Introduction
Cutting-edge technology and advanced research methods have uncovered several solutions to treating diseases in human beings. Alternative and complementary therapeutic approaches describe initiatives that do not conform to conventional medical practices. Some examples of therapeutic and complementary treatments include acupuncture, tai chi, and meditation. Over the years, these techniques have proved effective in dealing with various health solutions and ensuring individuals’ well-being.
Discussion
Medical practitioners use alternative and complementary therapies in conjunction with conventional approaches to achieve better treatment outcomes. For example, a practitioner can advise someone diagnosed with cancer to engage in alternative therapies such as reflexology, yoga, and meditation to help deal with pain, depression, and anxiety during chemotherapy and the treatment process (Keene et al., 2019). Subsequently, these approaches can be used in primary care, ambulatory care, and outpatient care.
Alternative and complementary therapies have several advantages over drug-based treatment solutions. According to Lee et al. (2022), alternative therapies are less costly and accessible to all individuals seeking to improve their well-being. In addition, most of them have no side effects as they are made from natural herbs and do not involve drug administration. However, proof of their effectiveness is limited, and some methods might work for others and have no effects on other people (Lee et al., 2022). Moreover, the treatment period is unknown as the effectiveness of these therapies is difficult to measure.
Many clinicians and medical practitioners use alternative and complementary approaches for patients not responsive to conventional treatment. However, to encourage wide-scale adoption and implementation, doctors should be trained on adopting various techniques in particular cases and encouraged to sustain effective solutions (Tangkiatkumjai et al., 2020). Although solutions like essential oils, nutritional supplements, and herbal remedies might be costly, most alternative therapeutic approaches like meditation and yoga incur limited costs (Lee et al., 2022). Therefore, it is advisable to use an option that offers value to clinicians and their patients.
Conclusion
In conclusion, alternative and complementary therapies are reliable in treating various health issues, especially those regarding mental illness. Therefore, medical practitioners can incorporate these solutions into treatment plans and use them in conjunction with conventional drugs to obtain better outcomes. These solutions can be used in various cases and disease conditions due to their efficient costs and limited side effects. However, medical researchers are yet to prove their efficacy.
References
Keene, M. R., Heslop, I. M., Sabesan, S. S., & Glass, B. D. (2019). Complementary and alternative medicine use in cancer: A systematic review. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 35, 33-47. Web.
Tangkiatkumjai, M., Boardman, H., & Walker, D. M. (2020). Potential factors that influence usage of complementary and alternative medicine worldwide: a systematic review.BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 20(1), 1-15. Web.
Lee, E. L., Richards, N., Harrison, J., & Barnes, J. (2022). Prevalence of Use of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine by the General Population: A Systematic Review of National Studies Published from 2010 to 2019.Drug Safety, 1-23. Web.