Community Magazine December 2013

70 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE B ut in recent years, other approaches to healing have risen in popularity. Many of these “alternative” techniques, which come from all over the world, have been around for thousands of years. So what is alternative medicine, and how does it work? What Is It? The term “alternative medicine” is used to describe healing treatments that are not part of conventional medical training, such as acupuncture, massage therapy, and herbal medicine. People used to consider practices like these outside the mainstream, which is why they became known as “alternative.” Eastern countries have a longstanding tradition of teaching alternative medicine. But until recently, most Western hospitals didn’t provide any alternative treatments, and Western medical schools didn’t teach them. Patients in Western countries are now becoming more receptive to trying alternative techniques, and have been asking for them. As a result, many Western medical schools are starting to teach these methods, and some hospitals and physicians are supplementing their regular medical care with alternative treatments. The term “complementary medicine” is used to describe the administering of alternative treatments in conjunction with conventional therapies. Both alternative and complementary medicine use the same types of remedies to treat a health condition. The difference is that alternative medicine is often used instead of conventional medical techniques, whereas complementary medicine is used in addition to conventional medicine. The field of complementary and alternative medicine is known by the acronym CAM, and it includes numerous medical practices, many of which date back earlier than conventional medicine that we use today. Examples of alternative medical systems include Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), homeopathic medicine, and naturopathic medicine. How Is CAM Different From Conventional Medicine? Conventional medicine, also referred to as allopathic medicine, is based on scientific knowledge of the body and uses treatments that have been proven effective through scientific research. Complementary and alternative medicine is based on the belief that a medical care provider has to treat the whole person - body, mind, and spirit. The methods used in CAM are usually less invasive than conventional medical practices – meaning, they don’t rely on surgery or conventional medications. People often turn to CAM when they have a long-lasting problem that conventional medicine cannot adequately solve. For example, someone who for years has Alternative MEDICINE If you’re like most people, you probably have a simple understanding of how medicine works: You feel sick, you visit a doctor, you take medication that the doctor prescribes, and pretty soon you’re as good as new.