Conventional Medicine Benefits from Complementary Therapies
The increasing use of complementary therapies by patients is being found to assist and promote the effectiveness of conventional medicine as well as benefitting the health of the patient.
Cancer and Chemotherapy
Cancer is one disease where a complementary therapy is being utilized to lessen some of the pain and discomfort associated with this illness.
Complementary therapies are being used to help alleviate some of the symptoms of cancer. Additionally, they are also utilized to help reduce some of the unpleasantness of the negative side effects associated with conventional cancer treatment.
The side effects produced by the treatment of chemotherapy on some patients are far from pleasant. Even though chemotherapy can be an effective progressive treatment that aims to increase the survival rate of many cancer patients, it can also produce very unpleasant side effects.
Some cancer patients have found that they are better able to endure the trauma of chemotherapy treatment when they are using a complementary therapy that helps lessen the toxic effect this conventional medical treatment has on them.
Acupuncture or herbal medications are often used to control the side effects like fatigue, headaches, nausea, and vomiting that occur with the chemotherapy treatment.
Maintaining a Positive Attitude
A positive outlook is an essential part of coping with and remaining optimistic for most people with cancer and other chronic illnesses. It is natural for a patient to want and to hope for a cure even if their doctor’s prognosis suggests that this might be difficult to achieve.
Some patients elect to add a complementary health therapy that enhances relaxation and reduces stress, to their conventional medical treatment. This has a positive effect on their ability to heal while giving them a general sense of improved health and a feeling of wellbeing.
Naturally, this, in turn, makes them more confident and hopeful about their future. There is also supporting evidence that feeling good about yourself and reducing stress gives your immune system a welcome boost.
Being in Control
Some people become overwhelmed with pain management relating to their medical problems and illnesses. Their conventional medicine doesn’t work well enough to give them the relief they need.
Sometimes this makes them feel that they don’t have any control over what happens to them and that their doctor makes all the decisions.
When these people include a complementary therapy treatment for pain relief they often find they are able to reduce the dosage of conventional medical drugs. Additionally, it also allows them to feel more confident because they are taking a more active and controlling role in their recovery and treatment
Side Effects
In the majority of cases, complementary therapies have fewer side effects than the frequent and severely invasive effects of most prescription and other pharmaceutical medications of conventional medical treatments.
Many patients are now aware of and are beginning to use the complementary therapies that promise a more natural and non-toxic treatment for their health problems.
The more a patient is able to find a successful complementary therapy that improves or helps to replace their conventional prescription medication the more their health will benefit.
There are some complementary therapies that have been proven to be safe and that help with specific symptoms or side effects. However, there are others that may have an adverse effect when used in conjunction with conventional medication.
Therefore, it is extremely important that patients seek advice from their doctor before using alternative medicine therapies, particularly in conjunction with other medicines.
Mental Health
The focus of alternative medicine is on the healing of the mind, the body and the spirit. Therefore when it is combined as a complementary therapy with conventional medicine it can be very beneficial to a person’s overall health and wellbeing.
Complementary therapies such as massage therapy, biofeedback, and meditation reduce stress and help people to relax. Treatment methods like art and music therapy are noted for relieving symptoms of schizophrenia and depression as they stimulate the natural release of endorphins in the body.
This also helps patients to release long-held deeply repressed emotions. All these complementary therapies help conventional medicine to achieve a better and more stabilized healing process and outcomes for the patient.
Cost
The cost of health care is a serious consideration for most patients. Although there are some alternative therapies that are more expensive, many herbal treatments can cost less than prescription medication.
There are also proven complementary treatments that are natural and less invasive and can often cost less than treatments first advocated by traditional western practitioners.
What are some examples of complementary and alternative medicine?
Complementary Medicine – My Health Alberta
…https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=aa63785
Examples of complementary medicine include Alternative health approaches such as traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, and naturopathy. Mind and body practices like acupuncture, massage therapy, and tai chi.Natural health products like herbs, dietary supplements, and probiotics.Complementary Medicine – My Health Alberta
What is the most popular alternative medicine?
Most Popular Alternative Healing Therapies
…https://www.business-standard.com/article/health/most-popular-alternative-healing-therapies-117113000239_1.html
Most Popular Alternative Healing TherapiesAcupuncture – One of the better known alternative healing therapies is acupuncture. … Acupressure – Acupressure just like acupuncture works on the principal of various specific points being energy centers of the human body. … Ayurveda – Ayurveda is an ancient healing practice that originated in India.More items…•Nov 30, 2017Most Popular Alternative Healing Therapies
The use of complementary and alternative medications
What is considered alternative medicine?
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
…https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/what-is-alternative-medicine
Alternative medicine is a term that describes medical treatments that are used instead of traditional (mainstream) therapies. Some people also refer to it as “integrative,” or “complementary” medicine. More than half of adults in the United States say they use some form of alternative medicine. Mar 20, 2019, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
What are the 5 categories of CAM?
Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
…https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/types-of-complementary-and-alternative-medicine
What are the different types of CAM? Traditional alternative medicine. This field includes the more mainstream and accepted forms of therapy, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and Oriental practices. … Body. Touch has been used in medicine since the early days of medical care. … Diet and herbs. … External energy. … Mind. … Senses.Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine…
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