Final Argumentative essay
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Monalisa Obiagwu
ENC1102
Professor Tara Kai
April 2, 2023
What Do We Really Know About Alternative Medicine?
Most people have little to no knowledge about complementary and alternative medicine
(CAM), but there is so much to learn and benefit from CAM. CAM refers to a variety of medical
treatments that medical professionals do not consider to be the norm, including acupuncture,
homeopathy, and herbal therapy. This type of medicine has been used for decades dating back to
the late nineteenth century. For many years people have been turning to CAM therapies and
medicines to help take care of their medicinal needs. While traditional medicine may be an
effective way to treat and prevent illness, as a future healthcare professional, it is important for
me to examine whether alternative medicine is natural safe, and effective. However, CAM
therapies and medicines are not as natural as they say they are.
One might argue that CAM medicine and therapies are not natural. Even though
something is described as "Natural," that does not guarantee that it is safe. As Kabat states,
“Aristolochia has been widely used in herbal medicine, but it contains aristolochic acid — a
powerful kidney toxin and a carcinogen.” Despite this, this herb is still available on the internet,
says Kabat. But it does not stop there, Ayurvedic is another “natural” medicine that has been
found to contain toxic compounds and heavy metals. Nevertheless, not all CAM therapies and
treatments are not natural. There are some that are natural such as acupuncture, reiki, and
chiropractic medicine. According to Wexler, “Reiki is bioenergetic healing that is intended to
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restore physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual balance.” Just because there are some CAM
that is not natural does not mean others are not.
People are often drawn to use CAM because it is natural and often locally available. For
this reason, the use of CAM is widespread and popular in many countries. Naturopathic is an
alternative medicine that uses natural recourses to prevent and treat diseases. According to
Wexler, “As its name suggests, naturopathic medicine, or naturopathy, uses naturally occurring
substances to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease.” Naturopathy rages from herbal medicine,
massage, homeopathy, to tactile therapies.
According to Miller 2004, “Prunus Africana, a
popular natural remedy for prostate disorder in European countries which is harvested from wild
trees growing in the mountain forests of continental Africa and Madagascar.” This plant is a
natural herbal remedy that has been used to treat prostate cancer, which is the leading cancer
diagnosis among men.
It should be noted that complementary medicine can be used in conjunction with standard
medical treatment but is not considered to be a standard treatment in and of itself. Acupuncture
can help lessen some of the side effects of cancer treatment, such as nausea and vomiting
.
The
use of alternative medicine is substituted for the use of standard medical treatment. An example
of this is the use of a special diet to treat cancer instead of the cancer drugs that are prescribed by
an oncologist to treat the disease.
The usage of CAM is generally safe; there are therapies and medications that have been
shown to be so. Acupuncture, one of the primary types of treatment in traditional Chinese
medicine, is an example of an alternative medicine. In general, acupuncture is a safe process that
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involves inserting sterilized needles at specific body points. These needles give the body a
pleasant sensation without causing any discomfort. According to Dupler, “Acupuncture needles
are sterilized, and acupuncture is a very safe procedure. The depth of insertion of needles varies,
depending on which chi channels are being treated.” This goes to show that acupuncture is
generally a safe procedure, when in doubt see consultation form more than one physician. Tai
Chi, a Chinese martial practice that dates back thousands of years, is another safe therapy. Tai
Chi is a form of exercise that includes a series of calm, slow movements, and proper body
alignment to enhance both physical and mental health. Wang states “Evidence has shown
that Tai Chi can improve both physical and mental aspects for people with chronic disease. It is
safe, easy to learn, in expensive, and low intensity exercise with increasing popularity
worldwide.” Alternative medicine is generally safe; the fact that it has been around for a long
time and is still in use by various individuals is proof of this.
The effectiveness of CAM is the most controversial issue. Certain CAM therapies have
been proven to be effective. According to Miller 2007, “One controlled clinical trial randomized
90 patients to receive either acupuncture or acupressure at correct acupuncture points or at
random points. Those who received the treatment correctly reported a 36 percent decline in pain
intensity after two months”. This clinical trial came from the
Journal of Clinical Oncology
. This
goes to show that acupuncture and acupressure are effective therapies that help alleviate pain. In
addition, Studies have shown that massage and acupuncture both dramatically lessen the nausea
and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, as well as the local discomfort and muscle spasms
associated with cancer and its treatment (Miller 2007). CAM aids patients in minimizing
chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. Having said that, CAM can improve the quality of
life for cancer patients in addition to being successful.
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There is a lot that pertains to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) whether
it is safe, effective, and natural. If you are interested or unsure about the use of CAM speak to a
medical professional who can determine that. The use of CAM varies amongst people, CAM has
proven to be effective, safe, and natural for the most part. Remember that everyone is unique, so
what may work for someone else may not work as well for you. There is always going to be
some skepticism about CAM and all the treatments and therapies that come along with it. But
having some background knowledge can go a long way.
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Works Cited
Dupler, Douglas, et al. "Acupuncture Is Suitable for Treating a Wide Range of
Conditions."
Alternative Therapies
, edited by Sylvia Engdahl, Greenhaven Press, 2012.
Current Controversies.
Gale In Context: Opposing
Debra A. Miller, "Alternative Medicine Can Help Alleviate Pain and Chronic Conditions."
Greenhaven Press, 2009. Current Controversies.
Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints
,
originally published as "Complementary Medicine Benefits: Many Complementary and
Alternative Therapies Help Improve Patients' Quality of Life and Reduce
Distress,"
Women's Health Advisor
, vol. 11, Jan. 2007, p. 6.
Debra A. Miller, "The Safety and Quality of Wild Herbs Vary.”, Greenhaven Press, 2009.
Current Controversies.
Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints
, originally published as
"Herbal Medicines, Patient Safety and Plant Conservation,"
WHO Drug Information
, vol.
18, World Health Organization (WHO), 2004, pp. 29-30.
Kabat, Geoffrey. "Natural Does Not Mean Safe."
Dietary Supplements
, edited by Noah
Berlatsky, Greenhaven Press, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints.
Gale In Context: Opposing
Viewpoints
, originally published in
Slate
, 2012.
Wang, Carol Chunfeng, et al. "Effects of Tai Chi on the quality of life, mental wellbeing, and
physical function of adults with chronic diseases: Protocol for a single-blind, two-armed,
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randomized controlled trial."
PLoS ONE
, vol. 17, no. 6, 24 June 2022, p. e0270212.
Gale
In Context: Opposing Viewpoints
.
Wexler, Barbara. "Complementary and Alternative Medicine."
Health and Wellness
:
Illness
among Americans
, 2012 ed., Gale, 2013. Information Plus Reference Series.
Gale In
Context: Opposing Viewpoints
.
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