Introduction
Traditional medicine is considered to be the main means of treatment in the modern world. Using such complementary/integrative interventions as massage, herbology, acupuncture, homeopathy, etc., people are sure that these methods should be utilized in combination with traditional medical treatment. To understand the level of trust in complementary and traditional means of treatment, a comparative analysis is to be conducted with reference to the risks and benefits of each of the methods checking the combined ones.
Comparison and Contrast of the Complimentary Modality with Traditional Interventions
Comparing and contrasting complementary modalities with traditional interventions, it should be stated that the research conducted by Dorai (2012) shows that the use of herbs and honey is as effective as traditional treatment. Having reviewed six trials involving 1326 patients with burning wounds, honey showed better healing properties than silver sulfadiazine utilized in similar cases (Dorai, 2012). Traditional medicine is more trusted as it seems to be tested and its results may be viewed as the reasons for the increased level of life in the contemporary world compared to life duration at the beginning of the previous century. Nevertheless, many patients refer to complementary/integrative intervention as to healthier and more natural one, without side effects. Traditional intervention is usually more expensive than complementary/integrative one, however, if to refer to the services of professionals and do not try to apply to complementary/integrative treatment individually, therapy may cost the same. Without being cheaper in some cases complementary modality is more trusted by those who used to cope without doctors and modern innovations in their youth. Elderly people and poor ones prefer to apply to complementary treatment if compared to the traditional one (MacDuff, Grodin, & Gardiner, 2011).
The Benefits and Risks of both Traditional and Complementary/Integrative Intervention
Different people consider the benefits and risks of both traditional and complementary/integrative intervention in their personal way. However, governments of different countries have decided to regulate such issues to help people understand whether they can trust herbal therapy and other alternative means of treatment or not. The research has shown that European countries with a higher level of development trusted more traditional therapy than herbal treatment and other types of complementary/integrative intervention while Eastern countries, especially China and India, used herbs and similar ways of treatment as the traditional. It is essential to remember that legal regulation does not point to the benefits and risks of traditional and complementary/integrative intervention, however, such restrictions still show the level of trust in any of the mentioned ways of healing (Saraf, 2012). Those countries where the use of herbs is legally monitored are considered as those which are sure that the risk from complementary/integrative intervention is higher than from traditional medicine.
Combination of Traditional and Holistic Interventions/Modalities to Achieve Optimal Client Outcomes
About 38% of Americans apply to blended methods of treatment being sure that it is much more effective than separate types of intervention (Goldbas, 2012). Looking at the traditional practice in contemporary hospitals and relying on personal experience, it should be stated that many patients, as well as doctors, refer to combined methods. Relying more on traditional chemical medicines, many doctors depending on the beliefs of patients and their financial situation may advise them to refer to herbal treatment. Moreover, some diseases may require the consumption of homeopathy or massages to support traditional treatment and to improve the general condition of human health. Many patients and doctors are sure that single consumption of any alternative substance may not be harmful.
An Interview with a Qualified Practitioner of a Herbology
Me (1): Are you sure that treatment with the help of herbs can substitute traditional one?
Practitioner of a Herbology (2): Unfortunately, nowadays, modern knowledge is not too developed to refuse traditional treatment. Much knowledge has been lost for now, but many scientists nowadays work on this problem and try to rediscover what was lost.
(1): So, you suppose that it is possible to remain healthy without applying to innovations in healthcare.
(2): Modern approaches to treatment are significant, still, most of the chemicals which have been received synthetically may be substituted. People poison their organisms with chemical medicine to recover faster, however, our nature has created many specific treating issues which can assist in healing.
(1): How does herbal medicine work?
(2): Depending on specific qualities of herbs, they may serve for the following purposes, some herbs are used for drastic changes with the help of their toxic qualities, others just assist in healing and the least powerful herbs are used for enhancing the emotional, healthy, physical and spiritual condition of a person.
(1): Is it possible to use herbs whenever one wants?
(2): Is it possible to have medicine whenever one wants without any dose and regular consumption? The same is with herbs. Using herbology as the main way of treatment, it is important to know the doses and duration of treatment, otherwise one may harm him/herself.
Conclusion
If people want to refer to complementary/integrative treatment on a constant basis they are to do it under the professional’s supervision as some herbs may be useful for one issue and harmful for another process. Many doctors start regarding complementary or alternative medicine as more important and considerably effective, however, traditional medicine remains the main means of treatment.
Reference List
Dorai, A. (2012). The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Refugees: A Systematic Review. Journal of Immigrant & Minority Health, 13(3), 585-599.
Goldbas, A. (2012). An Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). International Journal of Childbirth Education, 27(3), 16-20.
MacDuff, S., Grodin, M., & Gardiner, P. (2011). Wound care with traditional, complementary and alternative medicine. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, 45(2), 418-424.
Saraf, S. (2012). Legal regulations of complementary and alternative medicines in different countries. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 6(12), 154-160.