What are the advantages and disadvantages of medicine?

Answer 1

Modern medicine has many advantages and disadvantages. Medicine can really help a lot of people, and alleviate the suffering of millions of people. Unfortunately, medicine can also have a lot of nasty side effects, and some can damage organs if taken long-term.

There are many advantages/disadvantages of treating a patient with Ayurevdic medicine vs. western medicine. However, sometimes western medicine may have an immediate efficacy whereas Ayurevedic medicine may take longer.

There are pros and cons in both directions, however as a general rule Ayurevedic medicine should be the first choice if non-emergency.

Answer 2

Advantages of modern medicine is the scientific approach. We know more about how the human body works & about diseases. Incredible advances have been made including the ability to repair the human body after (for example) car accidents. However, it's disadvantage is sometimes also the science. The double blind placebo controlled trial doesn't work for all investigations - take increasing muscle mass through exercise or the parachute for example. Though we have learned a lot about how & why herbs work.

Much of modern medicine works (in my opinion) to ameliorate symptoms rather than get to the root cause & deal with that. Now, if modern medicine & wholistic medicine practitioners would work together more amicably... that would be advantageous.