By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    6 Essential Strategies for Improving Your Medical Practice
    January 25, 2023
    Staying Positive While Living with Mesothelioma
    January 24, 2023
    The Many Health Benefits of Being Outdoors
    January 17, 2023
    How to Assess a Safe Placement of a Nasogastric or Nasoenteric Tube and Its Complications
    January 19, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Corporate Social Responsibility in Healthcare
    November 15, 2022
    Product Details
    Ethical Decisions: Strong Leadership and Effective Planning Are Key
    June 29, 2014
    Handling HIPAA Rules In Sports: Why Athlete Privacy Matters
    April 18, 2016
    Latest News
    Simplifying the Genetic Testing Process: How At-Home Kits are Changing the Game
    January 25, 2023
    9 Hospitals That Have Introduced Green Initiatives
    January 25, 2023
    Why a Health Retreat Can Be the Best Medicine
    January 12, 2023
    Best Money-Saving Tips for Health Managers
    January 12, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Holistic Medicine vs. Western Medicine: What You Should Know In 2019
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Latest News
ABA therapist
Everything You Need to Know About Applied Behavior Analysis
Health
Small Lifestyle Changes That Can Have A Big Impact On Your Well-Being
lifestyle Wellness
The Future Of Medicine: How Immunotherapy Is Saving Lives
The Future Of Medicine: How Immunotherapy Is Saving Lives
Technology
medical practice and technology advancement
6 Essential Strategies for Improving Your Medical Practice
Technology
digital dental x-ray
How Does A Digital Dental X-Ray Work?
Dental health
Aa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Aa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health care > Holistic Medicine vs. Western Medicine: What You Should Know In 2019
Health careWellness

Holistic Medicine vs. Western Medicine: What You Should Know In 2019

Jennifer Warren
Last updated: 2021/02/16 at 7:15 PM
Jennifer Warren
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

 

Contents
What does it mean to be a Holistic Practitioner?NaturopathyCommon Concerns for Alternative Medicine PracticesHolistic Doctors aren’t always MDsHolistic Practitioners aren’t usually covered by insurancePeople question efficacyFalse positivesTakeaway: Do what you feels best for your body, but don’t ignore the facts

The age of going organic and plethora of information on toxic GMOs has steered many away from traditional western medicine and more towards non-conventional, eastern and alternative medicine practices. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and naturopathy has become more and more common in America, with nearly one third of Americans using these practices in 2015. Its growing popularity over the years has driven medical professionals to grow concern over its efficacy. The main question still lingering in people’s minds- is it safe?

What does it mean to be a Holistic Practitioner?

A holistic healthcare practitioner takes into consideration a person’s whole self- including physical, emotional and mental well-being- when addressing health concerns or promoting overall wellness. Holistic practitioners try and address the root cause of a health concern, rather than treating the symptoms- an complaint made by many averting traditional medicine. Most holistic treatments involve natural remedies rather than traditional prescription drugs, which have been known to cause many undesired side effects.

Naturopathy

Naturopathy is defined as a system of alternative medicine surrounding the theory that diseases can be successfully treated and/or prevented by natural techniques, such as diet control, exercise, massages, breathing techniques, meditation practices, and more. Naturopathy has its roots in Germany and came to the U.S. in the 1800s. The goal of Naturopathy is to provide help prevent and/or fight illnesses through supporting the body’s immune response from the core. This means taking the whole person into account when building a treatment plan. An initial exam with a Naturopathic doctor could take as long as 1-2 hours, with the doctor examining full family history, symptoms, feelings and more.

More Read

weight loss aids

Shed Pounds Quickly – Unearth the 5 Weight Loss Aids

Why Modern Pillows Reduce Back and Neck Problems
How Walking Can Help Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Health
6 Ways Rhinoplasty Can Improve Your Health And Wellbeing
Gastritis: What to Eat, Diet, Best Medicines

Common Concerns for Alternative Medicine Practices

  • Holistic Doctors aren’t always MDs

This can be a bit misleading since practitioners are called “doctors.” However, not all holistic or naturopathic doctors are actual MDs. Alternative medicine goes through a different type of training, typically between 2-4 years in order to practice. There are MDs out there that have acquired additional training in holistic medicine. However, that’s not the case for all of them. If your concern is to have an MD licensed in both fields, make sure to ask whether before making an appointment. 

  • Holistic Practitioners aren’t usually covered by insurance

This is a big one. Because CAM is considered an “elective” and alternative medicine, most health insurance plans don’t cover it. This means that visit expenses come “out of pocket,” which can add up quickly. Depending on your plan and insurance provider, sometimes you can use a CAM practitioner that works with your primary doctor. Things like lab work or tests that are usually costly out of pocket can sometimes be done with your primary doctor. Again, it all depends on your plan.You may want to call the CAM practitioner you’re considering and ask what types of options they have for these scenarios. The majority of holistic offices have answered these types of questions many times and can be a good resource to understand what you’ll be getting yourself into if you choose CAM over traditional medicine. You can also contact your health insurance provider to ask the limitations of coverage with this type of treatment plan.

  • People question efficacy

The big argument against CAM is its efficacy – does alternative medicine really work? While the use of Naturopathy is growing in the U.S, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and several other countries, few therapies have actually shown significant results in improving a disease. Thousands of studies have looked into the efficacy of supplements, but very few have come.

  • False positives

With nearly 40% of adults using some form of CAM therapy and counting, experts worry that people who may have had success with a minor ailment through natural remedies will forego certain treatments because of that one success story. The concern is that individuals may rely too heavily on what they think is working or versus looking into the facts behind certain treatments.

Takeaway: Do what you feels best for your body, but don’t ignore the facts

Ultimately, choices on your health should be your decision. If you feel naturopathy is the right route for you, then do so – but do your research. Choose a reputable doctor and when dealing with serious diseases, it would be a good idea to at least get a second opinion from your primary care doctor. Be weary of the popular health movements and fads, as some can do more harm than good.

TAGGED: alternative healing, alternative medicine, holistic care, holistic health, holistic healthcare, holistic medicine, naturopathy, western medicine

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Jennifer Warren January 14, 2019
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
By Jennifer Warren
This is Jennifer Warren, staff writer at GoodFirms – a review and research platform for top ecommerce development companies, blockchain development companies among many others. A bookworm at heart, I have successfully guest blogged for top sites such as Crazyegg, Semrush, Searchenginepeople, Sitepronews, Volusion.com, Socialnomics, jeffbullas, mediapost among others.
Previous Article Here’s How IT And Healthcare Go Hand In Hand
Next Article 5 Important Things To Expect From Medtech In 2019

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

ABA therapist
Everything You Need to Know About Applied Behavior Analysis
Health January 26, 2023
Small Lifestyle Changes That Can Have A Big Impact On Your Well-Being
lifestyle Wellness January 26, 2023
The Future Of Medicine: How Immunotherapy Is Saving Lives
The Future Of Medicine: How Immunotherapy Is Saving Lives
Technology January 26, 2023
medical practice and technology advancement
6 Essential Strategies for Improving Your Medical Practice
Technology January 25, 2023

You Might also Like

lifestyleWellness

Small Lifestyle Changes That Can Have A Big Impact On Your Well-Being

January 26, 2023
healthy diet plan for new year
HealthWellness

New Year, New Healthy Changes for Your Diet

January 15, 2023
healthy food delivery service
Wellness

The Benefits of Using a Healthy Food Delivery Service

January 15, 2023
Immune System
HealthWellness

Don’t Let These 3 Mistakes Lower Your Immune System

January 13, 2023
//

We influence million of users and is the most authentic source of information on healthcare business and technology news.

Quick Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US

© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?