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First
of all, cancer is not one disease, but a group of diseases, all of which
occur when healthy cells stop functioning and maturing properly (Yance,
14). There are many factors that cause cancer, for instance, inheriting
a gene that predisposes an individual to a particular type of cancer, or
simply contracting a virus. Other ways of developing cancer are: being
exposed to certain types of radiation and harmful chemicals and lastly,
changes in the immune systems, and exposure to certain environmental factors
can also cause cancer. Not to mention that there are all sorts of preventions
like, healthy eating habits, no smoking or alcohol consumption, also avoiding
long exposures to the sun, while also reducing red meat consumption and
eating more whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
Once
an individual is diagnosed with cancer, doctors immediately introduce the
three conventional treatments and orders the patient to receive if not
all three, at least some sessions of chemotherapy. In addition, cancer
patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation are usually faced with the
dangers of developing weaker immune systems, which can lead to body and
skin infections. This is only one side effect, but in reality, chemotherapy
and radiation have multiple and deadly side effects. In addition, these
treatments cause the loss of human hair, falling nails, constant nausea
and vomiting, some patients even experience internal bleeding that usually
leads to a anemia. These common side effects are mainly caused because
of the strong drugs being distributed throughout the body or the directly
poisoning of the disease, known as chemotherapy. As a result to this, Holistic
practitioners use only non-toxic therapies to avoid the harshness to the
body.
Health
care professionals using the Holistic approach work in partnership with
their patients. They recommend treatments that support the body’s natural
healing system and consider the whole person and the whole situation (Diamond,
515). They use nutritional supplementation as a front line approach in
treating cancer. In other words, Holistic doctors believe that instead
of receiving radiation or chemotherapy for the termination of cancerous
tumors, that there is no point in making the body suffer from intoxications
of drugs while facing constant side effects, because normally this only
makes the matter worse.
The
background of Holistic medicine was said to be originated from many lands
and cultures, including India, China and Greece. This natural medicine
has been handed down over thousands of years, both orally and in written
records. These remedies basically consist of herbs and vitamins, such as
St. John’s Wort, Aloe Vera Gel, Goldenseal Tincture, Tea Tree Oil, etc.
These nature healers tend to be gentler on the body and often support the
body’s own recovery process. These approaches to healing are safer, natural
and have been shown through experience to work. Holistic medicine basically
emphasizes the need to look at the whole person, including analysis of
physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional, social, spiritual and
life style values. Holistic medicine focuses on education and responsibility
for personal efforts to achieve balance and well-being.
Holistic
remedies are clinically proven and are growing worldwide. Another fact
is that Alternative medicine or Holistic medicine is the second fastest
growing field in the US health care. CBS news also estimated that 50% of
Americans see Holistic practitioners each year and that number is growing.
These high estimations are caused for the mere reason that it’s proven
that patients get better using safe, non-toxic, effective, inexpensive
and totally natural methods from the world of alternative medicine. Holistic
medicine is more likely to treat the whole person rather than the symptoms
only. In other words, it emphasizes achieving health, not just eliminating
the disease. As a result, President Clinton signed into Law on June 14,
1993 the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act. Now known as
public law 103-143. In the Law, Congress permanently established The Office
of Alternative Medicine (OAM) “to facilitate the evaluation of alternative
medical treatment modalities”(Diamond,630).
There
remains considerable amounts of skepticism among practitioners of conventional
medicine, also known as modern doctors and among bio-medical researches
regarding the efficacy of alternative medicine. They don’t believe in the
effectiveness of Holistic medicine. Nobody believes in 19th century cures
anymore, which are somewhat related to Holistic remedies. Holistic medicine
and some of its practices to cure cancer, have not been given a scientific
seal of approval. Unfortunately, there is very little scientific evidence
that some of the Holistic remedies which travel together under the “alternative”
label actually do any good. This is primarily because few respectable scientists
are not willing to risk their reputations to do the testing required and
because few firms are not willing to pay for it. Another factor is that
since these remedies take time to show effective results and are to be
taken at a constnt level to get the maximum benefits. Unlike over-the-counter
medications or conventional prescriptions, such as aspirin and antibiotics,
which merely mask symptoms or are effective only in suppressing the symptoms,
natural treatments actually address the cause and support the body’s own
recovery process.
Cancer
treatment hospitals and doctors care for the profits mainly. Since they
do not want the public to learn about and pursue effective alternatives.
The result is that chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical operations are
the law of the land for cancer treatments, for political, not therapeutical
reasons (Diamond,643). To the cancer establishment, a cancer patient is
a profit center. Cancer is modern medicine’s biggest business. Nevertheless,
there is increasing evidence supporting that any healing process is better
enhanced with the aid of natural, non-toxic therapies.
In
conclusion, I wanted to mention that the sole purpose of Holistic medicine
is to reach higher levels of wellness as well as preventing disease. It
leads to optimal attainment of the physical, mental, emotional, social
and spiritual aspects of health. In addition, Holistic medicine is expanding
medical horizons, while it is possible that what was considered alternative
in the past, will become mainstream in years to come.