When creating this blog, I decided to reframe from the using the term “alternative” to describe naturopathic doctors, homeopathy practitioners, Chinese medicine doctors, and to some extent nutritionists.
In other regions of the world as Africa, we refer to them as traditional healers and in India Ayurvedic medicine.
I find it naive of us to use this term “alternative”. It is defined as: another possibility, but in reality “modern” medicine became the other possibility. We started with “alternative” medicine.
After working in many countries, mainly low-middle countries, I developed a great appreciation for natural medicine. However, I must say a good number of practices have been improved through “modern” medicine, as cataract surgery!
Across Africa, a common practice in villages is couching. No, this does not mean trying out other peoples couches.
I imagine that years before cataract surgery was available, healers of the time figured out that they could dislodge the opaque lens leaving it to fall to the back of the eye.
This works for the first few days to allow the patient to see light, but soon after the lens destroys the retina and leaves the eye permanently blind.
A strong part of me feels that we have a lot to be thankful for our past generation that led us to “modern” day medicine as we know it.
Where now cataract surgery takes only 5 mins per eye, you are awake while the operation is taking place and you can go home right after! We most certainly have come a long way!
However, somethings have not been as bold and curative as with the example of cataracts.
We have the rapid epidemics of diseases as diabetes and cancer to thank for this. Shown in the chart below, is the increase percentage of persons living with diabetes.
With the increase from late 90’s growing at a much faster rate than in previous years.
I questioned this increase. Noted around the same time is when GMO was launched. I have no idea what GMO does to the human body. But with the exponential intolerance to wheat that has come about in the recent years, I have a feeling GMO has something to do with it.
Chronic disease could benefit from a well rounded group of scientists, nutritionists, naturopaths and politicians focused on looking at the causes of diabetes beyond food choices and at the molecular level of changes in the food supply and what impact those have on our body.
As fast foods and sedentary occupations and lifestyles were around before the year 2000.
It is not until the introduction of tv dinners, highly processed foods, and use of corn syrup in the 70’s and 80’s, that we then start to see the increase in diabetes. This some 20 to 30 years later.
This could be compounding or epigenetics at play. Then even more importantly a group of experts need to investigate the chemistry of food on the body.
“Alternative” medicine has a distinct role to play if positioned correctly in determining root cause and prevention.
While allopathic medicine or modern medicine deals with controlling disease though medication and surgery. There is a long line of health needs that need to be addressed and there is a distinct need for all forms of medicine.
If I were to rename “alternative” medicine I would refer to it as preventative and supportive medicine. It seems to paint a more well rounded and encompassing picture to what it actually does.
It should be incorporated into family medicine to keep patients from ever getting sick.
