| Medicine can be defined as the practice (or science) | | | | dissolve, you can bet you will not be able to absorb |
| of maintaining and restoring health through study, | | | | it. To test your current vitamins, create a solution of |
| diagnosis and treatment of patients. It can also be | | | | equal parts of vinegar and water and leave the pill in |
| defined as any agent that treats a disease. | | | | the solution over night. If it fails to dissolve, demand |
| Although the definition I have used here states that | | | | your money back. Since supplements are not |
| a medicine is any agent that treats a disease, most | | | | regulated you cannot be sure that the package even |
| of today's medicines do not treat diseases. Many only | | | | contains what the label says. There was a program |
| treat the symptoms of the disease. For example | | | | started back in 2001 where manufacturers could |
| medicines for arthritis usually treat the pain without | | | | submit their products to the United States |
| treating the inflammation. Insulin and other | | | | Pharmacopeia for testing. If you find a USP |
| medications that control blood sugar levels do not | | | | certification mark on the product you buy, this means |
| cure you of your blood sugar problems. They only | | | | that the product meets certain requirements for |
| help control your blood sugar levels. | | | | accuracy in labeling, purity and good manufacturing |
| Unfortunately some alternative treatments do not | | | | practices. |
| cure the disease either; however, they almost never | | | | There have also been some studies done on the |
| have side effects (unless you are allergic) and are | | | | health value of touch. Touch as in stroking, patting or |
| usually much more cost effective than modern | | | | hugging can stimulate the immune system. I have |
| pharmaceuticals. | | | | also seen many studies that have been done on the |
| Almost anything can be considered an alternative | | | | value of owning a pet. Some health benefits I've |
| health treatment. Examples of alternative health | | | | seen cited include: decreased blood pressure, |
| treatments include: different forms of massage, | | | | decreased cholesterol levels and improved mental |
| herbal remedies, aromatherapy, acupuncture, | | | | health. |
| homeopathy, and even yoga or meditation. | | | | There is one other alternative therapy that deserves |
| I can tell you that many scientists and doctors say | | | | a mention in this article and that is "home remedies". |
| that there is none to very little scientific evidence to | | | | You should ask your mother or grandmother about |
| support some of these treatments. There is no | | | | these. They were very commonly used by many |
| scientific evidence to support the "placebo effect" | | | | poor families before insurance became widely |
| either however; the placebo effect is widely | | | | available. Here are two home remedies that I know |
| recognized. From everything I have learned about | | | | about that have worked for me. This remedy is for |
| clinical trials, scientists try to study things in a | | | | a skin infection such as acne or a boil. For acne cut a |
| "vacuum". Studies are conducted using inclusion and | | | | potato and rub it over the acne, then let it sit for 2 |
| exclusion criteria. One of the reasons for the criteria | | | | hours and wash it off. For a boil, peel a potato and |
| is to focus the study, but sometimes the criteria are | | | | put the inside of the skins against the boil and leave |
| to eliminate factors that could affect the results of | | | | overnight. My daughter also swears by tea bags for |
| the study. One of these factors could be taking | | | | acne. For warts, put a copper penny (if you can find |
| certain medications. | | | | one) into a small bowl filled with red wine vinegar. |
| Because of the lack of credibility of some alternative | | | | Every day rub the wart with the soaked penny a |
| treatments, some of them are now conducting clinical | | | | few times a day. Eventually the wart will dissolve and |
| trials. A product known as Peri-Gum (it treats | | | | yes there will be a bit of blood. My mom did this to |
| periodontal disease) is clinically proven to work. There | | | | me when I was a kid and I had many warts. I still |
| has also been some research performed at John | | | | years later don't have any warts and I don't have |
| Hopkins to explain the health benefits of goji juice. | | | | any scars either. |
| Most of us know about the health benefits of certain | | | | In conclusion, there are many alternatives to taking |
| foods and vitamins. | | | | pharmaceuticals but you need to find out about the |
| One of the problems with alternative health | | | | quality of the product or service you want to try. |
| treatments is that it can be difficult to judge the | | | | Please note this article is informational only. I am not |
| quality of the product of service. For example, did | | | | a licensed health care provider and am therefore, not |
| you know that the vitamin supplements you are | | | | dispensing any medical advice. |
| taking may not easily dissolve? If the pill does not | | | | |