Download Valdes 1 by Vanessa Valdes Traditional Medicine and Alternative

Valdes 1
by Vanessa Valdes
Traditional Medicine and Alternative Therapies
For decades, cancer has killed millions of Americans. Centuries ago, this deadly disease
did not exist. What are we doing in the 21st century that our ancestors did not? Is it the American
diet, the pill popping, or both? With the knowledge and technology at our finger tips, the United
States should be one of the healthiest countries in the world, but surprisingly, it is not.
In medical school, students learn about anatomy, physiology, diseases and medications.
In their pursuit of knowledge, they further their education and specialize in a particular field,
such as gastroenterology, oncology, neurology, etc. Despite their different specialties, they all
agree on prescribing medications that often have serious negative side effects and in many cases
do not cure the disease. Whereas it is a promising thought that chemotherapy can treat cancer, it
also leaves the person feeling ill from its side effects. Here is the story of my mother who at age
49 was diagnosed with Stage 3B Colon Cancer. She had surgery and received chemotherapy for
6 months, leaving her ill every time she had her treatment. There was no information or
conversation on alternative therapy at the time. Three years later, she started to use alternative
therapy (vitamins, nutrition, homeopathic supplements) to relieve some of the physical
symptoms caused by the chemotherapy and to prevent reoccurrence of cancer. Alternative
therapy has improved my mother’s health. Her migraines have been resolved. She has increased
physical strength and energy. She has been cancer free ever since.
The Oxford dictionary defines “alternative therapies,” as “any range of medical
treatments that are not regarded as standard by the medical profession, such as herbalism,
homeopathy, and acupuncture.” Herbalism uses plants for medicinal purposes. Homeopathy,
made from natural substances, is considered safe in healing the body and improving overall
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health. Acupuncture is used to alleviate pain, and it treats various physical, mental, and
emotional conditions.
Today, the Federal Drug Administration and the healthcare system consider alternative
therapies a second class form of treatment. Although these methods are not FDA approved, they
have been considered favorable by many for their lack of negative side effects and their
promising results. Hippocrates, a Greek physician considered the “Father of Modern Medicine,”
speaks of the healing property of food when he states, “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine
be thy food.” Although, alternative therapies can be effective in the treatment of diseases such as
cancer, there are still doctors who choose prescription medications as the only treatment for their
patients.
Thus, it can be concluded that there are two perspectives when treating illnesses. That is,
there are doctors who are trained and believe in medications and there are doctors who believe
and practice “alternative therapies”. When considering the benefits of each perspective, it may
be helpful to have a more inclusive approach where patients can be treated with medications as
well as “alternative therapies”. However, it is important for the patient and doctor to consider
the best treatment options based on patient’s needs and prognosis. For example, James Rhio
O’Connor was diagnosed with mesothelioma. He was told that that he only had a year to live.
Despite his prognosis, O’Connor lived for more than six years. It is said that he “found his own
path to health”. He practiced alternative therapies (e.g., vitamins, herbs, minerals, vegetables
and fruits and mind-body medicine). While traditional medicine only offered him a year to live,
alternative medicine, an approach claimed to be “untested and unproven” by traditional medicine
demonstrated its efficacy by extending O’Connor’s life.
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When the medications have failed, many patients consider “alternative therapies” even
though they are not FDA approved. Patients become interested in using whatever treatment they
like or believe to be promising in treating cancer in an attempt to survive. Patients though run
into problems when their health insurance does not pay for alternative therapies. Thus, it is
important to urge the healthcare system to provide health benefits not only for traditional
medicine, but also for alternative therapies in the treatment of cancer or other conditions.
More Americans are combining “alternative therapies” and traditional medicine when
treating illnesses such as cancer as both perspectives offer benefits to patients. Therefore, it is
important for pharmaceutical companies to conduct research on alternative therapies, establish
their safety and efficacy and be FDA approved. If alternative therapies were covered by health
insurance, more patients would use it and perhaps cancer would no longer be the leading cause
of death in the Unites States for those younger than 85.