Alternative Medicine
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Because alternative medicine is largely unproven through traditional rational scientific methods and because it is generally not as profitable as modern Western medical practices, it has remained largely unknown to the general public and widely ignored by traditional American medical practitioners. However, during the 1990s both social norms and medical trends have led to a growing consciousness of and increased use of alternative forms of medicine. These forms vary widely and can include chiropractic medicine, homeopathy, aromatherapy, yoga, acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology and a host of other alternatives to traditional modern medical modalities. There is a fundamental ideological difference also underlying the debate between modern medicine and alternative medicine, “Whether conventional medicine’s religious belief in scientific rationalism can coexist with the more broadly based, philosophical and spiritual beliefs of alternative medicine remains to be seen” (Seninger, 1998, 21). All the unconventional forms of alternative medicine available, the lack of certification often required to practice it, and the often clinically unproven nature of its efficacy have all conspired to make critics condemn it as quackery while making the conventional medical establishment adverse to validating it. Nonetheless, the medical community is being forced to examine many forms of alternative medicine because the public is
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tic relationship between the patient and the healer ideology inherent in alternative medicine. If you go to an acupuncturist for migraines, he will not just treat your headache, he will want information regarding your lifestyle. Alternative medicine is often seen as a holistic approach. As Zhou contends, “Western medicine treats the symptoms of the disease, but Chinese medicine treats the whole body” (Wineke, 1997: 1G).
Acupressure is also another form of ancient Chinese medicine that has been practiced for as long as acupuncture. Acupuncture involves the strategic placement of tiny needles inserted into the body dependent upon the affliction of the patient. Acupressure focuses more on putting pressure on the area of the body that will help to cure whatever ails the patient, but it also uses acupuncture needles. For example, research studies conducted at the Maimonides Medical Center have shown that “acupressure helps stave off nausea and vomiting that can follow surgery. By strapping on a wrist band that holds a small plastic button against a particular point on the wrist, patients avoided sickness without any of the side effects that are associated with many anti-nausea drugs” (Carroll, 1993, 37). While an ancient time-
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1820
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
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