| M.D. that are universally recognized as having a | | | | turning to natural healing methods. However, the U.S. |
| medical degree. | | | | still lags behind world stats. A survey of 31,000 U.S. |
| Alternative medicine includes those therapies not | | | | adults conducted by the National Center for Health |
| generally recommended by allopathic physicians. It | | | | Statistics in 2004 showed that 35 percent use some |
| includes Energy Medicine, Ethnomedicine, Chiropractic, | | | | form of complementary and alternative medicine. |
| Acupuncture, Homeopathic Medicine, Botanical or | | | | Today, the World Health Organization estimates that |
| Herbal Medicine, Bio molecular Medicine, Manual | | | | herbal medicine is still the primary source of health |
| Medicine, Spiritual Medicine. | | | | care for approximately 80 percent of the world's |
| Complementary medicine includes therapies used by | | | | population. |
| both alternative and allopathic physicians. It includes | | | | Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and |
| Exercise Medicine, Environmental Medicine, Social | | | | diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability |
| Medicine, Nutritional Medicine. | | | | in the United States. These diseases and other |
| Integrative medicine is the attempt to integrate the | | | | chronic diseases such as obesity, depression, |
| many philosophies of medicine, allopathic, | | | | metabolic and digestive disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, |
| complementary, and alternative, to treat the whole | | | | osteoporosis, and fibroids, account for 7 of every 10 |
| person, physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual. | | | | deaths and affect the quality of life of 90 million |
| Many people are hesitant about trusting their | | | | Americans. Chronic diseases are among the most |
| healthcare to anyone other than an allopathic | | | | prevalent and most costly, yet they are the most |
| physician. But did you know that Naturopathic Medical | | | | preventable. |
| Doctors are the only physicians who receive | | | | Conventional physicians treat chronic diseases with |
| complete training in conventional medicine as well as | | | | expensive pharmaceuticals that may temporarily |
| natural medicine? Licensed Naturopathic medical | | | | relieve the painful or uncomfortable symptoms, but |
| doctors (N.M.D./N.D.) attend a four-year graduate | | | | the drugs do nothing to resolve the underlying cause, |
| level Naturopathic medical school where they are | | | | and may actually cause other side effects and |
| educated in all of the same basic sciences as a | | | | serious problems. Because nutrition affects our |
| conventional M.D. In addition to this training, they are | | | | immune system, organ function, hormonal balance |
| extensively educated in the philosophy and | | | | and cellular metabolism, many of these chronic |
| implementation of safe and effective natural | | | | conditions and diseases can be traced to a nutrition |
| therapeutics with a strong emphasis on disease | | | | deficiency. When the deficiency is not corrected, |
| prevention. Unfortunately, some states do not yet | | | | symptoms begin to appear and eventually lead to |
| offer licensing for Naturopathic Doctors. | | | | disease and premature aging. |
| Allopathic physicians and pharmaceutical drugs are, | | | | Many pharmaceuticals can effectively be replaced |
| and always will be, necessary for acute, emergency | | | | with multi vitamin supplements, botanicals, amino |
| medical care and trauma, as well as for conditions | | | | acids, prebiotics and probiotics, fresh foods and |
| that cannot be controlled with lifestyle changes, good | | | | functional foods for both prevention and treatment. |
| nutrition and supplements. But many conditions can | | | | Because herbs work synergistically, combinations of |
| be prevented and controlled with lifestyle changes | | | | herbs with similar properties enhance the properties |
| and biologically based medicine. Just as many | | | | of each. This is why choosing a product containing a |
| pharmaceutical drugs can interact with other drugs, | | | | combination of different herbs is usually more |
| some biologically based supplements may interact | | | | effective than choosing individual selections. An |
| with drugs and cause side effects, so a healthcare | | | | example of this is the combination of valerian, passion |
| provider should always be consulted before adding | | | | flower and hops to promote relaxation and restful |
| supplements to the diet. In some cases, alternative | | | | sleep. All three have a relaxing effect on the body. |
| therapy may actually have beneficial synergistic | | | | Valerian relaxes muscle tension, while hops relaxes |
| effects in conjunction with existing medical therapy, | | | | the nervous system, and passiflora acts as a |
| even when not feasible as a replacement. | | | | sedative. Popular alternative medicine company |
| Biologically based medicine is not new. It was | | | | Melaleuca even offers a product called RestEZ that |
| practiced for thousands of years before | | | | offers a supplement that contains all three natural |
| pharmaceutical companies began manufacturing the | | | | sleep enhancers: valerian, passion flower and hops. |
| first synthetic drugs. In addition, many of the | | | | In part two of The Power of Natural Alternative |
| pharmaceutical preparations used around the world | | | | Medicine we will discuss the regulation of nutritional |
| are based on plants. As late as the 1930's, the | | | | supplements and little known history of natural |
| formulation of about 80% of synthetic | | | | medicine. |
| pharmaceutical drugs began with a natural compound. | | | | To read about thoracic facts, thoracic strain, thyroid |
| Today, about 25% of prescription drugs contain | | | | pain, wart treatments, treating warts , what are |
| active ingredients derived from plants. | | | | warts and other information, visit the Health And |
| The United States has the most advanced medical | | | | Nutrition Tips site. |
| system in the world, yet the population is increasingly | | | | |