Nontraditional health care
The historical evolution of human beings includes occurrence and development of different cultural traditions and habits. In the ancient times, people used improvised material to treat for diseases. The health care options included usage of phytogenous and animal origin medicine. According to the ancient society persuasion, natural and spiritualistic rituals could save the life. Specific modes of treatments were passed on from one generation to another. Nowadays, great advances in science demonstrate outstanding health care development. Most of doctors in the modern world prefer traditional health care options to an obsolete customs of medical care. However, it is important to know that certain cultures still use nontraditional health care practices and believe that avoidance of traditional treatment knowledge provides results that are more effective.
It is significant to distinguish traditional and nontraditional or alternative medicine practices. In case of usage the traditional healthcare approaches, doctors diagnose acute symptoms of a the disease and follows accurate and concrete treatment instructions. The most important health care mods are medicinal treatment and surgery. Most of the drugs generally consist of the chemical substance. The traditional practices aimed at rescuing of the affected area of an organism and based on etymology and pathogenesis of a disease. Whereas nontraditional health care methods seeking to the elimination of the underlying cause of disease, it provides the influence at the general well-being and refreshment. Among the most widespread approaches, there is usage of herbal medicines, acupuncture therapy, naturopathy, Ayurveda, Yoga or spiritual practices. Admirers of nontraditional health care believe in nature and its healing property. The nontraditional practices aimed at both physical and mental body stabilization simultaneously.
The world over people with various cultural background use different alternative health care practices. The most distinguished, as for me, are Asian (Chinese), Slavic and Carpathian approaches. One of the most famous nontraditional health care practices is Chinese acupuncture, which has been practicing over 2500 years. It is common knowledge that orient society connected to its authentic traditions and ancient habits. The followers of practice concern that the tradition of using sharp instruments has occurred during the Stone Age in order to drain blood from a purulent sore. The major concept of acupuncture treatment is that acupuncture needles provide revealing of inner body energy to remove pain and exciting cause. The spectrum of ability for acupuncture appliance is wide. Chinese healers use a needle to force influence at biological active centers on a human body, which can rectify an imbalance of QI energy flow (“Acupuncture in Modern Society”). Methodical research findings support the opinion that acupuncture is the remedy for back pain, high blood pressure, chronic pain and obese. Certain Chinese practicing healers use different types of metal needles. “The 'nine needles' comprised the arrowhead needle for superficial pricking, the round needle for massaging, the blunt needle for knocking or pressing, the three edged needle for puncturing a vein, the sword-like needle for draining abscesses, the sharp round needle for rapid pricking, the filliform needle, the long needle for thick muscles and the large needle for puncturing painful joints”(“Acupuncture”). Patients support this alternative method of health care due to its safety and apparent results.
The Slavic culture based on unique traditions of nature appreciation and ancestor gifts honoring. The outstanding feature of Slavic nontraditional health care is herbal therapy as an efficacious method of disease treatment. The combination of biological and naturopathy knowledge allows Slavic nontraditional doctors of providing recovery even after serious diseases as psoriasis or cancer. Among the variety of treatment tools, nontraditional doctors use gathering herbs, leaves and flowers for healthy decoctions. In some countries, its recipes are distinguished. However, the spectrum of useful materials includes the similar ingredients, which can be honey, alcohol, essential oils, infused mixtures or dry herbal powders. For cancer treatment, the most famous nontraditional medicine is hemlock decoction (“Traditional and alternative medicine”). The victims of breast cancer, who take the medicine, mention it as an effective method of disease controlling.
Carpathian authentic nontraditional health care perceptions have features that are more interesting. The old Carpathian women received from their ancestors sacred knowledge about the unique power of prayer. Folk medicine practices include the specific ritual of lighting candles in the dark room and praying using prayer books, which old healers have received from the ancestors. The process of praying next to the patient lasts until the disease leaves human’s body. (“Carpathian Shamans”) Healers believe in the power of God and consider the prayer as the powerful energetic source. The similar ethnomedical rituals are common among Carpathian shamans called as Molfars or Whispers. Poland, Hungarian and Ukrainian healers are masters of using certain ethnic and cultural attributes as folk songs, wooden amulets and fortuneteller experience (“Carpathian Shamans”). According to their perceptions, the conversation with nature forces as air, earth and water provide maintaining of the human state of health. From the patients’ experience, Molfars impregnate them with strength and positive energy that provide gaining a victory over the severe diseases.
The reasons of why the number of people using nontraditional health care options rising, as for me, consist in traditional health care shortcomings appeared recently. First, the approach that traditional medicine prefers, aimed at the treatment of disease; however, it is more important to provide the patient treatment and remove the underlying cause of disease. The second reason is about the modern medicaments side effects. After usage of certain drugs, patients in most cases encounter the supplementary diseases. Moreover, nowadays a number of serious diseases has been increasing. People attempt to use all the existent treatment approaches in order to receive the chance to heal. Due to the fact that nontraditional medical care provides the wide spectrum of methods, patients give credence to the tools, which have been saving the lives through the years. However, it is important to understand that there is certain disease demanded exclusively traditional medical care such as surgery or usage of modern treatment technologies. According to that, people should use both the traditional and nontraditional health care instruments so that can help them not to lose the valuable time.
Work cited
“Ayurveda”. University of New Hampshire. n.d. Web. 25 June 2016.
< http://unh.edu/health-services/ohep/complementaryalternative-health-practices/ayurveda>
Gordin V. “Traditional and alternative medicine around the world”. Gordin medical center. 2012. Google Book Search. Web. 25 June 2016.
“Carpathian Shamans – Ukraine Molfar & Polish Szeptuchami, Whisperer’s Magical Rites”. Elder Mountain Spiritual Artist Residency. n.d. Web. 25 June 2016.
<https://eldermountain.wordpress.com/2015/08/22/carpathian-shaman-healing-magical-rites/>
Lewith G. “Acupuncture: The history of acupuncture in China”. Healthy.net. n.d. Web. 25 June 2016.
< http://www.healthy.net/Health/Article/The_History_of_Acupuncture_in_China/1819/1>
VanderPloeg K. “Acupuncture in Modern Society”. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies. 2009. Vol. 2. Web. 25 June 2016.
< http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2005290109600121>
