A History of Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine is actually one of the oldest forms of health care,
dating back centuries and in some cases millennia. Health care has
traditionally focused on the health of the mind and the body, and the
interaction of the two elements. As the nineteenth century waned,
however, many traditional approaches to disease prevention and cures
were discarded in favor of new theories of disease and treatment.

The turning point came in with the introduction of germ theory, and
the discovery that microbes called germs were responsible for disease.
There were two competing theories of how germs like bacteria, viruses
and fungi caused disease. The first theory was that these microbes
were universally infectious, and it was this theory that eventually won
out and become the basis of modern western medicine.

The other theory, rooted in a long history of alternative medicine, held
that while bacteria, viruses and fungi were infectious, they could only
cause illness if the body were in a weakened state. Adherents to this
theory felt that by keeping the body in top condition, disease could be
avoided even in the presence of infectious agents.

The adoption of the germ theory, and the birth of modern medicine,
has led to some amazing advances, and some cures for devastating
diseases. However, it has also led to a marginalizing of the
importance of alternative and naturalistic approaches to health care.

The best approach to health care is one that combines the best of both
worlds. Combining the wonders of modern medicine with a traditional
approach to health care is the best way to prevent disease and treat it
when it occurs. That is where alternative medicine can play such an
important role.

Good health means much more than the mere absence of disease. A
healthy body means that all the various systems and functions of the
body are balanced and in harmony with each other. A body in
balance, with a strong immune system, is able to fight off diseases
that would overwhelm a person in a weaker state.

Alternative medicine holds that good health relies on three important
factors, and that all three factors are connected to one another. The
first factor to be considered is the structural system of the body. This
structural system includes all of the body’s muscles, bones, ligaments,
blood vessels, nerves and organs.

The second factor of good health is the biochemical process of the
body, which includes the absorption and use of nutrients in the foods
we eat. These functions are the keys to cellular function and good
health.

The third factor includes the mind and the emotions, and also
encompasses the spiritual dimensions of each individual. When energy
is balanced between these three important factors, there is good
health.

The importance of homeostasis


In a state of good health, wounds are healed by the body. If we cut
ourselves, our blood clots, a scab forms and the skin closes up. If we
bruise ourselves, strain a muscle or break a bone, the healing begins
at once. In addition, those in good health are able to deal with
infections through the reaction of a healthy immune system.

The preceding are but a few illustrations of the body’s awesome ability
to repair itself and fight off disease and infection. This tendency of the
body to heal itself is known as homeostasis, or the maintenance of the
internal organs and defenses of the body to compensate for health
hazards coming from the outside.

When homeostasis comes into play to deal with a crisis, this activity is
often described as symptoms. For instance, when the body is exposed
to an infection, the immune system raises an aggressive response to
ward off the infection, and this can often result in a fever. Likewise,
when we injure ourselves, the healing process may cause inflammation
of the injured area. Put simply, these reactions are the body’s
attempts to heal itself.

Unfortunately, many people, instead of allowing the body to heal itself,
try to suppress these reactions, whether they manifest themselves as
inflammation, high body temperature or other symptoms. This
fighting against the natural homeostasis of the body can result in
greater harm, and mean a longer time to healing.

Alternative medicine takes the approach that the body should be
allowed to do what it does best, and that is to heal itself. Using this
natural approach to health care is a great way to speed healing and
minimize costly and invasive procedures.

14 Comments

Add a Comment
  1. Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular post! It is the little changes that make the largest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!

  2. Itís hard to find knowledgeable people about this subject, but you seem like you know what youíre talking about! Thanks

  3. The next time I read a blog, I hope that it wont disappoint me just as much as this particular one. After all, I know it was my choice to read, but I truly thought you would probably have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of crying about something you can fix if you werent too busy seeking attention.

  4. I was extremely pleased to find this web site. I wanted to thank you for your time for this particularly fantastic read!! I definitely appreciated every part of it and I have you saved to fav to see new information in your site.

  5. You need to take part in a contest for one of the best websites on the internet. I am going to recommend this website!

  6. A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. I think that you should publish more on this subject matter, it may not be a taboo matter but generally people dont discuss these topics. To the next! All the best!!

  7. I was very pleased to discover this web site. I want to to thank you for your time due to this wonderful read!! I definitely savored every little bit of it and I have you book marked to see new things in your website.

  8. Im very pleased to find this page. I wanted to thank you for ones time just for this wonderful read!! I definitely really liked every bit of it and i also have you book-marked to check out new things on your blog.

  9. Right here is the perfect webpage for anybody who wishes to find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually will need toÖHaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic which has been discussed for many years. Great stuff, just excellent!

  10. I must thank you for the efforts youve put in penning this blog. Im hoping to view the same high-grade blog posts from you later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own, personal blog now 😉

  11. Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon on a daily basis. Its always exciting to read content from other writers and use something from other sites.

  12. Id like to thank you for the efforts youve put in writing this site. I am hoping to view the same high-grade blog posts by you in the future as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own blog now 😉

  13. Im more than happy to find this website. I need to to thank you for ones time just for this fantastic read!! I definitely loved every part of it and I have you saved to fav to see new information on your website.

  14. Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular post! It is the little changes that make the largest changes. Thanks for sharing!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *