Conventional medicine is a traditional treatment system when doctors, therapists, nurses, or pharmacists prescribe patients drugs, surgery, or radiation to recover. Alternative medicine is used instead of traditional therapy; it includes philosophy and varies in different countries and cultures. Conventional and alternative medicine are two distinct approaches to human health that can be useful in one case and unnecessary or sometimes harmful in others.
The main difference between these two types of medicine is the approach and focus. While traditional medicine focuses on symptoms and current problems of a specific part of the body, alternative medicine targets prevention, health in general, and non-traditional, often natural and herbal treatments. Doctors or therapists cure people, in general, with drugs, or something, that is scientifically proven. The alternative approach has no evidence to be useful; it helps some people and results in better health; however, it can be dangerous for others.
The main goal of conventional medicine is to cure a disease that already exists, without any problem with health the traditional approach is unnecessary. Alternative medicine can be applied when there is a particular problem with one of the body parts and prevent any possible problems. Some alternative therapies have been found to be generally safe and effective. These include acupuncture, yoga, and meditation (National Cancer Institute, 2022). Although alternative medicine approaches to make a person healthier, it can damage health if serious diseases are cured this way without any medication.
The comparison of prices of conventional and complementary is subjective and depends on many factors. Bhuiyan and Aggarwal (2019) investigated and concluded that alternative medicine is less expensive, rather than a conventional one. “However, there is a need for future cost-effectiveness study in a larger scale, especially with respect to controlling the cost for society, consider pre-treatment and post-treatment option and medical investigation.” Also, a person always has to keep in mind that conventional medicine is at least covered by insurance, unlike an alternative one.
In conclusion, conventional and alternative medicine are two distinct approaches to human health that can be useful in one case and unnecessary or sometimes harmful in others. They differ from each other in technique, safety, goals, and cost. Traditional medicine is considered more reliable; however, the alternative one can be a good prevention of unexpected diseases.
References
Masud, J. H. B., & Aggarwal, A. (2019). Comparison of Cost Effectiveness of Complementary & Alternative Medicine and Conventional Medicine in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Two Public Hospitals of Bangladesh. Delta Medical College Journal, 7(2), p. 76-79.
National Cancer Institute (2022). Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Web.