Could Alternative Medicine Save Your Health?

By Bryan Jeebs


The broad spectrum of alternative medicine encompasses healing processes that have roots in religion, spirituality, metaphysics or are untried or don't belong to Western medical traditions.

This is not to say that Western medicine does not under certain circumstances adopt certain alternative medicine practices. This is usually only done once a alternative medicine process has been tested and proved to be a healing process. This is when "conventional" medicine and alternative medicine merge. This is especially true when it comes to herbal supplements and remedies.

There probably isn't any other alternative healing process that put Western medicinal practitioners in such a bind. They struggle with the validity of the claims made by different manufacturers of these herbal supplements. Doctors want to make sure that you are taking something that is going to help you and not hurt you. As much as we don't want to admit it, there are companies out there that just want to get our money, and then we are victims of fraud. Proof that it is working is the influx of herbal remedies and supplements on the market. There has to be a way for consumers to be protected.

The best way to protect yourself from fraud is to check if the product has the stamp of approval from a validating agency that you can trust. There are two such organizations that have made it their job to check and validate alternative medicine - United States Pharmacopoeia and NSF International. You are advised never to buy any alternative medicine that does not have the stamp of these organizations. There is no point in taking the risk. If the product does not have the stamp then it implies that it did not conform to the standards set by these organizations and you could become a victim of fraud. Of course, there are many products that do stand out and are waiting for approval from these organizations. All this is thanks to the research carried out in universities like Duke, Stanford and Harvard.

The research of alternative medicine that these three universities have done is aimed at finding herbal remedies that actually work and then figuring out how they work. This research has already helped prove scientifically the benefits of acupuncture and the use of glucosamine to relieve pain as well the use of calcium, magnesium and guided imagery to relieve certain PMS symptoms. The disadvantage is that it takes time for these supplements to work; some times it can take 6 to 8 weeks.

It is always advised that before you take an alternative supplement or use an alternative remedy you consult a specialist in the field. Alternative medicine practitioners should belong to the Consortium for Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine. Much like a manufacturer can rip you off, so can a "practitioner" if they have not had the education that is needed to be considered a practitioner. The importance of consulting a valid practitioner is that they can help you use the correct remedy in the correct manner to actually help you. If you do not want to use a validated practitioner then at least make sure the herbal supplement that you are using has the stamp of the USP or NSF.

Proponents of alternative medicine are also known to be opponents of regulating agencies such as the FDA, these agencies are seen as restrictive and controlling moguls. The reason is that the advocates feel that agencies such as the FDA, NSF or USP delay the potential to help people with their strict guidelines. However they also feel that if these agencies do find fraud then these agencies should punish the individual manufacturers.

Countries all over the world do not follow such strict guidelines as the United States. Looking at places like India where there are multiple alternative medicine practices used and licensed by the government. Aurveda, Unani and Homeopathy and Siddha have no scientific backing but are widely used and supported. The next on the list to be licensed is Naturopathy.With the possibility of obtaining bachelors degrees in Naturopathy, this has furthered India's research into the treatments that are used by AYUSH, the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy and such. Be cautious that you do not fall victim to treatments that do not have any validating evidence.

About the Author:
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