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Smarty Student
Dickinson
English 1301
18 Nov. 2013
Alternative Medicine
Alternative medicine is defined as “any healing or wellness practice not based within the
conventional system of medical doctors, nurses, and hospitals”(“Alternative”). Such methods are
not new to the United States or even to the world; ancient civilizations utilized the plants and
materials around them much before modern technology came into play. Such treatments are now
considered “alternative”, not because they are useless, but because they are often only thought of
after conventional practices. Much of today’s medicine and healing methods take root in ancient
practices, and can still be of use today.
Alternative approaches to medicine are simply the only medical techniques that were
used to be the only available treatments in the past. Due to new technology and discoveries
regarding drugs, many people think that “alternative”, or even “old”, medicine does not work.
On the contrary, such alternative medicine isn’t as “alternative” as some many think; many of
these methods are actually the source that conventional medicine is derived from. For example,
“(people) used the leaves of the willow plant to treat headaches and muscle pains. By the early
1800s, scientists had isolated the active ingredient: aspirin”(Offit). Most active ingredients in
today’s drugs come from plants. In addition, Ancient Chinese and Indian medical treatments are
still used today. Treatments such as chiropractic and massage therapy, though not involving
drugs, are modern practices that many use to relieve pain. Such treatments were not thought of
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within the walls of prestigious medical schools or laboratories, but rather by our ancestors. The
assumption that if people don’t recognize ingredients in medication, then it must’ve been created
by brilliant scientists and work better than simple treatments is almost an unspoken belief in
America today. This common way of thought, however, is invalid. There are many benefits and
medical knowledge to be learned from our ancestors.
Alternative Medicine can actually be cheaper form of medical treatment. Anyone who
has ever had to stay in a hospital or go to a doctor’s appointment knows how expensive medical
treatment can be. A recent poll showed that “roughly 36 percent of Americans who are 18 years
and older use some form of alternative medicine”(“Introduction”). That is a relatively high
number, but not when one considers how many times expensive treatments could have been
offset by looking to alternative medicine. For example, many people don’t think of tea as having
to do with medicine, but there are hundreds of varieties of teas meant to treat sore throats, colds,
help with sleep, or calm an upset stomach. The caffeine in green tea can actually help or prevent
headaches. I know personally, when I feel I may be getting am sick, the first thing I reach for is
tea, not medication. Though tea will not be as effective as prescribed medications, it can prevent
illness and treat symptoms, thus saving money. At a grocery store, a pack of Nyquil and Dayquil
is about twelve dollars where as a box of tea is around five dollars. This small scale example can
be applied to larger medical costs as well. If an alternative medical treatment can help prevent a
risky surgery and expensive medical bill, then isn’t it worth at least some consideration?
Alternative medications can also be healthier. Have you ever read the side effects list
that accompanies a prescription medication? Or maybe listened to the advertiser at the end of
commercials where they list what seems like hundreds of deadly side effects? Today’s medicine,
though effective, may cause other problems within one’s body. The harsh ingredients that are
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unpronounceable and sheer dosage could easy make anyone sick. On the other hand, many
alternative medications and treatments contain simple, common ingredients that most people are
familiar with. Natural medications are also difficult to over dose on. This ensures that the
medication itself isn’t harmful, unless someone is allergic to it, and may provide a more natural
and healthy option for people everywhere.
Another benefit of turning towards alternative medicine is that it is nothing new, unlike
modern medications that are made and recalled time and again. Modern medicine is produced in
labs with complex formulas. Given, such medications are excessively tested before approved to
be sold; however, people make mistakes, even those in the medical field. Perhaps a dosage was
misdirected, the medication has proved to cause cancer in patients years later, or there is a weak
link between early set Alzheimer’s and said drug. None the less, one never really knows for sure
if today’s treatments and drugs are safe because they were just produced. We, as a people, have
not been able to see the harmful side effects of most common drugs today. However, employing
the help of natural and time honored remedies are almost positively not going to cause any
further damage. It is always better to air on the side of caution when dealing with complex drugs
and medical treatments.
Some may say that Alternative medicine and practices yield no actual results and are
therefore useless. With modern technology, today’s medicines are extremely advanced and
capable of fixing problems on a biological level. Many forms of alternative treatments were not
made to treat/prevent conditions; their beneficial characteristics were simply discovered.
Obviously, it is easy to draw the conclusion that because modern medications were produced
specifically to treat certain conditions, they are better. Many people question how something
helpful by chance can be more beneficial in treating illnesses than something made for such
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specific purposes. There are many unanswered question relating to the success and usefulness of
alternative medicine, and much research to still be done.
Conversely, alternative medicine has numerous proven benefits. One of the reasons that
people discount the usefulness of holistic medicine is because “Even when the active ingredient
in an herbal product is known (or suspected), it is difficult for manufacturers to standardize how
much active ingredient their product contains”(“Herbal”). With treatments made from plants, it is
nearly impossible to regulate the strength of the active ingredient or create a proper dosage. This,
however, does not necessarily mean they do not work at all. Even for some alternative treatments
that may not in fact have any physical benefits, the positive effects a high moral have are nothing
to discount. The “placebo effect” is commonly referred to regarding alternative medicine; this
effect is when a patient falsely believes they are given a drug that is improving their condition,
and that positive outlook literally begins to improve their condition physically. There are
definitely many alternative medications that have concrete benefits, and for those that do not,
simply believing one is healing can make it true.
Alternative treatments are a resource that should be much more widely utilized. Not only
are they cheaper, but can also be healthier and less likely to cause additional illnesses down the
road. Alternative medicine shouldn’t have to come to mind only after all conventional options
are unavailable, but perhaps before the onset of disease as prevention, or as another option in
“conventional” medicine.
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Work Cited
"Alternative Medicine." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2012.Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.
"Herbal Drugs." UXL Encyclopedia of Drugs and Addictive Substances. Ed. Barbara C. Bigelow.
Vol. 3. Detroit: UXL, 2006. 379-398. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Nov.
2013.
"Introduction to Alternative Medicine: Opposing Viewpoints." Alternative Medicine. Ed. David
M. Haugen. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints.Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.
Offit, Paul. "Book Excerpt: Do alternative medicines really work?" Washington Post 12 Nov.
2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.