Alternative treatments in health medicine encompass nutrition, physiological, and mind-body approaches such as meditation, hypnotherapy, acupuncture and yoga.
Alternative treatments do not always deliver proven healing benefits, and some may cause harmful side effects or interfere with standard therapies. Furthermore, alternative practices may give people false hope. According to the authors of a paper devoted to this subject matter, certain factors predict use of alternative therapies including poor health status and somatization.
Ayurveda
Ayurveda, which translates to “knowledge of life”, emphasizes overall wellness by using daily practices to maintain both body and mind health, such as eating nutritious food and participating in an exercise regimen, herbal treatments and massage techniques, etc.
Ayurved treatments tend to be both cost-effective and safe; however, certain herbal remedies could potentially interact with cancer drugs or radiotherapy treatments; bloodletting may pose particular danger for people with low red blood cell counts; it could even result in high fevers and vomiting episodes.
Notify your doctor of any alternative therapies you use so they can help reduce side effects and make sure you’re receiving optimal care. They may even suggest complementary therapies that might work better for you; for instance, fenugreek might reduce inflammation while improving circulation while yoga can alleviate pain and anxiety.
Yoga
Yoga is an ancient practice which emphasizes mindfulness and balance in body, mind, and spirit. As an alternative therapy, it has long been used to treat mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
Yoga has been shown to reduce anxiety symptoms, improve sleep and promote relaxation among individuals with various disorders. Yoga can also ease back pain and knee osteoarthritis symptoms while providing an effective form of exercise for older adults – helping combat loneliness as a side benefit!
Yoga should never replace medical treatments; rather it should be used alongside others such as nutritional, physiological and physical approaches to help address your specific condition. Be sure to inform your healthcare provider of any complementary therapies you use – they might even be able to suggest an experienced yoga instructor!
Tai chi
Tai chi, an ancient martial art, helps develop strength and flexibility while improving balance, relieving stress, and providing stress management benefits. Tai chi can be modified to meet individual needs; studies indicate its potential use in helping prevent chronic diseases as well as managing symptoms more effectively.
One 12-week Tai Chi program showed significant improvements in musculoskeletal health for women with type II diabetes. It reduced heart rate, waist circumference, handgrip strength and cognitive function as well as increasing proprioception in upper extremities – all features that may alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms while increasing thoracic rotational mobility. [75]
Massage
Massage is a noninvasive therapy that utilizes hands-on manipulation of soft tissues (muscles, tendons and ligaments) for therapeutic benefits that include relieving pain and anxiety as well as helping alleviate certain health problems such as asthma and constipation. Aromatherapy is another variation on massage that incorporates plant oils (“essential oils”) as lubricants in order to both pharmacologically act on soft tissues as well as stimulate their sense of smell simultaneously.
According to a 1993 study published in “JAMA”, individuals use various alternative therapies for various health concerns, most frequently chiropractic, lifestyle diet, relaxation techniques and massage. Other popular options included acupuncture, homeopathy, megavitamins spiritual healing and herbs – with those using such treatments being predominantly educated middle class white persons aged 25-49 who reported using particular alternative therapies as solutions.
Reflexology
Reflexology involves applying pressure to specific reflex points on the feet known as reflexes, which correspond to organs and other parts of the body. Stimulating these reflex points is thought to improve energy flow within the body while relieving stress, reducing pain, and helping people sleep more soundly.
Some research indicates that reflexology could provide relief for multiple sclerosis sufferers; however, further investigation must be completed in this area. It has also been claimed that reflexology could aid digestive symptoms including constipation.
Reflexology resembles both acupuncture and acupressure in that it uses points on the surface of the body to treat problems deep within, but unlike these methods it does not cover all parts of your body, does not use needles, and should not be performed during pregnancy as it could induce labor.
Biofeedback
Most people do not think they have control of their heart rate, breathing, skin temperature or blood pressure; however, biofeedback offers practitioners a way to teach patients more control over such involuntary body functions. This mind-body therapy seeks to relieve medical conditions such as migraine headaches, high blood pressure, urinary incontinence and chronic pain by teaching patients more self-awareness over them.
Practitioners attach pads to patients’ bodies, which measure bodily reactions and display them on a monitor. They then instruct the patient to try changing these responses by relaxing or recalling pleasant images in their minds.
Although evidence supporting this therapy is scarce, it may help alleviate symptoms and enhance performance for some individuals. Before considering this form of therapy it’s wise to consult your physician first as well as checking with your insurance company as some policies cover these treatments.
Chiropractic therapy
Chiropractors employ hands-on manipulations to relieve muscle, ligament and joint pain. Additionally, they may suggest diet modifications, exercise programs and stress reduction techniques as needed to provide relief. They have successfully treated an array of conditions ranging from low back pain and migraine headaches.
Alternative therapy should not replace standard medical treatment; rather, it can complement it. Before trying any alternative medicine techniques, always consult a physician in order to find one best suited to meet your individual needs.
A 2019 study has discovered that cervical spine manipulation helps alleviate neck pain while increasing neuropeptides – proteins produced by the nervous system – which have been shown to decrease inflammation, improve circulation and promote healing. This noninvasive technique involves applying gentle thrusts to neck vertebrae; additional therapies like massage, reflexology or acupuncture may be combined for enhanced results.
Reiki
Reiki is a gentle healing method that utilizes spiritually guided life force energy for therapeutic benefit. The Japanese word for this practice, “rei,” meaning universal, and “ki,” which refers to energy flowing throughout all living things, refers to this holistic form of treatment that does not require massage or any form of manipulation.
Research suggests that reiki can ease pain. Unfortunately, most studies used small samples and relied on participants describing how much discomfort they felt before and after sessions; such subjective measurements can easily become inaccurate.
Studies have suggested that hands-on reiki may help improve one’s mood and lessen anxiety; however, more research needs to be conducted.
Traditional Chinese medicine
Chinese medicine uses distinct theories and practices to prevent and cure diseases. This system of healthcare has existed for millennia, founded on the idea of balance between yin and yang; its goal is to keep body, mind and spirit healthy by altering harmful environmental factors. In Australia, Chinese herbal medicines are regulated by Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has long supported traditional Chinese medicine and collaborated closely with China in promoting its use. Many are familiar with its practices such as acupuncture and tai chi, exercises that draw upon traditional Chinese healing methods that involve meditation, exercise, martial arts techniques and breathing as well as cultivation of qi, which flows along meridians within our bodies and is essential for survival. Through this practice have come new medicines like artemisia annua used to treat malaria.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that uses needle insertions into the body to relieve pain and promote healing, often through traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture promotes health as being the result of an equilibrium between complementary extremes – yin and yang energies flowing along meridians that connect all 361 acupuncture points on our bodies.
Needle stimulation of nerves and muscles sends signals to the spinal cord and brain, which in turn release natural painkilling chemicals which provide physical and emotional relief.
Acupuncture is often combined with other treatments, such as massage therapy and herbal remedies, to offer additional relief from back pain, headaches and side effects from certain medications. A licensed practitioner should perform acupuncture for maximum safety.
