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Articles » Health-&-Fitness » Alternative-Medicine >> View Article
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| Should I Try Alternative Health Treatments |
By:
Carol Bell |
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Conventional treatment is changing and alternative health therapies are being introduced and used. With mainstream methods of healing combining with alternative methods, there is a more holistic, integrated combination treatment. Some healing which is not possible by conventional lines of treatment are possible with alternative therapies. These are services like chiropractic, diet fads, faith healing, folk medicine, herbal medicine; new age healing, massage, music and naturopathy but these are just some of them. Many are now looking at alternative therapies instead of the conventional simply because they feel that maybe there would be a better chance of cure in certain conditions.
Quality of life and general health improves with alternative health therapies. Reducing tension, anxiety, stress, sleeplessness, and depression are just a couple of things that alternative health therapies are known to do as well as make you feel a lot more relaxed. They reduce some of the side effects which are normally noticed in the usual cancer treatments and also help in reducing some of the symptoms like poor appetite, tiredness, pain, sickness, diarrhea, constipation and breathlessness.
When it comes to masking pain, alternative health therapies can be extremely effective, however sometimes this can hid an underlying condition that is more serious and they are normally used right along, in conjunction with the conventional method. For example, there are some support groups for cancer, that offer all of these therapies for free or for a small fee and there are some hospices and hospitals that provide these as a special part of the care for cancer, right alongside of the conventional treatments for cancer like radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Many people with cancer now use these therapies to help support themselves through cancer and its treatment. However, they should not be seen as an alternative to orthodox medicine, but as a valuable support that recognizes the emotional and spiritual aspects as well as the physical aspects.
More than billion is spent by the Americans annually on vitamins and herbs which are alternative health products. Around 72 million adults in the US are using alternative or complimentary therapy according to studies carried out in 2005 by Tindle, Davis, Phillips, & Eisenberg. Herman, Craig and Caspi, in 2005 showed that more than billion a year is spent out-of-pocket on alternative therapies.
However there is no specific alternative health therapy that is more effective than the other, you will only be able to determine which treatment would suit you and which one is effective only by the trial and error method. Many patients suffering from MND or Motor Neuron Diseases, have found an improvement in their quality of life using individual therapies like, acupuncture, homeopathy, massage, Reiki, reflexology, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, reflexology and meditation. It is important to consult the treating physician before using alternative therapies and to check out all additional treatment, so that there is no adverse or cross reactions that affect the treatment.
In the event, that you make the decision to integrate some of the alternative health therapies into your specific treatment plan, you are going to need to discuss all of your choices very openly, regularly and honestly with your physician and others that are part of your health care team. When considering this option, ask your doctor if there are treatments available at your hospital or clinic, or even through your physician's practice. Perhaps they may be able to recommend particular therapies or practitioners as more doctors are being convinced that complementary medicine does have a place in today's society. For many today, alternative therapies are helping them cope and manage the effects of conventional treatment by the reduction in the feeling of anxiety and feeling the return of a certain control of their own lives. |
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