Traditional medicine is also known as natural or alternative medicine. In general, natural medicine takes a holistic approach to treatment, looking at the overall person and the whole body, rather than simply the symptoms being experienced. In many cases, natural medicine works on preventing the body from becoming ill or depleted.

Allopathic or Conventional Medicine

In contrast, conventional medicine, in which treatments are based on the results of scientific trials, tends to treat the symptoms that patients experience, as well as some diseases. However, generally speaking, conventional medicine looks at these symptoms in isolation and usually after the illness has already occurred.

Conventional medicine is also known as allopathic medicine or Western medicine. The name Western medicine came about because many of the alternative therapies and natural healing practices currently in use originate from the East.

What is Alternative Medicine

Although it is called alternative, traditional medicine is widely used around the world, as reflected in research from the World Health Organization. In fact, in many countries, herbal medicines are given before conventional medical treatment. Alternative medicine has always been popular in developing countries, and its popularity in industrialized nations is increasing rapidly.

Uses of Traditional Medicine

Most people are familiar with the tools of conventional medicine, such as blood tests and x-rays, but what exactly does natural medicine entail? Traditional medicine may use plant-, animal- and mineral-based products for treatment. It may also include spiritual and manual therapies.

Some types of alternative therapies include:

• acupressure: massage in specific areas for pain relief
• acupuncture: the insertion of thin, heated needles into the body to treat symptoms and balance the energy
• Chinese herbal medicine: the use of plant-based remedies to treat or prevent illness
• energy therapies: the practice of channeling energy through the hands for healing (Reiki is a type of energy therapy.)
• homeopathy: the use of small amounts of natural remedies to treat illness
• kinesiology: the use of muscle tests to identify and correct imbalances in the body
• massage therapy: the practice of manipulating skin, muscles and joints to relieve stress and pain.

Eastern Medicine versus Western Medicine

Debate about the merits of Eastern medicine versus Western medicine (also referred to as natural vs. allopathic medicine) has been going on for years. Arguments against the use of natural medicine focus on the lack of verifiable scientific data that proves it works. Although studies have been done on traditional Eastern medicine, many of these have been criticized for not being rigorous enough. Others have focused on the fact that the results of studies receive negative press, even when they appear to work for the target group most at risk.

Other criticism focuses on the fact that people may take longer to seek conventional treatments. Instead, many people turn to natural medicines first, making it harder to achieve success with Western medicine. Issues relating to unwanted side effects of natural medicines, plus the fact that this area is virtually unregulated, are other reasons for concern. Finally, many alternative therapies are not covered by health insurance.

Benefits of Natural Medicine

Supporters of traditional and natural medicine point to the fact that this type of medicine treats the whole person. It’s often effective in treating illness before it gets to an advanced stage. In many cases, it is non-invasive and uses natural products, both of which many patients find appealing.

Some scientific studies do support the efficacy of alternative therapies such as acupuncture, some types of massage and some herbal medicines. The World Health Organizations also cites studies showing that some traditional medicines have successfully treated malaria and asthma. With a world market for herbal medicine estimated at U.S. $60 billion and rising, it’s evident that millions of people around the world are interested in finding an alternative to conventional treatments.

Holistic medicine and Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine is commonly associated with holistic medicine. By definition, alternative medicine is the medical techniques that are usually not accepted or practiced by conventional medical practitioners. Most alternative medicines are founded to have rooted on unscientific, untested and untraditional principles. Often, these forms of medicine are closely associated with metaphysical components and anti-scientific stands.

Many of these techniques don’t normally have pharmaceutical values like the acupuncture, herbalism, Reiki, homeopathy and the likes. Yet the alternative medicine may also be used in experimental non-drug and drug techniques that are not yet accepted in the medical circles. The future of alternative medicine holds on the potentiality of transforming the “alternative medicine” into conventional medicine since it is now becoming widely appreciated and practiced by medical doctors. In fact, complementary medicine is the term used for alternative medicine practiced in combination with conventional medicine.

Due to these changes in view of the alternative medicine, holistic medicine has become a more preferable option among those who are quite doubtful of the alternative medicine.

Alternative medicine may appeal to metaphysical beliefs and so does the holistic medicine but on milder and more scientifically based approach. Yet the knowledge applied in holistic medicine still cannot hide the fact that it tends to cling to non-scientific knowledge.

Simply put holistic medicine claims to cure and treat the whole person. Holistic medicine stresses out the unification of the mind and the physical body. Holistic medicine practitioners give credence to the belief the man is not a pure physical body with systems and parts that encompass it. Man is also a spiritual being that requires spiritual healing. Holistic medicine concerns itself to the belief of the connection between the spirit and emotions and mind.

The gap between holistic medicine and alternative medicine is closed by the common practice of not using drug treatments and surgeries. They usually employ meditation, herbs, prayers, vitamins and minerals, as well as exotic diets in treating certain ailments.

Holistic Medicine and Conventional Medicine

Allopathy or conventional medicine defines individual health as the non-occurrence of diseases, which appeals to be a negative approach in defining the condition. Holistic medicine on the other hand concerns itself on a person’s absolute state of physical, social, mental and spiritual well-being.

As based on the definition given (that is commonly used among medical practitioners), orthodox medicine remains to deal with one’s susceptibility to diseases instead of the wellness as opposed by holistic medicine. Based on common observations, conventional medicine typically doesn’t apply to healthy individuals. While holistic medicine focuses on the quality of living practiced by people. Sick people normally don’t seek medical attention not until the symptoms of the disease/s are obvious. Thus, there is too little preventive treatment against sickness.

There are great differences between holistic medicine and the conventional type both in the diagnosis and treatments. Most of which are scientifically based. In oppose to this stand, diagnosis in holistic treatment are conceived through the manifestations of body imbalance. These are determined through certain procedures distinctive only to holistic medicine and other related medicinal practices.

People who have already undergone any of these procedures claim that is not bad trying on or all of these practices. Yet individual preferences still have the hand on what will be accepted as the ideal procedure.