Is it really the alternative?

​Over the centuries there are certain truths that witches and other spiritually oriented people have sort of taken for granted. Knowledge that has been handed down; taught to future generations. Wisdom gained through the connection and communication with nature and the universe. Things that could not, until recently, been proven by science. As a society people tend to put more weight behind what can be proven in a lab than the knowledge that was passed down. Historically, before something is “proven” by whatever the current scientific methods are available, that “knowledge” is discredited, and called into doubt, even when positive results are obtained by practitioners time and time again.
One of the biggest areas that “science” has cast doubt on is herbal medicine. People all over the world have been using plants to heal themselves and others dating back at least 60,000 years. A good example of this is white willow bark. This can be used as a natural pain medicine, and was the basis for our modern aspirin. The salicin in the bark was synthesized into acetylsalicylic acid in 1853 by Charles Gerhardt. While this new lab made drug is more fast acting than its natural counterpart, it can cause stomach irritation (on the list of side effects). This particular side effect does not usually occur when using the willow bark, because the bark does not damage the gastrointestinal mucosa. So while the “modern” pharmaceutical approach has extracted the main healing component and created a faster acting version (something greatly appreciated in our instant gratification society), it failed to include the rest of the natural healing components that prevented the negative side effects.  This is not new information. However, if you were to ask your allopathic doctor for a natural alternative, they would cast doubt on any claims anything natural could help you, and then prescribe you some lab made pharmaceutical. Thankfully we have alternatives, like naturopathic doctors, we can see, though they are not covered (at least not fully) by our current medical system.
That said, there are books out there like Herbs Demystified by Holly Phaneuf, PhD ( a biochemist and drug researcher) that show the research that has been done on plant medicine to give a better view of what has been proven to show results. I am greatly appreciative of books like this because I actually make herbal wellness products, so when nay-sayers do question or comment, I have something they cannot refute to show them.
What gets me about all of this, is that these natural medicinal practices are called “alternative medicine”. I find that interesting, because all of these techniques existed long before allopathic medicine was created. Wouldn’t that make allopathic medicine the “alternative” to the pre-existing natural medicine? If you have not heard the term, allopathic medicine is the “modern” approach that focuses on the symptoms of the dis-ease, rather than finding and treating the root cause. It is rooted in the current scientific methods of testing to diagnose and then treat current symptoms. This approach has allowed for great strides in health and medicine to be made, but I do find it interesting that it completely discounts its own roots, and even actively works to discredit its predecessor. Even long-standing practices like acupuncture, chiropracting, and reflexology are still looked down upon by many allopathic doctors today. I am sure you can guess how I feel about that by now. I am, of course, thankful for the knowledge gained by that allopathic system, I am certain it has saved many lives. However, I do believe these two systems could, and should, coexist together. I do not believe they should be in competition with each other at all. I know of many practitioners of natural medicine, energy works, and other such wonderful healers that would never tell a person to not seek out the opinion of an allopathic doctor, but I have yet to meet a doctor (or even pharmacist) who would recommend a naturopath, or other natural/energy healer for treatment.
What do you think? DO you feel these are both mutually exclusive practices? Or do you feel, as I do, that they should coexist in a mutually respective and cooperative manner for the health and well-being of all?