medicine isn’t a fringe thing. In fact almost half of the adults in the United States use some form of alternative medicine. These treatments can range from things like acupuncture and chiropractics, to naturopathic treatments. People are choosing these treatments for a number of reasons. The most common being the following:

Prevention - Unlike traditional medications, which focus on treating problems that you are currently dealing with, alternative medicines focus on preventing those problems from ever starting. It’s like the old saying “the best defense is a good offense”. By keeping the body healthy, you prevent sickness from gaining a foothold.

Attention - A benefit of preventative medicine, is that the practitioners often spend much more individualized time with the patients than their traditional medicine counterparts. These leads to a more fulfilling relationship, and more personalized care.

Whole Person - Another benefit of preventative medicine is that it looks at the person as a whole system. Whereas with traditional medicine the focus is often on whatever is causing issue at that moment. By looking at the person as a whole, alternative medicines can catch things that might otherwise be missed.

These are just a few of the reasons alternative medicines are gaining in popularity. That’s not to say that traditional medicine is all bad or doesn’t have it’s place. It most certainly does. But for people looking for a more holistic, preventative approach to health. Alternative medicine should be considered.