In my opinion, yes, the incorporation of holistic and alternative medicine with traditional medicine is not only a good idea, it is necessary. The reasons why I believe this is a fundamental history of medicine. The first point I want to make is that the word alternative and traditional are backward. Holistic medicine has been around far longer than pharmaceuticals of what is now called traditional medicine. Ancient Chinese, Egyptians, Native Americans, and others across the planet, have used roots, herbs, and plants as medicine for eons. Granted, some work and some do not, but most of them work very well. The introduction of pharmaceuticals as industry medicines did not come into play until the late 19th century. Some could argue, however, that oils, herbs, and roots were also pharmaceuticals, which is true in a way. But what I am explaining here is the difference between what is known as traditional and alternative. In modern medicine, the pharmacy filled with pills, liquids, and gels is called traditional, while the old ways are called alternative.
Alternative medicine was the first medicine that healers, physicians, and medicine people used. Just like modern medicine, some people lived and were healthy, and some people died, no matter what the healer did to help. Therefore the term alternative seems a bit odd.
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In my opinion, it would be wise for a modern physician to be trained in, and master the art of treating a patient with roots, herbs, and plants first, before resorting to modern medicine. Of course, there are exceptions to this idea, because sometimes modern medicine is more effective. This is especially true in cases such as heart attacks, severe allergies, and other such traumatic events. However, for general health issues such as the common cold, the flu, rashes, bumps, bruises, small cuts, sunburn, and other common ailments, natural medicine seems to be just as effective, if not more, and there are rarely any side effective. Modern pharmaceutical medicines are more likely to cause side effects, and therefore should be used in addition to, or after natural medicine has been used.
The difference between the two types of treatment is that pharmaceutical modern medicine treats only the symptoms, while the natural holistic healing methods, treat the whole person and all of his or her systems at the same time. Naturopathic medicine does not abandon modern methods; instead they can work together for the greater good of the patient. For example, although a modern medicine physician would prescribe specific medicines for a patient with hypertension; those pills come with side effects that can damage different parts of the body.
A naturopath would prescribe Hawthorne tincture, garlic, a reduced sodium diet, and perhaps CoQ10, which modern medicine only physicians will prescribe as well. However, the naturopath will suggest a diet change and only go to pharmaceutical medicines if the patient is not responding well to the herbs, plants, and change of diet. The likelihood of the patient not responding to the naturopathic treatment is very little, as this method seems to work on rebuilding the patient’s circulatory system, instead of just treating the symptoms like modern pharmaceuticals would.
Natural medicines such as roots, plants, and herbs work with the human body to heal. Modern pharmaceuticals only relieve the symptoms and do not work with the body naturally. The human body has to work that much harder to heal itself, and in many cases, it does not have the ability to do that without a significant change in diet or lifestyle. Therefore, it is my opinion that naturopathic medicine should be used first, and modern medicine second.
- http://www.pharmaphorum.com/articles/a-history-of-the-pharmaceutical-industry
- http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-plant-vs-pharmaceutical-false-dichotomy/
- http://realizehealth.org/about-naturopathic-medicine/naturopathic-medicine-vs-conventional-medicine/
