5
The Alternative
Medicine Dilemma
By Dylan Chadwick, Staff Writer for Physicians Office Resource
Where does the average patient turn for medical advice? Well,
between loaded online forums and databases, advice from
friends and those dubious late-night infomercials touting
miraculous benefits in "just 30 days;" health-conscious
consumers have a wide spectrum of options, all claiming to
help them manage their conditions. While all physicians hope
that their patients seek trusted health authorities in their health
matters. The reality is that the waters of what is and what isn't
actually medicine gets cloudy for many patients.
"Alternative medicine" isn't a new development in the health
market, but if the internet banners and chain vitamins &
supplement shops are any indication, it's a market that isn't
shrinking. However, the term "alternative medicine" can be a
bit misleading. It's a broad identifier that casts a wide net,
essentially functioning as an umbrella term for any array of
therapies and treatments used either in place of, or in
conjunction with, "conventional" or "allopathic" medicine.
Alternative health treatments range from over-the-counter
herbal supplements and vitamins (recent JAMA findings
34
suggest that the majority of these supplements go towards
sexual enhancement, bodybuilding and weight loss) to more
intensive and specialized therapies like chiropractic,
naturopathy, acupuncture, yoga and massage.
The Appeal
For us in the healthcare industry, I think it’s important for us to
understand what the appeal of alternative medicine is. I
believe, some patients, as shrewd consumers, may interpret
"alternative medicines" as pleasant substitutions for "big
medicine" that side-step what they perceive to be bureaucratic
hurdles issued by a growing health care industry. There is
evidence that many alternative treatments and activities do
assist in managing certain medical conditions. Patients, under
the direction of a trusted healthcare professional, who seek
complimentary treatments in conjunction with their other
prescribed medical treatments, often report increased levels of
satisfaction and healing in the process. These treatments can
help manage pain and other day to day difficulties that have
been made more difficult by chronic or traumatic conditions.
www.PhysiciansOfficeResource.com