10 Traditional Medicine Practices That Are Probably Bogus & 10 That Actually Work
Myth Or Medicine?
Though traditional medicine practices date back millennia, there's nothing obsolete about them. These alternative healing practices have steadily been gaining steam in the Western world in recent years as more people take a proactive approach to their health. While there are a lot of positive things to be said about traditional medicine practices, there are also plenty of reasons to be skeptical. Some of the "treatments" found in these ancient forms of medicine are pseudoscientific and can even be harmful. Here are 10 traditional medicine practices that are probably bogus and 10 that are backed by science.
1. Cupping For Detoxification
Cupping involves placing cups on the skin to create suction and promote circulation. Ancient medicine practices claim it draws out toxins through the skin, but there's no scientific evidence to back this up.
2. Trepanation
Trepanation is one of the oldest known surgical procedures. It involves drilling, cutting, or scraping a hole into the skull to release evil spirits. It was used to treat migraines but it's more likely to make them much much worse.
3. Bloodletting
Bloodletting originated in Ancient Egypt and used to be a common medical practice to treat everything from pneumonia to mental illness. It involved draining a person's blood based on the belief that too much blood caused disease. We now know from science that bloodletting is harmful and often leads to death.
The Burns Archive on Wikimedia
4. Mercury Consumption
Mercury compounds were used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat insomnia and Ayurveda to rejuvenate and detoxify. In Daoist alchemy, it was used in elixirs of immortality but often ended up having the opposite effect as it can be fatal.
5. Moxibustion On Newborns
Moxibustion is the TCM practice of burning dried mugwort near the skin to promote healing. In certain cultures, it's used on newborns because they believe it strengthens their immunity and balances their "qi" but there's no evidence supporting this, and it poses a burn risk when done on a baby's sensitive skin.
6. Using Animal Parts For Medicinal Purposes
In some forms of TCM, it's believed that rhino horns promote vitality and tiger bones can treat arthritis. These are bogus claims that contribute to harmful poaching practices.
7. Astrology For Diagnosis
Some traditional medicine practices believe the position of the stars and planets can be used for diagnosis. In Ayurveda, natal charts are used to indicate potential health problems and imbalances in the body but there's no scientific evidence to suggest the position of celestial bodies tells us anything like this.
8. Urine Therapy
The practice of drinking or applying one's own urine to the skin to detoxify and heal was used in many traditional medicine practices including TCM and Ayurveda. The claims are that it can cure skin infections, boost immune function, and promote longevity, but there's no science to back these up.
9. Crystals For Healing
Crystal healing is based on the idea that crystals and gemstones possess energies that can interact with the body's aura and promote healing. TCM, Ayurveda, and Tibetan traditional medicine all promote the use of crystal healing, but there is no scientific evidence supporting it.
Sierra NiCole Narvaeth on Unsplash
10. Colon Cleansing
Colon cleansing involves flushing large volumes of water into the rectum to cleanse the digestive system of toxins. It's used in TCM, Ayurvedic medicine, and ancient Egyptian and Greek medicine. However, our bodies naturally detoxify themselves, so this practice is generally deemed unnecessary and sometimes even harmful.
Now that we've covered the bogus claims of traditional medicine, let's talk about the things they actually got right.
1. Pulse Diagnosis
Pulse diagnosis is a TCM practice in which a practitioner feels a patient's pulse at specific points on the wrist to determine certain information about their health. This differs from how the pulse is taken in mainstream medicine because it measures different parameters including rhythm, strength, and depth, not just the heart rate. When performed by an experienced practitioner, pulse diagnosis is surprisingly reliable.
2. Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves inserting needles into specific points on the body to balance the flow of "qi." Research suggests it may be effective for body pain and chronic headaches and it may also be helpful for stress, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
3. Yoga
Yoga is one of the most widely accepted and scientifically validated traditional medicine practices. Originating in India, it's known to reduce anxiety and depression, improve flexibility and strength, help with chronic pain, and regulate weight and blood sugar.
4. Meditation
Rooted in various spiritual practices like Hinduism and Taoism, meditation involves training the mind to focus and reach a mentally calm and clear state. Science backs up the efficacy of meditation to reduce stress, depression, chronic pain, and blood pressure, and improve emotional regulation, immune function, cognition, and sleep.
5. Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is a traditional healing practice found in many cultures including Indian, Chinese, and Swedish. It involves manipulating the body's muscles and tissues. It's scientifically proven to reduce pain and stress and improve sleep, mental health, and immune function.
6. Heat Therapy
Heat therapy or thermotherapy is a healing practice in which a hot bath, sauna, steam room, or heating pad is used to administer heat, increasing blood flow and relaxing muscles. It's been proven effective for pain relief, improving circulation, and reducing stress.
7. Tai Chi
Tai Chi is a TCM practice that combines slow and gentle continuous body movements with meditation and controlled breathing. It's scientifically proven to enhance balance and flexibility, help with arthritis and fibromyalgia, reduce stress and improve mood and cognition.
8. Ayurvedic Panchakarma
This ancient Indian medical practice involves five main detoxifying therapies designed to purge the body of toxins, starting with oil massage and induced sweating. It's scientifically proven to expel waste from the skin, regulate digestion, rejuvenate body tissue, and boost the immune system.
9. Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy uses water to treat pain, injuries, and anxiety and to detoxify the body. Hot, cold, or salty water is used to promote healing. This practice is a popular spa treatment but it dates back thousands of years to ancient Rome, Greece, Japan, and India. Research has found it to be effective for muscle recovery and relaxation, detoxification, stress, and inflammation reduction, and improved circulation and blood flow.
10. Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting may be all the rage in the dieting world these days, but it's nothing new. It finds its roots in several ancient medicine practices including TCM and Ayurveda. It involves voluntarily abstaining from food for a set period and research suggests it reduces inflammation and improves heart health, and cognitive function.
KEEP ON READING
20 Ways to Improve Your Brain As You Age
