IELTS writing: alternative medicines and treatments instead of visiting usual doctors

In the second episode of IELTS writing podcast my friend, Mehid, and I wrote our sample answer for the 4th question of Cambridge 17

This is my sample answer:
In recent times, a large number of people suffering from health issues may tend to replace conventional medicines with other alternative ways of treating diseases. In my view, although visiting your doctors cannot always address patients' problems, relying on other types of treatments will do more harm than good.
To begin with, alternative medicines are not always sufficiently proven and tested. These types of treatments are usually suggested by those whose academic or career backgrounds are unclear. These traditional methods of treatment are often handed down from generation to generation without sufficient data to prove their effectiveness on a large scale. As a result, the health risks they carry should not be neglected. Some people who have tried acupuncture or herbal medicine, for example, claim that the side effects of these treatments have exacerbated their health issues or even caused new problems. This is because these medicines do not always meticulously consider all aspects of their prescriptions.
That said, it is sometimes said that even scientifically-proven treatments may prove to be ineffective some years later. The medicines offered by doctors have been changing rapidly which shows that their suggestions are not always reliable. However, I believe this kind of treatment is the most effective way for curing diseases. As opposed to alternative treatments, doctors do some in-depth research to take all possible side effects into consideration. Their experiments should go through different stages such as animal testing to minimize the risks of medicine for people. They should also meet the demanding standards of reliable national and international health organizations to gain permission to offer their medicine to the public.
In the final analysis, due to some unsuccessful experiences of taking conventional treatments, some people prefer to try alternative ways of curing their diseases. Nevertheless, I think this replacement is going to be highly detrimental to their health and should not be considered a positive step.

This is Mehdi's sample answer:
Who has the ultimate authority when it comes to treatment of patients? These days, an increasing number of people, suffering from a wide range of diseases, would rather turn to alternative medicine and treatments and avoid their conventional physicians. I believe the drawbacks of this trend far outweigh the possible benefits as shown here in this essay.
The use of non-conventional medicine might seem quite attractive for people from all walks of life, irrespective of their socioeconomic or academic back ground. What lures everyone into trying their luck with such treatments is that they are quite economical. It is simpler to treat patients in this way as one does not have to pay astronomical bills to achieve the desired outcome. They are generally shrouded in secrecy: no one exactly knows how they work. All they have to offer to desperate patients seeking relief from excruciating pain is that they are passed down to us through our somewhat wiser ancestors and have withstood the test of time through all these years. Everyone should be free to choose his method of treatment and naturally some, out of despair and desperation perhaps, turn to acupuncture, for instance, which claims that by the use of tiny needles on different parts of the skin, literally anything can be cured, from insomnia and addiction to stress and anxiety. And it may even succeed to some extent.
On the other hand, nothing replaces your usual doctor. We have to admit that modern medicine is the results of empirical evidence and scientific methods. Every single way of surgery, synthetic drug or prosthetic limb, to name a few, has undergone exhaustive and meticulous clinical trials and is backed up by solid scientific evidence published in medical journals. Every little progress made in modern medicine is built upon previous accomplishments and is backed by scientists, pharmacists and doctors in prestigious universities all around the globe. By referring to your doctor for advice on any disease, you are certain that cutting-edge medical discoveries, supported by clinical trials are at your disposal. Especially recently, Nano-technology, non-invasive surgeries and the use of artificial intelligence in the interpretation of MRI images and cancer research are added to the arsenal of doctors, enabling them to treat all kinds of diseases more confidently and with a remarkably higher rate of success.
In short, although one may spend less money by seeking refuge to alternative medicine, there are undoubtedly more concrete scientific proof behind conventional medicine. I believe that science is all we have, and the least we can do is to trust knowledgeable medical doctors and ignore hallow promises of alternative medicine.