Lauren Schaap
Mrs. Vanden Berg
English 1: Research Essay
22 February 2018
The Rise of Alternative Medicine Certain medicines are used as substitutes to traditional, or conventional medicines, and they are known as alternative medicines. Alternative medicines have been around for ages, as far back as the ancient and Bible times, but suddenly they are becoming very popular. Some are more effective than others, and some are not as safe as they are claimed to be. Some may not be safe in the sense of being a hazard to one’s body and others are dangerous in how they relate to spiritual hazards. Alternative medicines have been increasing in popularity more than ever and are more effective to some people than to others.
Alternative Medicines have …show more content…
The “Alternative Medicine Gaining in Popularity” article surveyed Americans to show the top alternative therapies which include prayer- 43%, natural products- 19%, meditation- 8%, and diets (such as the Atkins, Ornish, and Zone diets) - 4% of Americans used or practiced them. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that requires needles to stimulate body points. According to the article “What Exactly is Alternative Medicine”, studies show that acupuncture treats neck/back pain, nausea, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and even more. Chiropractic Medicine is another alternative medicine where a chiropractor “manipulates” the spine or other parts of the body to be in the proper alignment, ease pain, improve body function, heal the body naturally, and to help lower back pain, headaches, neck pain, and disorders caused by whiplash (“What Exactly is Alternative Medicine”). Another way people practice alternative medicine is called magnetic field therapy, and this is practiced, studies show, to treat musculoskeletal problems and heal fractures faster where a practitioner hovers his hands over the body to channel energy through his hands to heal the body and there is very little research to prove that the “Healing Touch” works. It is very similar to Osteopathic Manipulation (What Exactly is Alternative Medicine). Another is Ayurvedic Medicine is one of the oldest medical systems in India, about 3,000 years ago, and it can be very dangerous as researchers have found lead, toxic minerals, and metals, and it hasn’t been proved that it works (What Exactly is Alternative Medicine). Herbal Medicines are used as an alternative to conventional medicines and are from plant parts like roots, leaves, berries, or flowers to heal the body and about 80% of people in the world use them. Herbs are effective in treating allergies and chronic fatigue (What Exactly is Alternative