Running Head: 1: Cam Versus Traditional Western Medicine

Running Head: CAM VERSUS TRADITIONAL WESTERN MEDICINE.
CAM versus traditional Western medicine
Name of Student
Name of Institution
Date
CAM VERSUS TRADITIONAL WESTERN MEDICINE 2
The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) Versus Traditional Western
Medicine
Question 1
Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) possess no clinically effect that can be
proven like in the case of traditional western medicine. Nevertheless, the CAM is evidence-based
medicine since the patients are treated with the use of experience, unlike in science-oriented
medicine (George et al., 2015). CAM is also not efficacious like traditional western medicine
because its efficacy cannot be proved based on natural science (Schofield et al., 2017). On the
other hand, the effectiveness of western medicine can easily be proven because its uses are
compatible with the requirements of the natural science that supports the medical report.
Also, CAM medicines may not be effective in secondary health concern, unlike in
traditional western medicine. The secondary health concern is based on chronic diseases, which
can only be adequately handled in western medication. Diagnosis in CAM may sometimes fail to
come up with the exact pathogenesis of a given condition, but the science-oriented medicine
does. Therefore, CAM medicine may be helpful but not to the same extent to which traditional
western medicine is effective.
CAM efficacy may be affected due to different opinions from the practitioners
(Cherniack and Cherniack, 2016). On the contrary, the traditional western medicines efficacy is
never changed because the views from the healthcare professionals on the treatment have
undergone through many trial experiments and are well evaluated. Even for that, traditional
western medicine and CAM are still used to date.

Question 2
Quality patient outcome and traditional western medicine
Quality patient outcome is related to conventional western medicine in that both of them
call for proper patient care. In this case, both of them ensure that the patients get adequate patient
care during treatment, and as a result, they get satisfaction. For example, a patient who has
cancer needs to be placed under a particular health care unit and receive a specialized therapy but
not in the general wards. So, this enables them to get appropriate healthcare so that they may get
relieved of the pain they might be undergoing through. Therefore, both cases need quality patient
treatment to achieve a satisfactory result. Even for that, both quality patient outcomes and
traditional western medicine may be problematic where the patient is misdiagnosed and given
the wrong prescriptions or therapies. For instance, a patient suffering from malaria is
administered with typhoid medications. Also, traditional western medicine may prove to be
expensive.
Patient safety and traditional western medicine
Both patient safety and conventional western medicine call for the best treatment
practices to ensure patient safety. For instance, in both, a patient should only take the medical or
other treatments prescribed for them; this ensures that the patient's immunity is not interfered
with hence promoting good health and safety. Additionally, Patients safety is used in cases where
there is a disease breakout in a given population whereby the infected individuals are quarantined
and treated. However, the remaining population may be vaccinated following medical rules and
regulations. On the same, not a patient suffering from the coronavirus infection is quarantined so
that they do not infect other people in the society or the wards: this leads to patient's safety.
Traditional western medicine encourages the patients to follow the therapy just as prescribed by
the specialist; this ensures patient safety. Even for that, Patient safety may fail to protect in
cases where the disease cannot be controlled hence resulting in the spread of the infection to
other healthier people in the community. Also, traditional western medication may fail in cases
where the therapies fail to mend the intended purpose or treat a disease.
The use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) versus traditional Western medicine
Both CAM and conventional western medication are used to treat chronic conditions. For
example, in CAM, patients have higher healing expectations because patient-physician
communication is better (Edime et al., 2017). For instance, a patient suffering from diabetes or
pressures, among other diseases, will have to communicate frequently to the physician to help
the specialist know the progress and treat the patient accordingly. Consequently, the patient may
be endangered under CAM when the system fails to give appropriate medication due to
misdiagnosis. On the other hand, under traditional medicines, a patient may be advised to follow
yoga for body fitness and weight loss. However, in some cases, the therapy may fail if the patient
does not support the recommended information to help them achieve the intended results
Question 3
Most individuals in the community and organizations believe in CAM for preventing
diseases and promoting health and wellness than the traditional Western medicine; this is
because they believe CAM contains well-defined procedures and medications for treating
different forms of conditions. On the other hand, healthcare organizations believe that traditional
western medicine may be effective than the CAM since they involve therapies that put the
patient under proper health. The conventional Western medicine is also considered to promote
health and wellness since it includes treatments such as yoga that enables the patient to keep fit
hence preventing different diseases, including obesity. Therefore, it is evident that both CAM
and traditional western medicines affect the communities and organizations positively.
Question 4
There are many inequities regarding the access to CAM; for example, many individuals
consider the knowledge of CAM as the lowest. Even for that, most health care in the
communities refer the patients to CAM since some families believe in CAM for treatment and
safety. Some communities believe in CAM therapies for treatment, unlike traditional western
medicine. However, some of the CAM facilities are very expensive and have bared a given
population from getting access to them. Most people believe that traditional western medications
practitioners have more knowledge and experiences in treatment but are expensive; hence they
cannot access it.
Some CAM facilities are deep-seated in villages hence preventing the average number of
people from reaching them. On the other hand, many traditional western medical facilities are
located near to the reach of the maximum number of people in the community. Also, some
families believe in the fact that some traditional western medications are the best in treating
chronic diseases than CAM. However, this results from personal experience. For instance, a
person is handled through the named western medication, and they got better, and their health
stabilizes. Therefore, in the next treatment, they will still undergo the same treatment due to
experience.
Consequently, traditional western medication sometimes tends to be very expensive
hence baring the low -income people in the society from accessing them. On the other hand,
some services that are affordable in CAM may be costly in traditional western medicine.
Therefore, people tend to have different opinions when it comes to treatment. For instance,
wealthy families may afford any of the two noted types of medication without any problem. On
the other hand, the poor may not be eligible for the services offered by both.
Additionally, CAM therapies are not consistent in practicing or dispensing of the
techniques and medicines (Cherniack & Cherniack, 2016); this makes it difficult for people to
trust them. For instance, most individuals fear for their safety in case they are put in inconsistent
therapies. Also, most practitioners in CAM are not well trained in most of the methods they use
in treating this is dangerous to the life of society. On the other hand, traditional western medicine
is trusted because most of its professionals are trained in different areas. However, some
individuals fear the therapy-induced by them since they may misdiagnose and give the wrong
treatment, which in turn may be fatal.

References
Cherniack, P., & Cherniack, N. (2003). Alternative medicine for the elderly. Springer.
Edirne, T., Arica, S. G., Gucuk, S., Yildizhan, R., Kolusari, A., Adali, E., & Can, M. (2017). Use
of complementary and alternative medicines by a sample of Turkish women for infertility
enhancement: a descriptive study. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 10(1),
11.
George, J., Kong, D. C., Stewart, K., Ioannides‐Demos, L. L., & Santamaria, N. M. (2015). Use
of complementary and alternative medicines by patients with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. Medical Journal of Australia, 181(5), 248-251.
Schofield, P., Diggens, J., Charleson, C., Marigliani, R., & Jefford, M. (2016). Energetically
discussing complementary and alternative medicine in a conventional oncology setting:
communication recommendations for clinicians. Patient education and counseling, 79(2),
143-151.

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Running Head: CAM VERSUS TRADITIONAL WESTERN MEDICINE.

CAM versus traditional Western medicine

western medicine is effective.

western medicine and CAM are still used to date.

Quality patient outcome and traditional western medicine

Patient safety and traditional western medicine

example, in CAM, patients have higher healing expectations because patient-physician

cannot access it.

Consequently, traditional western medication sometimes tends to be very expensive

Additionally, CAM therapies are not consistent in practicing or dispensing of the

treatment, which in turn may be fatal.

of complementary and alternative medicines by a sample of Turkish women for infertility

enhancement: a descriptive study. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 10(1),

of complementary and alternative medicines by patients with chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease. Medical Journal of Australia, 181(5), 248-251.

discussing complementary and alternative medicine in a conventional oncology setting:

communication recommendations for clinicians. Patient education and counseling, 79(2),

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