Alternative and traditional medicines have varying degrees of effectiveness. While some alternative therapies like herbs have benefits and are potentially effective for prevention, reliance on unproven alternative or traditional methods could endanger one's health. The study reviewed various alternative therapies like herbal medicine, chiropractic, Reiki, and faith healing. It found that some therapies like Reiki have not been proven to have medical effects and may work through placebo effects from the patient's beliefs. The researchers concluded that using a combination of proven alternative therapies along with conventional medicine is likely most effective, rather than solely relying on unproven alternative or traditional methods.

1. A research study on the
effectivity of alternative medicine
In Partial Fulfilment for the Requirements
In English Communication 2
2nd
Semester, SY 2014-2015
Submitted by:
LUGTU, MA. CECILIA
BALOCATING, LEA MAE
POBLETE, KURT HOWELL
DIZON, KEITH JOSEPH
Submitted to:
MRS. APRIL D. OPELAC, M.A.
March 2015

2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The researchers wish to give their thanks to the people who have supported them for the
accomplishment of the study; to our families, which have assisted us by giving out examples of
alternative medication; to God, who was a source of will and motivation to the rest of the
researchers; and to our professor, Mrs. April D. Opelac who has given us the information and
guidance to have the ability to finish this study.

3. TABLE of CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………..3
1.1 Previous Findings
1.2 What is and What’s not
1.3 Significance of Study
2. BODY……………………………………………………..4-5
2.1 Alternative Medicine and it’s examples
2.2 Traditional Medicine and it’s examples
2.3 Why it works and why it doesn’t
3. CONCLUSION……………………………………………6
4. REFERENCES……………………………………………7

4. Introduction
Alternative medicine has long been practiced to be what it is today. Some have been proven
to have medical effects, some have not. But still, questions have been, and are still being asked
today. Most people wonder why some alternative medical treatments that were proven illegitimate
were receiving positive remarks from their recipients. According to Wechsler, et. al. on 2011, the
positive effects that illegitimate drugs and treatments give are results of the Placebo effect, a
neurological state that occurs whenever a person is given a drug or treatment, regardless of its effect
to the patient. It shows how the brain is a factor to human health.
In fact, placebos are used to stabilize the patient’s state of mind by deceiving them with
ineffective medicinal treatments, resulting in the patient to think that they have been treated from
their illness. This may explain why some scientifically ineffective treatments are still having positive
feedbacks.
Instead of just studying the neurological importance in human health, the researchers plan to
uncover more information on different kinds of complementary and alternative medicine while
providing concrete proof on why the treatments work or doesn’t work. It is a great source of
information for people willing to try a different approach in health, or for people who have
problems financially.
The purpose of the present field investigation was to study the effectiveness of alternative
medicine and its other benefits can sound reasonable and promising. However, they may or may not
be proven by the scientific method. The study includes a number of alternative and traditional
practices as well as the difference of the treatments regarding to its uses. This paper aims to show
more information on the positive and negative effects of using alternative medicine and treatments.

5. Body
Alternative medicine nowadays is very useful for us people because it helps the people in
their interest in human health, leading to the prevention of human diseases. More and more people
are turning to alternative medicine to address their needs. The public is starting to recognize the
effectiveness of it. Complementary and alternative medicine is a term applied to over a hundred
different treatments and diagnostic methods; it is used to describe all types of non-orthodox
medicine.
Herbal medicine is an alternative for chemical drugs. Unlike chemical drugs, herbs costs
dramatically lower and is more available to homes. According to the Department of Health, local
herbs such as Akapulko, Lagundi, Peppermint, and Bayabas have different medical attributes, each for
a different cause. Heavily relying on herbal medicine especially on major illnesses is not
recommended. Herbal medicine is best used for alleviating illnesses or for prevention.
For people who are suffering from bodily pains, there are a certain number of alternative
therapies such as chiropractic. According to the Burton Goldberg Group on 1999, chiropractors
specialize in the manipulation of the spinal column and other joint dysfunctions. They are very
similar to the hilots in the Philippines due to both having knowledge on how to manipulate the
bodily structure.
Reiki, an alternative therapy of Japanese origin, focuses more on the energy of the recipient
which they call Ki. During therapy, the Reiki master transfers Ki to the recipient through contact by
the hands. Reiki practitioners say that Ki is related to the health of a person. In an experiment
conducted by Kayne, SB on 2009, twenty patients that are experiencing pain were placed into Reiki
treatment. After treatment, a significant reduction in pain was recorded. But, due to the lack of
scientific proof that Reiki actually has medical effect to the human body, it has been classified as a
placebo.

6. Traditional medicine, according to the World Health Organization, is medicine that refers to
health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating natural and spiritual therapies.
According to Lugue, VR on 2011, examples of these traditional practitioners here in the Philippines
are the albularyos and the hilots, usually found in rural areas.
Faith healing too is considered a traditional therapy. It is popular in the Philippines especially
for those of Christian and Roman Catholic faith. A lot of people claim to have improved from faith
healing. Faith healing heals through spiritual means. It is done by a person by usually placing hands
on the patient as a bridge between the divine presence and the believer. According to Barber, N on
2011, faith healing is believed to be a Placebo effect. The result of faith healing is related to the
recipient’s faith or the belief of medical improvement. But claims of people recovering from certain
disabilities such as blindness, people unable to walk, etc. is still in question. Faith healing is good for
people who actually believe in it.
The reason why some of these unproven alternative and traditional therapies work is because
of the placebo effect. It is true that faith healing still holds a lot of questions but this is most likely
the answer to most of it. Due to their belief that they will get better, they actually do. Placebos don’t
necessarily have to be something that is taken. Anything that will make the person believe that he
will be cured is classified as a placebo.
Reliance to treatments and therapies like Reiki and faith healing could endanger a person’s
life. Without suitable proof, certain illnesses could worsen overtime if not seen by a professional.
The researchers would highly suggest visiting your doctor before using these unproven therapies.

7. Conclusion
Our research has proven that not all alternative and traditional medicine is effective. Though
proof of these therapies being ineffective was not found, reliance to these unproven methods could
risk a person’s health. Certain alternative medicines such as herbs are potentially best for prevention.
The effectivity of alternative medicine depends on which method the person is going to use.
Moreover, alternative medicine has its own advantages such as low price, availability and
improved prevention. But disadvantages such as unproven methods show that it is not
recommended to only use alternative medicine and therapies. Most likely, a combination of proven
alternative medicine and prescribed drugs and treatments would be most effective.

8. References
Books
The Burton Goldberg Group (1999). Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide. 1640 Tiburon
Blvd. Future Medicine Publishing, Inc.
Lugue, VR, et. al. (2011). Our World of MAPEH. 1253 Gregorio Araneta Ave., Quezon City. Vibal
Publishing House, Inc.
Kayne, SB (2009). Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2nd
Edition. Lambeth High Street,
London, UK.
Websites
WHO guidelines on basic training and safety in chiropractic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/alternative_medicince, retrieved 02/17/15
10 DOH approved medicinal herbs.
http://www.medicalhealthguide.com/philippineherbalmedicine.htm, retrieved 02/17/15
Faith healing as a Placebo.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-human-beast/201103/faith-healing-shouldnt-work-it-
does, retrieved 02/19/15