Alternative medicine encompasses a set of practices that differ from standard medical treatments. Alternative therapies often rely on placebo effect or natural progression of disease for their therapies; religious beliefs; superstition; or an interest in supernatural energy fields might also play a part.
Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM), including Ayurveda, Acupuncture, Massage therapy, Naturopathy and Hypnosis are among the many CAM practices.
Meditation
Meditation can help to soothe and balance your emotions, as well as potentially improve some health conditions. According to research, meditation may increase focus ability, reduce stress levels and help develop skills necessary for managing negative feelings more effectively.
Basic mindfulness meditation entails sitting still and concentrating on your natural breathing or repeating an affirmation such as a mantra silently. If your thoughts begin to wander, simply notice it and bring back focus onto either breathing or mantra repetition. When they do wander off track, simply notice and return back to them again.
Meditation can also involve being aware of subtle bodily sensations like an itching or tingling sensation. Or you could practice “body scan” meditation by focusing on each part of your body from head to toe in turn – many who meditate report lower stress, improved sleep quality, as well as reduced blood pressure and heart rates as a result of meditation practice.
Yoga
Yoga, Tai Chi, Massage Therapy and Chiropractic all fall under the category of “body manipulation,” designed to create balance between your mind and body. Studies indicate these practices can provide stress relief, pain relief, encourage healthy exercise and eating habits and promote mental/emotional well-being while improving sleep and balance.
Yoga, an ancient practice utilizing strength, flexibility and breathing exercises to promote physical and mental well-being, is increasingly practiced throughout leisure centres, gyms, schools and hospitals alike. According to research studies conducted on its effects, it can improve balance, flexibility and strength while simultaneously decreasing depression, anxiety and stress levels; furthermore it may assist insomniacs and help ease cancer-related pain symptoms or osteoarthritis pain relief – potentially even helping prevent high blood pressure or heart disease!
Acupuncture
Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points on the body using needles. This stimulates nerves that activate spinal cord and brain regions, and produces natural morphine-like substances to relieve pain. Acupuncture can also increase white blood cell activity which may help fight infections as well as decrease triglyceride levels and decrease overall inflammation levels.
Alternative medicine practitioners believe in invisible energy fields surrounding our bodies and that by manipulating these energies it is possible to treat illness. They advise their patients to live healthy lifestyles including proper nutrition, exercise, rest and having harmonious interpersonal relationships.
Before undertaking acupuncture treatments, always consult your physician to make sure it’s right for you. In particular, those with pacemakers, chronic skin conditions, pregnancy or taking blood thinners should refrain from participating.
Massage
Massage involves manipulating muscles and soft tissues in order to promote wellness and health in individuals. Massage has long been practiced across cultures worldwide as an ancient healing art, dating back thousands of years.
Massage stimulates the release of endorphins – natural pain relievers – into the body’s system, which relieve pain while producing feelings of relaxation and well-being. Research suggests massage may reduce back pain, headaches and arthritis symptoms while improving muscle blood flow and flexibility, decreasing cell adhesion risk and improving immune function.
People undergoing cancer treatments often benefit from massage therapy, as it reduces fatigue and stress levels. Furthermore, studies suggest massage may also boost white blood cells that fight infections as well as promote better bowel movements – though care must be taken not to overdo it!
Diet
Alternative medicine refers to treatments not generally recognized or supported by extensive scientific research, and may include diet, megadoses of vitamins, herbal preparations, magnet therapy or energy healing. Some alternative treatments eventually become mainstream due to strong evidence supporting their efficacy and lack of side effects; people who primarily rely on alternative treatments may distrust traditional medical practices, be unhappy with conventional practitioners, want greater control of their healthcare decisions or be drawn more strongly toward personal growth psychology and spirituality or being drawn toward exotic locations or therapies.
