Alternative Medicine

Introduction

Alternative Medicines is an amalgamation of traditional medicines and the newer systems based on holistic healing. Alternative Medicines are also known as Complimentary Medicines or Holistic Medicines in different parts of the world. They are termed Alternative Medicines because they provide a better Alternative to the conventional method of treatment. These systems of medicines were looked down upon till yesterday, but are gaining popularity again. They provide remedial measures that are non-toxic, free from side-effects and with a low cost factor. It influences the organism according to the nature's holistic way of healing. This approach of holistic healing means treating the organism as a whole. That means as a unity or in its entirety and not as separate parts, wherein the different parts of the body being inter-related. It further advocates treatment not of the Mind or the Body separately but the Mind, Body and the living force, the Soul as one entity which can be termed as the 'trinity' of life.

The great Greek philosopher Hippocrates is considered to be the father of Modern Medicine. This is also called Allopathy. In this system, diseases are first diagnosed after analyzing symptoms and then treated with medicines that work on the basis of Contraire Contraries Curantur or The Dissimilar Cures meaning a method of treating disease with remedies that produce effects different from those caused by the disease itself. Logically it means that diseases or the symptoms of a disease are forcibly eliminated or suppressed by strong medicines or poisonous substances and not cured by the activation of the body's natural defense system. This system thus can be said to work not in accordance to the Nature's Law of Cure. Allopathy has attained popularity over the years for its ability to treat acute diseases with specific drugs effectively. However, for chronic diseases this system of medicines is only symptomatic and does not root them out. It is good as a palliative and offers an immediate alleviation of symptoms of a disease.

The discovery of vaccines, of which the effect is based on Homoeopathic concept of strengthening the natural defense mechanism of an organism has boosted the popularity of this Allopathic system by affording immunity to many specific diseases. However it has little to offer in raising the general resistance of the body against diseases or susceptibilities which the Alternative Medicines boast of and due to this shortfall body resistance against asthma, allergies, recurrent malarial relapses, liver disorders, typhoid, chronic dysentery etc., cannot be prevented by this Allopathic Medicine. Therefore susceptibility to epidemics like viral fever, common cold, cholera etc. cannot be warded off. Besides many constitutional and hereditary disorders or familial susceptibilities like asthma, allergies, constipation, migraines, sinusitis, high blood pressure etc. can only be palliated symptomatically and not cured from the root, forcing the patient to suppress symptoms temporarily by taking drugs regularly for a life-time.

Allopathy has also effective pesticides, anti-fungals, anti-bacterials etc. which can eliminate worms, germs and microbes invading the body. These drugs however can create a lot of side-effects, sometimes more severe than the original disease itself. In some cases the administration of drugs in relatively simple cases have created severe to fatal side-effects, or allergies. It does not have holistic approach in treating the living organism and therefore this approach is not in accordance with the natural law of Environmental Holistic Integrity.

Big bulls are the players in the production of these medicines. Lot of money is involved and cut-throat competition forces different companies to make attractive propaganda of their products that will glitter the eyes of the public. Laymen get mesmerised with the attractive packing of medicines and the miraculous effects it offers, thereby overlooking the darker side of the whole scenario.

We all know that strong chemicals, acids or alkalis have toxic effects upon the living organism. A rational mode of treatment needs to be adopted which does not advocate strong and dangerous drugs and yet relieve the suffering effectively. A sincere attempt to uphold this concept will lead us towards the Nature's Law of Cure wherein body's own defense mechanism is nurtured to raise its efficiency in eliminating diseases by the Natural Medicines, Alternative Medicines as the world knows them today.

As is evident today, the society is getting more and more health conscious and therefore a new trend in better health care techniques is emerging the world over. It is beyond doubt that aiming at adopting better preventive rather than corrective techniques in health care will free the society from ill health and eventually turn this globe into a paradise. Various Alternative Medicines are available today to serve this purpose and everyone should be able to take maximum benefit from it.

Therefore, a sincere attempt is made in this section to introduce different Alternative Medicines to appraise the reader about these new concepts enabling him to choose the most suitable for his type.

We owe gratitude to our students for prompting us to introduce this section and the section on 'Alternative Diagnostic Aids' in the web site.

Dr. S. A. Martins
Dr. Beena Martins
Teachers of Alternative Medicines

 

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