Medical Science and Alternative Medicines

Many people are firm believers in science, for it has greatly improved the lives of humanity. It has also brought about great inventions and technological advancements never seen before in the history of mankind. Moreover, in the field of medicine, great innovations have also been achieved and many diseases which were previously thought to be incurable are now curable, thanks to medical science.

Despite the progress in medical science, however, proper health care seems to be very elusive to those who are marginalized in our society. The fact remains that those with the most means often need less health care, but they consume the most health care benefits. Those with the least means, however, also have the greatest health problems, but they don’t have the means to use those health care services. We can never fault medical science on this one, and it may be a case of a bad societal setup. But if this setup continues, lots of people would still rely heavily on alternative medicines, hoping that their maladies would be cured without further impoverishing themselves.

The Herb of Immortality

When I was traveling in China, I read about Jiaogulan (Gynostemma Pentaphyllum) which is called in China as “Xiancao” or “Herb of Immortality.” This name is not without basis, for Jiaogulan has long been used as a herbal supplement in China. However, in the 1970s, the Chinese National Government was surprised to learn from the year’s National Census that there was an unusual number of centenarians in southern China. This prompted the National Government to send a medical team to investigate this unusual phenomenon.

The commission concluded that it was the unusual habit of the people in southern China of drinking Jiaogulan tea every day that caused this phenomenon. Whether the findings of this commission were scientific or not, we really could not confirm, but one thing is certain—that Jiaogulan holds something special in the treatment and prevention of diseases.

Still a Believer in Alternative Medicine?

Although some medical doctors may peremptorily dismiss the claims of alternative medicines, it would be unwise to imitate them. Humanity has long been dependent on alternative medicines for relief from their maladies. Even though alternative medicines may not be subscribing to the strict procedures of the scientific method, their practices, however, are not without merit.

The chiropractic practice, for example, is said to be a good alternative medical practice. It is an alternative practice that is based on the metaphysical premise that most diseases are caused by subluxation — partial or incomplete dislocation — in an organ or joint. Based on this premise, there will be a need to correct the incomplete dislocation to heal a disease.

The best way to find a chiropractor is by going online and typing in the search tab “chiropractor near me.” Your search would net you one or two chiropractors near your place. If you’re beset by back pain which your doctor could not remedy, you can readily explore the possibility of being treated with the help of a chiropractor. Some medical practitioners, however, may frown on what you’re doing. Yet, this high-brow attitude is unwarranted — there are still many diseases whose causes are still unknown to medical science, for example, glaucoma and Crohn’s disease.