Smith 1

Annie Smith
Heading
Caluya - 4 Your Name
Teacher’s Last Name - Per. #
ERWC Course Title
Date (written out fully: day month year)
2 April 2019

Ancient Alternatives Title

The title of your paper should
“Medicine’s a funny business. After all, dispensing chemicals is
be centered and capitalized.
considered mainstream and diet and nutrition is considered
alternative.” It should be in the same font as
-Charles F. Glassman.
the rest of your paper and
should not have any special
The normal and useful medications that are around now weren't around hundreds
formatting ofunderlining,
(i.e. years
italics.)
ago, these original forms of medicine are not considered normal anymore... even though they

were the basis of the medicine we know and use now. The first type of medicine used in ancient

times is now commonly known as alternative medicine. Alternative Medicine is any of a range of

Spacing
medical therapies that are not regarded as orthodox by the medical profession, such as herbalism,
The entire paper, including the
acupuncture, chiropractic treatments,
heading, should placebos, and aromatherapies. Herbal medicine uses plants
be double-spaced.

to treat common illnesses. Acupuncture

There is aextra
should be no practice that uses specifically placed needles.
spaces
between the heading and the title or
Chiropractic treatment focuses on realignment.
between paragraphs. Aromatherapy uses essential oils to provide

relief. Placebos are used to trick the brain. Alternative medicine works on emotion, physical, and

maybe spiritual processes to help with pain or illnesses without the use of expensive

medications. Yes, traditional medicines are the norm, but alternative medicines are often just as

effective.

Alignment
The entire paper should be left-justified, with a
straight-edge at the left margin.
 Smith 2

Herbal Medicine
Header
Herbal Medicine is a type of alternative medicine that focus on the medicinal and page # of paper.
Your last name (space)

It appears
therapeutic use of plants, also known as herbalism. Herbalism was used on allChinese,
by ancient pages of your paper and
is 1/2 inch from the top of the page.
Indian, Egyptian, Babylonian, and Native American. This method has many different forms and

allows for an alternative to expensive medications.

Since prescribed medications are most commonly used, then the original and more

natural forms are forgotten. People often forget about the natural remedies that would work as

good alternatives: “Plants or plant ingredients that are used to maintain or improve health. The

plants and the plant products are called herbs, herbal medicinal herbs, medicinal plants and

phytomedicines” (“Herbal Medicine”). This type of alternative medicine uses what comes from

nature to help cure or help our symptoms --- without having to seek medical attention or

prescriptions. Herbal medicine is a more basic form of medications because all prescription or
Margins
over the counterThe entire
drugs arepaper (all four
somehow madesides)
fromshould
plants.have 1” (one inch)
Medications margins.
are more concentrated and a

mix of different things, which can come with some side effects. Chinese used willow bark to

treat pain, which hasFont

similar ingredients found in aspirin (Pearson). This shows that there are
Use Times New Roman or another
alternatives easily
and more natural
readable ways to help symptoms such as pain. This relates to
font.

phytomedicines
Use standard which is an
font size (12herbal-based
point font). traditional medical practice that uses various plant

materials in modalities considered both preventive and therapeutic. Using different plants to

prevent pain and act as a therapy for it helps many people because many can’t afford the costs of

medications or therapies.

Given that people today believe that these alternative medicines are hard to get a hold of,

Indentation
Indent all paragraphs 1 tab
(5 spaces)
 Smith 3

they think that they won’t be able to use them. But herbal medicine comes in many different

forms: “Hundreds of herbal medicines are sold in a variety of forms... plants, as parts of those

plants, as powders, capsules, tablets, liquids, and extracts” (“Herbal Medicine”). The number of

different was that herbal medicines are sold means anyone can find a type that works for them.

The most common used are tablets or extracts. Tablets or capsules can be ingested and taken like

pills. Extracts are high concentrations of a plant so they are not meant to be ingested but are

commonly used for aromatherapy. These extracts are known as essential oils, these oils have

many uses and benefits.

While many people assume that essential oils just have a nice smell to spray in a room or

use as perfume, these oils serve a more important role and have more benefits than people may
Quote integration
Avoid drop quotes by integrating words from an
realize. Basil oil helps with migraine pain. Eucalyptus oil opens airways when sick. Tea tree oil
outside source.
helps treat acne. Thyme oil helps with fatigue or stress. Yarrow oil reduces joint inflammation.
Do not start a sentence with quotation marks.
Chamomile oil helps with eczema (Norquist). Many of these essential oils have healing
Always put your own words first.
properties that can help symptoms without having to take medications. Personally I use oils like
There are three ways to integrate quotes (see
later these
pagesoften;
for specific
for mydetails on each
migraines, backmethod).
pain and acne. Essential oils are one of the easiest forms of

herbal medicine that anyone can use because it’s safe to use and very easy to
In-Text get a hold of.
Citation
Give credit to the source of the information
Essential oils have many uses: “A range of essential oils have been found
following any to have material.
quoted various degrees

of antimicrobial activity and are believed to have antiviral, nematicidal,

Use parentheses antifungal,
to provide key insecticidal
information in
the following way:
and antioxidant properties” (Norquist). Essential oils workAuthor’s
by beinglast
absorbed into thepage
name (space) skin #and

interacting with your body in many ways. These oils Place

are often used with
the period aromatherapy,
after inhaling
the in-text citation, not
within the quotation marks.
the aromas stimulates the limbic system that controls unconscious physiological functions, such
 Smith 4

as breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. Some people claim that essential oils can exert a
Subheadings 2
MLA rules state,on“For
physical effect yourreadability,
body in this way.
it is
helpful to include a line space above and
Since
belowherbal medicine has more benefits than people may realize, then Many plants are
a heading…”

used to make these expensive medications. Since there are many forms of herbal medicine,

anyone can find one that works and helps them.

Acupuncture Subheadings 1
Only add subheadings if your organization is
Acupuncture is a form of alternativeimproved
medicine by
thatdividing
involvesinto
needles being
smaller placed into
sections.

certain spots in the skin to relieve acute pain.Avoid

There using
are many different in
subheadings types
shortofpapers.
acupuncture from

all over the world. Font type and size remain the same.
However, it should be aligned with the left
Since acupuncture is used all around the world there are many different forms, but all
margin.

forms of this alternative medicine work with a part of our nervous systems to relieve pain. But

when people first think of acupuncture, they think about needles getting placed in the skin but

there is way more than just that: “Traditional acupuncture is understood to work by causing the

release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain placating chemicals, when fine needles are inserted

at a specific location in the skin, known as acupoints” (“Why and How Acupuncture Works”).

Acupoints are energy points in the body that correlate with our nervous systems. Common

acupoints include: large intestine, liver, spleen, and wrist (“Acupressure Points and Massage

Treatment”). Placing needles in specific acupoints stimulates the release of endorphins which are

chemicals that relieve pain. Acupuncture also influences the autonomic nervous system to calm

the brain. (Wong). Endorphins are hormones that are secreted within the brain and nervous

system and have a number of physiological functions including pain relief.

 Smith 5

Perhaps due to its effectiveness at solving problems with the brain and nervous system,

acupuncture has been used for centuries -- possibly the stone age and now has many different

forms and procedures. The most basic form is, “a Japanese form of acupuncture [that] involves
Quote Integration Method #1
more shallow needle insertion and needles aren’t usually manipulated” (“Why and How
Full sentence + colon + “quoted sentence” (cite).
Acupuncture Works”). This form is commonly used around the world. It allows for relaxation

and relief. Chinese acupuncture is a little more extreme than other ways: “In Chinese

acupuncture, the acupuncturist may turn or twirl the needles slightly or apply heat or electrical

stimulation to enhance effects” (“Why and How Acupuncture Works”). This type of acupuncture

is the oldest of its kind. There are many more different types of acupuncture and they all serve

the same purpose, which is pain relief by using acupoints. Acupuncture is used to help many

problems and is widely practiced for acute pain prevention or relief. Researchers state,

“Acupuncture is not considered to have potential clinical value for nausea and vomiting…low-

back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, and knee pain, tension headaches, migraines, and dental

pain” (“Whole Medical Systems: An Overview”).

Quote Integration Method #2

Acupressure Incomplete sentence + comma + “quoted sentence” (cite).

Along the same lines, another form of alternative medicine that is similar to acupuncture

is Acupressure. By definition, this form “is when an acupressurist applies deep pressure at certain

points with their hands” (“Why and How Acupuncture Works”). Acupressure is a cross between

massage and acupuncture, which works to relieve pain.

Quote Integration Method #3
Just like acupuncture, acupressure uses the same acupoint in the body to. Acupoints are a
Your words move directly into “quoted words.”
very important factor in this type of alternative medicine: There are special acupoints or
The quoted portion is NOT a complete sentence, and
therefore does not begin with a capital letter.
 Smith 6

acupressure points that lie along channels in your body that flow vital energy through your body

(“Acupressure Points and Massage Treatment”). These points connect with all vital parts of your

body. Certain points help with specific issues in the body. Points in the hands help with the upper
In-Text Citation Notes 1
In-text citations
extremities, typically
including include
the brain andantorso.
author’s last name
Acupoints andfeet are connected to the lower
on the
page number. However, online sources rarely use page
numbers;
extremities likesometimes
the legs.sources do not include an author’s
name.
Unlike acupuncture, acupressure uses no needles -- just the acupuncturists body. This
In this case, the writer has used the title of the source,
practiceisisthe
which muchfirstlike
itemmassage
in the full citation
because (see Workspractitioners
“acupressure Cited). use their fingers, palms, elbows

or feet, or special devices to apply pressure to acupoints on the body’s meridians” (“Acupressure

Points and Massage Treatment”). This method works by the practitioner gently pressing points

on your body. For best results, multiple sessions are recommended. Acupressure is said to help

with many things: “Acupressure might decrease nausea for chemotherapy patients and reduce

anxiety in people scheduled to have surgery” (Newcomer). In other words, acupressure is also a

way of relaxation. But it also helps with pain caused by arthritis, which allows for a more
In-Text Citation Notes 2
comfortable well being. This citation features a last name, but no page
number as it is from an online source.

Placebo Effect

One of the most used forms of alternative medicine is the placebo effect. Many people

don’t think placebos are considered alternative medicine because it is mainly used by doctors.

But placebos are used instead of medication in many cases because it uses the person's brain to

heal them.

Even though it is believed that medication is the only way to heal the body, actually the

human brain can help us out in many different ways. The brain has a better ability to heal itself
 Smith 7

more than we think (Marglin). The brain is a very powerful thing that controls how our body

reacts to certain things. It is like when you have a very important day, but you feel yourself

getting sick, you tell yourself you can push through it because you have to get through the day.

Throughout the day you end up feeling better because your brain believes that you are getting

through it. But on the other hand, you can make yourself even worse by thinking you are going

to “die” or that you will be suffering all day. We can persuade our mind more than we may think.

The placebo effects is the basis that we can out smart our own brains. Studies on placebos

suggest that in some situations the appearance of treatments activate brain areas similar to when

one takes drugs (Marglin). When we are told and believe we are taking a medication to help us

with an illness, injury or pain- our brain believe that those medications will be making us feel
In-Text Citation Notes 3
better. So if we areAgiven
citation is necessary
a sugar for told
pill but are any its
information that we will start to have pain
a pill for pain,
comes from an outside source.
relief even though we did not take any pain reliever. One of the most common theories is that the
You must cite quotes and, as is shown here,
paraphrases.If a person expects a pill to do something, then
placebo effect is due to a person's expectations.

it's possible that the body's own chemistry can cause effects similar to what a medication might

have caused.

Given that the brain can trick you into feeling better, there are many different types

placebos that can be used to treat illnesses without medication. The main methods are to “insert

substances or treatments - sugar pills, sham acupuncture, saline In-Text

injections- that improve
Citation
Place the period after the in-text citation, before
symptoms in nonspecific ways” (Marglin). A placebo or dummy pills theisperiod.
an inactive substance,

typically a tablet, capsule or other dose form thatDo

does
not not contain
place an active
the citation drugquotation
within ingredient. For
marks.

example, placebo pills or liquids may contain starch, sugar, or saline.

 Smith 8

Since this form of alternative medicine has many forms and treatments, the placebo effect

is used to help relieve symptoms associated with illnesses, pain, or injuries. This form of

alternative medicine tricks our own brains to help us out...basically outsmarting our own brains.

Chiropractic Treatment

The last from and most well known from of alternative medicine is chiropractic

treatments. This treatment focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders of the

musculoskeletal system, especially the spine.

Chiropractors believe that proper alignment of the body's musculoskeletal structure,

particularly the spine, will enable the body to heal itself without surgery or medication. The main

thing a chiropractor does is to use manipulation to restore mobility to joints restricted by tissue

injury caused by a traumatic event (“Whole Medical Systems: An Overview”). This type of

treatment has been proven to work by realigning the body, allowing proper function. The

realigning is called spinal manipulation: “Most chiropractors use a hands-on type of adjustment

called spinal manipulative therapy or spinal manipulation... misaligned vertebrae can restrict

your spine’s range of motion and affect nerves that radiate out from your spine... organs that

depend on those nerves may function improperly or become diseased” (Newcomer). Chiropractic

treatments focus on the spine and all the nerves connected to it. Nerves coming off the spine are

a part of the peripheral nervous system which connects to all other parts of the body including

organ and limbs. Having the spine out of alignment can cause problems --- the body won’t

function right. So chiropractors mainly focus on making sure things are properly aligned.

Common treatments chiropractors recommend include therapeutic exercise and stretching, spinal
 Smith 9

traction, manual soft tissue therapy, transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS),

ultrasound, diet and nutritional counseling, and lifestyle modification.

Risks

Even though alternative medicine has many countless good qualities and uses, there are

still said to be risks that come with them--- just like any other medications. The main thing that

leads people to believe that alternative medicine is dangerous, is the fact that it isn't

̈ scientifically proven ̈ . These ancient forms of medicine are now called ̈ alternative ̈ because

people believe that “they cannot meet the basic standards of scientific validity and ethics the

medical establishment uses to determine whether a clinical trial can or should be conducted in

the first place” (Lee). Since these methods aren't mainstream forms if medicine, people think

they should not be trusted or tested. This causes a hesitation when thinking of alternative

medicine. People tend to trust doctors because they should be knowledgeable on this type of

stuff, so if they don't approve of it, that causes concerns. Because of the concerns and little

research “the majority of alternative remedies are still promoted by vague, improbable claims

about their effectiveness, supported by little or no trust worthy scientific research” (Lee). This

shows that more research should be done on these methods so we can know for sure if they are

useful or harmful. There seems to be little understanding of alternative medicine. The more

research we do, the better understanding we may have. Every type of medicine has its downfalls

and issues, so it is important that we know what we can about everything.

 Smith 10

Just like with every medications, there are certain reasons why some should not use some

of these alternative forms of medicine. Even with over the counter or prescribed medications,

there are certain ones that you can not use together. That also goes for alternative medicines:

“Acupuncture may not be right for people with certain health conditions. Risk of bleeding and

bruising increases” (Wong). It is dangerous if a patient has a bleeding disorder or takes blood

thinners. For example someone with hemophilia should not get acupuncture done because the

needles may cause a little bleeding that may not be able to stop because of that condition.

This also goes for herbal medicines, because some may counteract other medications

being used. Since medications used today are made from a variety of different plants and

chemicals, there are many things that may not interact with them in the best way. In cases like

this, a herbal or prescribed medicine could counteract the medication already being taken or even

block the results all together: “St. John’s Wort is purported to be an effective antidepressant

treatment. However, it may also block the effects of other medications such as birth

control” (Lee). Everyone has heard that mixing alcohol with prescription medications can be

very bad---but even something as simple as an herbal extract or plant can cause the same effects.

There is know way of knowing how things will affect others, so it is very important to talk to

doctors before using anything together just to make sure they are safe to use together. And

sometimes you may not even know something is being effected until it's too late, birth control is

a perfect example.

Yes there is concern with how these alternative forms of medicine would affect other

current medicines, but there is even more controverity with chiropractic treatments. Even though
 Smith 11

chiropractors go to medical school and do the same schooling other doctors go through, people

still don't believe it works. Pearson states, “There is no evidence that chiropractors do better

spinal manipulation than other health care providers. Some chiropractors hold tightly to the

theory that spinal manipulation can cure diseases other than back pain, but no scientific evidence

supports this” (Pearson). There seems to be a divide in the medical field. Medical professionals

do not support or agree with the practices of other ... yet they went through the same training.

The lack of scientific evidence and research is causing these concerns. Chiropractic treatments

may not be able to heal everything but it does help with diminishing pain.

I agree with the point that says chiropractors believe spinal manipulation can help with

pretty much anything because that is what they believe. For example, my best friend's dad is a

chiropractor. Whenever she needs to see a doctor her dad doesn't want her to because he believes

she just needs to be realigned. But some things can not be cured with chiropractic treatments.

Cases like broken bones and cancer are examples of things that can not be treated with spinal

manipulation: “Your condition will just keep getting worse and you’ll eventually have to seek

competent proven treatment using methods based on scientific evidence” (Lee). Alternative

medicines are great in many ways, but if there is a serious problem like cancer, then new

medicine may be better for that case. Alternative medicines are treatments for a broad range of

acute issues. New medications in some cases may be pinpointed for specific problems.

Alternative medicine is popular because it is often just as helpful as over the counter and

prescribed medicines and are very cost effective. Treatments such as acupuncture, massage,

herbal medicine, meditation, chiropractic treatments, placebos and nutritional therapy can offer

significant positive results quickly. It is important if you choose alternative therapies that you
 Smith 12

inform your physician on what is being done to know if it might affect current procedures or

medications being taken. Alternative medicines can be just as effective as the medications

prescribed by doctors. There are a variety of different types of alternative medicines, with

different effects. So anyone should be able to find one that works well for them.

Since there are many forms of alternative medicine, everyone can find one that works for

them and their needs. Just like I did. Personally I have struggled form back issues for very long

because of overuse during sports--but I just played through the pain until it got to be too much to

handle. I went to a chiropractor to get the help I needed, and it made a huge difference. My back

was out of alignment, my rib cage was out of place as well as many vertebrae. The spinal

manipulation and realignment that I got done has made a huge difference for me. As well as

using essential oils to help relieve migraine pain. This shows that alternative forms of medicines

actually do help and that anyone can find one that can help them!
 Smith 13

Works Cited
Title/Header
This page has its own title: Work(s) Cited.
“Acupressure Points and Massage Treatment.” WebMD, October 21 2107, www.webmd.com/

The header continues the pagination from the

balance/guide/acupressure-points-and-massage-treatment#2-6.
remainder of the document.
“Healing Through Manipulation and Touch.” Alternative Medicine and Your Health, Mason

Crest Publishers, 2002,Order

pp.15.ofEBSCOhost,search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
Sources
A Works Cited page features many pieces of
information about a source
direct=true&db=pwh&AN=971 in a specific order.
6693site=ehost-live.

“Herbal Medicine.”AFunk
writerand
must be mindful
Wagnall’s NewofWorld
the order of
Encyclopedia, Jan. 2018, pp.1. EBSOChost,
information, formatting of titles, and
punctuation.
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=funk&AN=heos3750&site=ehost-live.

Organize
Lee, M., and Nancy your“Point:
Sprague. sourcesAlternative
by the firstMedicine
letter in the
is Unscientific, Unproven, and
full citation, whether the item is an author’s
Unsafe.” Points ofname
View:orAlternative
the source’s title. Mar. 2016, pp.2.
Medicine,

EBSCOhost.search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwn&AN2660804&site=
Format
ehost-live. Titles must be punctuated correctly using
quotation marks or italics.
Marglin, Elizabeth. “The Placebo Effect.” Natural Health, vol. 40, no. 5, Jun. 2010, pp.68.
Each citation must be formatted according to
MLA citation guidelines.
EBSChost,search=ebsco-host.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db.

Newcomer, Laura. “11 Alternative Medicines Explained.” Greatest, 22 Apr. 2014, greatist.com/

health/alternativemedicine-therapies-explained.

Norquist, Christian. “Aromatherapy: What you need to know.” Medical News Today, 20 Mar.

2017, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10884.php.

Pearson, John. “Point: The Dangers of Alternative Medicine.” Points of View Alternative

Medicine, Mar. 2016, p.s. EBSChost.search.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=pwh&an=12419828&site=ebost-live.
 Smith 14

“Whole Medical Systems: An Overview.” WebMD Medical Reference, 23 Jan. 2018,

www.webmd.com/balance/guide/uderstanding-alternative-medicine#6.

“Why and How Acupuncture Works.” Running and FitNews, vol. 34, no. 4, Jul. 2016, pp.13-15.

EBSCOhost,search.ebsochost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hxh&AN=118129739&sit

e=ehost-live.

Wong, Cathy. “What is Acupuncture? What are the Benefits.” Verywell Health, 30 Sept. 2018,

www.verywellhealth.com/acupuncture-health-uses-88407.

Works Cited

If the paper contains ini-text citations, a separate Works Cited page follows the writing.

Must be on a new page after the end of the essay, not continuing directly after the conclusion.

A heading is unnecessary. The top of the Works Cited page should feature the title and header.

All entries are alphabetized by author’s last name. If no author is applicable, alphabetize by
title of publication.

Entries should be double-spaced.

For entries that go onto a second line, add a hanging indent.

Sources for Works Cited Help

https://style.mla.org/formatting-papers/#placementworkscited

https://style.mla.org/whats-new/