Alternative Medicine

NATALIA PRYTOLIUK
Alternative medicine is a term that describes
medical treatments that are used instead of
traditional therapies. Some people also refer to it
as “integrative,” or “complementary” medicine.

It is the collective name of the methods of

treatment that are united by the fact that they are
not studied at medical faculties.
 Alternative medicine
 Alternative medicine is any
medical practice covering a
wide range of medical products
and treatments that do not
meet the criteria of evidence-
based medicine and are
generally not included in the
training courses offered by
medical schools.

 Alternative treatments are

usually without scientific
justification and effectiveness.
The National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine of the United States
Department of Health (NCCAM) classifies
alternative medicine in five categories.
 Whole
Energy
medical
therapies
systems

Five categories

(Manipulativ
Mind-body e and Body-
medicine Based
Practices

Biologically
based
practices
Whole medical systems -
medical specialties that
include not only therapeutic
methods but also theory and
philosophy (e.g., Chinese
medicine, phytotherapy and
homeopathy).
Mind-body medicine -
these methods suggest that
proper interaction between
mind and body, and increased
influence of mind and emotion
on the body (such as
meditation, autogenic
training, and artistic therapy)
are necessary to maintain
health.
Energy therapies - these
methods assume that the
human body permeates the
flow of energy. If the flow
is stopped or unbalanced,
the person becomes ill.
Manipulative and
Body-Based Practices
are treatments that use the
touch and movement of the
Biologically based hands (such as
practices are chiropractic, osteopathy,
methods that use and massage).
natural substances
such as dietary
supplements, vitamins
and herbs.
 Acupuncture

 Acupuncture is a trend in
traditional Chinese medicine.
When using this method, the
human body is affected by the
introduction of special thin needles
into certain areas of the body.
 Acupuncture treat a lot of diseases.
Including this approach is used for
diseases of the musculoskeletal
system and gastrointestinal tract,
pathology of peripheral nerves,
functional disorders of the nervous
system, headaches, migraines,
allergies, etc.
Homeopathy
 Homeopathy is a method of
treating diseases that consists
in taking small doses of drugs.
Proponents of this practice take
highly diluted drugs. The active
substances contained in the
medications cause symptoms
similar to the painful
manifestations observed in the
patient and thus cure him.
 Osteopathy
 Osteopathy is a field of non-
medicamentous and non-surgical
medicine that consists in treating the
body with the help of the hands. This
practice is based on the idea that
tension, stiffness of muscles and joints
are the causes of many diseases.
Eliminating these problems can help a
person to get rid of the disease without
having to resort to medication and
surgery.
 The main purpose of tactile
manipulation - relaxation of muscles,
elimination of the causes of painful
sensations, the launch of mechanisms
of self-repair of the body, etc.
 Naturopathy
 Proponents of naturopathy believe that the human body has an innate
ability to heal itself. To address health problems, they use only natural
remedies.
 Depending on the type of naturopathy, treatment is provided using
various natural remedies, such as aromatics, bee products, seaweed,
herbs, flowers, leeches and even through contact with trees.
According to the World Health Organization, over 100
million people in Europe use alternative medicine. In
Africa, Asia, North America and Australia, even more
people are using this modality to upgrade their health.
For some patients, alternative treatments completely
replace traditional medicine.