Difference Between Traditional and Modern Medicine Essay - 550 Words

Difference Between Traditional and Modern Medicine (Essay Sample) Content: 1. By saying that culture is all encompassing, anthropologists usually refer to the fact that culture is the main explanation behind the behavior of mankind. Humans, in their lives since childhood, get to learn of some behaviors from the surroundings. The various behaviors reinforced by some positive stimuli are perceived as the most desirable ones and such traits are observed as the best. On the contrary, society condemns and punishes some behaviors. Those punishable behaviors are perceived as bad traits. At the end of it all, an average human becomes more or less a product of the behaviors learned over time. The various behaviors and the associated punishments or rewards define what we basically call cultures. Cultures result in natural or instinctive drives to adapt to conform to the well being of a larger society. In fact, culture defines the way humans think, act and react to changes.2 .Using traditional medicine comes with some advantages and disadvantages. On t he part of the advantages, the various patients first of all, access medication at the most reasonable costs. Secondly, traditional medicine is quite effective when it comes to the treatment of chronic illnesses. However, traditional medicine lacks dosage instructions and thus it may be quite dangerous incase one takes in an overdose. The poison risk that comes with the use of traditional medicine is the other risk worth mentioning.Western medicine refers to medicines that have their roots from western civilization whereas scientific medicine is a term commonly used to refer to the modern form of medicine. The medication traces its origin from the synthesis of the Flexnerian medical teaching reforms together with the Germ theory of disease. Scientific medicinesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ first advantage is that they come with a clearly outlined prescription that guides the various patients. Secondly, scientific medicine happens to be suitable for the treatment of a wide array of diseases. On the co ntrary, this kind of medicine is quite expensive especially when it comes to cases of acute illnesses.3. Hypodescent is a term mostly used to refer to children of mixed union that are directed or associated with the subordinate group. The term owes its origin to the numerous historical American colonies. The practice results in the "one drop rule" which refers to the fact that any individual associated with black ancestry definitely qualifies as a black. As it has always been the case, racial segregation has cropped up over time and, eventually leading to great animosity among the people in the United States.4. A ...