Alternative medicine is a term used to refer to health treatments that are not standard uses in the Western medical practice when these alternative treatments are used with conventional therapeutic methods, and they are referred to as complementary medicine.
Alternative medicine includes a variety of treatments that have a range of advantages and includes diet, exercise, hypnosis, chiropractic, and acupuncture. This type of medicine has had a role in the health industry for centuries, and its popularity is showing no indications of slowing down.
Is Naturopathy Alternative Medicine?
Naturopathy is a broad branch of alternative medicine that is focused more on the healing power of nature. Naturopathic doctors are educated in alternative and conventional medicine. Naturopathy seeks to understand the cause of someone’s condition by investigating mental, physical, and spiritual manifestations in patients. Treatments in naturopathy typically include nutrition, behavioral changes, herbal medicine, and acupuncture.
Here is a look at some forms of alternative medicine that have been helping people for numerous years.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an accepted form of alternative medicine, where needed are used for electric stimulation. Acupuncture is a Chinese technique that has been tested and showed promising signs in helping cure illnesses like digestive problems, back pain, anxiety, sleep disorders, depression, and infertility.
Acupressure
Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but therapists use their feet, hands, and elbows to focus on pressure points on the body instead of needles. Acupressure is known for relieving anxiety in individuals who are going into surgery or nausea for individuals in chemotherapy treatments, and it also helps individuals dealing with motion sickness and pregnancy sickness.
Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine is the use of plants, roots, berries, and leaves and used to start the body’s natural healing capabilities. This form of curing has been around for thousands of years and has helped in curing health conditions like heart problems, skin rashes, chronic fatigue, obesity, and premenstrual cycle.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic medicine is generally referred to as a complementary medicine because of its acceptance in standard medical practices and its use in developing strong bones and healthy muscles. Chiropractors focus on the manipulation of the spinal cord with some force from their hands to realign and ensure proper form in the spine. The main focus of chiropractic medicine is the relationship between the nervous system and spine to reduce pain in the lower back and neck, and it can also help with headaches, joint pain, and high blood pressure.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy uses essential oils (concentrated extracts from the roots, leaves, seeds, or blossoms of plants) to help promote healing. The oils can be inhaled by using a diffuser, or diluted with a carrier oil and massaged into the skin. Aromatherapy is used to treat inflammation or infections, while others promote relaxation and calmness.
Ayurvedic Medicine
Practitioners use numerous techniques such as herbs, massage and specialized diets to balance the body, mind and spirit to promote overall wellness. Ayurveda began in India and has been around for thousands of years. Yoga is also a practice of Ayurvedic and has been proven to help address mental and physical health issues, such as anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and insomnia.
Balneotherapy
Balneotherapy is sometimes confused with hydrotherapy, but balneotherapy uses water for therapeutic purposes and is based on the notion that water benefits the skin and treats a variety of conditions like acne to pain, swelling to anxiety.
Biofeedback
These techniques allow people bodily processes such as heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension and skin temperature to help improve conditions of high blood pressure, headaches, and chronic pain. Relaxation seems to be a key focus of Biofeedback and it helps people become more aware of how they physically react to stress, exercise and emotions.
Reflexology
Reflexology involves applying pressure to concentrated areas on the feet, hands, or ears, and these points will correspond to different body organs and systems. Pressing on these parts is believed to affect orans and a person’s overall health. Reflexology is used to complement conventional medicine for treating anxiety, cancer, diabetes, kidney function and asthma.
Final Thoughts
Alternative medicine is abundant. New studies and research are popping up all the time. It’s an evolving practice, but putting some of these alternative medicine techniques into your health routine could benefit your health.
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