There is no doubt that natural
medicine
may hold a lot of benefits in the management of modern lifestyle-related health problems like obesity, diabetes, cancer and hypertension. While some argue that since these conditions can not be treated with orthodox
medicine
, a return to traditional
medicine
should be advocated for.
This
essay shall explain my option that due to the superiority of orthodox
medicine
, occasioned by the huge investment in its
research
and
study
, traditional
medicine
does not stand a chance against modern
medicine
in the
treatment
of the above-mentioned conditions.
To begin
,
although
natural
medicine
gave birth to modern
medicine
, perhaps due to years of neglect, traditional
medicine
has become far inferior to orthodox
medicine
.
This
is because orthodox medical fields are widely being researched and studied in laboratories and institutions all around the world.
Furthermore
, annually billions, even trillions of dollars are invested into
research
in pharmacy, radiology, cancer care and surgical procedures and treatments for diseases.
Furthermore
, various universities around the world have standardised curricula for the
study
of various branches of modern healthcare professions, aimed at expounding the knowledge base to tackle contemporary health challenges.
This
is not the case in natural
medicine
, which does not attract as much attention and
research
investment.
Secondly
, the decades of
research
breakthroughs in orthodox
medicine
have made its procedures and
treatment
very standardised. For illustration, dosages of drugs for specific age and weight classes of patients, standard surgical equipment and procedures, specific radiological
treatment
options and dietary plans have been discovered, all thanks to the efforts of medical researchers.
In contrast
, in Nigeria,
for instance
, natural
medicine
and
treatment
are still at their crude stage. It is commonplace to see herbal drug vendors selling in markets, crowded motor parks and unhygienic places, claiming to have herbs that cure multiple diseases, sometimes all common diseases. I,
therefore
, opine that more financial and
research
investments must be made to improve the level of practice and
study
of natural
medicine
if it's to be compared to modern
medicine
. If
this
is done, alternate, or even, better
treatment
options and even novel treatments could be discovered in conditions where modern
medicine
might have failed.
In conclusion, traditional
medicine
requires more standardisation and organisation, and more attention and huge investments to favourably compete with orthodox
medicine
in the
treatment
of lifestyle health problems.
Besides
, a structured curriculum for the training and
study
of natural
medicine
in tertiary institutions would
also
be necessary.