While alternative treatments are already being picked up by an increasing number of Americans, there aren’t enough scientific studies to support their efficiency. By failing to study these often more affordable treatments, we’re potentially missing out on the opportunity to lower medical costs. Here are ways alternative medicine treatments help with saving money on healthcare costs.
1. Gum Disease
Gum disease is quite prevalent in the United States. This isn’t just in children but also adults. Nearly half (46%) of adults aged 30 or older exhibit symptoms of gum disease, according to the CDC.
While Western medicine offers some treatment options, it can be expensive. Luckily, you can turn to alternative medicine, which is often more affordable. For example, you can use green tea to alleviate the symptoms.
The high levels of antioxidants found in green tea can help reduce inflammation. It does this by counteracting the body’s immune system’s inflammatory response to oral bacteria. The gums and supporting jawbone suffer less damage due to reduced inflammation.
Additionally, the polyphenols can stop the bacterial growth that causes gum inflammation. Green tea is a popular substitute for coffee and offers several benefits for your overall health. Add a few servings to your diet daily, but be cautious if you’re sensitive to caffeine. Compared to 96 mg in one cup of coffee, green tea has roughly 28 mg of caffeine.
Lemon grass oil can also help. A mouthwash with a little bit of lemongrass oil can reduce the number of germs in plaque. Compared to chlorhexidine gluconate, an antibacterial rinse proven to treat gum inflammation, a wash with 0.25% lemongrass oil is more effective at reducing plaque.
Making a lemongrass oil rinse is easy but can be potent. Add two drops of the oil to a cup of water, then simply swish around your mouth for 30 seconds, and spit. You can start with one drop and work your way up if the lining of your mouth isn’t irritated.
Saltwater can also help. Saltwater is a natural disinfectant that you can use to get rid of the bacteria that cause gum disease, and it can also heal inflamed mouth tissue. It works by drawing fluid away from the swelling. Warm salt water is a wonderful place to start if you want an alternative home treatment for gum abscess.
2. Gut Health
Gut health plays a key role in your overall well-being. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, 90-95% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the intestine. Serotonin regulates your mood and overall happiness levels. It affects your sexual drive, helps you think, maintains your mood, and regulates when you sleep and wake up.
Maintaining optimal gut health doesn’t have to be expensive. You can make some adjustments to your lifestyle to improve your gut health. Even if some seem obvious, you might not have considered them before.
High stress is one of the main factors that might trigger inflammation. Too much stress can indirectly result in an unhealthy gut. Unfortunately, lowering your stress isn’t as easy as it seems. Consider using natural stress-reduction techniques like massage, yoga, meditation, and essential oils or reducing caffeine intake.
Getting enough sleep will also help. You should be getting seven to eight hours of shut-eye every night. Drinking lots of water to stay hydrated is also important. Water can also help with the intestine’s mucosal lining, which supports gut health.
3. Marijuana and Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is one of the leading causes of opioid use, which can be expensive. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using medical marijuana to manage chronic pain. The findings have been promising so much that according to Everyday Health, 37 of 50 states have legalized the medical use of marijuana as of February 2022.
Medical marijuana has been known to lower opioid dependence. It’s commonly prescribed for chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, where pharmaceutical medicine hasn’t been effective or causes serious side effects. It’s also used to treat the side effects of chemotherapy.
Healthcare costs are on the rise, and they don’t seem to be coming down any time soon. Alternative medicine potentially offers an affordable option for patients. This read highlights how they can help bring down healthcare costs.
