What is your opinion on non-traditional medicine? What are the ethical problems with this type of medicine?!


Question: What is your opinion on non-traditional medicine.? What are the ethical problems with this type of medicine.?
Alternative medicine, non-traditional medicine, Eastern medicine, etc. is becoming increasingly popular in our society. Modalities such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine are commonly seen in every city in the USA.
What is your opinion on this type of medicine.? What are the ethical problems with non traditional medicine.?
Dont use fallacies (or contradict) yourself. ***EDUCATED ANSWERS ONLY! ThanxHealth Question & Answer


Answers:
Many of our present day medicines originally came from herbs. The tablets regulate the dose. So do non-prescribed tablets, or tablets prescribed by herbalists or naturapaths, but they don't seem to be as strictly regulated.

Prescribed and some over the counter medicines only use what they consider to be the active part of the plant. There may be other parts that are also important and are overlooked. The problems with using herbs is that they are more potent than some people realise and if using whole herbs, it is not possible to closely regulate the dose. Any herbs may interact with medicines prescribed by doctors, or if taken in too high doses, they may be dangerous, so both the doctor and alternative practioner should be aware of all types of medicines that you are taking and possible interactions. To be sure, research this yourself.

Of course, misuse of medicines prescribed by doctors is also dangerous, but most people realise this. What they may not realise is that prescribed medicines can interact with each other. I know, through personal experience with my parents, that some mainstream doctors do not allow for this, with disasterous consequences. Often, old people are thought to have dementia, but it is a side effect of bad prescribing, and when the patient comes off the medication, their normal brain functions return. My mother was put in a hospital which was full of old people being monitored as they were brought off medications. A large proportion of them were found not to have dementia although they were showing all the signs of it when they were taking the prescribed medications. Unfortunately my mother did have dementia, but not nearly as badly as before she came off the medications. I have always wondered if the medications started off the dementia. Of course, no medical practioner would admit that that was a possibility.

I took a daughter with a persistent stomach ache to a very well qualified medical doctor. He said that she needed an x-ray. I said that I wasn't happy and it sounded dangerous to be x-rayed in that area. Couldn't she have an ultra sound instead. He told me that ultra-sound was not suitable for her problem. When I arrived for the x-ray, the practioner informed me that it was dangerous to give a girl her age an x-ray in that area and anyway, an ultra sound would show up the problem better!

Acupuncture is used by many practioners such as physiotherapists and medical doctors. Some alternative practioners may be better trained in its use than Western practioners.

Many traditional Chinese herbal medicines are being adapted for use in Western Medicines.

If you attend any practioners, western medicine or alternative, they are unethical if they are not

a) Properly qualified.

b) Up to date with their medical knowledge.

c) Prepared to tell you when they don't know something and send you to someone who does. Health Question & Answer

Actually non-allopathic medical approaches tend to be MORE traditional. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), for instance has been used for a couple thousand years.

Most non-allopathic modalities tend to be more holistically oriented; focusing on the whole person, rather than a group of organ systems. If utilized intelligently, there shouldn't be any ethical problems with treating most ailments through a more naturopathic approach.

Just use your best judgment. If you break a bone or rupture a spleen, go to the hospital. If you feel like your immune system is sluggish see a Naturopath or a TCM practitioner. If your muscles hurt, get a massage.

A good place to start your research on any given modality might be care2.com They have forums for discussing questions, as well as frequent articles about benefits and hoaxes.

Good luck with this.
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As far as I understand, the ethical problems with nontraditional medicine are the same as with traditional medicine. The focus needs to be on the PERSON, and helping the person heal.Health Question & Answer



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