ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Alternative medicine is the most widely used remedy systems, in the treatment of various
diseases.
Alternative medicine is used widely because there are a large health care alternatives to be
more congruent within the own values and beliefs towards health.
Alternative medicine is more compatible with patients, offers more personal autonomy and
control over the health care decisions.
It is accepted worldwide because of its compatibility and acceptability in increasing the
beliefs regarding the nature and meaning of health and illness.
This review deals with various alternative therapies used such as Ayurveda, homeopathy,
acupuncture, naturopathy, yoga, herbal medicine, massage therapy; effectiveness of the
alternative medicine; assessment of the effectiveness of alternative medicine; sources of
information about the alternative medicine; alternative medicine therapies in treatment of
various diseases; perceived benefits of alternative medicine and thereby concluding with the
increased level of acceptance of alternative medicine, its widespread use in various diseases
and their treatment with various alternative therapies.
Alternative medicine is a type of any health care remedy or a system which is not accepted
generally in the modern biomedicine or therapies that are usually offered in place of or as a
substitute for the conventional therapies.
The main stream of medical practice usually includes the Allopathic medicine. The Various
alternative therapies used are: homeopathy, acupuncture, naturopathy, herbal medicine, diet
fads, folk medicine, faith healing, Ayurveda medicines, chiropractic, yoga, massage therapy
and music therapy. Courses in the alternative medicine are also known as complementary
medicine; private medical insurance agencies increasingly include the alternative medicine
options among their coverage.
The term complementary medicine and the alternative medicine refer to a set of health care
practices that are not a part of the country’s own traditional or the conventional medicine and
are not fully integrated into the dominant health care system.
In some countries they are used interchangeably with traditional medicine in some countries.
The public is becoming aware of the alternative medical therapies through all forms of the
media and large proportions of the public self-prescribe alternative medicines and also by
visiting the alternative practitioners in Europe, the United States and Australia.
Alternative medicine is used not so much because of their dissatisfaction with the
conventional medicine but largely because that they find these health care alternatives to be
more congruent with their own values and beliefs towards health and life. The therapies have
experienced the highest increase in use including the homeopathy, energy healing, massage,
mega vitamins, self-help groups, folk remedies and herbal medicine.
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS
Alternative medicine has a widespread use by over 40 percent of the total U.S population
which has been a considerable challenge to the conventional health care practitioner which
has shown a necessity to appreciate the different healing approaches of conventional
medicines and many complementary and alternative therapies and the understanding of how
these differences affect the treatment approaches and the measurement outcomes. In addition,
one must understand how the conventional research methodologies and the evidence
reporting limit or conflict with the ability to accurately assess the effectiveness of alternative
therapies and where to find reliable information about such therapies. Effectiveness of care
usually implies the positive outcome of the treatment which is the result of combination of
the factors like efficacy of an intervention, the approach to the patient, response of the patient
and setting in which care is given. Effectiveness also reflects the aspects of placebo or the
expectancy effect. Due to the costs, safety issues and the dominance of the pharmaceutical
interventions, the demonstrating efficacy relied heavily on a single tool for the measurement
of a biological therapeutic effect Randomizes controlled clinical trial (RCT). The RCT
approach to determining of all the clinical merits of the alternative invention are usually
important, given the highly individualized and the multifaceted treatment protocols typically
employed. The RCT research technique usually tests a well specified and standardized
treatment, delivered uniformly in a standard setting to specified subjects, designed for those
who ideally have only the target condition being treated and also includes agreements with
subjects to comply and adhere to the protocol usually for a reward. Due to this design the
efficacy studies specifically exclude the multiple, real world clinical factors which include
the approach to the patient, treatment setting, life style issues and the adherence to medication
protocol. The model of the single intervention clinical trials are more useful for the
pharmaceutical treatments than for assessing the outcomes of the most alternative medicine
therapies where treatment protocols are tailored to individuals rather than a standard group of
subjects. Assessment of the alternative therapy effectiveness may require a different approach
for the gathering and interpreting evidence. In the clinical world of the alternative practices
the treatment is not typically single drug or intervention, but is a complex therapeutic
modality that also may involve physical and emotional interaction with the therapist.
EXAMPLES FOR THE ASSESMENT OF EFFCTIVENESS OF ALTERNATIVE
THERAPIE
An example of an analysis of the weight of evidence in the alternative and the
complementary medicines from the article Rheumatology, ‘Herbal Medicines for the
treatment of Osteoarthritis: A systematic review’ published in the journal. This article also
includes the treatment of osteoarthritis with Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s)
by the authors of (from Exeter University, UK and the University of Maryland School of
Medicine, US) causes about 2000 deaths a year. The search for the literature of RCT’s of
herbal remedies for the osteoarthritis was done and found those 12 trials and 2 systemic
reviews of which some of these were replicated studies.
A set of Eleven remedies were studied: Articulin-F (an ayurvedic herbal mineral
formulation); avocado/soybean unsaponifiable (ASU); capsaicin (derived from hot chili
peppers, applied topically); devil’s claw (African plant, active agent: iridoid glycoside);
eazmov (Ayurvedic herbal mixture); ginger; gitadyl (combination of feverfew, aspen and
milfoil); phytodolor (three herb combination); reumalex (white willow bark, guaiacum, black
cohosh, sarsaparilla and poplar bark); stinging nettle and willow bark.
After reviewing the weight of evidence, the following recommendations were made:
moderately strong (3+favorable trials) evidence for the phytodolor, capsaicin. Weak evidence
(1 trial with favorable outcome) for reumalex willow bark, stinging nettle, articulin-F. No
evidence (no positive trials for eazomov, gitadyl, ginger extract). Finally, stated that there are
some of the promising alternative and complementary options for the clinical care.
There is evidence supporting the efficacy and effectiveness of a number of alternative
therapies and complementary therapies for different health conditions. The following table
summarizes the efficacy and the effectiveness of the selected therapies for common clinical
problems for which some evidence has accumulated (a positive direction of evidence
indicates that the treatment provides benefit, a negative direction indicates no benefit for the
clinical problem). Summary of the alternative and the complementary medicine effectiveness
for selected medical conditions.
PRINCIPLES OF HEALING OF VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
The complementary and the alternative medicines therapeutic systems emphasize some or all
of the following principle to a greater degree than the conventional medicines. Effective
integration of these therapies and also the conventional care must rest on the
acknowledgment, appreciation and application of these principles in patient-centred context.
They provide a framework for understanding the complementary and alternative therapy
approaches to healing that contrast with the biomedical model of care: Emphasize effective
communication between the patient and healer, which builds the trust and hence promotes
integration; Promote the body’s self-healing abilities (important principle); Emphasize the
self-care and empowerment of the patient in the healing process; Recognize the mind, body
and spirit as interactive and inseparable; Address underlying causes of illness-including the
environmental emotional and spiritual factors rather than just the clinical manifestations;
Prevent ill health by remaining in balance and harmony with the psychosocial and physical
environment; Enhance wellness with the optimal diet, exercise and reduced stress life style;
Individualize the treatment to particular patient, rather than focusing on the disease
condition; Emphasize the use of natural non-pharmaceutical substances or non-surgical
techniques in the care of patient; Appreciate the electromagnetic and energetic nature of the
human organism and the importance of vitality in healing; Acknowledge the healing journey
and that the return to wholeness can be a gentle and gradual developmental process.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES AND THEIR TREATMENT ON VARIOUS
DISEASES
Ayurveda
Ayurveda (ayush=life, vid=wisdom-Sanskrit) is the ancient medical systems within ancient
Vedic tradition offering the wealth of knowledge for meaning full life and health.
.Ayurveda, part of Atharvaveda, the last one of the four Vedas is timeless and unbounded it
has relevance even to the present day.
The philosophy of Ayurveda believes that everything in this universe is composed of five
elements, the panchamahabhootas. They, in turn constitute the tridoshas or bio-energetic
forces that govern our health and determine our constitution. Mental and the spiritual health
are determined by the trigunas or psychic forces.
The modern risk factor hypothesis pales into insignificance in the view of most elaborate
knowledge in Ayurveda
The recent additions to the modern medical list like hostility from the basis of Ayurveda risk
factors. Viz. Krodha, sokha, bhaya, aayasa, virudhaannabhojana, Thaponnalaan,
lavanakshara…rekta pitta prakopayeth.” (Anger, depression and sorrow, extreme fear,
exhaustion, wrong foods, sedentary living, too much salt and spices lead to most of the major
killer diseases).
The solution for this is Nithyahitha, mithaaaharasevi, sameekshkaari,
dhatasamahasathyapara Kshamavaana apthopaseviaarogyam.”(Have food in moderation
and also that which pleases the mind. Do not cheat tell lies. Work very hard, forgive others
even if they hurt you. Treat all as your own kith and kin.
Vedic wisdom is the right approach for holistic assessment of health and disease. The Vedic
wisdom aims not only to heal the sick, but also to preserve life by preventing illness-the most
complete system of health care known. It follows non–linear mathematics. Ayurvedic
treatment depends on restoring the distributed balance of the three dosha–vata, pitta and
kapha. Ti considers the whole human being not only the phenotype. It includes the genotype
as also the mind in classifying patients. Based on the constitutional type’s treatment differs
from individual to individual even for the same disease. Ayurveda astrology usually plays an
important role in disease and its cure but the science of astrology is good but not the
astrologers’ predictions, most predictions including those in the scientific predictions are just
“predicting the unpredictable”
The long term prospective studies from the basis of therapy in Ayurveda, includes the
treatment tailored to individual needs and is broadly grouped into the following:
Detoxification-panchakarmas, diet, yoga, herbal medications, meditation and prayer (no
particular god or book prescribed), Ayurveda surgery.
Sushruta described the various advances in Ayurveda surgery which could be gauged from
the intricate rhinoplasty, thousands of years ago. Stone removal and trephining from various
sites, hysterectomy, abdominal child birth, episiotomy, fracture setting, tumour surgery,
minor surgical procedures has been described. They had 127 instrument and suture materials.
Anaesthesia, sanmohini, was the much more advanced and aseptic methods were the most
modern. The lancet used for small pox vaccinations resemble the one used in the modern
medicine. Jenner’s vaccination has gained the authentication from the ancient ayurvedic
vaccination’s proven track record. Dr. T. Z. Holwell, presented the various details of ancient
Indian vaccination methods to the London Royal College of Physicians on 1747[10]. Various
detailed texts existed for the physiology, symptomatology, surgery, drug therapy and diet.
The descriptions of the angina pain and its origin were explained
“Athaathohradrogaprathishedamvyakyawamyah
YathovaachaBaghavanDhanvantharim:
“AyaammyatheMaaruthajeHradayamThudyathe,
NirmaathyatheDheeryathe Cha Spotyathe,
PaatichaThrinoshadaahachoshaamsyuhuPaithikecha,
Dhoomaayam Cha Moorchaa Cha Swedhahako.”

In the above chapter the symptoms of heart diseases and impending death by heart attacks is
described by Bhagavan Dhanvanthari (God of Healing).
There are eight branches of Ayurveda integrated at all levels: Surgery, medicine, gynecology,
pediatrics, toxicology, otorhinolaryngology, rejuvenation and the virilification therapy.
The oath of Indian physician is much more elaborate compared to that of the Hippocratic
Oath. In a classic, the Greek historian described how Aryans (cultured men-Sanskrit)
migrated from India to Greece via Sumeia and many other countries.
History shows the much data how the ancient Indian texts and pundits were taken to Greece
by the army of Alexander the Great. Charaka Samhitha and the Susrutha Samhitha, were the
most famous of all the texts, many others like MadhavaNidhaana are also said to be
significant.
Several thousands of medicinal plants mentioned in the ancient texts hold the key to future
inexpensive pharmacology. Charaka, the great Ayurveda sage wrote. “That is designated as
Ayurveda or the science of life wherein are laid down the good and bad of life, the happy and
unhappy life and what is wholesome and what is unwholesome of life, as also the measure of
life”. In order to complement modern medicine whitins all of its disadvantages,
Ayurveda fits the bill perfectly with less expensive and equally effective methods good for
long term care and is highly effective. Ayurveda is not just an alternative medicine but the
key basis of India’s health.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is defined as the therapeutic method using preparation of substances whose
effect when administered to healthy subjects correspond to the manifestations of the disorder
(symptoms, clinical signs and pathological states) in the individual patient.
Homeopathy as an alternative and complementary medicine and a holistic medicine can solve
some of the modern medical problems.
This method was developed by-Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) a German physician in
1810 and treatment for diseases with about 3000 homeopathic remedies was addressed based
on the golden principles and now it is practiced throughout the world.
Homeopathy is based on two main principals. The first principle- ‘like cures like principle’
(similiasimilibuscurentur), states that patients with particular signs and symptoms can be
helped by a homeopathic remedy that produces their signs and symptoms in healthy
individuals. The second principle states that homeopathic remedies retain the biological
activity after repeated dilution and succession even when diluted beyond Avogadro’s number.
The origin of homeopathic medicines includes the following percentages of Herbal >80 %,
Salts 10 %-15 % and Animal about 5 %. The Food and Drug administration of the United
States of America in 1938 recognized all the Homeopathic remedies as “medicine”, not a
supplement or vitamin.
Homeopathic remedies were proven to be effective, safe and cost-effective. After this study
Switzerland joined the countries of Germany, England, France, Denmark and Luxembourg
and provided the homeopathic remedies under insurance. Now a day’s homeopathy is
recognized as the second important medicine of world in terms of the extent of the patients
covered. 40 % of the French people use these homeopathic medicines for common cold and
allergies. In Germany, the most commonly used treatment for Hay Fever (a seasonal
sensitivity) is homeopathy.
A scientist named Cohort revealed that homeopathy could effectively reduce patients’ disease
severity and improve their quality of life from his study on 3981 patients with allergic
rhinitis, headache and 6 atopic dermatitis. Homeopathy could significantly decrease the
pulmonary discharge in patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) who
admitted in the Intensive care unit (ICU) and mechanically ventilated and the patients were
separated and discharged from the ventilator device faster than the control arm.
The effect of Homeopathic remedies efficacy on animals and herbals has been proven and
these evidences discourage induction in homeopathy (the use of Blatta orientalis in Indian
guinea pig and rat has been led to reduction of acetyl choline, histamine, eosinophil,
immunoglobulin E (IgE) and mast cell in hypersensitive lungs accompanied with
bronchospasm. Gamma interferon production rate by T cells has been increased up to 24 %
after the homeopathic remedies use. This also discourages the induction in homeopathy.
Acupuncture

Acupuncture means “to puncture with a needle”. The term acupuncture implies two different
words from Latin: aces mean needle and puncture means insertion.
It is the best known of alternative and complementary therapies.
Acupuncture is a treatment method that originated more than 3000 y ago in China and also
practiced in most of the world.
Traditional Chinese medicine defines acupuncture as: the stimulation of certain points on or
near the surface of the human body through any technique of point of stimulation with or
without the insertion of needles, these include the use of electrical, magnetic, light and sound
energy, cupping and moxibustion (the burning on or over the skin of selected herbs), to
normalize the physiologic functions or to treat various conditions of the human body.
The practice of acupuncture consists of inserting fine, solid needles (usually 32 to 36 gauges)
into selected body locations (acupuncture points). It describes there are 365 points located in
systematic fashion on meridians or “channels of energy f low” that are mapped onto the
surface of the body.
The key principles in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are that both wellness and illness
sult from an imbalance of yin and yang. Yin refers to the feminine aspect of life: nourishing,
lower, cool, deficient, inside, receptive, protective, soft and yielding. Yang is the male
counterpoint: hard, dominant, energetic, upper, hot, excessive, outside and creative. The
movement between these opposite forces, named Qi, is considered to be the essential element
in the healing system of TCM. Within the wide usage of acupuncture, patients self-refer to
acupuncturist for a variety of indications.
Acupuncture may be useful in difficult conditions such as asthenic states (“tired all the time”,
“low energy”), autonomic dysregulation disorders (Anxiety, sleep disturbance, bowel
dysfunction) and immune dysregulation disorders (recurrent infections and inflammations).
In many acupuncture practices, the most common indications are mainly for chronic pain
unresponsive to standard therapy.
The ancient method of acupuncture has gained significant popularity in our era, most of the
patients select acupuncture as part of their therapeutic plan because if it’s long history of use,
safety and reports of efficacy. Physicians may also wish to expand the scope of their practice
by taking additional training to administer acupuncture, even if one doesn’t add this training,
knowing how to refer the credible, well-trained acupuncturists and for what indications is
increasingly important in evolving model of integrative, combining the best of both scientific
medicine and traditional systems of care.

Fig – Acupuncture therapy

Naturopathy
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct method of primary health care-an art, science, philosophy
and practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illness.
It is a distinct type of primary health care medicine that usually blends age-old healing
traditions with scientific advances and current research.
It is guided by unique set of principles that recognize the body’s innate healing capacity,
emphasize the disease prevention and encourage individual responsibility to obtain optimal
health
Principles of naturopathic medicine: The healing power of nature–naturopathic recognizes
the body’s natural healing ability and trusts that the body has the innate wisdom and
intelligence to heal itself given the proper guidance and tools; Identify and treat causes–ND’s
attempt to identify and treat the underlying causes of illness, rather than focusing on
individual presenting symptoms; First do no harm ND’s begin with minimal interventions
and proceed to higher level interventions only as determined necessary; Doctor as teacher–
ND’s educate patients, involve them in the healing process and emphasize the importance of
doctor-patient relationship; Treat the whole person naturopathic medicine takes into account
all aspects of an individual’s health including physical, mental, emotional, genetic,
environmental, social and spiritual factors; Prevention–naturopathic medicine emphasizes
optimal wellness and the prevention of disease.
Treatment addresses the patient’s underlying condition rather than the individual presenting
symptoms. The naturopathic physician (ND) strives to thoroughly understand each patient’s
condition and view symptoms as the body’s means of communicating and underlying
imbalance. The main modalities the ND’s utilize are diet, clinical nutrition, behavioural
change, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, botanical medicine, physical medicine, pharmaceuticals
and minor surgery. Naturopathy can also be traced back to the European “nature cure,”
practiced in 19th century, which was a system for treating disease with natural modalities
such as water, fresh air, diet and herbs.
Naturopathy is most accurately viewed as a “whole system” medical practice, a paradigm
guiding the selection and prescription of complex, indivualized, multimodality treatments
regimens.
Naturopathy has defined reduction to single modality. Naturopaths will take care of
reviewing dietary and lifestyle patterns and may offer prescriptions in these areas at a level of
detail that exceeds what is commonly provided by allopathic primary care physicians.
Naturopathic physicians having a good training and expertise in herbal medicine, which
allopathic physicians generally lack. According to Ayurveda, the indigenous system of
Indian medicine, which predates naturopathy by thousands of years, dairy products properly
prepared, are a “stavic” food, of the highest order of nutritional value.
Treatment modalities those utilized by the ND’s include the diet and clinical nutrition,
behavioural change, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, botanical medicine and physical medicine,
also perform minor office procedures and surgery, administer vaccinations and prescribe
many prescriptive drugs[38]. Proper nutrition is the foundation of a naturopathic practice;
here the food is utilized for both health promotion and disease prevention. The ND’s
recommended diets to each patient a set of balanced whole-foods diet rich in fruits, vegetable,
whole grains, legumes, wild caught fish, lean animal proteins, whole dairy products.
Although acupuncture and chiropractic care have achieved a set of measure of acceptance
within mainstream medicine, the integrative role of naturopathy has yet to be well specified.
 Fig – Naturopathy

Yoga
Yoga is specified as a mind and body therapy comprising of various breathing and relaxation
techniques. This includes the meditation, postures and phrase recitation to improve the mental
illness and physical illness.
Yoga (Sanskrit: योग, lit. 'yoke' or 'union') is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices
or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind,
recognizing a detached witness-consciousness untouched by the mind (Chitta) and mundane
suffering (Duḥkha). There is a wide variety of schools of yoga, practices, and goals in
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and traditional and modern yoga is practiced worldwide.
Yoga-like practices are first mentioned in the Rigveda as a non-Brahminical practice. Yoga is
referred to in a number of the Upanishads. The first known appearance of the word "yoga"
with the same meaning as the modern term is in the Katha Upanishad, which was probably
composed between the fifth and third centuries BCE. Yoga continued to develop as a
systematic study and practice during the fifth and sixth centuries BCE in ancient India's
ascetic and Śramaṇa movements. The most comprehensive text on Yoga, the Yoga Sutras of
Patanjali, date to the early centuries of the Common Era;Yoga philosophy became known as
one of the six orthodox philosophical schools (Darśanas) of Hinduism in the second half of
the first millennium CE. Hatha yoga texts began to emerge between the ninth and 11th
centuries, originating in tantra.
Yoga nidra is a type of relaxation technique, a form of sleep to attain a form of blissful
awareness which is not attained with other forms of yoga. Iyengar yoga usually helps in
postural alignment and movement; this usually promotes the use of blocks, mats, blankets
and belts. Hatha yoga incorporates yoga postures (asanas), breathing exercises
(pranayama’s), meditation (dyana), balancing of opposite properties (heat/activation with
cool/calming) for mental health development, kripalu and mindfulness based stress reduction
also include in the Yoga. Sudarshankriya yoga helps in rhythmic breathing techniques
performed within sitting posture eyes and mouth kept closed. Yoga is used to treat various
diseases and disorders like anxiety, depression, menustral irregularity, fibromyalgia,
hypertension and stress also used in the treatment of cancer.
Yoga in treatment of anxiety
Anxiety is most common psychiatric disorders with various comorbidities like depression,
restless leg syndrome, cancer and hypertension. The higher costs of pharmacological
therapies, gave rise to the use of alternative methods of treatment. Yoga is used as a therapy
to lower the heart rate and blood pressure in case of people suffering with anxiety. Symptoms
associated with anxiety include short and choppy breaths yoga is able to treat the warning
signs of anxiety. Yoga works because of the activation parasympathetic nervous system and
increases the neurotransmitter Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain and thereby
relieving anxiety.
Yoga also decreases anxiety in patients with psychiatric disorders (anxiety, stress or
depression). Yoga also helps to reduce the physiological and psychological responses to

stress.
 Fig - Yoga in treatment of anxiety
Yoga in cancer therapy
The use of yoga as Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is proven to be
beneficial. Most of the studies reported that yoga improved the physical and physiological
symptoms, quality of life and markers of immunity of the patients providing a strong support
for yoga’s integration into conventional cancer care. Cancer affects the quality of life from its
starting stage of diagnosis, progression, adverse effects of its treatment and diagnostic
procedures by affecting the physical, physiological and emotional problems of patients. Yoga
interventions are beneficial in improving the adverse symptoms in cancer patients caused
either by the disease or its treatment. The greatest challenges of cancer care providers are:
How to prevent the onset of cancer (transformation of a cell into a cancer cell); How to arrest
its progression; How to cure cancer; How to maintain the survivors Quality of life (QOL).
The studies proved the evidence of the beneficial effects of yoga on the physical and the
emotional health and QOL of cancer patients.
Yoga prevents the tumorigenesis and progression and ultimately cures cancer. Cancer
caregivers are trained and certified as the ‘Yoga therapists’ who have knowledge of the
particular disease and understand the needs of the patients. Greater efforts must be made to
integrate yoga as a main stream therapeutic program.
 Fig - Yoga in cancer therapy

Herbal medicine
Herbal medicines are the use of medicinal plants for the prevention and treatment of various
diseases.
Herbal medicine is mainly based on the remedies those containing active principles at very
low concentrations, or relying on magical-energetic principles. Traditional medicines are sum
total of practices based on theories, belief and experience of different cultures and times used
in the maintenance of health mainly in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement and treatment
of illness. The mind body medicine is considered as alternative or the complementary mode
of traditional western medicine and various modes used are a part of the mind body
connection. A successful treatment using these herbal medicines and the assessment of
efficacy is not different from that of conventional medicine.
Herbal medicinal plants are used in the treatment of various types of diseases such as Garlic
(Allium sativum L.) used for the treatment of Influenza and Diarrhoea etc.
 Fig - Various Medicinal Plants
Herbal medicines in treatment of Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus emerges due to various factors– inhibition of glucose absorption, up
regulation of glucose transporters, increase in glucose uptake, glycogen metabolism,
decreased insulin production, activation of the nuclear receptors peroxisome proliferator-
activated receptors (PPARs), Also because of effects of some opioids on glucose homeostasis
and antioxidants. Diabetes mellitus usually affects a set of 150 million people worldwide.
Herbal medicines and their preparations are useful for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, 200
traditional plants and their bioactive constituents possess anti-diabetic property.
Phytochemicals of various plants are said to be much effective as alternative medicines.
Extracts of various medicinal plants act at different levels by inhibiting the glucose
absorption from intestine, increasing the insulin secretion from pancreas, increasing the
uptake of glucose by adipose and muscle cells, inhibiting the glucose production from
hepatocytes.
Anti-diabetic effect of oral borapetol B compound isolates from the plant Tinospora crispa,
helps by stimulating the insulin release. Stevioside obtained for the plant Stevia rebaudiana
Bertoni increases the insulin sensitivity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, also exerts the anti-
hyperglycemic effect. Hence, herbal medicine as an alternative medicine helps in treating
diabetes mellitus by various mechanisms of action.
 Fig - Tinospora crispa plant
Fig - Stevia rebaudiana plant
Massage therapy
Massage therapy is mainly used to manage a health condition or top increase the wellness, by
manipulating the soft tissues of the body. Massage therapy is defined as the soft tissue
manipulation mainly for the therapeutic purposes done by the trained therapists[58]. This
therapy is mainly used to relieve pain. Massage therapy has been followed using the
mechanical devices in addition to the therapists, applied to single or multiple body parts.
Swedish/classical massage is the main type of massage therapy in several countries, clinical
massage and sports massage is mainly used for muscle spasms. Other various massage
therapies are Shiastu, Rolfing, reflexology and craniosacral therapy. Massage therapies are
mainly used to treat several types of pain such as low back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain and
pain from osteoarthritis of the knee and headache. Massage therapy is also known to be the
adjunctive therapy to help prepare the patient for exercise or any other interventions. Massage

therapy is rarely administered as main treatment.

Fig – massage therapy

Alternative medicine therapies on Muscular Atrophy

Muscle atrophy is defined as the reduction in the muscle mass that includes the partial or
complete wasting away from the muscle. The functional and morphological changes those
caused by the muscular atrophy usually result in decreased protein content, muscle fibre cross
sectional area, muscle strength and increased insulin resistance. The muscle atrophy also
occurs in cachexia, a comorbidity of abnormal conditions such as cancer, AIDS, congestive
heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also occurs in sarcopenia, a
decreases in muscle mass and strength associated with aging. The symptoms of muscular
atrophy are treated using acupuncture, herbal medicine and chuna treatment. Various CAM
therapies for muscular atrophy have also been reported. The CAM therapy promoted protein
synthesis and inhibited the degradation by enhancing the phosphoinositide 3-kinase
(PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway.
CAM alleviated skeletal muscle metabolism through modulating mitochondrial biogenesis
factors, thereby prevention of muscle loss, it also restored the expression of proteins involved
in the cell apoptotic pathway and autophagy pathway in the various models of muscular
atrophy.
BENEFITS OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
It treats the Actual Cause. One of the best advantages that alternative medicine offers is that it
heals the body and is designed to actually treat the cause of the pain or disease that has
occurred. By understanding and treating the disease, Chiropractors and other alternative
medicine professionals are able to work at the root of the problem. Mainstream medicine, on
the other hand, tends to treat the symptom that the disease or pain is causing, not actually
treating the cause.
It is an improvement of the Quality of Life. When we use prescription drugs we generally see
an improvement in pain, but once the drug goes out of our system the pain returns. When
using alternative medicine, there is a drastic improvement in the quality of life a person has.
It is safer. Alternative medicine is a wide spectrum of therapies, and they are almost always
considered to be much safer than mainstream medicine. Natural remedies are used to correct
the problem. There are no man-made, unnatural substances that you would be using to put in
your body.
it does not have bad side effects. When using mainstream medicine, you might be able to get
rid of your headache, but the side effects might include nausea, hallucinations and risk of
stroke in the process. Almost all mainstream medicine has some type of warning about the
bad side effects that come from taking it, where natural remedies don’t.
It is more flexible. Alternative medicine allows more flexibility in treatment plans. Many
chiropractors and alternative medicine professionals’ change their treatment plans according
to lifestyle changes, where mainstream medical professionals wouldn’t.
It looks at overall health of your body. Alternative medicine focuses on healing pain and
disease by balancing out other aspects of your life. Sleep, nutrition and stress can affect your
body, so adapting health plans with these in mind is important with alternative medicine.
Mainstream medicine is not nearly as well rounded.
It doesn’t offer dependency treatment options. Prescription pills can cause dependency and
other harmful side effects to the body and mind. Alternative medicine does not have those
same disadvantages.
 CONCLUSION

Alternative medicine has become popular and many of the professionals working in
occupational and environmental medicine feel the need to learn about it and implement it.
Many adults and children, several patients, ambulatory patients use alternative medicine in
addition to the traditional therapies. A wide spread of increase in the use of alternative
medicines and practicing has been noted in the recent years. There is a need for the
alternative medicine industry and also its health professionals to improve its self regulation
and standards. The public has gained accurate information about the alternative medicines
within the internet and alternative medicine websites where the safety and efficacy
information is clearly presented. Several challenges have been set for the researchers to find
more appropriate ways of studying the effectiveness of complementary and alternative
therapies .Various alternative therapies are assigned to treat various diseases, most of the
alternative therapies are used to treat various diseases which could be mentioned as problem
with the conventional medicine therapy. CAM is and increasingly important system which
implies good patient compliance. Hence alternative medicine serves as the important
therapies in treatment of several diseases and increases the level of acceptance in patients
which is reported to be a problem with some conventional therapies and serves to a greater
degree within some or all of its principles.
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