Alternative Medicine

Some people are firm believers that alternative medicine actually works, while others are violently opposed to it. Regardless of these opposing views, lately its popularity has been on the rise. Do the effects of alternative medicine simply offer temporary relief, or are they actually effective? Without trying to influence you to make up your mind one way or the other, divine.ca is here to shed some light on the different kinds of treatments available, and give you just a bit more information on the vast topic of natural remedies.

Alternative medicine encompasses an impressive number of treatment methods: homeopathy, naturopathic and osteopathic medicine, acupuncture, and herbalism, to name just a few. What is qualified as alternative medicine or a natural remedy is any health-related treatment that is not considered traditional, i.e. that isn’t being taught at the Medical Faculty in universities.

Alternative medicine sets itself apart from traditional medicine mainly by the fact that its treatments don’t go against the body’s natural functioning. Alternative medicine uses natural substances (vegetable or animal) as the basis of its treatments, as opposed to chemical substances. Actually, this is why natural medicine is not commonly used to treat grave illnesses such as cancer. However, it can be recommended to treat problems such as asthma, migraines, allergies, etc.

Here is a look at the characteristics of some of these natural alternatives, and what differentiates them from one another.

Homeopathy
Homeopathy was officially recognized in 1796, although it had been around for over a century at that time. The treatment technique is based on administering small tablets that contain a very low amount of active substances. When taken in strong doses, these substances can be the cause of disease; but, when taken in low doses, they stimulate the defence mechanism and anti-bodies related to the same sickness it can cause. This way, the person’s body learns to heal itself.

Naturopathic Medicine
The first time naturopathic medicine was recorded in history was in 1902 when Mr. Lust, a German immigrant, founded the American School of Naturopathy in New York. Naturopathic medicine consists of giving your body a hand by reinforcing its defence system with different “natural” methods including massages, diets and plant infusions. Naturopathic Medicine also borrows from other kinds of alternative medicine, most often from homeopathy and herbalism.