History of Alternative treatment

History has it that alternative treatment goes back 5000 years to Chinese customary medicine, Indian (Ayuryedic medicine) and similar medical traditions in many cultures. The tasteless belief was that the energy of the body had to be in harmony with the mind, body and spirit. A doctor merely facilitated the medical by identifying and taking away obstacles that would inevitably lead to a cure. Therapy included lifestyle changes, self-care and deterrent measures.

Today, what we know of as complementary and alternative treatment (Cam) has roots going back 5,000 years to Chinese (traditional Chinese medicine), Indian (Ayurvedic medicine) and similar medical traditions. For thousands of years, these diverse medical traditions held a belief in the energy of the body and the need for harmony in the middle of mind, body and spirit. Doctor's naturally facilitated the medical process by identifying and removing obstacles.

Alternative Energy

Throughout most of the 19th century, doctors used the same skills as today's herbalists, osteopaths and dieticians; they were kind with time and empathy, and relied on a good bedside manner. Prayer was important, as was "a change of air," laxatives, bleeding and leeches. Right up until the early 20th century, sick people relied on much the same kind of therapies as their ancestors.

History of Alternative treatment

The decades following the Second World War brought indispensable changes. As Gp and journalist, James Lefanu noted in his book, The Rise and Fall of contemporary Medicine, written in the 50s, a series of medical breakthroughs proved beyond a doubt that previous attempts at medical were nothing more than mere quackery. New medical breakthroughs included the discovery of penicillin, cortisone (a grand anti-inflammatory medicine), streptomycin (a grand antibiotic that is sufficient in treating tuberculosis), insulin (to treat diabetes) and chlorpromazine (an anti-psychotic that controls schizophrenia). Open-heart surgery, hip replacements, kidney transplants, oppressive care and flourishing vaccination programs saved and improved the ability of countless of millions of lives.

It's no surprise that so much power to alter human destiny would lead, as Lefanu suggests, "to the resultant abandonment of homely remedies such as massage, manipulation and dietary advice, only for them to be taken up by alternative practitioners." This is exactly what happened - with a dramatic explosion in the growth of 'alternative' therapies throughout the second half of the 20th century. Alongside contemporary medicine, Cam began to make as an entirely isolate discipline - contemptuous of the achievements of mainstream medicine, while at the same time dismissed by mainstream practitioners as ineffective and fraudulent. For most people, getting the best from mainstream and alternative treatment was a delicate operation. Those who opted for both mainstream and alternative medical care found that the best strategy was to remain quite to avoid criticism. Those who did try to use both services learnt that in order to avoid criticism.

History of Alternative treatment