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The
Roots Of Alternative Medicine
Alternative medicine and modern medicine have may
differences and whose to say which is best? Today,
we expect doctors and medicines to fix whatever ails
us instantly and doctors only look at the current
physical problem when diagnosing our needs.
Alternative or holistic medicine, on the other hand,
takes many different factors into consideration before
prescribing a cure. This type of healing has been
in use for thousands of years and can be very effective.
It concerns itself not only with the physical problem,
but with the problems of the "whole" self.
Alternative medicine includes massage, therapy, herbal
tea, herbal medicine and millions of people today
still use these types of treatments instead of or
in addition to modern medicine.
Different cultures have had their own specific types
of alternative medicine and many different types of
treatments. Many of these treatments have survived
and are still effective today. In fact, massage, which
many people swear by in the modern world is actually
one of the oldest forms of alternative medicine and
records of massage therapy date back to ancient Egypt.
In ancient Europe there were two types of healers,
the professional physicians and the folk healers.
The folk healers lived in the lower class and healed
the people of each village who could not afford the
expensive physicians. These people believed in the
folk treatment and it worked for them. This type of
situation also occurred in many other cultures.
In Western culture, philosophy was frequently used
to assist the folk healers in their quest for a holistic
treatment. Philosophy was important because it told
the stories of their lives. With a twist of philosophy
and religion as well as belief, they easily found
the best treatment available for whatever it was that
was ailing the villagers of this time.
We now have a more advanced or instantaneous form
of medical treatment, but alternative medicine can
still be very effective. Massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture,
herbal, humor therapy, meditation, and many other
forms of holistic healing are used every day. In fact
some of these treatments have become so popular that
they are no longer considered alternative medicine
and they are now supported by modern physicians.
Although the theory of alternative medicine has been
ridiculed throughout the centuries , it has survived
for one reason - It works. Alternative treatments
may not work as fast as the treatments that we have
today, but these natural types of treatments can be
better for you overall, if you just give them a chance.
About
the Author
Lee Dobbins enjoys learning and writing about herbs,
home remedies and alternative treatments. Please
visit www.herbs-home-remedies.com for more on alternative
healing.
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