PREDICTION:
Healing that is now considered complementary and alternative will become conventional, while allopathic medicine will become the last resort!

Allopathy or Allopathic medicine is a system that uses remedies producing effects different from those produced by the disease it is meant to treat. M.D. acronyms indicate a doctor who practices allopathy. The use of pharmeceutical drugs or surgical procedures are generally prescribed for treatment, while they may make dietary & lifestyle change recommendations to their patients, they offer very little knowledge about complementary therapies outside of a small group of allied health professionals (see Conventional medicine below). This type of practice dominates health care in western society and there is growing concern about the incidences of over prescribing pharmeceutical products as well as unnecessary surgeries. It is certainly a valuable method and serves to complement more natural, gentler healing modalities. Allopathic medicine should be used with precaution. Get to know your practitioner, research their history, ask for references and obtain second and third opinions especially when it comes to potentially dangerous surgeries or prescriptions for newer drugs.

Conventional medicine refers to allopathic medicine but also to doctors of osteopathy (described below) and their allied health professionals including physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses. Other terms synonymous with conventional medicine: western medicine, mainstream medicine, orthodox medicine and biomedicine.

OPINION: An interesting blog comment regarding allopathic medicine and pharmeceutical companies. Read

Allied Health refers to a cluster of health professions that represent approximately 60% of the health care providers in the U.S. They are usually involved directly with treatments and track progress of the patient. Examples include physical therapists and their assistants, laboratory technicians, and respiratory therapy technicians. They evaluate patients, diagnose conditions, develop treatment plans, and understand the rationale behind the various treatments in order to judge their appropriateness and potential side effects. While they are included in the conventional medicine group, they have a tendency to support holistic practices.

GO LOCAL! Complementary Healing Modalities Read

Osteopathy, practiced by Doctors of Osteopathy or D.O.'s, looks toward all the modern tools and technology available for use in diagnosing illness and injury, prescribing and administering treatment. Practitioners usually encourage prevention and provide guidance for managing chronic conditions. They practice conventional medicine but, their practices center around holistic philosophies (described below), particularly the use of a hands-on diagnosis and treatment system, a distinct musculoskeletal manipulation or Osteopathic manipulative medicine. Learn More ... Osteopathy is the most integrated practice widely available and many D.O. services are covered by insurance.

Holistic philosophy centers around the idea that one must strike a balance between all the aspects of our lives including soul & spirit awareness, the care and feeding of our our bodies and overall thought processes. This whole health balance stems from the acknowledgement and realization that the individual is connected to everything that exists rather than separate. Holistic modalities for healing usually emphasize acknowledgement of energy frequencies including that of a source being such as God. It is the frequency of our beliefs, thoughts, actions, environment & nourishment that influences the condition of the body.

MEDITATION: Realizing Your Connection to All that Exists Read

Chiropractic practitioners focus on the relationship between the body’s main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient’s health. With their holistic approach to health, chiropractors assert that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to these structures, particularly to the spinal column. They do not prescribe drugs or perform surgical procedures, although they can make recommendations for allopathic practices if necessary. Most patients seek chiropractic care for back pain, neck pain and joint problems. However, many patients choose a chiropractor as their primary care doctor, because they prefer treatment plans that do not rely on medication or surgery. Chiropractic services are covered by health insurance, including Medicare, and are bound by the same regulations and ethics as M.D.'s and D.O.'s.

Naturopathy is a practice of using natural healing modalities with a focus on nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy and physical manipulation. Some may hold additional degrees in acupuncture or prescribe it's use. Pharmacology and minor surgeries are sometimes used. They recieve the same science and clinical training as conventional or allopathic doctors. They are generally primary care physicians and hold licenses and registrations. There are actually two types of practices: the Naturopathic Physician and a Traditional Naturopath. The Traditional Naturopath operates in more of a complementary fashion to conventional medicine, does not diagnose, they prescribe dietary and lifestyle changes, as well as guide patients through spiritual and thought behavior "strategies". They are most interested in the body, mind and soul mode of healing. In the U.S. the official title of Traditional Naturopath, is only currently legal in the state of Minnesota. Read

AWARENESS: The Tenets of Naturopathy Read

Homeopathy (More to come!)Read

Gerontology is the branch of science with a focus on the changes that occur as we age. Gerontologists study how aging affects us mentally, socially and physically.

Podiatric medicine is a branch of the medical sciences devoted to the study of human movement, with the medical care of the foot and ankle as its primary focus. Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) is to the foot what a dentist is to the mouth or an ophthalmologist to the eye - a specialist who has undergone lengthy, thorough study to become uniquely well-qualified to treat a specific part of the body. DPMs often detect serious health problems that may otherwise go unnoticed, because a number of diseases manifest first through symptoms of the lower extremities (i.e., diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, or kidney disease).