Alternative medicine vs seeing a doctor: which one is better?

Many people prefer to immediately undergo alternative medicine without first consulting a doctor. The reason is that in addition to being more affordable and having easier access, alternative medicine is favored over chemical drugs because it uses natural ingredients so that it is considered to have a minimal risk of complications and side effects. But is it wise to prioritize treatment at traditional medicine clinics as the main step in curing a disease?

What is alternative medicine?

Alternative medicine is a form of health service that uses methods, tools, or materials that are not included in standard medical treatment that is usually carried out by doctors or other health professionals (such as nurses and physical therapists). Some people also refer to it as "integrative," or "complementary" medicine.

Examples of alternative medicine are acupuncture, cupping, aura treatment, herbal and herbal medicines, reiki, ceragem (jade massage), reflexology, hypnosis, to gurah.

Alternative medicine should not be prioritized as a treatment for disease

The terms complementary or alternative medicine are often misunderstood by many people. As the name implies, the word "alternative" itself means "other choice". Complementary medicine functions not to replace, but is only used as an adjunct / complement to conventional medical treatments. This means that the ideal disease healing therapy should still prioritize doctor's medical treatment.

The reason is, traditional medicine does not promise a cure for any disease. Most of the alternative medicine that exists in society today does not have strong scientific evidence because most of it is only based on suggestions and experiences from patients. A new therapy or drug can be said to be effective and safe for use by the public when it has been tested repeatedly and has gone through various processes of scientific evidence to demonstrate its safety, effectiveness, and quality.

This lack of medical evidence means that the use of alternative medicine is not recommended. Moreover, each method of traditional medicine can cause different reactions from one person to another. Even though you have the same complaints, it is not certain that a treatment that turns out to be suitable for you will provide the same properties to your child or neighbor. In addition, many health professionals believe that the potential side effects of traditional medicine outweigh the benefits.

Alternative medicine remains prone to the risk of complications and side effects

Alternative medicine usually shows its benefits only if it is done routinely in the long term. It should be noted, some of the ingredients or methods involved in this treatment may carry the risk of complications and / or certain side effects if done too long or carelessly without the supervision of a doctor.

For example, although reflexology is generally safe, this technique can cause premature contractions in mothers whose gestation is less than 38 weeks. Early contractions put pregnant women at risk for preterm birth and miscarriage. The story is different with the acupuncture method. If done carelessly by an uncertified therapist, the needle is at risk of being pushed too deep so that it can puncture internal organs, especially the lungs. This is a very rare complication in the hands of an experienced doctor.

Another example is herbs and herbal medicines. Temulawak, for example, is claimed to be effective as a constipation drug, but not many know that ginger has blood-thinning properties that can cause acute kidney bleeding in people with liver disease. If you happen to drink herbal tea of ​​elephant trunk leaves while undergoing chemotherapy, the additional chemotherapy effect of elephant trunk leaves is suspected to increase toxicity in the organs of the body.

In fact, it does not rule out if the traditional treatments you are undergoing can hamper the effectiveness of chemical drugs prescribed by your doctor. As a result, the recovery process will take longer or may even get worse.

Research conducted by a team of researchers at Yale University found that cancer patients' risk of dying was even higher when prioritizing complementary medicine to treat their cancer. Of the 560 participants who had breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer who tried alternative treatments instead of being treated by a doctor, 281 died from complications of cancer that were not fully treated.

Be careful choosing alternative medicine

The above explanation does not mean that alternative medicine is bad. It is okay to undergo alternative medicine. But once again it is emphasized, do not prioritize traditional medicine to cure diseases. Alternative medicine is only used to maintain general health, reduce symptoms, improve disease recovery, or reduce the risk of disease - not the main way to heal. To cure the disease, prescription drugs and therapy from a doctor are still needed.

So, it would be better if you prioritize your treatment plan with medical care that you get from doctors and other health professionals. However, if you really want to try alternative medicine, talk to a doctor who understands your condition first. The doctor will give you the best recommendations so that you recover quickly, not only worsen your condition.

Finally, make sure that the practice place, alternative medicine specialist, and / or the product you choose has legal permission from the Ministry of Health to ensure its safety.