SocMR

The history of alternative medicine is a rather interesting 1, and has its
origins in conventional techniques of medicine. Alternative medicine has been
in existence because time immemorial. Being a primeval science, this medicinal
system has been known to man since the early days of his time on Earth. Using
natural ingredients to prevent and cure most illnesses has perhaps been man’s greatest foray into medical science. Standard medical practitioners aimed at prevention of diseases associated with an boost in resistance of the human body. As an professional rightly pointed out, “The study of the history of alternative medicine is fascinating on a selection of levels, not just concerning other and frequently far better ways of preserving and restoring health.”

Practised for thousands of years, alternative medicine consists of systems like
Acupuncture, Ayurveda and traditional Asian medicine. Option medicine branches
out from the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatments and
therapies. CAM is typically combined with formal, conventional medicine, integrating
both medical practices, in order to give the best outcomes to patients. It can be said that
the earlier approaches of medicine were attempted at achieving a balance between bodily
and natural energy. Energies had been sought as positive and negative energies, where
positive energies had been to bring in happiness and health and negative energies an
incapacitation of resistance to face any ailments. Matters of utmost importance in
deciding therapies or treatments in these earlier medical systems had been factors like
one’s lifestyle, one’s habits of eating and one’s occupational pressures.

The earliest use of standard remedies dates back to 2800 BC in China.
Practised all over the world in far more than a hundred disciplines, alternative medicine
has aided medical tourism in an unprecedented manner. Using alternative medicine
and following alternative medical practices not only removes any achievable additional
affects of the illness but also increases the resilience of the body. It is usually
claimed that natural remedies are not only much less inimical to human physiology
but they also aid in retaining body pliancy. Systems of natural, traditional
medicines use a combination of ingredients to restore the bodily constituents. In
truth, natural remedies are regarded as a lot more as food, given their natural constituents.
Since option medicine is based on entirely natural strategies and there is
no usage of any chemicals, there is no danger of any interference with the organic
system. A holistic approach as opposed to searching at a set of symptoms and a
treatment that delves into the root-trigger of an illness are some of the distinct and
highly acknowledged features of option medicine. It is also opined that
widespread use of modern medicine has deteriorated the immune system in the
human physiology and has resulted in these modern medicines becoming less
effective. It is also often said that option medicine is the only way to cure
some incurable diseases.

A Brief History of Alternative Medicine

The history of option medicine can be traced back to some 5000 years, when the Chinese and Indians discovered standard and Ayurvedic therapies to heal the body and the mind. The real objective was to identify the deterrents in the body system which caused ailments, and
strengthened the body’s immunity. The therapies mainly incorporated self-care, way of life
changes and different preventive measures. The typical practices that were followed in the early stages of the history of alternative medicine contain the extractions of the bark of willow trees. Several kitchen ingredients had been also utilized for treating patients. The treatments were considered as the blessings of God, as it brought immense relief to the writhing bodies and prayer was considered as one of the strongest weapons in waging war against ailments.
Source: “A Brief History of Option Medicine”, http://www.med-help.net/med-history-of-alternativemedicine.
html

Option Medicine and Medical Tourism

Today, option medicine holds out immense possible in attracting medical
tourists. For example, India is likely to become a main hub for medical tourism,
with revenues from the industry estimated to grow from US3 million in 2007
to US.2 billion by 2012, says a study by the Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII) and McKinsey.3 The key competitive benefits that India faces are price
effectiveness and conventional medical systems like Ayurveda and Naturopathy.
The world has witnessed the development of many conventional as well as modern
systems of medicine in the 20th century. Path-breaking discoveries like penicillin,
technological advancements in modern surgery, main study advancement in stem
cell analysis and genetic structure, and the development of conventional medical systems
like standard Chinese system of medicine, Acupuncture, Osteopathy, Homeopathy,
Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani and others have all been a component of developments in the
omnipotent territory of global medicine. The key competitive benefits that India
has are price effectiveness and traditional medical systems like Ayurveda and Naturopathy.
The last few years have seen countries with their own individual expertise attracting
tourists from all over the world and promoting medical tourism like by no means before.

India

In India, medical tourism in option medicine has its ancestry in South India
and some locations in North-Eastern India. Internationally famed for its natural remedies and therapies, Kerala’s schools of medicine have embraced Siddha,
Naturopathy and Ayurveda in treating their patients. These conventional medical
practices are estimated to attract high-end medical tourists from Europe and
Middle Eastern countries. The essential benefits that a country like India faces
with regard to medical tourism are its standard therapies like yoga and Ayurveda
combined with tourist attractions in states like Kerala and north-eastern states.
Naturopathy, a therapeutic system based on natural remedies, trusts natural
elements like air, water and sunlight, combined with therapeutic massages and
conditioning and toning of the human body. Naturopathy believes that the human
body has the capacity to heal on its own, provided it is in a healthy environment.
With a holistic approach to well-being, Naturopathy believes that the 3
physical entities – the physical body, the supernatural soul and the mind – ought to
be integrated via natural energies. “A recent survey shows that 76% of global
drugs are consumed by USA and European countries. We think that freedom
from diseases and drugs can only be achieved by living a natural life style.”4
Ayurveda, the most ancient health care system, takes its ingredients from nature.
The use of herbs, materials like gold and mercury and several household ingredients
make this science quickly accessible to typical man. Ayurveda claims to cure diseases
like diabetes with the aid of nature. The Siddha medical system, which is a component of
Ayurveda, employs herbs, minerals and advanced scientific tactics under ancient
principles of medical science to cure many chronic diseases. It is named as one of
the most complicated and intricate forms of medicine. Siddha considers nature
and man as 1 essential entity. It claims that physiological characteristics like
human aging can itself be arrested with natural remedies.

Naturopathy has evolved medical tourism in India in far more than 1 approaches.
With its systems of medication making use of all natural ingredients to restore the holistic
illness-fighting nature of the human body, the medicine has developed increased
chances of its own survival via tourists from all parts of the world visiting
India to reap its benefits. As Vitthal Kamat of the Kamat Group of Hotels says,
“With Naturopathy and Ayurveda along with the world renowned tourist attractions
and heritage locations, the tourism sector can grow in leaps and bounds.”5 Naturopathy
in “KayaKalp”, a naturopathy centre in Himachal Pradesh, run by the Vivekananda Medical Research Trust in India has served medical tourists in detoxifying, immunizing and rejuvenating by way of Yoga, Pranayama, Panchkarma, Meditation and Naturopathy. Its therapies are claimed to be drug-much less and really natural. Naturopathy takes the aid of Ayurvedic preparations for healing processes like Panchkarma and improvement of blood circulation.

India’s pioneer in option therapy – medical tourism, Kerala, has visitors
from all over the world in the months of June, July and August. These months are
looked upon as the finest period for cure of bodily ailments by means of Ayurveda.
High top quality medical facilities supplied at low costs are the major tourist attraction
in Kerala. Mr. M Narayanan, head of Poovar Island Resort says that there are
tourists from countries like Australia, Europe and Germany. The packages offered
in these Ayurvedic spas consist of services like Ayurvedic oil massages, powder
massages, vegetarian diets, detoxification programs and a lifestyle change. In reality
it is small known that Ayurveda consists of not just massages, but a entire gamut of
services like herbal and natural diet plans, natural healing therapies, and consequently
a full-fledged medical system.

Ayurveda Gram, a unique Ayurvedic Institution in Bangalore offers Ayurveda
in its wellness form to medical tourists. It offers services like Customized Yoga,
Pranayama, Meditation, and a vegetarian diet to boost metabolism. Its sprawling
campus full of medicinal herbs and natural surrounds helps in the processes of
cure for specific ailments like Arthiritis, Spondilytis, Cholesterol, Sinusitis, Peptic
Ulcer and Obesity. Other therapies by Ayurveda Gram consist of Anxiety Management
therapies, Panchkarma and rejuvenation therapies.

AYUSH, the department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha
and Homeopathy was formed under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act,
1970. 1 of the most recent awareness activities undertaken by AYUSH was a
health fair organized in parts of Hyderabad, Chennai, Indore and New Delhi.
AYUSH ensured that the significant Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha manufacturers in
India participated in this health fair.

Yet another famous Ayurvedic centre in India is the C V N Kalari Centre for
Ayurveda. Kalari is 1 of the approved Ayurvedic centres recognized by the
Kerala Tourism Department.6 Kalari has its buyers from a lot of foreign countries. The centre specializes in Marma Chikitsa (the application of pressure on specific
nerve points) and other special practices of healing. Having both therapeutic and
rejuvenative aspects in them, these specialized healing procedures take extensive support
of Ayurveda to treat the ailing.
Some Ayurvedic resorts have formulated Ayurvedic kitchens that assist enhance
the effectiveness of oil treatments. Diet regimens, detoxification programs and other
processes that give a glowing skin to the customer are quite well-liked. Some of these
Ayurvedic resorts also arrange for cooking classes to help their buyers acquire
and maintain the way of life that they are introduced to in these spas and resorts.
Ananda, an Ayurvedic Spa in the Himalayas is one of the most well-known destination
resorts in India. It provides specialty Ayurvedic packages like Aroma therapy massages,
reflexology programs for rejuvenation, anxiety release programs, personalized Yoga
sessions, body composition analysis and weight reduction programs through Yoga
and Ayurveda. Ananda claims that its packages and therapies cure a lot of ailments
like headaches, nausea, climatic disorders, facial paralysis, insomnia, asthma, neuralgia
and does general improvement of metabolism.

China

The 3000 year-old technique of traditional medicine in China has gained popularity
as the world’s most common medicine, being utilized by more than a quarter of the
world in treating even chronic diseases like cancer, AIDS, allergies and heart diseases.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses medicinal herbs, therapeutic exercises
and acupuncture to cure ailments. TCM diagnoses illnesses based on the five elements
theory and the yin-yang theory. The five elements theory base their evaluation on the
five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water to establish a connection between
human physiology and pathology and the natural environment.7 The movement of
these five elements constantly rules the functioning of the human body and thus
establishes the interdependence of both.

The yin-yang theory calls for comprehending the bright and dark sides of
the universe, in other words, the opposite properties of the universe.8 The relative
nature of yin and yang represents the interrelationship between substance and function. As conventional chinese medical practitioners say “Only with ample
substance can the human body function in a healthy way and only when the
functional processes are in very good condition, can the vital substances be
appropriately refreshed.”

Chinese herbal medicine is a lot more recognized as Chinese materia medica. This includes
Chinese crude medicine, prepared drugs in pieces, conventional Chinese patented
medicines and simplified Chinese medicinal preparations. Chinese herbology, a main
aspect of TCM addresses the art of combining medicinal herbs.10 It visualizes the
whole human body’s balance of energies and spirit to treat a medical condition.
Herbs are combined into different potions of different characteristics for the sake of
different individuals being treated by TCM practitioners. Herbs like Astragalus,
Ginkgo, Ginger, Green Tea, Siberian Ginseng and Garlic are used to treat many
ailments. Around 300 mineral and animal extracts and 400 formulae are employed to
cure diseases, in Standard Chinese Medicine.

Acupuncture, as component of TCM is employed to unblock the flow of vital energy through
the human body.11 One of the oldest healing tactics in the world, this conventional
method aims at “restoring health by way of simulation of specific points on the body.”12
Ailments like nausea, addictions and some kinds of pains are claimed to be treated
with the aid of acupuncture.

Taking advantage of its abundant human resources, China is luring medical tourists
into its web of alternative medical therapies. Wellness packages in China come at
low costs and without any side-effects, thanks to proliferated Traditional Chinese
Medicine. Numerous massages and spas have been set up in recent times that supply
mental health and physical well-being to medical tourists with the assist of Chinese
medicinal herbs. Wellness apartments are established for the purpose of serving
senior medical tourists. These wellness apartments facilitate these tourists in
practising their own hobbies and also conducting medical activities like Taiji.

Germany

Germany’s option medical practices have their origins in Homeopathy, a
medical system that was developed by Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician.
Homeopathy considers symptoms as disturbances of important forces that have
connection with the human body. Homeopathic advocators believe that this
medical system has the capacity to cure acute diseases like flu, cold, pains, depression
and fatigue, constipation, irritability other than chronic diseases. It is claimed to
cure allergies and allergic disorders like Eczema and Asthma. Moreover, this
medical system is child friendly, in the sense, that the medication given by
homeopaths is sweet to the tooth and as a result acceptable. Homeopaths are known
for debonair and their hands free of charge treatment of patients. They concentrate a lot more
on the patient’s state of mind and attitude towards life. The preparation of various
potions in Homeopathy is carried out mostly with the support of herbs, minerals and
animal extracts. Also, it is typically reasoned that since the dosage that homeopaths
prescribe is in such minute constitutions and due to the fact they come in dilutions of
substances like water and alcohol there is no opportunity of any side-effects.
Germany also stands well-known for its herbal remedies. Regulated by Commission
E14 on the purity and pharmaceutical activity, these herbal medicines in Germany
have come a lengthy way in preventing and curing many diseases like cancer, AIDS and
other severe ailments. Most physicians in Germany are required to be educated in
Alternative therapies, so that it serves complimentary to modern medical treatments.
As Mark Blumenthal, chairman of the American Botanical Council points out, “Most
of the clinical study that’s conducted on the leading herbal medicines in the United
States comes from Germany.”15

With far more than 300 spa towns, Germany has become the premier destination
for health and wellness in Europe.16 1 of the most well-known resorts in Germany
is the Baltic Spa Resort in Warnemunde. Situated on the shore of the Baltic Sea,
it idealizes the sea as a “homeopathic pharmacy” and claims that “it contains all
essential trace elements and has a similar composition to human blood”17 Sea water is said to have revitalizing effects in treating bodily ailments like respiratory
illnesses, sleep disorders and obesity. Other than these, mental disorders like
depression, anxiety and agony are claimed to be cured with the support of the sea.
Sea breeze is said to be specifically successful in treating cardio-vascular as well as
dermatological conditions. Significant benefits that Germany faces are in terms of
both price and top quality. As Axel Steller, the CEO of the Arab German Health
Foundation points out, “In the US, operations are four to five times much more expensive
as they are in Germany”.

Japan

Japanese medicine is recognized as Kanpo or Kampo, a herbal medicine that forms part
of well-researched modern clinical techniques and also traditional methods of
medicine. A Japanese variant of the traditional Chinese medicine or the Oriental
medicine, Kanpo adheres to the body’s natural instincts and natural mechanism
of healing. For this purpose, medical treatment entails diagnosis of the tongue,
abdomen and pulse. At each stage of the treatment, diverse formulae that are
needed to bring the body back to normalcy, are prepared by the physician.
These herbal medicines are regulated by the Japanese Government. Kanpo
medicine is utilized to cure several acute and chronic ailments like cardio-vascular,
respiratory, digestive, reproductive and dermatological conditions and immune
system corrections and even disorders like bedwetting, high cholesterol and
hepatitis. Though Kanpo therapies take longer than usual to work, this medical
system uses some extremely natural diagnosis and treatment methods and concepts
like water, blood and air to identify bodily symptoms. Also, it is claimed that
these herbal medicines produce no side-effects simply because of their natural
compositions. Japanese therapists of Anma go to countries like India and Singapore
to aid in promotion of health tourism. Anma, a conventional Japanese massage, is
said to be a complete form of Shiastu19 that treats the body to release blood flow
in a correct manner to rejuvenate the body.

Apart from attracting tourists for its natural herbal medical treatments, Medical
tourism in Japan has turn out to be popular thanks to its volcanic areas that have allowed
the formation of some hot mineral water springs called Onsen. Japanese Onsen serve as places where the ailing can get alternative treatments to modern medical
practices. These have medicinal properties that heal wounds, alleviate pains and
replenish energy levels. Senior tourists and individuals suffering from many kinds of
aches and pains come flocking to these mineral water springs. The healing
properties of these springs are accentuated by the surrounding volcanic soil that
is composed of many minerals and curative elements.

Outlook of Medical Tourism in Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine is here to stay, claim some conventional medical practitioners.
Given its perceived benefits over the modern medical strategies and the high-priced
western medicines, option medical therapy is gaining ground in several developing
as well as developed countries. Practices like Ayurveda and Homeopathy claim that
surgery may possibly constantly be the last alternative in case of treatment of an ailment. Natural
medicines like herbs and minerals can all be partaken as food and not medicines as
such, because their composition is all natural. Alternative medicine is utilized in conjunction
with modern medicine to treat several chronic ailments like diabetes and AIDS. This
helps modern medical practitioners to evolve a closer relationship with the patient
and cure him to a greater extent, thus giving him a new perspective to life. It follows
that one need to by no means overlook the disposition of the conventional cures suggested by
our ancestors. These supply a standpoint from where 1 can comprehend the
profundity of conventional and alternative medicine, and gauge the tremendous potential
of option medicine in medical tourism.

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References
1. www.hinduonnet.com
2. “Kerala”, www.takekerala.com
three. “Prospects of Medical Tourism in India”, www.mpiweb.org
4. “Medical Tourism push for Penang and Langkawi”, http://thestar.com.my
5. www.wikipedia.com