Western Medicine, the Positive and Negative

It is believed that Western medicine is beneficial by modern scientific standard, whilst others contend that it may in fact do more harm than good. Western medicine has been developed over many centuries to provide modern and relevant health care to vastly different populations of people. Inherently there are negative connotations with the medical science not as yet being perfected, and as such, many modern medicines may have severely detrimental side effects.

Modern Western medicine has cured many debilitating diseases for example, polio, small pox and tuberculosis, also is utilised to treat physical and neurological conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, cerebral palsy. as well as treating common ailments such as influenza, hay fever and many other allergies. Many patients are totally reliant upon modern vaccines to prevent previously common afflictions such as German measles, malaria and rabies. The main desired outcome of Western medicine being fast and effective treatment to the specific affected area.

However, despite incurring the positive treatment required, many Western medicines produce extremely negative side effects, which may in fact be worse than the ailment that the medicine was taken for in the first place. Of these side effects, multiple may last long term cause serious health related issues. Furthermore, some individual may develop an immunity towards the positive effect of the medication. These complications may lead to expensive and personal consequences.

In conclusion, Western medicine has provided many people with the healing and remedies required regardless of the negative effects associated. One may draw the conclusion that a more traditional approach to medicine may in fact aid the body in defending itself and preventing illness by supporting its normal biological functions. Whilst, Western medicine’s focus is on treating the illness after the fact.