It is
increasingly clear that alternative therapies are becoming
popular among many different groups of people. This is so not just in
India and the East where many branches of alternative healing have
existed for centuries, but also in the West, where many medical schools
now teach alternative therapies, including herbal remedies and mind-body
medicine.
However, alternative therapies are often poorly understood. Also,
conventional doctors worry about the safety and efficacy of many such
therapies since there is often a paucity or total lack of modern
scientific material on them.
So, if you're considering an alternative treatment, it is essential to
educate yourself about it as well as you can.
Some
guidelines:
If you're considering
some form of alternative treatment, please make sure you understand its
rationale and limitations.
Do note that 'natural'
does not necessarily mean 'healthy' or 'safe'.
Try to look for studies
or tests that have proven the efficacy of the alternative system.
Personal anecdotes regarding benefits are not always useful, since
different people have different constitutions and what works for one may
not always work for another.
Do try to consider how an
alternative remedy may interact with prescription or over-the-counter
drugs you are already taking. Some combinations may be dangerous.
Be wary of practitioners
who tout their work as miracle cures and remember that a therapy that
works for someone else may not necessarily work for you..
Do consult your family
doctor. Disclaimer.
Disclaimer
The information provided here is offered as a service and is not meant
to replace any medical treatment. No guarantee is made towards validity.
Use this information at your own risk. We caution users not to seek the
therapies described on these pages without consulting a registered
medical practitioner
