Nontraditional Health Care - Essay Example

? Nontraditional Health Care Nontraditional Health Care Alternative medicine is any process that professes some capa to offer remedy to ailments outside the docket of traditional medical realm. Most of it is dictated by historical or cultural conditions, which are not connected to methodical proof. These health practices are generally interconnected with parallel medication. This denotes the same interest when associated with mainstream methods, which are also referred to as equivalent or substitute medicine. A good number of reviews and critics posit that the widely acclaimed use of complementary and alternative medicine terms can be deceiving in giving out a sense of therapeutic capacity (Furman, 1997). This study seeks to narrow down on the widespread usage of alternative medical solutions in the contemporary world. In 1998, a controlled examination of studies set to review the prevalence of parallel medicine in 13 states, revealed that about 31% of cancer patients have opted for different remedies within alternative medicine (Kayne, 2010). Parallel medication changes from one geographical setting to another. In some areas where the prevalence of these substitute measures is commonly put to practice, authorities may have the prerogative to legalize and control their usage. These types of drugs have varying characteristics and working formulae, which assimilate or rely on long-established drug guidelines, folklore, divine values or inventive interventions in healing. While these may remain varied, the core substitute medicinal methods have a number of universal behaviors. These may comprise laying emphasis on personalizing treatment, taking care of the complete health status; advocating self-care and self curing and giving priority to the divine orientations of every individual. Additionally, most of these substitute medical systems present characteristics, normally evident within the mainstream healthcare fraternity, for instance, putting emphasis on the need to have improved diet habits and precautionary practices (Kayne, 2010). Being different from ordinary medicine, alternative medical options exhibit limited experimental and scientific investigations. On the other hand, there is evidence of methodical studies being incorporated into these systems. As a result, restrictions between the two categories of medicine are getting porous with a notable change being experienced in this field (Furman, 1997). Arguments rising over the effectiveness of substitute medicine have shown a consistent lack of corroboration and continue to be abortive in experiments. Scholars have confirmed that proof-based interventions in explaining the mechanisms behind optional medicine are complex. Past explorations recommend that a number of modern medical forms run short of evidence. A considerable number of Americans employ different forms of unconventional medication. Among these, a considerable number turn to prayer and divination as a means of improving their health status. It then appears as normal to realize that most Americans have sought relief from parallel medicine (Furman, 1997). Globally, statistics show that only 30 percent of person’s total health welfare is provided for by traditional and biomedical drug interventions. The remaining 70-90 percent relies on personal care as evidenced by folklore (Kayne, 2010). These points to healthcare provided for in a structured care system, which is founded on alternative treatment. Several cultures boast of strong traditional medicine backgrounds, which are based on the use of plant products. During the ancient era, communities consolidated information on healing capabilities of plants with invented herbal remedies. During the twentieth century, a high degree of the science behind scientific medicine was mostly derived from herbal concepts of native populations. A large amount of drugs manufactured today are derived from herbal resources. Arguably, a big chunk of the total amount of recommended drugs disseminated by public pharmacies in the United States constitute considerable ingredients resultant from herbal material (Kayne, 2010). One notable detail related to this study is the disclosure that about 43% of respondents sought after religious insight for their own health, while second party prediction was 24%. Does the divination for personal health occur often in comparison to others? This was a crucial research question which demonstrated that 4% of the respondents depended on diet-based remedies (Kayne, 2010). Explorations into such diets have recently shown the impossible task of having 10 times more the number of respondents who turn to diets rather than having 10 people representing the bigger number (Kayne, 2010). A new study illustrates that 36 percent of U.S adults within the 18 years age group have opted for different categories of parallel and substitute drugs abbreviated as “CAM.” CAM is defined as a compilation of several medical and health care plans, uses and products, which fall short of meeting the standards of traditional medicine. Where prayer substitutes health interventions as noted within CAM, the number of American adults that opt for CAM in the modern times has risen to 62 percent. These figures are not executed with an intention to get through CAM; they are also employed while evaluating the linkage between CAM applications and unseen health oddities. This may include long-lasting health forms, insurance cover, and health conditions (Kayne, 2010). The survey which was implemented on over 31,000 U.S. grownups was put into practice under the auspices of CDC’s National Health Interview Survey of 2002. It was designed by NCCAM and the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), and integrated questionnaires from 27 categories of CAM therapies commonly applied in America. These comprised 10 varieties of provider oriented cures such as acupuncture and chiropractic, together with 17 supplementary treatments that function without sources. Of these, there were natural products, distinctive diets, and megavitamin treatment (Kayne, 2010). Whereas many CAM researches have been executed to date, most of them gave little relevance to CAM rehabilitation. In addition, they catered for the evaluation of negligible population samples by relying on the telephone or correspondence surveys weighed against tailored cross-examination methods used in the study. Thus, the results derived from the CAM segment of the NHIS demonstrate the most comprehensive and steady data, which exemplifies CAM usage within U.S. adult populace. A sizeable population of adult Americans takes up alternative uses due to unreliable medical delivery by conservative health modules and the high expenses associated with modern medical processes. Most patients are of the opinion that emerging high-end technology and innovation have heightened the gap between traditionalist health caregivers and patients (Kayne, 2010). A good number of practitioners have been seen to operate hands-off while exerting psychological distance. They tend to handle only specific conditions detached from comforting or being compassionate towards the patient. Americans clearly demonstrate a dislike for these tendencies. The power of the mind-body correlation has been recognized by numerous explorations, which shows that a person's conviction alone can considerably flush out their symptoms. Herbal medicine and related cure have not withstood scientific testing over many years; however, should there have been exclusive revelations and findings, they would have stopped being referred to as "alternative medicines" and become integrated within mainstream therapies (Kayne, 2010). Evidently, most people who use harmless remedies with reasonable conviction may end up benefitting from it since it helps recover from diseases. Essentially, the end results and implications brought about by these substances are not known. Most of these may be inactive, or they may rely on the regulation of their influential belief effect. Arguably, they could meet their qualities as advertised, or they could mean something completely unrelated, or may end up being harmful. Many original plant products are not wholly assuring compared to their regular medicinal counterparts. People who turn to herbal medication are involved in considerable experiments with various experimental substances. Before choosing to take on alternative medicine, it is essential to study details, the pros and cons of what they can cause, to avoid any risks associated with them (Kayne, 2010). Practices of my family members and its effectiveness In my family, there are long-established health values and practices, especially those touching on fertility. For instance, expectant women in our family are given suggestions that if they eat blackberries, their offsprings will beget skin blemishes or they may deliver twins if they eat twin banana fruits. Such ethnocentric attitudes are based on myths and customary practices. Our family customarily believes that illnesses are brought about by an inequality of yin and yang. When one falls sick, they partake to herbal medication and the native folk practices known as "southern medicine", in an attempt to reinstate the yin/yang balance (Kayne, 2010). Our family also has a set of beliefs that includes cupping, pinching, rubbing or coining a sick person’s skin to induce treatment for several conditions. Cupping denotes the process where a cup is heated and positioned on the skin, typically on the temple or tummy. As it cools, the cup shrinks, pulling the skin and the perceived evil energy or “air” into the cup, resulting in a skin alteration. Pinching is done by pressing the skin between the thumb and index finger, thus producing a bump at the base of the nose, eyes, chest and back. Coining refers to stroking the skin with a coin, bringing out striation effects or ecchymoses. It is vital that these methods are not by design, categorized as exploitative if not subjected to a cultural study. These practices, viewed from a developed country’s perspective are thought as hindrances to good health. Latest studies have evidenced that such practices displayed a lack of admission or inefficiency in health service provision. However, there is no credible harm in annexing personal faith in such beliefs; they may result in the much needed health solutions (Apostolides, 1996). Although our family believes that the practices have some positive effects on health, there is no credible proof of such claims. As the research suggests, most of these practices lack sufficient evidence. Unlike ordinary medicine, these practices have none or limited empirical and clinical study. African Americans Middle eastern Africans Americans Latino people Asian people Chinese Latin Americas Koreans Japanese culture 1 Overview/heritage They prosper on large groups of associations Typically they survive individually They believe in ill health causation They put a lot of weight on Confucianism Dance, music and folk is highly rich They are belief to have originated from Shamanism. 2 Communication they put emphasis on the source of verbal message rather than its context they put emphasis on the source of verbal message rather than its context They use mutually indecipherable languages. Non verbal communication very significant Majority speak in Mexico 3 Family roles and organization There is a strong connection to family associations The family set up is closely related Siring of many children considered a bliss 4 Workforce issues They believe that lateness is lack of respect Punctuality in workplace less importance Punctuality in workplace less importance Punctuality in workplace very importance; they are task oriented Gender bias in work highly discouraged They stress on knowing you before they establish business relationships with you 5 Biocultural ecology Important relationships are derived from their ecological environment such as mountains and rivers 6 High-risk behaviors Ardent Muslims believe in Holy War Some communities believe that it’s only player that can heal their diseases 7 Nutrition They believe in balancing cold and hot food They are discouraged from eating food that is not compatible at ago They believe in balancing cold and hot food They mainly feed on traditional and highly nutritious food that makes them live longer The spices and condiments add to the affluence of their cuisine. 8 Pregnancy and childbearing practices 9 Death rituals They do not attach a lot of weight on death rituals They cremate their dead; they don’t believe in their dead dying in hospital 10 Spirituality Typically Muslims with deep Islamic beliefs Majority of them practice Roman Catholicism They believe luck and wrath originates from the heaven 11 Health care practice Illness is belieevd to originate from external forces such as bacteria They have respect for western medicine Patients are accompanied to healthcare place by a close person Illness is believed to originate from external forces such as bacteria They highly rely on herbal medicine to cure diseases They believe the body is whole and each part is closely connected to it. Herbal medicine is commonly used They highly rely on herbal medicine to cure diseases They belief on prayers to heal diseases They believe in eating highly nutritious and traditional food to keep away from diseases Kampo which is a herbal medicine has a very wide use 12 Health care practitioner The power of the health practitioner is never challenged References Apostolides, M. (1996). How to quit the holistic way: Psychology today. New York: Sage. Furman, B. (1997). Trendy traditional medicine for a modern age. San Diego Business Journal, 4 (1), 2-5. Kayne, S. B. (2010). Traditional medicine: A global perspective. London: Pharmaceutical Press. Read More