Western medicine is leading health care system in the United States. However, there has been a growing interest for the use of complementary and alternative medicine together with traditional treatment (Ignatavicius, 2013). Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is not officially part of today’s U.S. traditional biomedical health system. There is emergent scientific research that supports some CAM therapies are as effective as conventional therapies. Integrative medicine combines therapies from traditional medicine and complementary therapies. Those who seek complementary and alternative therapies pay for them out of pocket because most insurance companies only reimburse for selected therapies, such as acupuncture. According to the National
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Also referred to as allopathic medicine (Ivker, D.O., 2010) Physicians prescribe medication; perform surgery and practice in specialty areas. Alternative medicine refers to alternative medical care other than traditional medicine. The terms alternative and complementary medicine are part of a larger system of treatment holistic medicine. Holism embodies the philosophy of treating the whole person, integrating mind, body and spirit (Madel, 2009). The idea is the three elements of being are to be treated together to heal, rather than merely treating the person for a specific illness or injury. In holistic medicine illness and injury are the result of disharmony between the three elements, mind-body-spirit, which are united as one. The break in harmony comes from dysfunction on one of these areas. But this dysfunction affects the whole person and not only one element. Conventional medicine views specific illness as problem with one part of the body that may possibly affect other areas if not …show more content…
The most distinguishing characteristic of traditional medicine is to cure or mitigate disease. Holistic medicine promotes optimal health as a by-product to prevent and treat disease (Ivker, D.O., 2010). The primary method of care for holistic patients is to heal themselves by addressing the root cause of their disease and implementing lifestyle changes through health promotion. But conventional medicine emphasized elimination of physical symptoms (Ivker, D.O., 2010). . This is can be harmful because patients are given the tools to maintain health and wellness after the illness is treated. Both CAM and traditional medicine use similar methods to diagnose the patient with a valid exam and patient history. Traditional medicine evaluates the body with a history and physical exam, in addition to lab testing. And holistic evaluated the whole person and considers their lifestyle too. Primary treatment options for conventional patients are limited to prescribed prescriptions and surgery for treatment. Whereas, holistic health considers multiple avenues of self-help options for treatment, such as alterations diet and exercise, attitude and behavioral modifications, counseling and bioenergy
Also referred to as allopathic medicine (Ivker, D.O., 2010) Physicians prescribe medication; perform surgery and practice in specialty areas. Alternative medicine refers to alternative medical care other than traditional medicine. The terms alternative and complementary medicine are part of a larger system of treatment holistic medicine. Holism embodies the philosophy of treating the whole person, integrating mind, body and spirit (Madel, 2009). The idea is the three elements of being are to be treated together to heal, rather than merely treating the person for a specific illness or injury. In holistic medicine illness and injury are the result of disharmony between the three elements, mind-body-spirit, which are united as one. The break in harmony comes from dysfunction on one of these areas. But this dysfunction affects the whole person and not only one element. Conventional medicine views specific illness as problem with one part of the body that may possibly affect other areas if not …show more content…
The most distinguishing characteristic of traditional medicine is to cure or mitigate disease. Holistic medicine promotes optimal health as a by-product to prevent and treat disease (Ivker, D.O., 2010). The primary method of care for holistic patients is to heal themselves by addressing the root cause of their disease and implementing lifestyle changes through health promotion. But conventional medicine emphasized elimination of physical symptoms (Ivker, D.O., 2010). . This is can be harmful because patients are given the tools to maintain health and wellness after the illness is treated. Both CAM and traditional medicine use similar methods to diagnose the patient with a valid exam and patient history. Traditional medicine evaluates the body with a history and physical exam, in addition to lab testing. And holistic evaluated the whole person and considers their lifestyle too. Primary treatment options for conventional patients are limited to prescribed prescriptions and surgery for treatment. Whereas, holistic health considers multiple avenues of self-help options for treatment, such as alterations diet and exercise, attitude and behavioral modifications, counseling and bioenergy