Facts About Alternative Medicine London Ontario Residents May Wish To Know

By Edward Allen


In selected cases, conventional treatment may not work as desired. Patients may opt for other possible modalities outside science in a bid to find cure for their ailments. Alternative medicine has no research or trial to support its effectiveness. As much users may not be convinced of this fact, alternative medicine only acts as placebo. In some instances, this modality may only serve to reduce adverse effects scientific treatments but does not result in improvement of health. These are some of the essential facts regarding alternative medicine London Ontario residents may find interesting.

One of the common tools of trade in alternative medicine are foods and related substances found in the natural environment. Some of the foods believed to have medicinal value include flaxseed, fish oil and omega three fatty acids. Plants believed to have healing properties include fungi and herbs. This trade may also involve the use of animal products in conjunction with plants. Of note is that they are administered in form of powders, juices or tablets and not as raw plants. Unfortunately, some of these products could be toxic to the patient.

Another type of AM employs the use of supernatural powers. These includes use of electromagnetic waves, direct and alternate currents to manipulate disease conditions. While these may a domain in physics, its utilization in AM has no basis. One of the therapies purports to create energies that infuse the human body thereby providing healing. Examples of therapies in which supernatural energies are employed include bio field therapy, chiropractic and bio electromagnetic therapy.

Religious beliefs are another critical concept in pseudoscience. These are based on the notion that there is a greater power that works hand in hand with healthcare providers to bring about healing. In this regard, patients live every single day with the hope that their health will be restored as long as they pray, believe and work closely with medical practitioners.

Integrative medicine is associated with certain side effects, just as occurs in other forms of disease management. Given the fact that this field does not have any documentation regarding adverse effects to be anticipated, it may difficult to handle this unwanted effects when they are encountered.

Having total faith in alternative treatments may be disappointing especially when one suffers from a more severe disease. Not only is diagnosis delayed but definitive treatment may also take too long to be initiated. Ultimately, the patient develops complications that may not be reversed by the time they make up their minds to get the right management.

Herbal use in complementary treatment modalities is associated with damage to organs such as the spleen and liver. This is usually discovered only after a prolonged period of use when the individual comes to hospital with symptoms and a positive history of herbal medication utilization. It is also possible for the human body to reject the alternative drug through allergic reactions. In a remote setting, this may be difficult to reverse especially when the reaction is unexpected and the antidote is unknown.

When all is said and done, alternative medicine should be regarded only as a last resort. This is attributed to the fact that it has no proof and it is only based on mere belief. It is also known to cause side effects that may not be dealt with properly owing the fact that protocols may not be available in such cases.




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