Recently, distrust of orthodox medicine has increased. people are more interested in alternative medicine. The consensus is that orthodox drugs are artificial chemicals harmful to the human body. Unfortunately, the postulates of this theory do not take into account the positive and desirable effects of orthodox therapies. On the contrary, the undesirable effects presented as the major disadvantages of orthodox medicine compared to alternative medicine are amplified.
Many people prefer to take herbal teas, supplements, and topical herbs rather than orthodox pills. They are the same wording and appearance, but one is perceived as harmful and the other harmless. Reasons for this include dissatisfaction with conventional orthodox treatments, high cost of treatment, incompatibility with individual values and religious and cultural beliefs. The term “natural” treatment or supplements causes individuals to let down their guard when neglecting the use of orthodox medicine, as they are often willing to try “natural” remedies. Who said these “natural supplements” don’t have side effects?
It appears that alternative medicine does not attract the same level of distrust as orthodox medicine from the general public, as alternative medicine can date back centuries and be known to be very effective. This seems more like a case of the devil you know is better than an angel you don’t know.
Furthermore, the apparent confidence in alternative medicine can be attributed to its lower cost, availability and accessibility. Orthodox medicine includes prescription drugs that cannot be dispensed without a doctor’s prescription. Therefore, the person has to make an appointment with the doctor and go through tedious processes before the treatment begins. Individual patients often have limited interaction with the physician, which can lead to some dissatisfaction with diagnosis and treatment modalities.
A combination of alternative medicine with faith and spiritual healing also makes alternative medicine more attractive. Indeed, the combination of the two makes it more likely to align with the patient’s religious and cultural beliefs.
Especially since the provider of alternative medicine takes the time to listen to the client’s complaints and is perceived as a person with special healing powers. This perception may play a role in improving the mental attitude towards illness, which is known to determine, to a large extent, the response to treatment of an illness.
Some swear by the effectiveness of traditional medicines, even with non-uniform preparation methods and poorly administered doses. This is not in dispute, as many traditional remedies are discovered and used based on anecdotal evidence. Some are dissolved in solvents produced under environmental conditions where contamination is inevitable. Side effects are considered part of the mechanism of action. People believe that their ancestors enjoyed a better life without orthodox medicine.
In fact, some orthodox medicines were adopted from traditional remedies after scientific evidence from research showed their effectiveness in treating that particular disease. A good example is the Cinchona bark which was and still is used as a traditional treatment for malaria. The antimalarial derived from the bark of the cinchona tree – quinine – remains a very effective antimalarial drug.
Some people firmly believe that the orthodox medications they have ingested have altered their natural genetic makeup. And pharmaceutical companies should not be trusted, because they only work for money, and therefore studies and research results are often false or fabricated. They may then be extremely paranoid in their discussions with doctors, so much so that it begins to feel like a personal attack on individual medical staff.
Medical personnel should be careful not to become defensive and further increase suspicion.
It’s best to approach this topic diplomatically, citing scientific evidence, research, and evidence-based medicine. Stressing that the consequences of research misconduct are serious and that pharmaceutical companies would not be involved in such activities, as many regulatory bodies have rigorous processes before a treatment is approved. Even when new treatments are approved, adverse effects are reported and drugs can still be withdrawn if the risk of harm outweighs the benefits.
We have seen some integration of traditional and orthodox medicine — for example, training of traditional birth attendants (AT) and work hand in hand with them in communities in certain regions of Africa. It turned out reduce maternal and perinatal mortality. These integrations can allay fears and distrust of orthodox medicine within communities, even though some are set in their ways and will stick to their beliefs and misconceptions despite overwhelming evidence.
Adults who have capacity may decide to refuse orthodox medical treatments. And that’s fine if it doesn’t put other people at risk and doesn’t pose a public health problem.
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About Grace Eneh, MBBS
Grace Eneh is a physician and neurology fellow. She is passionate about properly communicating with patients about their health conditions, believing that much of chronic disease management depends on patients understanding their illness and the need for lifestyle and health changes. observe their medications. His areas of interest are
epilepsy,
stroke, and dementia. She owns a writing business, is an author, and has published numerous articles for various online media outlets. She enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
