Often it seems that the worlds of traditional medicine and alternative medicine are at competing ends of a spectrum and have little to do with one another, but that is the opposite of the truth. For many people in East Brunswick, optimum health is only achieved after the successful integration of modern medicine with alternative and holistic treatments. It is not that modern medicine can’t help you, but that it sometimes isn’t enough to put you back at 100 percent.
That is why it is a relief to so many holistic physicians to hear that more and more traditional medicine doctors are recognizing the benefits of complementary alternative treatments. A field of health care that was once a patient-driven phenomenon is now being looked at as a missing link in optimum health. Whether you are seeking preventative health care through stress management and medical weight loss or are combating serious conditions like cancer, depression or diabetes, finding the intersection of conventional medicinal practices with alternative therapies might be what it takes to get you back in action.
Complementing Health Care with Mind & Body Treatment
According to a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, three percent of adults who engage in regular alternative therapies like yoga, meditation, tai chi or deep breathing exercises are doing so based on the recommendation of their medical provider. This might strike you as a rather low percentage, but if you consider that many yoga classes have about 30 people in them, that means that one person out of each class is there due to a doctor’s recommendation.
This is promising for a lot of people who have found themselves disenchanted by traditional medical treatments. The research study was conducted by a team of physicians who found that the rates of people turning to complementary and alternative medicines have risen significantly since 2002, and that in 2007 nearly 40 percent of the U.S population engaged in some type of complementary medical therapy. The physicians found that when conventional medical therapies fail, more and more physicians are recommending alternative treatment options as a second step.
The average age of participants engaging in complementary and alternative therapies as a result of their physician’s recommendation is about 47 years, while those who engage in the therapies without a physician’s orders tend to be a bit younger—about 43 years of age. The most common type of alternative therapy recommended is deep breathing, with meditation and yoga following at second and third respectively.
The most common conditions that physicians recommend mind and body treatment for are depression, chronic pain and headaches, cardiac disease, insomnia and relief of symptoms related to cancer treatment. However, there are countless additional health concerns that can benefit from the inclusion of alternative therapies.
When chronic health concerns arise, conventional forms of medicine can quickly grow frustrating. While traditional medicine serves its place in a treatment plan, complementary therapies can often make a big difference in a patient’s quality of life and health. Don’t just find relief from a symptom. With alternative treatment options you can find the root cause of what is ailing you and make permanent strides towards a healthier life.
