Health care Law - Coursework Example

Health Care Law The world is arguably becoming a global village, and the dynamic nature of technological advancements has had profound use in numerous disciplines. Alternative medicine has for long being relegated to herbal medicine, min-body practices, alternative medical systems, and other categories that integrate alternative therapies to scientific medicine. Alternative medicine techniques are largely founded on concepts that have existed for thousands of years. Ernst (2008) asserts that the quality of medical science has experienced significant leaps dramatically through research and development.

However, alternative medicine remains stagnant in its quality and advancements. Despite the fact that most scientific breakthroughs and discoveries were performed carried out long ago, therapies in alternative medicine were founded on dubious evidence, and later proved to be ineffective or harmful.Numerous traditional medical practices have been analyzed and found wanting; an example is the once termed, ‘complete physical’. Through science, the connection between mind and body has been established; a patient’s belief can remarkably reduce their symptoms (such as fatigue and pain), but it may be limited in diseases such as cancer of fractures (Raso, 1994).

Careful research studies have shown a number of popular remedies to be harmful and ineffective in their treatment. Researchers in 1920 used weak tests that most herbal remedies did not meet; today’s standards are a notch high and folk remedies would struggle to meet these standards (Paterson et al., 2009). In addition, most of today’s alternative medicine is unregulated and largely untested. However, not all of them pose a grave danger to the medical world. Various legislation have been passed banning the practice of a number of herbal remedies, while others are being passed by law.

In conclusion, naturopaths have continued to exist albeit the formation of various commissions on inquiry that questioned their credibility. However, there are no controlled clinical trials supporting naturopathy, and alternative medicine remains deficient of scientific breakthroughs.ReferencesErnst, E. (2008). Healing, hype, or harm? Charlottesville, VA, US: Societas.Raso, J. (1994). "Alternative" healthcare: A comprehensive guide. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.Paterson, C., Baarts, C.

, Launso, L., & Verhoef, M. (2009). Evaluating complex health interventions: a critical analysis of the outcomes concept. Retrieved Nov 16, 2011, from http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/9/18