In today’s world, many sick people appear to be choosing complementary medicine over traditional treatment options such as trained physicians. This trend might seem desirable at the first glance, but I firmly believe it is a change for the worse as it undermines public health and health systems.
Firstly, by using complementary medicine people can do more harm than good to themselves as they use these treatments without doctors’ advice. There are some cases, physicians recommend you what kind of drug or treatment patients have to receive or not, depending on your allergy or overall health condition. This is because some patients might have allergies to certain drugs or treatment, which can lead to adverse reactions. Herbal medicine, can be great example, as it causes skin sensitivity for some individuals, ensuing headache or anxiety after some time. Therefore, relying on holistic treatments can have adverse effects, thereby worsening patients condition even further.
Secondly, this phenomenon can deter people from using healthcare services, taking a toll on healthcare systems. Since individuals start depending on complementary medicine, they do not feel the need for going to hospital. For instance, those experiencing breathing difficulties might depend on essential oils instead of consulting a doctor, under the impression that they are recovering. This in turn, will have negative impact on healthcare systems, which leads to reduced numbers of patients and less work for doctors.
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly believe that growing popularity of using alternative medicine is change for the worse, as it deteriorates citizens’ overall well-being and public healthcare sectors.