Alternative medicine refers to medicines and medical practices that are not a part of the established medical and scientific community. This doesn’t mean that alternative medicine doesn’t work, or that it is somehow ineffective. It simply means that alternative medicine is an “alternative” to established medical options.
Throughout human history, human beings have sought remedies for their ailments. Whether it is arthritis, the common cold or a kidney infection, people have always tried to alleviate their suffering and improve their health. One could make the case that what are considered alternative medicines today were, in centuries past, the only known medicines at all. Alternative medicine, then, goes back as far as humanity goes back.
In the modern era, medicine has become regulated. There is a process whereby drugs and treatments are vetted through clinical trials monitored by the government. Alternative medicines have not been vetted in this way. Again, that doesn’t mean that they are not effective, just that they haven’t yet been tested in this way. Many alternative medicines, particularly herbal remedies, have actually become regular medicines through this process, as well.
One of the most ancient types of alternative medicine is herbal remedies. People from many cultures, for example, have been able to discover the power of ginger root to soothe a sore stomach. This practice goes back at least to the ancient Greeks, and probably beyond. There are literally hundreds of different herbs that are used in herbal medicine, each with a slightly different purpose. As recently as the late 1800s, herbal remedies were sold, often in liquid format as “ointments” by a variety of traveling vendors. Many of those remedies became today’s medicines.
Acupuncture and acupressure, in the East, have been around for centuries as an alternative medicine. These treatments rely on the use of specific pressure points in the body that are related to specific ailments.
If you have a serious illness, you should speak with your health care provider. While alternative medicines can be useful, you want to know what all of your options are so that you can make an informed decision about treatment options.
Written by mrboffo