Learn more about Alternative Medicines

What Are the Benefits of Alternative Medicines?

By Amber Keefer

 

Amber Keefer has more than 25 years of experience working in the fields of human services and health care administration. Writing professionally since 1997, she has written articles covering business and finance, health, fitness, parenting and senior living issues for both print and online publications. Keefer holds a B.A. from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. in health care management from Baker College.

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       According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 40 percent of Americans report using alternative medicine therapies for pain control when prescribed medications prove to be ineffective. Alternative medicine offers an integrated approach to healing and may include interventions such as herbal remedies, reflexology, chiropractic, nutritional supplements, massage therapy and acupuncture. With more medical professionals beginning to suggest the use of alternative therapies in combination with conventional medical treatments, many more studies are underway to examine both the usefulness and safety of these nonstandard treatments.

Pain

Many people turn to alternative medicine therapies for pain relief when traditional treatments fail to work. Alternative medicine also offers treatment options to individuals who do not have access to pain clinics under their health insurance plans. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan Health System found that older individuals, who are more likely to suffer chronic pain conditions, use alternative therapies more frequently. Results of the study are published in the January 2010 issue of the journal Pain Medicine. The study takes a look at the increasing use of alternative treatment modalities as a way to manage chronic pain.

Cancer

Alternative medicine therapies used together with conventional medical treatments can alleviate some of the symptoms of cancer, as well as lessen the negative side effects of conventional medical treatments. Chemotherapy, although effective in increasing the survival rate of many cancer patients, can produce unpleasant side effects. Some cancer patients are able to tolerate chemotherapy treatments better when using an alternative treatment such as acupuncture to control side effects like fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, night sweats and aching.

Cost

Alternative medicine therapies can be less expensive than conventional medical treatments. Although some alternative therapies are not cheap, many herbal remedies and other natural treatments still cost less than prescription medications and treatments. Acupuncture and chiropractic sessions can cost significantly less than conventional pain therapy treatments.

Side Effects

In most cases, effective alternative therapies have fewer or no side effects as opposed to the frequent and sometimes severe effects of many prescription medications and other conventional medical treatments. But depending on what medical conditions a person might have, even natural remedies and other alternative therapies can sometimes cause adverse side effects. Not all natural remedies have been scientifically tested, nor does the FDA regulate them. Treatment modalities such as therapeutic massage and acupuncture are generally considered to be safe, but always talk to your doctor before using any alternative medicine therapies.

Mental Health

Alternative medicine can be beneficial to a person’s overall well- being, as the approach focuses on healing the mind, body and spirit. Treatment methods such as massage therapy, biofeedback, meditation and visual imagery help a person to relax and reduce stress. Art and music therapies are used to relieve symptoms of depression and schizophrenia by stimulating the natural release of endorphins and opiates in the body, in addition to helping individuals let go of deeply repressed emotions. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration points out that other alternative approaches to mental health, such as diet and nutrition, animal-assisted therapies and self-help groups can be valuable resources for improving mental health.

Now watch this video and answer the questions below:

1. According to Kelly McCann, what is ‘integrative medicine’?


2. What is the ideal way to practice integrative medicine? 


3. What are the benefits of integrative medicine?  


4.What does she say a) or b))
          a.  “ The patient has an innate ability to heal.”    b. “ The patient needs to learn how to heal.”


     5  What types of patients use integrative medicine?

     6 What does she say about the future of medicine?

ANSWERS IN CLASS!

This week Revision

SPECULATION & DEDUCTION  (unit 3A)

There are many ways of saying that something will probably or possibly happen in English.

Probable

bound to = certain: "They are bound to succeed!"

sure to = certain: "He is sure to win the championship."

likely to = probable: "We are likely to win the contract."

likely/ unlikely: "An election is likely next year." “ That’s unlikely to happen”

will definitely happen: "There will definitely be a storm later."

will probably happen: "They will probably take on more staff."

Be bound + to-infinitive is used to refer to future events which are certain or very likely to happen:

Kevin is stuck in a traffic jam, so he is bound to be late.

Be likely + to-infinitive and it is likely + that-clause are used for future events which are probably going to happen:

Smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer compared to non-smokers.
It is likely that he will win the race.

The modal verbs can, could, may, might, should, will, would and must  are used to show that we believe something is certain, probable or possible:

Possibility:

We use the modals could, might and may to show that something is possible in the future, but not certain:

They might come later. (= Perhaps/Maybe they will come later.)
They may come by car. (= Perhaps/Maybe they will come by car.)
If we don’t hurry we could be late. (= Perhaps/Maybe we will be late)

We use could have, might have and may have to show that something was possible now or at some time in the past:

It’s ten o’clock. They might have arrived now.
They could have arrived hours ago.

We use the modal can to make general statements about what is possible:

It can be very cold in winter. (= It is sometimes very cold in winter)
You can easily lose your way in the dark. (= People often lose their way in the dark)

We use the modal could as the past tense of can:

It could be very cold in winter. (= Sometimes it was very cold in winter.)
You could lose your way in the dark. (= People often lost their way in the dark)

Impossibility:

We use the negative can’t or cannot to show that something is impossible:

That can’t be true.
You cannot be serious.

We use couldn’t/could not to talk about the past:

We knew it could not be true.
He was obviously joking. He could not be serious.

Probability:

We use the modal must to show we are sure something to be true and we have reasons for our belief:

It’s getting dark. It must be quite late.
You haven’t eaten all day. You must be hungry.

We use must have for the past:

They hadn’t eaten all day. They must have been hungry.
You look happy. You must have heard the good news.

We use the modal should to suggest that something is true or will be true in the future, and to show you have reasons for your suggestion:

Ask Miranda. She should know.
It's nearly six o'clock. They should arrive soon.

We use should have to talk about the past:

It's nearly eleven o'clock. They should have arrived by now.

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GO PRACTISE further : HERE

• Did you get stuck with GET and its uses? Then GO HERE and practise further.

• For the use of " THE SAKE OF..." GO HERE!

Finally, improve your pronunciation with Steve MArtin :-)

KEY to grammar revision exercises (1C,2A, 2B)

Distancing stories unit 2 b from DULCE ROSALES

Now...Go check!

1C  pronouns

a.
2 It's    3 themselves   4 it's    5 you   6 you     7 there's    8 their    9 themselves     10 one another    11 they    12 there's

b.
 2 there     3 They    4 one    5 It      6 you     7 they     8 yourself    9 they    10 you     11 there    12 it

2A past:narrative tenses, used to and would

2 had been living/ had lived    3 looked    4 used to frown/ would frown/ frowned   5 used to/ would wash/ washed   6 was playing    7 rememebered     8 had told    9 jumped   10  was passing/ passed    11 had made         12 was awaiting/ awaited     13 heard      14 always got off/ would always get off/ always used to get off

2B distancing
a. 2 It seems that men are more at risk...
    3. It appears that she has changed her mind...
    4. It seems that you are unable to deal...
    5.It seems that the weather is improving

b.  2 A spokesman is expected to make an announcement...
     3. More than half of the population are believed to suffer from headaches.
     4.  Saint Petersburg is said to be one of the ...
     5. At least 70 people are thought to have been injured ...
     6. The economy is expected to grow...
c.
according to, do not appear to have been used, apparently, there are said to be, it has been suggested, may have broken down

LIstening ADVANCED

Some extra listening practice 

for advanced students

JOB HUNTING

Click on link and do the activities.


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