My first exposure to alternative medical treatments came by way of a paper route I had in the mid-1970s. One of my daily customers was a chiropractor with an office located on one of the busiest streets in town. I had no idea what chiropractic medicine was. So I asked. I learned a lot from that doctor.
Thinking back on that time, I have come to realize that I am more receptive to alternative medical treatments the older I get. I have also discovered I am not alone. A lot of people my age (I am in my late 50s) are in the same boat. They no longer trust Western medicine implicitly. They realize there may be other ways to treat what ails them.
Have you explored alternative medical treatments? If so, why? It would be interesting to get a whole bunch of us together to talk about what motivates us to do what we do. In the absence of such a gathering, here are my own observations:
1. Traditional Treatments Don’t Always Work
One of my most frequent observations lines up with my own experience: traditional medical treatments do not always work. And when that is the case, people may be motivated to try alternative treatments just to get some sort of relief. A prime example is chronic back pain.
I personally know several people who deal with this particular problem daily. One such person is almost fully debilitated. Standing is uncomfortable. But so is sitting or lying down. This person literally cannot get any relief. Another one of my friends is faring somewhat better, but the prescription medications he has been offered thus far just aren’t cutting it.
This is the primary reason organizations like KindlyMD in Utah exist. KindlyMD offers access to alternative plant-based medicines by way of a Utah medical card. My previously mentioned friends could get medical cards in their respective states as well. Quite frankly, I’m surprised they haven’t done so.
2. Patients Sometimes Feel Like Cattle
A second observation among patients who seek out alternative medical treatments is the feeling of being treated like cattle. I have had that experience. I have gone into a crowded waiting room and sat quietly among the masses waiting for my turn to go in. When finally called, I have submitted to all the poking and prodding that proceeds another long wait in the exam room.
What could ultimately become more than an hour of sitting around and waiting culminates with a mere 10-15 minutes of a doctor or nurse practitioner’s time. I walk out with a prescription in one hand and the knowledge that I am no closer to understanding my health then I was when I walked in.
3. Traditional Medicine Is Getting Too Expensive
Moving on, I have observed some people looking at alternative medical treatments because traditional medicine costs too much. They can barely afford copays, let alone deductibles and the full cost of procedures that are not covered by insurance. Comparatively speaking, alternative medicine can be much cheaper.
It is a shame that healthcare decisions sometimes boil down to cost. But that is the nature of a profit driven system. Profits have allowed us to develop some incredible therapies, medical devices, and technologies. But profit is also making medicine inaccessible to larger groups of people.
There are many other reasons people look to alternative medical treatments. A single post could not possibly do justice to them all. Here’s the main takeaway for me: people have their reasons for looking at alternatives. Dismissing their reasons only guarantees that the problems within our healthcare system will continue.
