In the health media, including the Internet, we are often exposed to news and opinion related to complementary medicine. This includes content that promotes the value of complementary and alternative approaches to health, such as acupuncture, meditation, and herbal medicine, among many others. We also see content that criticizes the value of complementary medicine. At the same time, insurance companies are showing increasing willingness to cover services such as acupuncture and chiropractic.
After completing the readings and watching the videos for this module, consider the role of complementary medicine from a medical sociology perspective, as you address the following discussion questions:
1.Discuss the evolving role of the physician vis a vis the role of practitioners trained in complementary approaches like acupuncture and naturopathy. Does placing confidence in a complementary medicine practitioner imply less confidence in traditional medicine?
2.Discuss complementary medicine from the perspective of multiculturalism. Does the role of complementary medicine reflect the increasing diversity of American society? As you answer this question, consider practices that you might associate with specific cultural groups, and how these practices have become more widespread.
3.Discuss complementary medicine from the perspective of social class, e.g. yoga studios on one hand, and traditional folk medicine on the other.