Evidence Gap in Alternative Medicine (KEY IJP************597)

• Shivam Bharti

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Alternative medicine is a holistic approach in its recognition as a heterogeneous set of products and practices, with powerful healing effects. However, they remain to be the oldest yet traditions co-op ante bellum for curing some disorders 1. Earlier estimates suggest that over two-thirds of the worlds population have sought health care and services from antiquated alternative medicine over modern medicine. Current statistics indicate that half of the people worldwide depend on alternative medicine, including 42% in the USA, 48% in Australia, 70% in Canada, and 49% in France, as shown in Figure 1 3, 4. Despite current advances in modern medicine, the recourse to alternative medicine remains concentrated on treating life-threatening epidemics such as the new coronavirus disease-COVID 19, for which, so far, no approved systematic therapy exists. The renewed public interest has taken great life from the lack of curative treatment for several emerging and chronic diseases, high cost of modern drugs, time constrain from both patients and healthcare providers, microbial resistance and side effects of modern medicine. In the medical panorama, the most common methods of AM consist of self-medication, traditional healing practices, indigenous systems of medicine particularly ayurveda, herbal preparations, unani, homeopathy, acupuncture, naturopathy, chiropractic manipulation, etc., which have made AM quite popular. In contrast, the underlying idea of modern medicine signifies symptom-oriented care, loosely using pharmacological or invasive procedures of elimination in tight spots. Although AM is not assuredly safe, effective, nor biologically plausible, there is a debate regarding which method can be claimed as useful and safe. It is worth noting that old records provide testimonials about alternative modes, while comprehensive clinical trials across the spectrum provide glue to conventional modes based on modern approaches. We find guidelines that have helped shape most of the practice of modern medicine; several physicians are now open to the benefits of both forms of medicine, incorporating such effective complementary approaches and modern ones into their work with patients, symptoms, and circumstances. This has led to the development of a knowledge bridge among physicians, traditional practitioners, pharmacists, and patients about AM treatments, their safety, usage, and toxicity or contraindication. In this regard, investment in research activities, minimizing publication bias, protecting patents and intellectual property rights, and the contribution of policymakers are required to decide the future of alternative medicine so that cost-effective treatments can be provided. This would effectively place AM industrys standing with gaining public acceptance in the near future. In this chapter, different areas of AM, its uses, safety and regulation, current challenges, and future perspective are discussed