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The Feminine Appeal of Alternative Medicine
It seems like various “alternative medicine” industries are becoming less of an alternative to the norm and more of a mainstream choice. While the vast majority of people will still turn to traditional medicine for check-ups and treating different ailments, there are also plenty who would rather pursue a different route. People of all backgrounds may be drawn to alternative medicine for a wide range of reasons, but it seems that this is quickly becoming a female-dominated sphere. Women have a complicated relationship with the traditional medical model, and it’s driving some of them to look elsewhere for help.
What persuades people to consider alternative medicine? What’s gender got to do with it? And what qualifies as alternative medicine in the first place?
Essential oils. Crystals. Yoga. Meditation. Homeopathy. Reiki. Some of it is scientifically proven to be effective, while some of it is nothing more than snake oil. And some of the ideas spread in alternative circles, like the anti-vax movement, are downright dangerous. With a shaky track record when it comes to success rates, why would women eschew traditional medicine in favor of alternative treatments?
Well, maybe it’s because the traditional model also has a pretty shaky track record when it comes to treating women. For example, women experience different symptoms than men for heart attacks, but since most medical research is based on the male body, they are more likely to be dismissed and their conditions left untreated. In fact, women are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed and discharged mid-heart attack. Women struggle with higher rates of certain illnesses, such as migraines, chronic fatigue, and depression, which can sometimes be very difficult to treat effectively. They also experience problems with menstrual pain that may not be taken seriously. When a women’s very real pain is repeatedly disregarded, it’s easy to see why some have lost their faith in traditional medicine.
The aesthetics and atmosphere of alternative medicine can be comforting. When I walk into a doctor’s appointment, my doctor doesn’t ask me how my day is going, tell me to leave all my stress at the door, and speak in a calming voice, but a yoga teacher will, and it’s soothing. Doctors also spend less time with their patients today than they used to, and patients may feel rushed during their appointments. Furthermore, women may feel like people working in alternative medicine have a more holistic approach to healing. Women are at a higher risk of adverse side effects of medications, so someone who tries to assist them by considering diet, lifestyle factors, and their sleep schedule may seem more helpful than someone who tries to treat them with medication right away if they have struggled with rough side effects in the past.
Unfortunately for women who are seeking these treatments, even alternative medicine that has been proven to work can still be insufficient in some circumstances. For example, sticking with a regular yoga and meditation practice could certainly help someone struggling with any condition that is exacerbated by stress. But alternative medicine may be essentially useless for more severe conditions-essential oils can’t cure cancer. With a lack of testing and evidence supporting many of these practices, pseudoscience can run rampant. And many forms of alternative medicine are only accessible to women with more disposable income, leaving low-income women without the option to try it out even if they wanted to.
Taking a homeopathic supplement or using essential oils may not outright cause harm, but using them could delay someone from accessing effective treatments. And as one can see with the anti-vax movement, eschewing all forms of traditional medicine can cause serious damage. And those who strictly practice alternative medicine can be quick to tear a woman down if she finds value in the traditional model. Recently, popular yoga teacher Rachel Brathen, who often shares advice on mindfulness, practicing yoga, and eating a healthy vegan diet posted a photo of her daughter after her first vaccination. While most comments were supportive, a number of women attacked Brathen for “poisoning” her child. The backlash was significant enough that Brathen dedicated an hour-long podcast to the issue.
Women should not be forced to choose between two systems that cannot serve them properly. Alternative medicine is an incomplete and often inaccessible model that cannot adequately meet women’s needs. There is no excuse for the lack of medical research done on females when we know this can be dangerous to women’s health. We need doctors who will listen to women, who will not dismiss their concerns because of their biology, who will take a holistic approach to treatment. A woman may turn to alternative medicine out of desperation, and she may find relief-or she may find self-proclaimed “gurus” selling her bullshit wrapped up in fancy packaging.
