Many vacationers are attracted to wellness-oriented packages that provide them an opportunity to reap benefits of complementary medicine while visiting an exotic location. There are many reasons why people are seeking CAM therapies to enhance their wellbeing. A majority of people are those who do not get proper treatment in modern medicine or want to combine an approach to wellness with modern medicine.
Others are those who want to relax or engage in tourist activities after the treatment. In the corporate world, employees are encouraged by insurance companies or employers to travel abroad for care. There are numerous advantages for the tourists who are seeking complementary medicine treatments. If you are considering using any complementary therapy for your health, you should consult your doctor for suggestion about the safety of the therapy.
Moreover, you should also talk to your complementary therapist to know about your medical conditions in detail. The complementary medical tourism industry might change shape and name in the long run, but the phenomenon of patients traveling from one destination to another for medical care will certainly continue to thrive.
Many healthcare professionals across the globe are promoting complementary alternative medicine along with conventional practices. For example, a physical therapist will suggest chiropractic care for patients who have undergone back surgery. The most common example of alternative therapies used in conjunction with the conventional medicine includes naturopathy, ayurvedic medicine, chiropractic medicine, homeopathy, and acupuncture. If you are traveling overseas to receive any complementary therapy, it is important to understand safety and effectiveness of that particular therapy.
Holistic in nature:
The different alternative medicine treatments and therapies, such as the traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, are all-encompassing in nature. The aim of alternative treatments is to diagnose and improve your health and wellbeing.
Highly effective:
One of the major reasons why people or the patients opt for wellness tourism is the fact that many alternative and complementary therapies have been in practice for hundreds, even thousands of years. Examples include Indian Ayurveda and the traditional Chinese medicine, which have proven to be highly effective in curing many ailments and promoting overall health. Many tourists visit India and China in order to benefit from the traditional wellness experiences.
Use of natural methods:
Another reason for the growing popularity of complementary medical tourism is the use of natural methods in CAM therapies. People are turning to nature based alternative medicine and the best part is that the alternative medicine complements conventional medicine. Whether it is the therapeutic touch, yoga asanas, or herbal remedies, everything in complementary medicine is based on methods of natural healing.
Choosing the right complementary therapy
With the ever-increasing demand for patient-centered care, people are displaying an increased interest in their wellbeing. The recent boom in the complementary medical tourism has created wonderful opportunities for luxury resorts, hotels and spas.
A large number of patients in the U.S. are going to far-off places to benefit from complementary and alternative medicine. However, it is very important to consider a few important things before you travel overseas for CAM treatment. Whether you are seeking western or complementary treatment, it is important to note that different individuals might respond differently to the treatment. As a patient, you should choose the right complementary therapy.
Before you embark on your wellness journey, you should do extensive research with respect to the safety and effectiveness of the complementary therapy that you are considering.
- It is important to discuss the potential benefits and risks of a particular therapy with your doctor. Ask your healthcare provider if the complementary practice or product you are considering will work effectively with prescription medicine or any other supplements.
- Another important thing to do when going overseas for any CAM therapy is to choose a certified and professional CAM practitioner.
- You should also visit the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) website to know more about the complementary practices. NCCAM has detailed fact sheets on various health conditions or complementary therapies.
Challenges and Complications of Complementary Medical Tourism
The previous section highlighted a range of benefits that complementary medical tourism could potentially provide. However, every potential patient traveling overseas for CAM treatment should be familiar with the challenges and issues.
Unfortunately, there are no universal standardizations in place for complementary medical tourism destinations, resulting in varying authorization codes and quality measures across the globe. Without effective regulations and standards, embarking on wellness tourism could be challenging for medical tourists. Insurance policies generally do not cover CAM treatments, which leave tourists with no option than to pay on their own without any reimbursement.
