You Need to Know About Different Approaches to Health Care
Perhaps you’re familiar with the phrase, “there’s more than one way to skin a cat.” If you’re not familiar with it, what the phrase implies is that there are various ways to achieve a single goal. This applies to health care as it does to most things. The goal is optimal health, and there’s more than one way to achieve it.
Alternative medicine has been gaining massive popularity in the United States in recent years. With that in mind, we put together an article detailing different types of health care and their strengths—and even their possible weaknesses.
Conventional Medicine
Conventional medicine, also known as traditional medicine, is what doctors and nurses practice in private practices and hospitals across the United States. A medical doctor typically spends at least a decade in school and training to become a professional health care provider.
A medical doctor provides conventional treatment based on science and has to follow a strict protocol when providing care to patients. Health care professionals apply conventional therapies to everything from cancer treatment to chiropractic care.
Another important feature of conventional medicine is confidentiality. In fact, if you went to school to earn a health information management degree, you would learn abbreviations and codes for different medical conditions and treatments. These codes are so no random person can pick up someone else’s medical records and decipher them. All fields of medicine value a customer’s right to privacy, but traditional health care providers are bound by stricter regulations than other types of medicine.
Alternative Medicine
As we mentioned in the introduction, alternative medicine is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. Alternative health is largely based on New Age practices that incorporate spirituality and the use of herbs to prevent and combat illness.
Alternative medicine practitioners are often known as shamans, witch doctors, or simply medicine people, and they often learn their practice from another practitioner in their family or a mentor. They use techniques like reiki and acupuncture alongside herbs to promote wellness without the use of man-made drugs.
Complementary Medicine
Complementary medicine is also gaining traction in the United States due to the large number of health care professionals extolling its benefits. Complementary medicine is similar to alternative medicine in that it’s about treating the whole person (mind, body, and soul), but it differs in that complementary medicine doesn’t combat or refuse traditional methods.
Complementary medicine often includes mixing mind-body practices like meditation, Qi Gong, and yoga with traditional medicine. Many people who prefer complementary medicine use natural supplements to promote wellness and support chemical balance. Fish oil and CBD are among the most popular supplements on the market.
Integrative Medicine
Integrative medicine is the intentional mixing of standard medicine with complementary medicine to promote an optimal quality of life. People who prefer integrative medicine visit licensed health professionals and also use natural herbs and supplements as well as mind-body practices to promote all-around health. Many even give holistic supplements, like Holistapet, to their fur buddies. That’s what you call making sure the whole family is in good health.
Your health is your most valuable asset. It’s what allows you to enjoy all the other good things in life. And, as you can see, there are many different approaches to health care. Choosing which is right for you is a matter of your health and preferences. Of course, it’s a good idea to speak with a health care professional before you make any significant changes in your care strategy.
Conventional medicine is the most popular type of medicine in the United States and involves receiving treatment from an MD or licensed nurse practitioner. Alternative medicine is largely cultural and normally includes the use of natural herbs instead of traditional medicines and rituals. Complementary medicine is becoming more popular in the U.S. and incorporates mindfulness practices to complement traditional medicine. Integrative medicine is the intentional combination of complementary and conventional medicines to achieve optimal results.
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