The Push for Natural Medicine

Traditional medicine and modern technology have been working together for years. Many of us have seen our family doctors or primary care providers use electronic medical records to keep track of our health and the medications we take, or even used software programs to help with dieting or exercise. But there is a push for natural medicine because it’s not only effective, but has fewer side effects. When used alongside modern technology, there is an even greater impact. Here are some thoughts when considering the push for natural medicine. 

Botanicals

Natural medicine is an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of practices, including herbalism, homeopathy, and acupuncture. One of the most popular examples of natural medicine is botanicals which include herbs, flowers, roots, and vines. Botanicals have been used for thousands of years by different cultures throughout history to treat a wide range of conditions from headaches to heart disease. They have also been used as dietary supplements to improve overall health and well-being.

In modern times we’ve seen an increase in research on botanicals because they offer promising potential in treating a variety of conditions. These include depression or anxiety disorders, pain management, neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s Disease, cancer prevention, post-operative complications such as nausea following surgery, sleep disturbances, muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, and more. Advanced technology is providing the opportunity to research these botanicals more effectively to find ways to improve health outcomes.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Traditional Chinese medicine is a holistic approach to health, wellness, and prevention. It’s based on the theory of yin and yang—the idea that everything in nature contains opposing elements that must be balanced for optimal health. The five elements; earth, wood, water, fire, and metal; are associated with various organs in the body and their functions. An imbalance in these elements can lead to imbalances in your body’s energy flow. Therefore, TCM works to restore harmony between them through herbs, acupuncture, massage, and dietary changes. 

Natural Health Products

Natural health products are often more effective than their synthetic counterparts. Even pharmaceutical industry trends are leaning toward incorporating natural health products to boost the effectiveness of their synthetic medicines.

Chronic illnesses that need long-term treatments respond very well to the right natural health products. One example of this can be found in the world of psoriasis, a debilitating skin condition that can lead to emotional distress and even depression. One study showed that patients with psoriasis treated with apple cider vinegar experienced significant improvements in their psoriasis symptoms after 12 weeks when compared to those who used mineral oil as an emollient agent.

Wearable Technology

Wearable technology is a rapidly growing field of study that allows users to monitor and measure health and wellness data. Examples include Fitbits, Apple Watches, Xiaomi Mi Band 2, and more. Wearables can track steps taken, calories burned, heart rate, and more. Newer wearables also allow people to monitor glucose levels and track other health data more easily throughout the day. Many wearables also allow you to connect with apps such as Strava or MyFitnessPal where you can import personal data from the wearable into these apps for further analysis.

Integrative Approaches

Integrative medicine is a combination of conventional and complementary therapies that can be used to treat chronic conditions. It’s important to note that integrative medicine is not an official medical specialty, but rather a framework for evaluating how treatments for chronic illnesses are delivered.

When it comes to the push for natural health care and modern technology, there are several ways these two fields can benefit each other. In the case of integrative medicine and natural health care, both help patients live healthier lives. Technology also makes it easier for people to access health information instead of only relying only on doctors’ recommendations or articles written in traditional print media like magazines or newspapers.

People have more access to information they can share with integrative doctors who can use help the patient evaluate their options. Additionally, technological advances have highlighted the benefits of many different natural approaches that help people improve their health.