Role of Alternative Medicine in Modern Society

Typically, alternative medicine differs from traditional medicine in that alternative medicine is older and what we might call unconventional or non-Western medicine. Alternative medicine does not follow the traditional science and research that current medicines undergo. Alternative medicine could also be termed complementary or traditional medicine or the therapies that can be integrated into current medicine. The staff of the National Library of Medicine of the United States classified alternative medicine under the category of complementary therapies in their Medical Subjects Heading Section. This was done in the year 2002. The definition provided was that alternative medicine therapeutic practices were not considered as an integral part of the traditional allopathic medicine. Therapies like acupuncture, dieting, physical therapy like exercises or yoga, etc. are termed as alternative medicine. These therapies are called complementary when they are used along with conventional treatments. If they are done in place of conventional treatments, they are known as alternative treatments.

In April 1995, the panel of National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, worked on Definition & Description, CAM Research Methodology Conference, Office of Alternative Medicine. The panel defined alternative medicine and complementary medicine as those healing resources that encompass all health systems and practices that are different from the dominant health system of a particular society or culture. Usually, therapies like ayurveda, herbal medicine, folk medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, naturopathy, diet practices, chiropractic, music therapy, massage, pranic healing, etc. are classified as alternative or complementary medicine. People who do not find a cure, remedy or success in allopathic medicine generally try alternative medicine. Such people generally suffer from cancer, arthritis, acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS), chronic back pain, etc. Therapies included under alternative medicine would cease to be included in that category once their efficacy is proven and they are considered safe and effective. They are then considered as part of traditional medicine. An example would be chiropractors. Twenty years ago insurance would not pay for them as they were considered "alternative and ineffective." Today thousands of people have been helped by chiropractors and they are now recognized in the medical community. A similar movement is underway in the nutritional supplement and nutraceutical industry.

Over the years, more and more people have been using alternative medicine because traditional medicine is not working for them. The 2004 survey by the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine of the United States revealed that approximately 36% of Americans used alternative medicine in 2002. If alternative medicine is used in conjunction with traditional allopathic medicine, an integrative doctor is a person's best option. Some traditional doctors are adamantly against or simply do not believe in complementary medicine, even though research continues to show the benefits of many compounds. Your doctor should be informed about other approaches you may be using and if they are not comfortable with that then always feel free to choose another doctor. This would enable the doctor to foresee any possible complications or a better time in which to use a complementary therapy. The concern in using alternative medicine stems from the fact that some practitioners of alternative medicine do not have an accredited medical degree and therefore do not have a valid medical license. However, in recent times, many educational institutions and universities have started offering courses in homeopathy, ayurveda, siddha, unani, acupuncture, and naturopathy. The recent growth in this industry is evident by the many people demanding different, and in some cases better, care than what they are receiving in "modern medicine." They are no longer accepting the fact that they need to suffer with pain or illness because modern pharmacy does not have a magic bullet for them.

Natural Medicinal Plants of the Amazon Rainforest

Have you ever wondered why so many alternative and health stores tout products that purport to be the Brazilian "secret" to beauty or good health? While the exotic origin may be a top selling point (to say nothing of glamorous pictures of beautiful Brazilian women on the labels!), it is believed South America holds the key to lasting health and youth thanks to their natural resources. The Amazon rainforest, for one, yields a great bounty of plants, herbs and trees used for medicinal purposes.

You could say the Brazilian rainforest is nature's pharmacy. For centuries, natives have utilized the leaves, roots, and bark of various trees and plants to remedy a variety of conditions. Here is just a sample of what the rainforest has to offer in the way of good health:

Cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao): Of course, when we think of cocoa, we hardly associate it with good health, just good taste. While the cocoa tree is known more for the beans it yields, which in turn becomes the chocolate we enjoy, other parts the tree are equally useful. The natives of the rainforest have been known to use other parts of the tree to treat anxiety and fever, coughing and fatigue. Note, too, that chocolate in its darkest, purest form is rich in antioxidants, good for purifying the blood.

Annatto/Lipstick tree (Bixa orellana): Contrary to what you're thinking, this tree doesn't exactly yield ingredients for lipstick. It gets its name for its bright red fruit, which is somewhat shaped like lipstick. The lipstick tree is known in the rainforest especially for its topical remedies - the plant pigment Bixin, derived from the oil of the plant, is known to protect the skin from harmful UV rays. The Lipstick tree has also been used to treat bug bites and similar skin abrasions.

Papaya (Carica papaya L.): You may be somewhat familiar with this exotic fruit as a delicious snack, but did you know the roots and leaves of the papaya have been used in tribal medicine as a diuretic for years? Also, an unripened fruit contains a type of sap consisting of Papain, an enzyme believed to relieve indigestion.

The Amazon Rainforest is not only a symbol of natural beauty, but a sound source of good health. When you research what the plants, trees, and herbs of the Brazilian forests have to offer as alternative medicine, you may be amazed. However, take caution before trying anything new, consult your own physician.