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- conventional medicine noun : the usual methods of healing or treating disease that are taught in Western medical schools
www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › conventional%20medicineConventional medicine Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
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Mar 14, 2024 · The meaning of CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE is the usual methods of healing or treating disease that are taught in Western medical schools. How to use conventional medicine in a sentence.
- Overview
- Conventional medicine
- Complementary medicine
- Differences
- How do healthcare professionals use them together?
- Potential benefits and risks
- Summary
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Conventional medicine is the most common type of medicine in the Western world. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for treatments that are not part of mainstream healthcare.
Many types of complementary medicine have been around for hundreds of years. However, it is only over the last few decades that doctors have started to use complementary medicines alongside conventional treatments.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that whereas people use alternative treatments in place of standard treatments, they use complementary treatments alongside them.
This article provides more information on conventional and complementary medicines, including the types, benefits, and risks. It also covers the differences and similarities between these two types of medicine.
Conventional medicine, also called Western medicine or modern medicine, is when healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, and therapists use scientific research to diagnose and treat symptoms and conditions.
Examples of conventional medicine include:
•pharmaceutical medications
•physical rehabilitation
•psychotherapy
•radiation therapy
Complementary medicine refers to treatments that people use in addition to conventional medicine. These treatments are not part of standard medicine.
Examples of common types of complementary medicine include:
•aromatherapy
•acupuncture
•herbal medicine
•massage therapy
People use conventional medicine to prevent, diagnose, and treat symptoms and conditions.
Doctors may use complementary treatments to alleviate the side effects of conventional medicine and improve the person’s overall quality of life. For example, a person may use complementary treatments to reduce stress, balance emotions, and alleviate fatigue while undergoing chemotherapy.
A 2020 study investigated the use of CAM treatments for people with fibromyalgia. Two-thirds of the participants used CAM treatments, with the most common therapies being:
•vitamins
•meditation
•massage therapy
A coordinated treatment approach that combines conventional and complementary medicine is known as integrative health. Integrative health aims to heal each person and maximize their quality of life by treating their physical, mental, and emotional health. Individual needs will determine the best combination of therapies.
Traditional healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and therapists, can work with complementary therapists to create a treatment plan. This plan can treat all aspects of a person instead of focusing on one area of the body.
Conventional treatments
As the law demands, experts have put conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, through rigorous scientific testing to demonstrate their safety and effectiveness. However, there are some possible drawbacks to conventional medicine. One example is the use of antibiotics, which doctors prescribe to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of these medications. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics increase resistance, limiting infection prevention and control.
Complementary treatments
As research has demonstrated, many complementary treatments — including acupuncture and various supplements — are safe and can be effective. The costs vary depending on the specific therapy, but some may be cheaper than conventional treatment. However, there is no scientific or medical evidence to show that complementary treatments can help treat or cure conditions such as cancer. Also, complementary therapies may interact with conventional treatments, potentially causing them to work less effectively or produce more severe side effects. For this reason, it is important to discuss any complementary treatments with a healthcare professional before taking them alongside conventional treatments.
An integrative healthcare approach combines conventional and complementary treatments. A person should consult a doctor to learn about the potential benefits, risks, and side effects of different treatments and how they affect each other.
A person can work with a doctor and complementary therapist to create a suitable and effective treatment plan. Regular checkups will allow these professionals to modify the treatment plan if necessary.
Conventional medicine is the scientifically based healthcare that doctors use to diagnose and treat symptoms and conditions. Learn about the types, benefits, and risks of conventional medicine and how it differs from complementary medicine.
Importantly, these practices have historically been considered outside the norm of Western medicine (also called conventional or mainstream medicine), which refers to the type of healthcare you’re most used to in North America — healthcare practitioners whose treatments rely heavily on options like medication and surgery.
Conventional medicine is a system in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals (such as nurses, pharmacists and therapists) treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation or surgery. Also called allopathic medicine, biomedicine, mainstream medicine, orthodox medicine and Western medicine.
Oct 14, 2021 · Summary. Allopathic medicine is another term for conventional, or modern Western medicine. It is an evidence-based system where doctors and other healthcare professionals treat symptoms using...
Jan 27, 2024 · Takeaway. Conventional or traditional medicine is also called allopathic medicine. In allopathic medicine, healthcare professionals use a range of treatments to treat infection, illness, and...
Nov 16, 2018 · Medicine is the field of health and healing that covers diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Conventional modern medicine is sometimes called allopathic medicine and involves the use of drugs or surgery. Learn about other fields and branches of medicine.
