Alternative Medicine vs. Traditional Medicine?

I watched, on tv, two Doctors argure about traditional and alternative medicine. One doc ( lets call him Doc 1) claims that Alt. Med. has a "cure" or imporvment in kids with Autism and and people with termanal cancer. He states use certain Vitamins helps the disease. The other doc ( call him doc 2) says traditional med. is better than Alt. Med, but Alternative Medicine for Termanal Cancer shoulld be looked at. Which side proves a better point? Alternative vs. Traditional Medicine?

Alopathic medicine (western) is generally good for acute situations. For example, if someone gets in a car accident please take them to a hospital!

However, Alternative (Holisitic) medicine (which by the way are often "traditional" i.e. Chinese or Ayurveda which are very old systems) is really good for prevention or chronic problems. Examples: insomnia, arthritis, digestive issues can often be treated with holistic medicines better than the typical western allopathic treatments.

As for terminal cancer, why not look at all possibilities?

Traditional medicine has the better record for cancer treatment, period. That's the whole purpose of clinical trials--to study under controlled conditions if a given treatment is more successful than nothing. However, when the cancer is terminal, then that means that treatment options are minimal, and it is at this time that alternative treatments are useful in increasing quality of life. As for autism--there isn't really any good treatment via traditional medicine, so alternative treatments, often pioneered by family, can be the most effective. But not just ANY alternative treatments--there are certain ones that are better than others, and I would think they'll eventually become the standard in traditional treatments. So it's not a situation in which one is always better than another. I've worked with a lot of cancer patients, and the two types of treatment are often good in conjunction with one another.

I would prefer going for "Alternative Medicines" as traditional ones may not be tested. Yes, traditional medicines may have worked for some and for a particular area/group of people using them for ages. The alternative medicines use natural ingredients and are tested.

Strictly my opinion :)

"Alternative" medicine is a synonym for ineffective medicine. If an alternative therapy actually works, it gets adopted into medical practice and becomes "traditional" medicine.

Neither totally. Honestly, going the "traditional" route, can be beneficial. However, looking into other methods is Always a good idea.

I have been through dying people 3 times. We found many "alternative" things that worked, even when they shouldn't.

I personally have gone to doctors who have told me that my problems aren't real. The reason "They couldn't understand it" When I moved to my new home I found out that doctors are starting to realise the things I mentioned ARE real, and ways to help it.

PS I do resent ANYONE who claims to have "THE CURE" for something that isn't 100% cureable.

A combination is always good. As the patient you should always be very informed about any medication or therapy you are using.

Some posters here need psychiatric help. Why post on a subject that you are completely ignorant on ? iI come to realize that they are right on one point.

Traditional or alternative medicine won;t give these posters any more then they actually had before the posts.

Alternative or natural medicine does work. I am not saying it cures everything but i knew a girl with thyroid gland problem and needed surgery.
We went to a natural herb store and they suggested iodine pills for 1 year. This is a natural extract from fish. She followed the treatment for 1 year and guess what ? No more
more thyroid problem. It was swollen befroe the treatment and disappeared completely.
This is just one example. They haven't tried it on cancer patient because the doctors won't recomment it. Why should they. Imagine if their was a cure? How much the government would save on these chemeo machines and the cancer patient would save money on medicine and what not.

Another friend had high blood pressure and was on pills. He took pomergerate juice and after a couple of months, blood pressure dropped 30% and by years end, it should be complete cured.
It doesn't mean that alternative is better or will heal it but what if it prolongs the life by 5 years? Not bad !!!!!

Depends on the disciplines within both fields. They don't have to be at odds, and many allopathic (traditional medicine) therapies and alternative therapies can be complementary.

Unfortunately there is probably more misinformation than on any other subject on the internet. There is a ton of junk science in a lot of alternative therapies, and there is a lot of poorly done studies and corporate greed behind many allopathic therapies.

Allopaths will frequently disparage alternative therapies, but remember allopaths encouraged babies to stomach-sleep until the early 90's (doubling the SIDS rate for a period of 30 years), they promoted ineffective and dangerous cough syrups for children until recently, and just last month did they recommend honey for calming children's coughs - something alternative practitioners have recommended for over a century. Interesting some of the greatest strides in medicine lately have come from learning about alternative therapy successes.

By the same token there is a lot more bad alternative medicine than good alternative medicine. Obviously the bad alternative medicine (snake oil) gives good alternative medicine (honey for coughs) a bad name.

If you can find an MD who is willing to try alternative medicines that will be your best bet. D.O. (Doctors of Osteopathy) are more likely to do that as they tend to treat the whole individual rather than the illness. Be careful of doctors of any kind who seem to give a preference for alternative treatments originating from their own country or ethnic background. Lastly, you should never have blind faith in any doctor of any kind despite how well intentioned they are.

Some medical schools have allowed research into some alternative medicine and promote certain alternative practices they've had success with. One such school is the Pauling institute at University of Oregon.

With regard to Vitamins for cancer - the patient will surely die if it is done improperly - be sure to consult a reputable physician (like one recommended by the Pauling Institute) for such therapies. It will invariably require high intraveneous doses of ascorbates and other chemicals which bodies absorb naturally without toxic effects - if they only suggest oral vitamins you can be sure they are clueless.

Do LOTS of research, and understand that there is as much biased prejudice on the part of traditionalists as there is bad alternative medicine. You alone are responsible for figuring out where such prejudice exists or where bad medicine exists be it alternative or traditional.