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Why should you opt for alternative medicine options?
Why do people opt for alternative medicine? There are several reasons. One of the key factors in healing is active participation of the patient in the healing process. You have to "believe" that the treatment will cure you. Modern medicine prescribes doses of drugs but does not really analyze the social, mental, emotional, and other conditions that are affecting your health. This is exacerbated by the fact that in a managed care society, your doctor may have all the right intentions but generally can only make limited time available for each patient. But a strong relationship between a patient and the doctor can be an important factor that has an impact on the overall outcome of treatments.
In alternative medicine, doctors are often able to spend significantly more time with each patient, creating a relationship that itself can positively impact the healing process. For example, when a patient seeks homeopathic treatment, besides the specific treatment, the way the doctor empathizes with the patient may affect the total cure. The cost of conventional medicine is another important factor. We all keep hearing about the rising cost of healthcare in the US, which is reflected in part in higher co-payments, higher deductibles, and higher prescription drug costs that we, as consumers, have to face. In such a time, alternative medicine poses an attractive option.
Drug toxicity or adverse drug reactions from modern medicine may also influence people to move towards alternative medicine. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting, despite the FDA's best efforts to protect Americans from adverse drug reactions, that no drug is entirely safe, as all drugs will have some level of side effects. While drugs can continue to play a critical, even life-saving role in many healthcare situations, alternative medicines can sometimes provide options that are effective and have fewer toxic side effects.
A survey result taken out by NCCAM in May 2004, showed that "36 % of U.S. Adults aged 18 years and above use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)." The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 4 billion people "use herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care."
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