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Alternative Medicine Insights

1) Alternative medicine refers to therapies that are supplementary to modern Western medicine, rather than complete substitutes, though some doctors refuse to recognize alternative therapies. 2) Demand for alternative therapies is growing as limitations of modern medicine are more widely understood, though orthodox doctors often dismiss them due to lack of formal medical training among some practitioners. 3) The World Health Organization aims to integrate proven alternative therapies into Western medicine.

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91 views1 page

Alternative Medicine Insights

1) Alternative medicine refers to therapies that are supplementary to modern Western medicine, rather than complete substitutes, though some doctors refuse to recognize alternative therapies. 2) Demand for alternative therapies is growing as limitations of modern medicine are more widely understood, though orthodox doctors often dismiss them due to lack of formal medical training among some practitioners. 3) The World Health Organization aims to integrate proven alternative therapies into Western medicine.

Uploaded by

Carol
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Instituto de Humanidades “Alfredo Silva Santiago” Concepción

Subject: English
Form: IV grade
Unit 5 Practice

Name: Date: Class:

Alternative Medicine
Alternative medicine is, by definition, an alternative to something else: modern, Western medicine.
But the term `alternative´ can be misleading, even off-putting for some people. Few practitioners of
homeopathy, acupuncture, herbalism and the like regard therapies as complete substitutes for modern
medicine. Rather, they consider their disciplines as supplementary to orthodox medicine. The problem
is that many doctors refuse even to recognize `natural´ or alternative medicine. To do so calls for a
radically different view of health, illness and cure. But whatever doctors may think, the demand for
alternative forms of medical therapy is stronger than ever before, as the limitations of modern medical
science become more widely understood. Alternative therapies are often dismissed by orthodox
medicine because they are sometimes administered by people with no formal medical training. But, in
comparison with many traditional therapies, western medicine as we know it today is a very recent
phenomenon. Until only 150 years ago, herbal medicine and simple inorganic compounds were the
most effective treatment available. Despite the medical establishment’ intolerant attitude, alternative
therapies are being accepted by more and more doctors, and the World Health Organization has agreed
to promote the integration of proven, valuable, `alternative´ knowledge and skills in western medicine.

1. Answer the following questions using your own words.


a. Why is the term `alternative´ not entirely appropriate when applied to medicine?
b. Why are alternative therapies often rejected by conventional doctors?

2. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Support your answer.
a. Nowadays, more and more people are asking for alternative medicine.

b. Herbal medicine has been the most effective treatment available for 150 years.

c. The World Health Organization will support effective traditional knowledge and skills.

3. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options:
Attitude Therapy Misleading Recognize Refuse Establishment
a. deceptive
b. a group of people who have power and influence
c. don't accept
d. behaviour

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