How Orthodox Medicine Contrasts with Alternative Medicine

How Orthodox Medicine Contrasts with Alternative Medicine

introduction

Conventional medicine is provider dominated with a narrow selection; In contrast, alternative medicine is a marketplace that offers a large and growing selection. But the difference between alternative and orthodox medicine is clear enough: Orthodox medicine is based on (or works toward) the scientific study of disease processes, while alternative medical systems have non-scientific approaches based on spiritual, mystical, or otherwise intuitive insights. But much of conventional medicine is also not evidence-based.

Orthodox medicine

Conventional medicine seeks to fix or repair rather than support. Conventional physicians, as well as holistic practitioners, do invaluable work in their field. Conventional medicine is well organized, incredibly well funded, and has total control of the news media due to the massive advertising dollars spent by the pharmaceutical industry AKA “Big Pharma”.

Conventional medicine is provider-dominated with a narrow range of choices; In contrast, alternative medicine is a marketplace that offers a large and growing selection. Conventional medicine is similar to a severely restricted but nutritionally balanced diet; Alternative therapies are like an endless feast where the consumer chooses what they like, tries it, and then decides whether to eat more or try something different. Orthodox medicine has evolved from its founding principles into a model based on the treatment of disease today. Orthodox medicine treats the body (person) in isolated parts and believes that it has the power and knowledge to repair an innate (natural) system by interfering with its normal homeostasis (whole body balance) using powerful man-made chemicals. Conventional medicine has never been a healthcare model.

Alternative medicine

Alternative medicine, on the other hand, is very poorly organized, poorly funded, incoherent and heavily persecuted by conventional medicine. Alternative practitioners can learn homeopathy, herbal medicine, kinesiology, electrodiagnostics, chiropractic, osteopathy, aromatherapy, reflexology, bodywork, iridology, cymatics, gemstone therapy, electromagnetic therapy, color therapy, nutritional therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, stress reduction, counseling, etc. Alternative medicine fits well with some of the dominant characteristics of modern society, as it is characterized by constant choice and relies on the mass media to disseminate information.

Conclusion

Because the goal of conventional medicine is simply to eliminate symptoms of disease and not to achieve a state of optimal health, elimination of symptoms becomes an end in itself rather than a means of identifying and correcting the underlying cause of disease. The direction in which conventional medicine is developing is abundantly clear. First, if conventional medicine is to begin to take responsibility for treating lifestyle diseases, it must abandon its interventionist approach and embrace the traditional caring and supportive approach of holistic medicine.

While conventional medicine is clearly superior to holistic medicine in the treatment of severe trauma and acute or life-threatening illnesses, holistic medicine, with its fundamentally supportive nature and ability to take into account the importance of nutrition, is much more effective when it comes to promoting healing and preventing future illnesses. In this area in particular, an accurate diagnosis and a high degree of cooperation between alternative medicine and conventional medicine are very desirable.