Why do people choose alternate therapy over western medicine and vice versa?

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   beyoulouposted 9 years ago

   Why do people choose alternate therapy over western medicine and vice versa?
   
   with information available at the press of a button, it is perplexing to find that most people choose one type of health care over the other. I believe this is partly due to much conflicting information. Those on the 'alternative' side of the fence tend to view western medicine as toxic and causing more problems than they solve. On the other hand, those who seek or provide western medicine view alternate therapies as unscientific and 'left of field'. Both have good and not so good qualities, so it makes one wonder why people don't weigh up one against the other and make an informed decision?

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2. 59

   C.V.Rajanposted 9 years ago

   There are several aspects to this. One is belief about the system of medicine. In Kerala (south India) traditionally, Ayurveda is quite popular and many people have faith in it. It is not so in other parts of India.
   
   Another is the extent of emergency associated with the disease. A case of appendicitis cannot wait for the slow process of Homeopathy! A surgery becomes a must.
   
   Next, affordability. People with poor means may opt to go for Homeopathy for not so critical ailments because they can afford it better.
   
   Next is effectiveness. Certain ailments can have better and easier cure in a non-allopathic treatment. My father had a skin problem troubling him for years. He tried so many medicines. Finally he got almost immediate cure from a Unani medicine!

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   1. 59

      beyoulouposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I agree. what I wonder is why it has to be one way or the other. I would love to see both integrated. sometimes one is more appropriate over another, and i'm sure there's cases that could benefit from a dual approach.

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3. 80

   dashingscorpioposted 9 years ago

   Oftentimes the diagnosis, money, and the amount of time one has will determine which form of treatment they elect to go with.
   Naturally if you've been given months or weeks to live you're more likely to risk taking experimental drugs or unproven therapies in hopes of beating the odds.

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4. 83

   liesl5858posted 9 years ago

   I think one reason for this is that if you read the leaflet that you get from a prescribed medicine, the side effects are more dangerous than the effectiveness to cure. The medicine gives you more illness like diarrhea, nausea, palpitations and even vomiting which you haven't got in the first place. The medicine is meant to cure your illness but it produces another problem or another illness. People become wary of this and seek alternative therapy or alternative cure.

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   1. 59

      beyoulouposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      What I find interesting is that people seeking alternative therapies don't wary of it and turn to medicine.

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