Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine
Alternative medicine is defined as “any of various systems of healing or treating disease not included in the traditional medical curricula taught in the United States and Britain”. Some of the examples of alternative medicine are chiropractic, homeopathy, or faith healing.
Complementary medicine as obvious from the term is defined as “any of the practices of alternative medicine accepted and utilized by mainstream medical practitioners” (Merriam-Webster online). The phrase complementary and alternative medicine is an umbrella term to include both these branches.
The development of New American medicine testifies the growing popularity of CAM for its overall wellness and holistic approach to health. The scientists and medical practitioners have recently awoken to the fact of group approach (an aspect of CAM) in treatment. The example of this awakening can be found in the work of David Spiegel, MD, Living Beyond Limits. The result was startling for Dr Spiegel himself.
Role of Alternative Medicine in Modern Society
Typically, alternative medicine differs from traditional medicine in that alternative medicine is older and what we might call unconventional or non-Western medicine. Alternative medicine does not follow the traditional science and research that current medicines undergo.
Alternative medicine could also be termed complementary or traditional medicine or the therapies that can be integrated into current medicine.
The staff of the National Library of Medicine of the United States classified alternative medicine under the category of complementary therapies in their Medical Subjects Heading Section. This was done in the year 2002. The definition provided was that alternative medicine therapeutic practices were not considered as an integral part of the traditional allopathic medicine. Therapies like acupuncture, dieting, physical therapy like exercises or yoga, etc. a
A Complementary and Alternative Medicine Approach to Heartburn and Acid Reflux
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is commonly referred to as hearth burn, or acid reflux. Acid reflux results from contents in the stomach (both solids and liquids) leaking backwards from the stomach up into the esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach).
These particles of food and liquid irritate the lining of the esophagus which creates burning and sometimes a nauseating sensation.
Heart burn is often the result of the lower esophageal sphincter losing muscle tone which can occur due to aging, obesity, heavy metal exposure, food sensitivities, a hiatal hernia, and/or a functionally slow liver.Occasionally, acid reflux is present with healthy endurance athletes and pregnant women that experience mild spasms of the diaphragm.