3 Review(s)

In a world full of pharmaceuticals, nature may sometimes help us heal from diseases, and this is where alternative medicine steps in. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been defined as a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices and products that are presently not considered to be a part of conventional medicine.There is no evidence that indicates that alternative medicine in India prevents or cures any diseases, although it does aid in recovery and pain relief. Research highlighted that majority of people with chronic diseases use some form of complementary therapy at some point throughout their medical condition. India is the birth place of one of the oldest systems of medicines, Ayurveda, which had its origin around 2000 years back. Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha and Unani and Homeopathy are recognized in India as the Indian systems of medicines. Although CAM has been practiced in India for thousands of years, there is limited literature available on the extent of use, attitude and perception of patients utilizing CAM services and none among doctors in India. Since practitioners of modern medicines may have to encounter patients using CAM, it would be useful to know their attitude and perception towards CAM.The patients preferred to use CAM as they perceived it to be better, economical, safer and easily available. Majority of the patients had not been asked by their doctors about any alternative therapies during the course of history taking in the OPD. This could be because of lack of awareness on the doctor’s part about CAM. Another reason could be the acute shortage of time for adequate history taking. The hospital gets thousands of patients daily in the OPD and doctors are under tremendous pressure to see and manage them. Art therapy (visual art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, dance/movement therapy, and expressive writing therapy), adventure therapy, child centered play therapy, sand therapy, dance therapy, and integrative therapies are considered as alternative therapies AT are powerful ways to communicate with clients. Some clients may have difficulty in expressing their feelings and thoughts verbally. These clients may think that thoughts and feelings are too painful to put into words.