Non Traditional Medicine That Might Be Of Interest
Western medicine is not the only healing technique in the world, as we all know. There are also other healing processes that encompass religion, metaphysics, spirituality or they are simply not connected to anything. These are what is known world over as alternative medicine.
There are times when these alternative medicine practices are adapted and used by Western medicine. This usually happens after an alternative medicine practice has been tried, tested and proved to work.
There probably isn’t any other alternative healing process that put Western medicinal practitioners in such a bind. They struggle with the validity of the claims made by different manufacturers of these herbal supplements. Doctors want to make sure that you are taking something that is going to help you and not hurt you. As much as we don’t want to admit it, there are companies out there that just want to get our money, and then we are victims of fraud. Proof that it is working is the influx of herbal remedies and supplements on the market. There has to be a way for consumers to be protected.
The best way to protect yourself from fraud is to check if the product has the stamp of approval from a validating agency that you can trust. There are two such organizations that have made it their job to check and validate alternative medicine - United States Pharmacopoeia and NSF International. You are advised never to buy any alternative medicine that does not have the stamp of these organizations. There is no point in taking the risk. If the product does not have the stamp then it implies that it did not conform to the standards set by these organizations and you could become a victim of fraud. Of course, there are many products that do stand out and are waiting for approval from these organizations. All this is thanks to the research carried out in universities like Duke, Stanford and Harvard.
These universities have taken up research of alternative medicine and their aim is to find out which herbal remedies are beneficial and how they work. Such research has already validated certain practices and products and they are deemed safe and effective. Examples of such alternative medicines are acupuncture for pain, glucosamine for pain in the joints, guided imagery (the going to ‘another place’ via focus on relaxation and breathing) and certain supplements for PMS. These include calcium, magnesium and vitamin B6 which prevent bloating. However these supplements require time and may take up to six to eight weeks to work.
You should consult valid practitioners of alternative medicine when you want to use particular herbal supplements. Valid practitioners are those who belong to the Consortium for Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine. They have studied alternative treatments and can help you find the right medicines and treatment plans for you. When you don’t seek professional advice you should at least check that the product has the NSF or USP stamp on it.
Advocates of these methods of treatment are often up in arms against these regulating authorities and the Food and Drug Administration, calling them restrictive. They claim that such organizations impede the process of researching and bringing to the people effective treatments as discoveries and contributions are unfairly dismissed. They also do say that fraud should be punished when it is found. India is the birthplace for several systems of alternative medicine. Here Aurveda, Unani, Homeopathy and Siddha are all licensed by the government. There is no scientific basis for most of what is found in these systems though. Naturopathy is also gaining credibility and soon will soon get a license.
Countries all over the world do not follow such strict guidelines as the United States. Looking at places like India where there are multiple alternative medicine practices used and licensed by the government. Aurveda, Unani and Homeopathy and Siddha have no scientific backing but are widely used and supported. The next on the list to be licensed is Naturopathy.With the possibility of obtaining bachelors degrees in Naturopathy, this has furthered India’s research into the treatments that are used by AYUSH, the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy and such. Be cautious that you do not fall victim to treatments that do not have any validating evidence.