Does Alternative medicine really work?

Every time there is a pandemic anywhere, new theories start doing the rounds. One debate that has been going on from the time Dr Alexander Fleming invented Penicillin is whether introducing artificial chemicals into the body really cures the system or simply provides instant gratification. While modern medicines have made tremendous advances, there is still a significant proportion of the population that shuns the tablet.

Many places in China, Japan, India and South America still prefer to go the natural way. This has led to a raging controversy on how effective these alternative treatments are. Recently, the UK health body recommended that Homeopathy be banned and that the National health Scheme (NHS) be disallowed to spend any grants on the same. This led to a huge outcry amongst the practitioners of homeopathy as well as those using homeopathy as a primary treatment methodology.

Former Microsoft employee in India and enterpreuener Raj Shah (name changed on request), avers that 'he has not had a single allopathy pill for a very long time'. He claims that homeopathy has cured him of a severe back problem and bleeding piles, which he said could have also been done using allopathy, but would have led to some side effects elsewhere. 'You just need to balance out your lifestyle' says Shah.

Back in China, even today, in modern cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, one can find Chinese therapist doing brisk business. People trust me' says Shin Wei (name changed on request) they believe that the tablet gives them relief for a day, but my medicines will cure them of the ailment forever. True to his word, there is a motley crowd outside his humble house in Chengdu.