With More Americans Turning To Alternative Medicine, Time To Assess Its Effectiveness
“I think that people are aware that the results are showing that alternative medicine is beneficial,” Ashley Flores, a Chicago-based acupuncturist and herbalist, told ThinkProgress. Flores said that turning to holistic treatment options that originated in East Asia helped her manage her own ailments better.
Flores, who has practiced acupuncture and herbal medicine for more than four years, said her journey started shortly after a doctor diagnosed her with polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal disorder that causes enlarged ovaries with small cysts on the outer edges. Even with a cocktail of medications, Flores said she still experienced great pain and her chances of childbirth remained futile. That compelled her to research different treatment options, and eventually led her to study acupuncture at Pacifica College of Oriental Medicine in Illinois.
“I have talked to other Western doctors about my choices and they have been supportive,” said Flores, who founded Four Flower Wellness in the Chicago metropolitan area. “When it comes to my health, I don’t take Western medicine so I don’t need it. I have a lot of herbs that I take for the cold and flu. In Chinese herbal medicine we use formula that includes a blend of at least 10 herbs. For the cold or flu, we would use ginger, green onion, cinnamon and other herbs that are effective. I can always count on my condition changing within 24 hours.”
