Essays and Research Papers on Alternative Medicine

An 8 page paper discussing the view of this herb from the perspective of the mainstream medical community and from that of alternative medicine practitioners. The extract of this herb is widely used as an antidepressant as well as for several external conditions. It is the most commonly used antidepressant in Germany, where there have been several ...

10 pages in length. Chiropractic, a holistic alternative where the spine and joints are adjusted as a means by which to relieve pain, injuries and internal disorders, has long been looked upon as fringe medicine. Within the world of physical wellness, there are two very different approaches to the same goal: holistic and conventional. ...

A 4 page statement written from the perspective of an individual pursuing certification as a physicians assistant. Notes that even a brief review of the licensing situation in the medical profession it becomes obvious that without professional certification and/or licensing an individual can do little in terms of patient care in any type of ...

(3 pp). The Eight Fold Path, a basic tenant of Buddhism, is a strong emotional outline or framework , for the modern holistic health movement. Holistic health is a theory that believes good mental health is essential to good physical health. 'Enlightenment does exist,' Jack Kornfield assures us. 'Unbounded freedom ...

This 5 page paper considers the way in which aggression and agitation may be treated in patients suffering from dementia. The paper includes behaviour management and the consideration of environmental factors as well as staff training. The bibliography cites 5 sources.

It has been contended and debated that chiropractic services are of benefit to children suffering from asthma. This 7 page paper explores the relationship between pediatric asthma and chiropractic treatment. Endnotes include a total of 12 sources.

The basic premise of "polarity therapy" is that the human body is similar to an electronic energy field. "Dis-ease" occurs when that energy is blocked or disturbed through trauma, or long-standing influences; the polarity -the balance between positive and negative charges of electricity, that normally exists in our body has been disturbed. ...

5 pages in length. Chiropractic lends itself to addressing spinal misalignment – subluxation – a situation that practitioners claim can overwhelmingly and adversely impact the entire body. When the spine is out of alignment, undesirable pressure points are formed that create a domino effect as the misalignment continues to worsen. If everything ...

5 pages in length. Dr. Henry Lindlahr, author of Philosophy of Natural Therapeutics, contends that within the world of physical and mental wellness, there are two very different approaches to the same goal: combative and preventive. In exchange for combative medicine, the preventive approach to health care seeks to treat the entire being ...

This 14 page report discusses meditation. Virtually all of the world’s religious traditions incorporate some form of meditative practice. Whether it is in the form of prayer, contemplation, or conscious meditation, it serves as a process that assists in clarity and understanding as well as a greater connection to spiritual awareness. The spiritual leaders of religions which have not defined ...

A 5 page paper examining a performance-oriented dietary supplement product. Energy Fuel® is one of three products featured in the "Survival of the Fittest®" line of GNC, and the company appears to be marketing it as a crossover product. Though it is included in the fitness package, it also is sold separately as an energy-booster. The ...

6 pages in length. Dr. Henry Lindlahr, author of Philosophy of Natural Therapeutics, advocates the natural approach to health and wellness. In his work he firmly espouses alternative means of application in both a preventive and treatment mode, contending that society has moved much too far away from ancient methods of natural therapies. ...

An Overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine: This 11-page essay gives a comprehensive overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Its origin, common practices, success rate, treatment modalities, etc. are examined, along with a comparison of theories relevant to Western Medicine. Bibliography lists 6 sources. SNMedcin.doc

Cranial Osteopathy – An Overview: This 6-page essay details the most current information relevant to Cranial Osteopathy. This form of alternative medicine is espoused as a reliable treatment for vast numbers of physiological ailments that are ‘failed’ by standard medical therapies. Nonetheless, it remains wholly unproven. Bibliography lists 5 sources. SNCranos.doc

The world of today presents changes in all areas of health, including life expectancy, fertility rates, infectious diseases and health inequalities. This 5 page paper explores the concept of the 'miracle drug' as well as the application of the placebo effect. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 9 page paper discussing the feasibility of Good Health Hong Kong, manufacturer of formulations used in traditional Chinese medicine and operator of traditional pharmacies, expanding to London, San Francisco, New York and Sydney. The paper discusses the rise of the mainstream medical community in the US, the trend toward increased patient involvement in their own health care ...

6 pages in length. Drs. Jarvis and Barrett's article entitled How Quackery Sells attempts to educate the masses with regard to what they believe as being false – and sometimes harmful – claims made by alternative medicine practitioners. The authors explain that quackery, unproven medical claims that allegedly heal various ailments and illness, ...

This 20 page paper provides an overview of the issue of human consumption of cocoa and the varied studies that exist. This paper integrates a view of the current studies on the use of cocoa and the human consumption of cocoa as it impacts health. Bibliography lists 11 sources.

This 10 page report discusses osteopathic thinking as related to abdominal conditioning to aid in the back support and the lessening of chronic back pain. Exercises and the muscles they target are considered and presented in a way that can be shaped into an individual program for osteopathic patients. The abdominal strengthening muscle exercises can serve as a valuable example of the ...

This 5 page report discusses Traditional Chinese Medicine and the fact that it is finally gaining a certain measure of respect in the Western world. Physicians trained in Western or “modern” medicine dismissed traditional Chinese medicine, sometimes referred to as TCM as nothing but superstitious quackery. However, in the past few decades, even those medical experts who were most opposed to traditional ...

12 pages in length. The world of medicine has witnessed a significant shift in treatment since the population has taken a great interest in the alternative approach. One of the most sought-after treatments in contemporary society is that of holistic health, which is comprised of myriad modalities from which to choose. In ...

9 pages in length. The frustration that stems from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) often has parents reaching for the fastest acting remedy: Ritalin. Sustained use of this drug, however, has given rise to myriad concerns related to threats upon the child's overall health and well being such as cancer. As a means ...

An 8 page paper. Osteoporosis is a disease that affects at least 10 million Americans, 80 percent of whom are women. Osteopenia, or abnormally low bone density affects another 18 million people, placing them at risk of developing osteoporosis. In recent years, a number of studies have investigated the properties of soy in the prevention ...

An 8 page overview of the condition known as Raynaud’s, a condition in which the small arteries in the hands, toes, cheeks, nose, and ears constrict after exposure to cold. This paper distinguishes between Raynaud’s disease, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and Raynaud’s syndrome. Noting that the cause of the condition is unknown and, in all, ...

A 5 page overview of the potential medicinal value of herbs. This paper emphasizes that benefit can be overshadowed by negative impacts when these drugs are combined with others or taken in high concentration such as in herbal tea. The author provides brief notes on aloe, echinacea, feverfew, garlic, ginger, gingko biloba, ginseng, goldenseal, ...