Alternative Treatments: Making the Practice “Normal”

In the world of health, we just want to know what is “normal.” The concept of normal is developed through what our doctors say to us, what the numbers are, what our culture believes, and what we hear from our family and friends. However, in any case most of us in the United States do not consider alternative medicine or treatments as normal. The truth of the matter is that there are a lot of unknowns in the realm of alternative treatments, but if you consider how many chemicals and drugs we are exposed to in traditional medicine, then alternative treatments may be something to look into.

In terms of how to use alternative treatments, there are two options. Alternative treatments can be used to supplement traditional treatments, or to replace them. Often times when doctors recommend alternative treatments, it is to supplement the traditional treatment they recommend. Therefore, when just starting out in the world of alternative treatments, one must carefully dive into it. Doctors don’t often recommend alternative treatments on their own because there may not be a lot of research compared to traditional medicine and treatments.

While there may not be a lot of research in many alternative treatment met hods, there are still ways you can do some research of your own. Here are some ways you can go about researching your ailment in a safe way:

Use the search engine of your choice to look up alternative treatments for the symptoms you are experiencing or illness you have. I prefer Bing, but that’s just me.
Once you find an alternative treatment you’d like to try, look on google scholar to see if there is any scientific research supporting the benefits of this alternative.
Search for blogs or forums available to get a gage of the effectiveness of the alternative treatment or potential side effects.
Find out any more information you can about the treatment. If it’s a plant, look up its scientific information. Research its natural history and history of human use.
Ask your doctor about it. They may know more than you think, or be able to refer you to someone who does.
Use common sense. If it doesn’t sound like a good idea, don’t do it.

And finally, I’d like to provide you if some information on alternative treatments you can look into. After all, the more you know, the better you will feel, and the more “normal” it will be to use alternative treatments.

Ailment	Alternative Treatment Options	Resources
All sorts of illnesses and infections	Essential Oils	http://www.theencouraginghome.com/moms-toolbox/
Skin Irritation	Aloe Vera Plant	http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-607-aloe.aspx?activeingredientid=607&activeingredientname=aloe
Cold and Flu	Elderberry, Vitamin C, Tea, etc.	http://www.realfoodrn.com/natural-remedies-diy-flu-remedies/
Stomache Aches	Clay	8 Ways to Use Clay
Acne Scars	Lemon, Aloe, Olive Oil, Egg Whites, Baking Soda	http://hubpages.com/hub/5-easy-ways-to-remove-acne-scars-naturally

-Jackie Lentz-

3 thoughts on “Alternative Treatments: Making the Practice “Normal””

Thanks for your post on alternative therapies! There are many therapeutic “alternatives” that I am broadly interested in, especially those largely focusing on nutrition and external factors (e.g. Ayurveda, ect) although many of these are looked at as preventative measures rather than adequate treatments in themselves. I am also glad that you stress the importance of researching the validity of any treatment in question. While natural remedies seem appealing for their “organic” (i.e. “pure”) natures, it is tempting to overlook the fact that illnesses are often “natural” and natural substances can have adverse reactions when applied incorrectly (toxins can also be organic!) Always seek reliable counsel for health concerns and use good judgement when experimenting on yourself and with your health! -Laura Collins

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