Alternative Health Care Essay -- Papers

Alternative Health Care Alternative health cares, also known as holistic or homeopathic care, are countless ways of unconventional health care approaches to healing and improving illnesses. Dr. Samuel Hahnemann discovered homeopathy in the early 1800's. He was sick of the art of medicine practiced in his time; he said it was barbaric. He knew there had to be alternatives so, like any devoted science lover would do, he experimented on himself and his friends. Hahnemann found that large dosages of herbs increased symptoms so he decreased the dosage and found that the symptoms decreased and usually ceased (Smith 10). Homeopathy became popular in the nineteenth century. This may be accounted for because most patients at that time agreed that them-modern techniques were harsh and didn't work. The same thing is happening today. People are resorting to holistic remedies because the "promise of allopathic medicine has lost its luster" (Smith 10). Some criticize holistic care as being primitive. According to Joseph Wassesug, "Holistic medicine is what we practice when we don't know the real answer." For example, years ago tuberculosis was treated was treated with fresh air and Adirondack chairs, polio was treated with baths and hub tanks, and rheumatic fever was treated with good nutrition and bed rest! (Copeland 103) Another problem with holistic care is that the government has no regulation of holistic practices and who practices them. This makes it difficult to determine exactly who is really qualified and which alternative medicines are safe. We have got to use common sense when choosing a doctor. When a person has a M.D. or an R.N. after his name we opt to trust our life to him! One should check the doctors' backgr... .... (DeSpelder 172) I feel that alternative medicine, such as holistic care and homeopathy, is a great concept. It is safe effective and inexpensive; what more could one want from health care! I am concerned; however, that misused holistic medicine could be dangerous. But then I am reminded that if there were a problem, there would be no dangerous time delay to get an allopathic physician. Bibliography: Reference Copeland, Carolyn. "Alternative Medicine Can Be Dangerous and Ineffective" 1991 Rpt. Health Care in America: Opposing viewpoint p. 101-105. DeSpelder, L. & Strickland, A. (2002). The Last Dance: Encountering Death and Dying. Boston, MA. McGraw Hill. Smith, Robert. "The Magic of Homeopathy" Total Health vol. 15 August 1993 p.10. Wekesser, Carol. "Is Alternative Medicine Safe" Health Care in America: Opposing Viewpoint 1994 p. 95.