Alternative healing therapies, integrative medicine, natural healthcare or holistic practices refer to any variety of treatments outside the realms of pharmaceutical or surgical treatment; some such as homeopathy have limited scientific support.
These approaches to health emphasize taking an active part in managing your own well-being by making lifestyle adjustments, learning how to reduce stressors and participating in healing practices such as massage or acupuncture.
Ayurveda
Ayurved treatments are founded on the belief that all body systems are interdependent, and that good health relies on creating equilibrium among these interdependence. Achieve this balance with lifestyle changes, herbal medicines and natural therapies such as massage, yoga, deep breathing exercises or meditation. Ayurved practices are primarily preventive in nature but may also help treat specific ailments; for instance inflammation reduction could reduce neurological conditions, cancer, diabetes, pulmonary disorders and arthritis as examples of such.
Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest healing traditions, having originated in India over 5,000 years ago. Based on a belief that health and wellbeing depend on harmony among body, mind and spirit – Ayurveda emphasizes a balanced relationship among all three areas with diet, regular exercise, restful sleep and stress management as essential practices; therapies used for Ayurveda therapy include herbal medications, oil massage and natural treatments such as fenugreek as remedies.
According to Ayurvedic theory, every individual inherits an imbalanced combination of three energy qualities called doshas: vata, pitta and kapha. Each dosha controls different body functions like movement, digestion and lubrication. A person usually has one primary dosha that dominates over others – which Ayurvedic practitioners believe increases the chances of disease development; eating well, practicing yoga and meditation are ways to keep your doshas balanced and prevent illness from developing.
Though not as much clinical research has been conducted on ayurvedic treatments, they have nonetheless proven successful at managing specific conditions. For instance, Ayurveda medicine was found to improve symptoms associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis as well as decrease Blood Pressure and Cholesterol. Furthermore, practices associated with Ayurveda have also shown to lower anxiety and stress levels significantly.
Even with all its potential benefits, Ayurved medicine should never replace standard medical care. Always consult with a licensed physician prior to trying any ayurvedic products or herbs as some could contain heavy metals like mercury and lead. Furthermore, since Ayurved medicines are unregulated by the FDA and should only be purchased from reliable sources; also try avoiding mixing Ayurved remedies with prescription drugs or supplements as this could increase risks significantly.
Dietary approaches to medicine
Dietary approaches to medicine (DAM) is an alternative healing therapy that emphasizes the role of food in health and disease. It includes both traditional practices as well as modern products like nutritional supplements. DAM encompasses practices from all cultures around the world – some have scientific evidence while others may rely on superstition or have no basis in science at all; in some instances they could even be dangerous.
Alternative therapies are typically employed alongside conventional medical treatment to produce positive or negative results, depending on their effectiveness and risk-benefit ratio. They may cause adverse side effects like nausea, fatigue and dizziness. It is crucial for nurses to be familiar with both risks and benefits associated with alternative therapies so they can provide appropriate advice to their patients.
Diet-based approaches to alternative medicine use food and herbs as medicine to promote wellness and treat illness. It works on the principle that certain foods can improve or cure certain conditions, while specific vitamins and minerals can be derived from foodstuffs eaten. This practice is commonly known as “food as medicine,” while some studies have demonstrated how eating plenty of fruit, vegetables, and healthy fats can reduce depression and irritability symptoms.
Alternative practices often utilize natural substances and claim they are safer or more suitable than conventional medicine for human bodies. Also referred to as natural remedies, complementary medicines, or integrated medicine; some CAM practices remain controversial as not enough research has been done into them; such practices could include pseudoscience-based supernatural beliefs as well as practices which do not comply with clinical trials or employ improper research techniques.
Some complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies lack scientific grounds, and may actually do damage. For instance, the magnetic fields generated by acupuncture needles can interfere with normal brain and nervous system functions and cause pain. Integrative or holistic medicine combines conventional with nonconventional treatments allowing doctors to select the most appropriate treatments for each individual patient, thus decreasing prescription numbers while increasing patient satisfaction overall.
Energy therapies
Energy therapies are based on the belief that an invisible force pulsing through our bodies provides support for healing itself. Examples include Reiki, in which a practitioner channels healing energy through his or her hands to restore balance to someone’s energy field and bring about purported health benefits. While scientific evidence for energy therapies in treating non-communicable diseases remains limited, researchers continue to examine its efficacy.
Energy therapy should never replace medical treatment; therefore people considering energy therapy should consult a healthcare professional first before beginning this form of therapy. A healthcare provider will help determine if energy therapy is safe and suitable for each individual’s needs, while offering recommendations of additional complementary treatments as necessary. Pregnant women or individuals taking medications may especially require professional guidance before engaging in energy therapy treatments.
Biofield therapies utilize the subtle energies that pervade and surround human beings (the biofield) to treat physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing. By healing energy patterns that disturb cellular vibrational patterns and returning the body back into equilibrium. Allopathic medicine’s future depends on their ability to combine physics with biochemistry so as to detect and address disturbances in energetic fields of the body.
Anecdotal evidence has indicated that energy modalities can help ameliorate many different conditions, including cancer, arthritis, asthma and other chronic ones. Many nurses trained in energy therapies now incorporate energy modalities into routine nursing care as part of routine treatment plans.
Although additional research needs to be completed, preliminary results from various studies are very encouraging. They’ve discovered that biofield therapy helps decrease depression and fatigue while simultaneously improving quality of life and strengthening coping mechanisms in those living with chronic illnesses.
Tapping, also known as “thought field therapy”, is another popular energy therapy technique, offering Eastern approaches to mind and body combined with Western psychology and psychotherapy concepts. Practitioners claim that tapping on specific acupuncture points while considering an anxiety-provoking event can help alleviate phobias, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms or other conditions that cause distress.
Energy healing research is growing quickly, and some have proven effective at relieving symptoms associated with noncommunicable disease (NCD). Unfortunately, however, there is limited knowledge on NCDs in adults living in communities who utilize energy healing as part of their self-management strategy.
Meditation
Meditation is an integrative mind-body healing technique that relaxes the body and promotes tranquility. Meditation has long been used as an effective form of mental health therapy, having proven useful against depression, anxiety, chronic pain and stress as well as improving focus and attention span. Additional research into its potential use against chronic diseases and conditions such as cancer is ongoing.
Different forms of meditation include guided imagery, breathing exercises, prayer and chanting, yoga and others. While some forms may have spiritual roots in ancient philosophies or world religions, meditation is practiced throughout many different cultures without religious ties – whether alone or with others. If using any alternative treatments to manage your health it is important that all health care providers know so they can ensure you receive coordinated and safe care.
Guided imagery or visualization meditation is one form of relaxation which uses positive mental imagery to release negative emotions such as anger or resentment and promote compassion and empathy towards yourself and other people. Additionally, guided imagery meditation may be combined with other therapies such as acupuncture for increased physical relief.
Another form of meditation involves sending out love and well wishes to loved ones, acquaintances and all living beings – it’s an effective way of connecting with your soul – the deepest part of you that’s pure and genuine. This can help reduce feelings of loneliness and depression while improving immune response and gene expression.
Meditation can be difficult to classify as it covers so many techniques. Some forms are more targeted and specific, like guided imagery or hypnotherapy – often done with trained practitioners – while other more general practices, like mindfulness and yoga can also fall within this umbrella term. When engaging in alternative therapies that might impact on mood or health it’s essential that you consult your health care provider immediately about them.
