| The term "conventional medicine" refers to medicine | | | | have spent billions of dollars on unconventional |
| practiced by medical doctors and doctors of | | | | medicine, doctor's visits, and herbal remedies. As a |
| osteopath. Alternative medicine is a system of | | | | result, many drug stores and chain stores are |
| theory and practice used by many individual cultures | | | | stocking natural remedies. |
| around the world. There are several differences in | | | | Conventional Treatments |
| conventional and alternative medicines, but there are | | | | In conventional medicine, the symptoms are attacked |
| some practitioners that use them together. | | | | aggressively with surgery and drugs. Instead of the |
| Promoting Good Health | | | | whole body being considered at one time, each organ |
| The emphasis in alternative medicine is good health | | | | is attended separately. Medical schools are divided |
| and prevention of disease. With alternative medicine, | | | | into organ specific departments where the organs |
| an individual is using natural remedies to build up the | | | | are learned about separately, and are not taught as |
| immune system to fight off infection and diseases. | | | | being related to each other. This works fine for |
| Each person is treated as an individual. Then, a | | | | emergency and trauma treatments, but does not |
| specialized treatment is used for their needs. Through | | | | promote better health over all. |
| extensive questioning and diagnostic tools, the | | | | The treatments used in conventional medicine are the |
| practitioner works to determine the cause of health | | | | result of scientific research and successful results. |
| problems. If there are underlying factors influencing | | | | Many doctors are convinced that these are the best |
| your health, they will work to find the problem. | | | | for their patients. But in most cases, they will treat |
| Instead of using the same treatment on everyone | | | | everyone with the same treatment when they could |
| with a common symptom, they try to find the | | | | have different factors affecting their health. Many |
| hidden cause and treat it. | | | | doctors specialize in one area and only know that |
| Different Methods | | | | one field well. |
| There are several different kinds of alternative | | | | Using Both Methods |
| medicines: homeopath, osteopath, chiropractic, herbal | | | | Some doctors use alternative medicine in a |
| medicine, massage and acupuncture. Alternative | | | | complimentary manner along with their conventional |
| medicine practitioners usually have a quality education | | | | treatments. Several medical schools and renowned |
| with degree-level exams and monitored evaluation. | | | | hospitals are offering courses and clinics using |
| Other therapies not as common are reflexology and | | | | alternative medicines. This is also common in the |
| aromatherapy, which use less invasive methods. | | | | United Kingdom and Europe. |
| These are more independent practitioners sometimes | | | | Most people assume that only the latest high-tech |
| using methods developed on their own. | | | | treatments will be affective, but sometimes these |
| The purpose is to stimulate the body's healing | | | | are not as tried and proven as the old time remedies |
| process. Instead of trying to rid the body of a | | | | passed down over the years. The best thing to do is |
| disease or symptom, the whole body is treated, and | | | | gather as much information as you can before you |
| the cause is addressed. That is why a whole regimen | | | | make a judgment. Many times people are skeptical or |
| is sometimes prescribed. This could be dietary | | | | fearful because they do not know the facts. |
| changes, exercises, and an herbal remedy. By treating | | | | Being Prepared |
| the cause, you have more chance of a complete | | | | Though our bodies are very resilient and have the |
| cure. In most cases, these treatments are not as | | | | amazing ability to heal their selves, there are times |
| costly as conventional medicines. | | | | that we will need help. It is best to be informed |
| Widely Used | | | | about both conventional and alternative medicines |
| Many companies offer alternative medicine in their | | | | when the time comes to make a choice. |
| healthcare packages. In recent years, Americans | | | | |