Alternative Medicine

It is believed that acupuncture began in China over four thousand years ago. It involves the belief that all living organisms have life energy flowing through them, sometimes called qi/chi. There are 12 meridians (energy pathways), with each meridian linked to organs. When the energy is not flowing properly then disease is present. By using the acupoints along the meridian pathway energy flow is corrected, and the organs begin to function properly.

Acupuncture is a form of healing based on the concept that all body organs are interconnected by channels, known as meridians and that illness occurs when the vital energy, or qi (pronounced chee), flowing through these channels is partially blocked. A practitioner of acupuncture attempts to correct this imbalance by inserting thin needles along the meridians at designated points, called acupoints, and in certain cases twirling them, either manually or with an electrical device. He or she may combine the treatment with other traditional practices, such as herbal medicine, diet therapy, and massage.

The Alexander technique is a training process in which a person learns to identify and change faulty posture and movements. The goal is to free the body of muscular tensions that cause stress and fatigue by eliminating common postural problems resulting from such habits as slouching, holding the head in an awkward position when talking on the telephone, or carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder.

Any alternative therapy should be undertaken as an adjunct to medical treatment and with the full knowledge of the primary-care physician. Some therapies can actually hasten the bodily decline of AIDS, especially if they restrict essential nutrients or exacerbate diarrhea and other digestive problems. People with AIDS should be very suspicious of anyone who promises miracle cures or claims to have the ability to revitalize the immune system.

Aromatherapy is the use of oils from herbs and other aromatic plants to achieve relaxation or relief from a disorder. Depending upon the plant, the aromatic, or essential, oil is extracted from the leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, fruit, bark, or resin and then diluted with water or an unscented oil such as jojoba. These solutions may be massaged into skin, inhaled from steam, added to bath water, or used in a compress.

An therapy is the use of visual arts materials to identify and treat emotional trauma and mental disorders. By creating images in drawings, paintings, sculptures, and photographs, patients provide information about suppressed feelings and buried memories that they cannot express with words.

This approach is also an important aspect of rehabilitation programs for people who are recovering from a stroke or an injury affecting hand function. It can help disabled people to improve their self-image and depressed or elderly patients to expand their range of expression.

This ancient healing system from India stresses the mind/body relationship in the maintenance of good health. As in other Asian medical practices, a balance of vital energy, in this case, prana, is considered the key. The system is based on balancing three basic life forces, or doshas, that are responsible for all movement in the body; pitta, which controls digestion and energy production; and kapha, responsible for the body's structure and stability. Illness occurs when any of the doshas is out of sync; individuals must know their dominant dosha and follow a diet and lifestyle that keeps it balanced with the others.

Biofeedback training allows a person to gain a measure of control over bodily functions that are usually automatic, or involuntary -- for example, heartbeat, blood pressure, skin temperature, blood flow to the hands and feet, even brain-wave patterns. Some doctors believe that the results are similar to those of self-hypnosis.

Chelation is a method used to remove toxins from the bloodstream. It is mainly used to treat atherosclerosis, plaque built up on the arterial walls which can lead to heart attack or stroke. Primarily, it is used to replace more evasive methods; bypass surgery and angioplasty. Full treatment involves between 25-30 treatments, almost one month apart each, each one lasting about three hours. Chelation therapy has been shown to benefit vision circulation (heart, lungs, brain, limbs), and arrhythmias. The chelation agent, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), is administered intravenously. Despite its increase in popularity by physicians in north America it has yet to receive approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

Chiropractic is a system of treatment based on the belief that the foundation of good health is the unhampered flow of nerve impulses that originate in the brain and spinal cord and then travel to all parts of the body. Therapy begins with analyzing the patient's spinal column for abnormal alignments of the vertebrae. When such misalignments, called subluxations, are located, they are corrected by manipulation to restore the normal flow of nerve impulses. Many chiropractors also make recommendations about nutrition and exercise, but they do not prescribe drugs or do surgery.

Chiropractic medicine is a fairly large field, used to treat back pain/injuries, headaches, joint injuries, and body alignment problems. The main emphasis is the proper alignment of the spine. This is based on the fact that the spinal cord can be affected by poor alignment, and this can cause various ailments throughout the body. The belief is that when the spinal cord is aligned properly it can function the way it's suppose to and the body can deal with any ailments by self healing.

The colon is part of the digestive system. It is a long tube comprised of the large intestines, rectum, and the anus, and it can reach up to 30 feet in length. It's primary roles are to allow for the absorption of nutrients into the blood stream, and to eliminate waste. If the colon is not working properly nutrients may not be adequately absorbed and waste may linger longer than healthy before being eliminated.

Herbal medicine involves using herbs to treat many illnesses such as pms, indigestion, cancer, heart disease, skin disorders, anxiety, diarrhea, constipation, insomnia, etc. Herbs are derived from dried plant product. Some believe that herbs can be just, if not more, effective than conventional drugs.

Herbal medicine is the use of plants-their leaves, stems bark, flowers, fruits, and seeds-to prevent or cure disease.

Homeopathy is based on the theory that the cause of an illness is similar to its cure. Thus, treatment involves giving a small amount of a very diluted natural substance that, if taken in larger doses, would cause the same symptoms as the ailment itself.

Hydrotherapy is the use of water to treat disease, alleviate pain, induce relaxation, and maintain general good health. For therapeutic purposes, the water may be hot or cold, or in the form of ice or steam. Treatments include immersion baths (usually in cool water), hot tub soaks, sitz baths (a shortened hip bath), mud baths, steam baths, saunas, needle showers, salt rubs, pressure hosing, hot or cold packs, douches, and colonic irrigation (washing of the inner wall of the large intestine). Hydrotherapy may also take the form of drinking water that has special qualities, such as the mineral waters offered by European spas as an aid to digestion.

Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness in which a very highly concentrated state of attention is focused on a specific idea or memory. The patient (or subject) is fully awake but responds only to the therapist's suggestions. There is abundant empirical evidence that hypnotherapy produces desired results for many people. Some, however, are incapable of achieving a deep trance state. Others can reach only a light hypnotic state because they are unable or unconsciously unwilling to achieve this form of total concentration.

Kinesiology comes from the Greek word meaning movement. Of course, in order to accomplish movement, muscles are needed. Kinesiology, from the perspective of alternative medicine, is the study of muscles and how they effect health. When most of us think of muscles we usually think of the muscles we can feel just under the skin. But muscles can be found all throughout the body. Most of the blood vessels are surrounded by muscle which control constriction and dilation.

Light therapy employs either natural or artificial light to treat various disorders, ranging from psoriasis and other skin diseases to soft bones and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs during the winter.

Macrobiotics is a dietary discipline based on the East Asian concept that good health depends on establishing a harmonious balance of the opposing life forces (yang and yin) and that this applies to foods as well as other aspects of life.

In therapeutic massage, touch is used to induce relaxation and promote well-being. Though there are many forms of the practice, all employ systematic stroking, rubbing, pressing, kneading, or thumping of the skin, muscles, and joints. Massage is also combined sometimes with other techniques, especially aroma and water therapies.

Meditation is a mental discipline that is aimed at achieving complete relaxation. It is often promoted as an alternative to tranquilizers and painkillers in the management of emotional stress and physical pain.

In this treatment, music and rhythm are used to improve physical and psychological functioning and provide an alternative means of communication for persons who are unable to put their feelings or thoughts into words.

Natural, or alternative, medicine is often thought of as a phenomenon of the so-called New Age; in reality, much of it is older than human history. Every society has herbal cures and folk remedies, many of which have been incorporated into orthodox medicine. In fact, it is estimated that at least half of our modern drugs originated with natural plant sources.

Naturopathy is based on natural means of healing diseases. Its practitioners often employ the entire spectrum of alternative therapies. Instead of conventional drugs, for example, they may choose from among herbal medicines, homeopathic remedies, nutrition and diet therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and physical therapy.

Nutrition therapy is based on the premise that diet in general or certain vitamins and minerals in particular can prevent or cure disease. Practices range from simply eating a balanced diet to maintain good health to taking megadoses of vitamins and/or minerals to ward off disease or treat mental illness.

Pet therapy promotes human well-being through bonding with an animal, most often a cat, dog, or other household pet

Spiritual healing is the curing of disease through powers outside the limits of medical intervention. It is based on the concept that whatever one truly believes can be made to happen.

Osteopathy is a variation of conventional medicine. Its practitioners are fully qualified doctors, licensed in all 50 states to practice the full range of medicine. In addition, osteopathic training is quite similar to traditional medical school and residency. Even so, this particular practice is often confused with chiropractic because of its focus on manipulation.

Alternative medicine is just that. It is an alternate method different than the traditional way of treating disease. In fact, it deals more with prevention than treatment. With alternative medicine the emphasis is one of whole body and mind, living a life with healthy habits, believing that when things are in balance the body will take care of itself. And, if some thing does go wrong, to find the root cause of the problem rather than just treating, or in some cases only masking, the symptoms.

Movement therapies employ structured exercise regimens and mental discipline to achieve both physical and emotional health. They range from the gentle approaches of yoga and t'ai chi to the more vigorous movements of aerobics and martial arts such as karate. They also include physical therapy.