Alternative vs mainstream medicine

Hi guys!

How are you? I hope well and in good shape. These confinement days had changed our lives and made me think a lot about health, specifically about alternative medicine. As a subject of controversy, there are arguments for and against so I’ll expose some:

-          Alternative medicines are less aggressive to the body. They usually lack or have minimal side-effects, however, they do not subject them to the same quality controls. Many products may not be what they promise.

-          They have no long-term effects. Unlike many medicines that leave substances in your body that can damage your organs, in the meantime with less supervision, there is also exposure to unsanitary or contaminated sources.

-          They are cheaper. Because you are not paying the laboratory or the patent, otherwise many natural treatments are not covered by insurance, so their cost must be additionally assumed if you treatment goes wrong.

-          They are preventive. You can receive treatment before symptoms of the disease appear, on the other hand they are slower. Most treatments focus on the source of the problem, not the symptom, so it may take longer for the symptom to go away.

Taking into account all the previous things, although I prefer mainstream medicine, I think alternative medicine can be useful in some specific treatments like chiropractic and osteopathy or as a supplement to regular medications like natural painkillers. On the other hand, I have serious doubts about its effectiveness on treatments in my point of view less conventional like aromatherapy or hypnotherapy more centred in the hopes and the beliefs of the patients.

What is your opinion about that? Are you considering to use alternative medicine? Do you have any experience or personal anecdote? Let me know in the comments section below.