Varieties of Medicine

2019 ◽  
pp. 3-33
Author(s):  
Alex Broadbent
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Western Medicine ◽  
Geographical Region ◽  
Medical Practices ◽  
Mainstream Medicine ◽  
Temporal Diversity ◽  
History Of ◽  
Medical Traditions ◽  
Distinct Geographical Region

This chapter surveys the origins of medicine and introduces the concept of “Mainstream Medicine,” which is the globalized descendant of Western medicine. Based primarily on Roy Porter’s work, a broad-brush survey of the history of Mainstream Medicine is provided. The history of Alternative Medicine is also outlined, and a rough distinction drawn between Alternative and Traditional Medicine. The latter has its origins in a distinct geographical region and tradition, while the former typically involves conscious deviations from or rejections of the mainstream. Medical traditions from China, India, and Africa are briefly outlined. The chapter illustrates the geographical and temporal diversity of medical practices, in order to ground both the driving questions of the book—what is medicine, and what should we think of it? Any answer must handle the variety of medicine and be epistemically fair to the various traditions.

scholarly journals Evidence-based Research in Complementary and Alternative Medicine I: History

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Chiappelli ◽  
Paolo Prolo ◽  
Olivia S. Cajulis
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Western Medicine ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Medical Treatments ◽  
Medical Interventions ◽  
Philosophical Foundations ◽  
Medical Tradition ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Contemporary Western medicine has witnessed a fragmentation of our conceptualization of the medical endeavor into ‘traditional medicine’ and ‘non-traditional medicine’. The former is meant to refer to the Western medical tradition, the latter encompasses both ‘complementary’ and ‘alternative’ medical practices. Complementary medicine complements conventional medical treatments, and alternative modes of medical interventions are meant to replace traditional Western medicine. Evidence-based research must be directed at establishing the best available evidence in complementary and alternative medicine. This paper is the first of a set of four ‘lectures’ that reviews the process of evidence-based research, and discusses its implications and applications for the early decades of the 21st century. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the series by examining some of the historical and philosophical foundations of this research endeavor.

Theoretical Medicine vs. Practical Medicine

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa A. Vaughan
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Folk Medicine ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Traditional Healing ◽  
Practical Medicine ◽  
Theoretical Medicine ◽  
Mainstream Medicine ◽  
Medical Traditions ◽  
The Middle Ages

This chapter examines the differences between theoretical medicine, empirical medicine (or medicine as practiced), and folk medicine. A particular focus on midwives and traditional healers will be enhanced by examining folklore, herbals, and other diverse examples where we can find evidence of traditional medicine. Examples of contemporary debates between traditional healing and mainstream medicine may help us sort out the different medical traditions of the Middle Ages.

Decolonizing Medicine

2019 ◽  
pp. 239-262
Author(s):  
Alex Broadbent
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
Cultural Influence ◽  
The West ◽  
Cultural Expression ◽  
Mainstream Medicine ◽  
Medical Traditions

The phrase “traditional medicine” is commonly used to refer to medical traditions originating outside the West, and still practiced either as alternatives to or alongside Mainstream Medicine. Hard and dismissive attitudes to traditions with non-Western origins are obviously insensitive. It is clear that power and knowledge are intertwined. What counts as knowledge is partly determined by who has power. Moreover, medicine is clearly imbued with cultural influence. Yet if we reject medical relativism, we cannot accept that medicine is simply a cultural expression. We must consider which of two conflicting traditions, or two incompatible prescriptions, is correct (if either is). Medical Cosmopolitanism is a tool for negotiating the opposing temptations of excessive tolerance and dogmatism, and for understanding how one might “decolonize” medical knowledge. The chapter suggests that developments of the notion of decolonization can prevent a collapse into medical relativism, espousing “critical decolonization.”

Concepts of Shalya Tantra in Kampo - Japanese system of Traditional Medicine

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Gururaja
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
History Of Medicine ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Universal System ◽  
Separate Branch ◽  
Two Systems ◽  
History Of ◽  
Basic Concepts ◽  
Independent Branch

History of medicine is very fascinating. We can find many traditional systems of medicine developed in different regions and served humans for many centuries before the development of modern medicine. The system developed in India is known as Ayurveda and system developed in Japan is known as Kampo. We can find many similarities in the basic concepts between these systems. Apart from use of internal medicines both the systems have used sharp instruments, Fire etc in the management. Treatment like excision, Incision etc using different sharp instruments comes under a separate branch as Shalya tantra in Ayurveda but there is no independent branch for surgery in Kampo system. We can find many similarities in surgical concepts between these two systems. By adopting and combining these concepts we can develop a universal system for alternative medicine.

Hanbang Healing for the World: The Eastern Medicine Renaissance in 1930s Japan-ruled Korea

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Flowers
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Western Medicine ◽  
Unusual Case ◽  
Effective Resistance ◽  
Colonial Medicine ◽  
Colonial Rule ◽  
Medical Practices ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
Japanese Colonial

Abstract The story of the 1930s Eastern Medicine Renaissance in Korea is an unusual case in the history of colonial medicine. Responding to Japanese colonial rule that began in the first decade of the twentieth century, a few thousand Korean physicians of Eastern medicine complied with the new registration requirements, but they turned that compliance into effective resistance. By organising conferences, publishing journals and books, and through the new medium of advertising, the physicians refuted Japanese official arguments of the superiority of Western medicine. The Koreans flipped on its head the Japanese rhetorical argument of Koreans and Japanese as one body (with the Japanese as ‘the head’) and persuaded the Japanese that they could learn from Korean medical practices. Flipping the Japanese trope of Korean weakness upside down, Koreans thereby used their version of Eastern medicine to demonstrate Korean strength.

scholarly journals Natural products for treating or preventing influenza

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Catherine Ulbricht ◽  
Wendy Chao ◽  
Dawn Costa
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Disease Prevention ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
The Other ◽  
Historical Significance ◽  
Mainstream Medicine ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Other Substances ◽  
Medical Traditions

Natural products – including botanicals, minerals, and other substances produced by organisms – not only hold historical significance in various medical traditions, but they also form the basis of many modern-day drugs. On one hand, natural products are considered to be a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM); as with many CAM therapies, natural products are often used for primary disease prevention and treatment – or as adjuncts to conventional therapies – despite uncertain effectiveness or safety. On the other hand, natural products have given rise to numerous conventional drugs, which are widely used in mainstream medicine and compose the primary therapeutic strategies for numerous conditions (including influenza). In this review, the available evidence on the use of select natural products for the treatment or prevention of influenza is discussed. Finally, a brief overview of an established influenza drug with botanical origins is provided.

scholarly journals In people and pets in Grenada -- do owners practice alternative and traditional medicine on both people and pets?

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Monique Fitzpatrick ◽  
Brittany Perfetto ◽  
Jose Hernandez ◽  
Satesh Bidiasee
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Conventional Medicine ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Engine Oil ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical Practices ◽  
Pet Owners ◽  
The World

Introduction：Alternative and traditional medicine has been used in various cultures across the world for hundreds of years. Many regions of the world, including the Caribbean Islands, use traditional medicine practices such as charcoal for poisoning, seeds for deworming, salt for lesions, spices and herbs for inflammation, and engine oil for mange. In communities where biomedical resources are limited, alternative medicine is more cost effective and attainable for both people and their pets. Although conventional medical practices have a scientific basis, its options are often limited and such practices and treatments have physiological side effects that must be considered.Objective: The objective of this study is to identify whether people in Grenada practice traditional medicine, and if these practitioners are also implementing similar practices on their companion animals. It is hypothesized that many citizens of Grenada prefer the use of traditional medicine over conventional medicine for both themselves and their pets.Methods: In order to test this hypothesis, we conducted a cross sectional study using a questionnaire to collect data from pet owners and determine whether they practice traditional medicine – and if so, identify which specific practices were used and how they were being implemented (strictly on themselves, only on their pets, or both).Results: We found that many people use alternative medicine practices on themselves and both themselves and their pets, but few use them on just their pets.Conclusions: This study can offer us a more comprehensive understanding of alternative medicine, thereby allow us to engage pet owners in this area of healthcare. Veterinarians can be better informed of the alternative medical practices that their clients may be utilizing, which will allow them to educate the owners by offering their guidance and expertise in approaching traditional medical practices – and perhaps offer alternative medical solutions when appropriate. Furthermore, it will allow veterinarians to formulate more comprehensive patient histories in veterinary clinics around Grenada.

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