The pandemic has undeniable effects on our way of living. The crisis made everyone change the way they work, play, communicate, and tackle daily activities. But perhaps the most evident change that happened is how we approach health and wellness.
More people become health-conscious during the crisis. They are now focusing on their wealth by investing in things that can improve their state of health. This is one reason why more are spending on health and wellness products mid-crisis.
How healthcare providers treat Covid-19 patients depends on the symptoms presented by patients. Some have symptoms similar to the common flu. Others needed to be placed in the Intensive Care Unit due to their case being severe.
Many are turning to alternative and complementary medicine. The use of alternative and complementary medicine has been around prior scientific medicine. But the question is, why are more people turning to such practices when scientific medicine has been around since the 19th century?
What Are Alternative and Complementary Medicine?
These aims to heal people through the use of techniques outside mainstream healthcare. Such treatments and medicines can range from meditation techniques to acupuncture treatments. These are but a few examples of alternative and complementary medicine.
One can categorize alternative and complementary medicine into five main approaches. These are as follows.
- Biologically Based Practices
Some people use substances found in nature to boost health. This can include food, herbs, and natural supplements. Consumers use diet therapy, botanical medicine, chelation therapy, and natural supplements to make themselves healthier.
- Energy Therapies
This involves the use of external energy sources to facilitate healing and better health. Take magnets, acupuncture, and therapeutic touch as examples. They believe the use of these techniques can be enough to affect one’s energy and health.
- Manipulative and Body-Based Therapies
Some people are into massages, cupping, chiropractic, scraping, and reflexology. All these are part of manipulative and body-based therapies. This helps stimulate energy and assist toxins in moving out of the body.
- Mind-Body Techniques
Mental and emotional factors can influence one’s physical health. People now invest in things that can impact them spiritually, behaviorally, socially, and psychologically. Biofeedback, mediation, hypnosis, and relaxation techniques are some examples of mind-body techniques.
- Whole Medical Systems
This refers to the complete systems of practice and theory. Many medical systems stem from Japanese Kampo medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and India’s Ayurvedic medicine. This includes the defined philosophy and disease explanation, diagnosis, and therapy.
Why People Turn to Alternative and Complementary Medicine
There are many reasons why more consumers these days are leaning towards other healthcare practices. This is not only because they lack the money to take themselves to the doctor. While many people lost their jobs during the pandemic, lack of money and access to healthcare is not their only reason for accepting alternative and complementary medicine.
They Want Better Autonomy and Control
Having the freedom to choose how one can approach healthcare is why more people opt for alternative and complementary medicine. They like the idea of being able to explore their options outside of traditional healthcare. This makes them feel more in control of managing their health and wellness and attaining their health objectives.
Millennials Believe Pharmaceuticals Are Out of Touch
Many millennials are into alternative and complementary medicine because they believe western medicine doesn’t have consumer’s best interests in mind. They think pharmaceutical companies could do a better job reaching their generation. This usually means pharmaceuticals’ lack of reach on social media.
They Believe Doctor’s Visits Are Inconvenient and Lack Value
Many millennials still believe in what their doctors have to say about their health. But then, they tend to think that doctor’s appointments are often inconvenient and unnecessary, especially in this digital era. They see hospital visits to be redundant, costly, and impersonal.
Modern Doctors Are Now Recommending Complementary Medicine
One interesting thing that is happening in today’s world of medicine is this situation. Younger healthcare providers are now recommending complementary medicine. Numerous reports also show that hospitals are promoting alternative therapies.
Incorporating alternative and complementary medicine can help retain patients. Doctors do this to take into account the preferences and needs of their patients. When patients are heard, they are more likely to continue seeing their doctors.
The use of alternative and complementary medicine surged during the crisis. Among the top users of these practices are millennials. Since more professionals are now incorporating alternative and complementary medicine with traditional scientific medicine, more consumers are exploring their healthcare options to improve their health during the crisis.
