New Medicine, Traditional Medicine
Co-Existence of the Two.
What is defined as traditional medicine and defined as new medicine depends on who you ask. In the pharma industry, professionals within the industry, and those providers often refer to Rx (prescription), OTC and similar to be traditional medicine, herbals, homeopathics and natural remedies non-traditional. Is that in fact a true categorization?
Nature, came before synthetics, and many prescription and OTC medicine or treatments have a component of natural or naturally derived ingredients. Technically, then, traditional is natural therapies, homeopathic, herbals, and therapies provided using same, such as Chinese Medicine, Eastern practices, spiritual well-being to “pre-treat” physical, acupuncture, homeopathy, and the like would be considered “traditional.” The new age or new medicine or “non-traditional” as direct comparators would be those classified as pharma, OTC or “pharmacy.”
According to http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com the global market for herbal or natural medicines will reach USD 107 billion by 2017. This varies according to country and can be specifically researched at http://www.euromonitor.com. Regardless of the numbers, the fact remains that as a general trend, with a maturing demographic, and greater understanding of cause of ailments, increase in spirituality and mental health, as well as focus on treating the cause rather than the ailment or outcome individuals are choosing prevention and traditional natural means of combating or “treating” an ailment with the understanding that instant gratification achieved will not be a long-term “fix”, come without potential reactions, or address cause. This leads us to question Can their be a co-existence of the two? And when is one more appropriate than the othe?
Most recently there was a significant amount of media attention regarding a young girl that required drug treatment at a cost of $360K per yr in order to live. The battle was an urgent one, and that which required immediate attention; success was achieved in providing the necessary help and Rx but not without a battle. In instances such as this case, and other similar cases prescription drugs are required to immediately facilitate a change, but does it end there and should it end there? The next steps to ensure long-term effectiveness and sustainability would ideally be a diet rich in nutrients or effective natural supporting treatments that would improve quality of life over the long-term, and hopefully seek to rectify cause. This is a very specific example. Cancer treatment? Is the best choice removing the cancer and then radiation treatment or chemo?…and if so is that a long-term resolution or does that simply remove and rectify as oppose to prevent? It undoubtedly is not long term as I am sure each one of us reading this post knows of re-occurrences either directly or indirectly. Is natural more a prevention or treatment, and pharma a treatment? The answers to these questions are both individual, unique and can be debated. Simply stated, new medicine does and can be used as an immediate treatment for an ailment or disease, so too can traditional depending on what is treated; source or outcome? The coexistence of the two used in knowledgeable collaboration for treating, rectifying and preventing at source is the ideal.
Under “street talk” is a very bold Shamanic post which was delivered just last week. There is truth to this statement, which examines the naturally occurring cause that creates conditions or illness. Whether it be anti-aging, prevention, or seeking treatment for an ailment, disease or condition, chronic or acute, regardless of the label treating cause should be the primary goal while minimizing risk and associated long-term effects.
Organic, may not be effective, natural most likely is not 100% natural, parabens in their entirety cannot be avoided in daily product use (systemic or topical), and regardless of the accolade or label efficacy and outcome should be the primary objectives. With that said, what is a cosmecuetical, nutracuetical and why is it not recognized by regulatory bodies?