Alternative medicine and Natural remedies

Nov 20
08:13

2012

Sharad Gaikwad

Sharad Gaikwad

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Acupuncture, Yoga, massages and Ayurveda are the new bastions for alternative medicine and the trend has even found a following for cancer patients in addition to the process of chemotherapy.

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Medical practitioners are now increasingly endorsing them everywhere as an additional expertise to help their patients through their ailments.  In India a country that has historically endorsed the use of natural supplements and the like there is an increased focus on these trends with a budgetary allocation of 222 crores INR to encourage exploration into such practices. 

Alternative medicine has shown itself growing in strength with a number of increased prescriptions that work in favor for the development of such medicine. 

They are diverse in their methodologies and their methods of extraction for use and some relate to superstition and so should be subject to research. Efficacy of such medicine isn’t sacrosanct and while 1/3 of such medicine has research advocating their benefits,Alternative medicine and Natural remedies Articles others mostly lack research and in some cases, flawed research with exaggerated results. The medicine can be derived from a plant or a herb and sold over the counter in the form of capsules or syrups or even taken in their native form. 

Cod liver oil is one such alternative medicine that has seen its sway holds over a long period of time. Earlier advocated primarily for helping through arthritis, now it has grown into becoming a solution for even coughs. Cod liver oil is rich in vitamin A and vitamin D along with Omega-3 essential fatty acids. The vitamins help in reviving the immune system and assisting calcium while the fatty acids act as anti-inflammatory agents. The oil can be refined into soluble pills or through its raw form in liquid and easily available. 

Advocates for such use of Natural remedies and other therapies, the advent of combinative processes to battle illnesses have shown to have significantly embellished their arguments. Among the new crop of medical students who are the practitioners of tomorrow, the increase in complementary medicine courses mirror the upswing in the trend towards the use of such medicine. In terms of the uncertain nature of such medicine, regulations have been maintained to avoid fueling controversy. Jurisdiction differs over the branches associated with legality and while certain counseling and massage therapies are allowed, other that includes synthetic drugs and Natural supplements are under stricter purview of the law. 

In using these treatments to help through adverse conditions, it could be prudent and significantly helpful if it is done in consultation with a personal physician or practitioner. In view of their interaction with other medicine, research is clouded and potential side effects disavow the use of such medicine. 

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