Absolute Beginner's Guide to Alternative Medicine

CHAPTER 1 WHAT IS ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ALL ABOUT? 5

Problem Percentage of Sufferers
Sprain/strains 24

Allergies 17

Lung problems 13

Hypertension 12

Because alternative therapists are rushing to meet the demand, it is increasingly dif-

ficult for consumers to figure out how and where to get the best health care. It may

be difficult to find reliable information to help separate the healers from those who

pretend to have medical knowledge. You should beware of healers who display these

characteristics:

■ Say they have all the answers.

■ Maintain that their therapy is the only effective therapy.

■ Promise overnight success.

■ Refuse to include other practitioners as part of the healing team.

■ Seem more interested in money than in your well-being.

Some alternative specialties are more regulated and licensed than others, but none

come with guarantees—any more than conventional medicine comes with guaran-

tees. Many people locate alternative therapists through friends, family, an exercise

instructor, health food stores, or referral lines at local hospitals. Most people don’t

speak with their conventional medicine providers about their use of alternative ther-

apies, out of fear of embarrassment, ridicule, or discouragement. These fears are

unreasonable. If your physician is judgmental and not pleased to see you taking an

active interest in your health, then you may want to consider finding another physi-

cian. On the other hand, there’s no doubt that your doctor knows more about medi-

cine than you do (unless you’re a doctor too!). By having an open and frank

discussion, you can find therapies that help address your concerns while steering

clear of those that are dangerous or hoaxes.

REASONS WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

■ To pursue therapeutic benefit.

■ To seek a degree of wellness not supported in biomedicine.

■ To attend to quality-of-life issues.

■ They prefer high personal involvement in decision-making.

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