Alternative Methods

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Alternative Methods

• Chapter 8

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Alternative Medicine

• The politically correct term for questionable
  practices formerly considered to be categories of
  health fraud and quackery

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Classification

• Proponents classify alternative methods into six
  fields of practice
• Mind-body interventions
• Bioelectromagnetic applications
• Alternative systems of medical practice
• Manual healing methods
• Herbal medicine
• Diet and nutrition

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Proponents

• Proponents often claim that alternative medicine
  is better than standard scientific methods even
  though they are not

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Acupuncture, Qigong, and Chinese Medicine

• Chinese medicine encompasses a vast array of
  folk medical practices based on the thought that
  the bodys vital energy circulates through
  channels that lead to organs and functions
• Illness is attributed to an imbalance or
  interruption of this energy

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Reflexology

• Often called zone therapy is based on the
  notion that pressing on the hands or feet can
  help relieve pain and even remove underlying
  causes of disease

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Chiropractic

• Based upon two notions
• Spinal problems cause or help cause most ailments
  
• Spinal manipulation can prevent or remedy a wide
  range of health problems

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??? Chiropractic ???

• Be careful with this practice. It is probably
  probably useful in particular situations but
  probably should not be used for everything

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Naturopathy

• Natural Medicine A system of medicine said to
  rely solely on nature
• Methods include fasting, natural food diets,
  vitamins, herbs, manipulation, message, exercise,
  acupuncture, natural child birth, and application
  of natural products(water, air, heat, and cold)

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Natural Hygiene

• An offshoot of naturopathy that denounces most
  medical treatment and advocates eating raw food
  diets of vegetables, fruits, and nuts

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Iridology

• Based on the belief that each area of the body is
  represented by a corresponding area in the iris
  of the eye
• According to this method a person can be
  diagnosed by looking at the eye

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Homeopathy

• Based on the notion that 1) a substance that
  produces symptoms in a healthy person can cure
  ill people wit similar symptoms and 2) that
  infinitesimal doses can be highly potent

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Psychic Surgery

• Most practice in the Philippines
• They claim to be able to penetrate the body with
  their bare hands, do the surgery, and not leave a
  skin wound

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Therapeutic Touch

• Based on the thought that it is possible to use
  ones hands to detect when someone is ill,
  pinpoint areas of pain, reduce anxiety, and
  stimulate the sick persons recuperative powers

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Astrology

• Involves the use of a horoscope to determine the
  decease and infirmities to which one may
  allegedly be predisposed

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Transcendental Meditation

• A process where a person sits conformably with
  eyes closed and repeats a word or sound for 15 to
  20 minutes a day in an attempt to relax the body

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Questions/Terms

• Alternative Medicine and classifications
• Chinese Medicine
• Reflexology
• Chiropractic
• Naturopathy
• Natural Hygiene

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Questions/Terms

• Iridology
• Homeopathy
• Psychic Surgery
• Therapeutic Touch
• Astrology
• Transcendental Meditation