Alternative and Complimentary Medicine - An Overview

What exactly is alternative medicine? Generally speaking it is any treatment or practice not associated with conventional western medicine. The list of alternative treatments are increased and decreased according to new ideas and studies that show them to be beneficial or not.

Complimentary medicine refers to alternate treatments coinciding with conventional treatments. They could include music therapy or massage treatments used along with an anxiety medication. More and more conventional health care professionals are understanding the benefit of a combination of alternate treatments and medication. This new practice is called integrative medicine.

Alternative Medicine Principals

Prevention may be the first rule of alternative medicine practitioners. Where conventional medicine is more likely to treat a symptom of an ailment, alternative health care professionals work to prevent discord in the body that may develop into a disease or condition.

Heal yourself. Alternative medicine practitioners believe in the power of individuals responsible for their own health. They see themselves merely as facilitators of information and recommendations in their field. They are teachers. Treatments are meant to encourage the natural healing of the body

Holistic healing is common belief among alternative medicine health care professionals. They believe in healing the whole body, mind and spirit. Most conventional physicians treat only a symptom or the one area of disease. Alternative health care generally believes complete healing is more far reaching than just the site of complaint.

Alternative Medicine Systems

Medical systems incorporate a complete line of practices and theories rather than just one treatment practice such as massage, vitamin or herbal treatments. These are some of the most well known alternative medical systems.

Homeopathy is a practice that believes the body can heal itself through stimulating it by using small doses of natural substances that cause the same symptoms of complaint.

Ayurveda is an ancient medical practice developed over 5000 years ago in India. It uses a unique cure for each person, incorporating such alternative treatments as yoga, massage, diet, herbs and meditation.

Naturopathy, as other alternative medicines, believes the body can heal itself without chemical interference. It uses a combination of treatments to encourage the physical system towards complete health. Naturopathy may incorporate such treatments as acupuncture, massage, exercise, herbs as well as life counseling.

Mind and Body Connection

Many alternative treatments are based on the belief that the mind and body must be connected in order to stay healthy or return to a healthful body state. Some of these treatments include:

Yoga

Biofeedback

Meditation

Hypnosis

Music Therapy

Art Therapy

Dance Therapy

Prayer

Flower Essences

Reflexology

Acupressure

Tai chi

Supplement and Herbal Treatment

Most alternative treatments using nutritional and herbal supplements believe they must come from natural sources. Vitamin supplements should not be chemical based. These treatments can also include teas, oils, tinctures and powders.

Adding herbal and nutritional supplements can certainly benefit many conditions. It is necessary, however, to consult with your health care professional as there are supplements that may interact negatively with medications you are already taking. Also, there could be additives that you are not aware of that could cause side effects. Also, the dosage of supplements should be individualized by a professional. The importance can not be stressed enough of choosing a reputable manufacturing company. Your alternative medical professional can help with your selection.

Energy Treatments

Alternative practitioners dealing in energy treatments believe your bodies energy field must flow properly to maintain health. A person can become ill when the energy flow is unbalanced or blocked. This body energy has been known by different terms such as chi, live force and prana. Energy therapies include:

Acupuncture

Reiki

Polarity Therapy

Magnet Therapy

Therapeutic Touch

Light Therapy

Adversity to Alternative Medicine

Most doctors are not necessarily adverse to alternative therapies, they simply are not familiar with their techniques and practices. They did not receive anything but conventional medicine practice in their education. Few doctors even had little training in nutrition and exercise treatments, which are certainly known to benefit the human body. If a traditional medical doctor does have knowledge alternative medicine, it is because she sought out the education herself.

Alternative Medicine is not big business. Therefore, few studies have been done to verify benefits of different treatments. Companies such as conglomerate drug manufactures cannot patent natural ingredients or procedures and so cannot make money from them. It's just a guess, but for them it may be about winning the prize of "who has the most bucks when you die" award.