A Few Considerations With Regard To Choosing Complementary Alternative Medicine

Complementary alternative medicine refers to ways of practicing medicine in which the conventional means are not included and though it is often hard to define what this form of medicines are and what they are not since the treatments can change according to different treatments, there is enough to suggest that they use an altogether different approach to treating patients as compared with conventional medicines.

Used In Conjunction Or Separate To Conventional Medicines

Complementary alternative medicine refer to treatments that may be used in conjunction with conventional means of treating patients and good examples of these complimentary means include use of Tai Chi and even massaging that complement the normal prescription medicines that are being taken to treat anxiety in patients. If the emphasis however is on substituting conventional medicines with those that are not conventional medicines, complementary alternative medicine takes an altogether different route such as visiting a homeopath or even a naturopath rather than consulting a regular doctor.

Nevertheless, it is common for complementary alternative medicine to base on a few principles which may even be quite like those related to conventional medicines though mostly they may be different. Among the more common principles used in this form of medicine are that the body heals itself, prevention is preferred to curing, and learning as well as healing are also complimentary to one another.

There are also five broad categories of complementary alternative medicine as charted out by the National Institutes of Health and these are healing systems, mind-body connections, dietary supplements and herbs, manipulation and touch, and energy therapies. Even though you may yourself prefer complementary alternative medicine, there are still many doctors that are opposed to this form of medicine and will thus not even want to discuss the problem with you.

There is some good reasons why conventional doctors may be skeptical about complementary alternative medicine because some of the claims made on behalf of this form of medicine may be vastly exaggerated and also because sometimes you may be asked to forego your conventional medicines, and worst of all, in some cases the complementary alternative medicine may even end up hurting you.

It is thus a good idea to work in consultation with a conventional doctor before you consider complementary alternative medicine as an alternative since you can then get the required information and advice regarding benefits and risks, and thus make an informed decision. So, even if your friends advice you to switch to complementary alternative medicine, you may still be better served by heeding the advice of a professional who can show you the relative merits and demerits of various kinds of complementary alternative medicine including ayurvedic, acupuncture, herbs and even homeopathy.