Alternative therapies are non-traditional approaches to medicine that may complement or replace conventional medical treatments, including nutritional, physiological and mind-body techniques.
South Carolina lacks a comprehensive regulatory scheme for homeopathy practitioners. Without appropriate education or certification, untrained or fraudulent practitioners may practice homeopathy without risk to patients.
Naturopathy
Naturopathy is a natural healing approach that uses non-pharmaceutical solutions to stimulate your body’s own self-healing process, improving quality of life by decreasing stress, anxiety and depression while simultaneously increasing positive thinking & optimism. Furthermore, Naturopathy supports holistic treatments including herbal medicine, acupuncture & nutritional counseling for optimal wellness.
Naturopathic doctors recognize the inherent healing ability in each individual and seek to enhance this process by identifying and eliminating obstacles to wellness such as poor diet, lack of exercise, emotional distress and environmental toxins that interfere with wellbeing. They emphasize education and personal responsibility by encouraging patients to play an active role in their own healthcare decision-making processes.
Naturopathy’s six foundational principles include “first do no harm”, treating the whole person, addressing root causes and employing minimally invasive therapies, while emphasizing prevention. Some naturopathic doctors also employ acupuncture, nutritional counseling, hydrotherapy and homeopathy.
Naturopaths treat a wide range of conditions, spanning chronic pain and depression to fatigue and hormone imbalances. Their services may reduce side effects from medications while improving overall health and well-being using herbal medicines and natural remedies. Contrary to conventional doctors, naturopaths undergo at least three years of school training – perhaps up to seven if possible – before being required to pass rigorous licensing exams in medical science. Many even campaign to broaden their scope of practice further – becoming primary care physicians or having services covered by Medicare or insurance companies.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy was pioneered over two centuries ago by Samuel Hahnemann in response to traditional medical practices – including bloodletting and use of toxic substances such as mercury chloride – that were too brutal and toxic for him to stomach. Homeopathy takes an holistic approach by using highly diluted natural substances, often taken in sugar pellet form or via nasal inhalation.
The National Center for Homeopathy offers comprehensive information on homeopathy as a practice and a directory of registered practitioners, in addition to journals and newsletters providing research updates about this form of alternative medicine. While its effectiveness for specific conditions has yet to be proven, homeopathy may help lessen side effects associated with chemotherapy – according to one study, cancer patients receiving homeopathic treatment reported greater quality of life than those who hadn’t.
Homeopathic products are available over-the-counter in the US but haven’t been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration for safety or effectiveness, leading to some recommendations by this body advising people not to rely solely on homeopathy as an alternative or replacement therapy; rather, use homeopathic products as part of other forms of alternative therapy approaches instead. Furthermore, their manufacture may contain contaminants or be subject to poor manufacturing processes that compromise their efficacy.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic care involves hands-on spinal manipulation techniques designed to relieve pain and restore function, making chiropractic one form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Chiropractors specialize in techniques that are safe, gentle and effective; additionally they focus on improving posture and balance thereby decreasing risk of falls.
Studies comparing chiropractic to medical management of back injuries revealed that chiropractors provided both lower costs and better clinical results due to treating the cause of an issue rather than just its symptoms – similar to what physiotherapists use as their approach.
Chiropractors offer more than spinal manipulation: in addition to soft tissue therapy and rehabilitation exercises, they offer soft tissue massage and soft tissue healing treatments, diet guidance and ergonomic advice as part of overall prevention efforts for future back issues. A chiropractor may also identify issues within the nervous system like numbness or reflexes for early diagnosis and intervention.
Chiropractors typically undergo four years of college education, which includes coursework in biology, chemistry and psychology. After graduation they attend a four-year graduate school program to obtain their advanced degree in chiropractic. Following this they must pass national board exams in order to become licensed chiropractors; preceptorship programs provide opportunities to work alongside licensed practitioners as they train. Clinical internships offer practical experience before licensure exams take place. Chiropractors often practice as part of teams alongside physicians, nurses and physical therapists.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that uses needles to relieve pain. While acupuncture is most often employed to treat chronic conditions, acute discomforts such as headaches, migraines, back pain and neck stiffness as well as respiratory and gastrointestinal ailments can all be managed using this form of treatment. Prior to their first session it is advised that patients discuss their medical history with their acupuncturist so that they may determine if the therapy will be effective for them.
Acupuncturists use sterile needles in their treatments, making the procedure generally safe with only minor side effects; some people may experience soreness or minor bruising at the site where needles were inserted. However, it’s important to notify your acupuncturist if you are taking any prescription medications as certain can interact with acupuncture.
Acupuncture has been widely acknowledged for providing long-term relief of symptoms associated with numerous chronic health conditions. Acupuncture has been shown to help manage side effects associated with cancer treatments such as nausea, vomiting and fatigue while simultaneously improving sleep and mood. Acupuncture can improve the quality of your life by relieving stress and anxiety, and helping boost immunity – making it an integral component of holistic healthcare plans. Additionally, it can provide relief from menopausal symptoms, constipation, migraines, and irritable bowel syndrome, while also increasing AMH hormone levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). These benefits are due to how acupuncture causes neuroplastic changes within the brain.
Massage
Massage can be used to treat various illnesses and conditions. Through its hands-on manipulation of soft tissue, massage soothes tense muscles and increases blood flow while simultaneously stimulating lymphatic system and flushing out toxins from body. Massage also improves posture, alleviating pain and swelling associated with arthritis as well as helping rebalance bone and joint structures of body.
Massage promotes relaxation by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls our “rest and digest” response. This can improve muscle flexibility, decrease inflammation, relieve anxiety and depression, lower blood pressure and improve gastrointestinal function – not to mention stimulating endorphins and serotonin release as natural mood enhancers!
Furthermore, massage can be invaluable in healing trauma. Furthermore, massage helps people create trust with others – something survivors of trauma often struggle with trusting others with. By creating a safe environment through massage therapy sessions, this is one effective way of surmounting these barriers to healing.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center’s Massage Program is open to patients, their families, and employees at its main hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. Offering various types of massage such as Swedish, deep tissue, trigger point, prenatal/postpartum/sports as well as bedside services from licensed therapists – as well as foot massages and Gua Sha – their program also offers foot massages and Gua Sha treatments.
Nutrition
Nutrition can be used in alternative therapies to address various health concerns. This can involve taking nutritional supplements, herbs or probiotics alongside or in place of traditional medication. There are whole medical systems which use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). They often originate from centuries-old beliefs or cultural norms like Ayurveda or homeopathy that should only be practiced under supervision from licensed healthcare providers – these therapies could potentially improve your wellbeing if done correctly.
