Let’s face it, when it comes to medicine, those of us in the west tend to be a little arrogant about our gee-whiz technology and gleaming high-tech medical facilities. Obviously, there are some things that western doctors do extraordinarily well, like treating trauma patients for instance. Where western medicine tends to fail is in the treatment of chronic disease. We’ve got a pill for just about everything these days, and although those treatments may be very good when it comes to relieving symptoms, too often the root cause of chronic disease is ignored. Centuries of wisdom are available to us which can greatly enhance our ability to treat chronic disease, and not just “manage” it with drugs. A lot of traditional treatments from disciplines such as Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine are finally starting to receive some of the recognition they deserve here in the west. Celebrity doctors like TV’s Dr. Oz are helping to spread the news about age-old treatments that are great alternatives to our traditional western treatments which often involve surgery or potentially dangerous drugs. Here are a few traditional treatments that some people are using with great success, and very little or no risk to their health. It should be noted that we are not doctors, and this should not be treated as medical advice. We are merely passing along information that might be interesting and educational.

1. Curcumin

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Alzheimer’s disease is probably one of the most feared diseases in the world. Not many people are comfortable with the idea of losing so much of their cognitive capabilities, memory loss, forgetting who loved ones are, and eventual death. Curcumin also goes by the name turmeric, and is found in foods like curry. In India, where curry is used by a large percentage of the population, Alzheimer’s is rare compared to western countries. Inflammation, which is now being identified as a cause for many chronic illnesses, is reduced in the brain by curcumin, helping to ward off Alzheimer’s, and perhaps other risks related to inflammation as well.