Does The Confusion Between Alternative And Complementary
Medicine Harm Your Health?
Introduction
Does the confusion between the ideas of ‘alternative’ and ‘complementary’ medicine undermine our ability to take control of our health? I aim to show that the difference between these two concepts is the key to accessing the energy to heal ourselves.
Definitions of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Both the terms ‘alternative’ and ‘complementary’ healing refer to that which is not mainstream, modern, medical practice. But the word ‘alternative’ means ‘instead of’; ‘offering a choice between two things’, while ‘complementary’ means ‘in addition to’; ‘that which supplies a deficiency’, and most importantly, ‘something making up a whole’.
Holistic Healing
Central to both alternative and complementary healing is the recognition of the ‘whole person’ -- health means whole, and to heal means to make whole. Yet the medical system divides us into body parts with little sensitivity for our emotional and spiritual well being. Much has been forgotten in the pursuit of scientific specialisation and medical expertise.
The idea of treating the whole person is not new. It constitutes the roots of what we know today as ‘alternative’ medicine. We need to deal with our prejudices about what we see as respectable ‘physician’ medicine and what is branded as ‘folk’ medicine. Scientific research demonstrates that many ‘alternative’ treatments are highly effective if used as part of a ‘holistic’ strategy of healing.
Over-Reliance On The Alternative Practitioner
The lack of a holistic approach together with the rising cost of medical treatment, side effects of medication, and long hospital waiting lists are some of the reasons why more people look towards alternative and complementary treatments and cures. These range from massage and acupuncture, herbal remedies and flower essences, spiritual healing and reiki, to name a few.
Some of the ‘alternative’ trends tend towards specialisation -- the ‘masters’ who are the ‘experts’ on what they know -- but are they just as much in danger of forgetting the ‘whole’ person as the medical establishment? Is it possible for people to put too much faith in the alternative practitioner?
Certainly this seems to be true. In a spiritual healing group I attend, one woman persistently refuses to see a GP despite advice from the healer who insists that it is important to get a diagnosis. That way, you know what you are dealing with even if you don’t want to accept the recommended treatment. You are in a position to make fully informed decisions about alternative strategies in terms of treatments, diet and remedies.
Self-Empowerment
You might not agree with the diagnosis, in which case you can get a second opinion. You can ask the pharmacist for more information about prescribed medicines; you can consult a qualified herbalist and other complementary therapists. In the UK your GP can refer you to a homeopathic doctor on the NHS if you ask for it.
Personally, I have been helped to recover from serious, life-threatening illness by homeopathy, aromatherapy, spiritual healing, and support groups in addition to conventional medical treatments, as part of a holistic approach. It gave me a feeling of self-empowerment instead of feeling like a helpless ‘victim’ of circumstance.
An Issue of Control
The idea of ‘alternative’ medicine encourages people to seek other treatment instead of conventional medicine while the concept of ‘complementary’ therapies encourages people to get as much help as they can in a concerted effort to heal themselves.
Here, the idea of ‘complementary’ medicine and therapy has the advantage over ‘alternative’ in that it enables the individual to take control of their health instead of handing the responsibility over to others. Practitioners can only do so much, whether they are G.P.s, surgeons, psychiatrists, or spiritual healers.
Without doubt, it is often inadequate to rely only on standard medical treatment. But don’t turn your back on the GP, whose knowledge and position provide an essential and valuable service -- a diagnosis and referrals for life-saving treatments.
The Energy to Heal Yourself
The main ingredient, or energy, in healing comes from within. That is to say, if you imagine your whole body extending much further than your physical body, you are in charge of, and have access to, enormous power of healing energy. Perhaps you have misused it in negative thinking and passivity. With the help of complementary healing techniques, therapies and remedies, you can find a new state of being -- the way you are meant to be.
Making use of complementary remedies and therapies in addition to conventional medicine can turn you into a wiser, stronger and healthier person, who is much more in control and will not need to see the GP too often. Whether you are ill and wish to be well, or well and wish to stay well, why not explore, and treat yourself to new, enjoyable experiences?
© Martha Magenta 2006.