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Alternative Therapies
The
therapies and procedures that are termed "alternative" are constantly changing,
not only because new therapies are being devised or discovered, but also since
procedures previously considered alternative have been incorporated into
traditional medical care. Alternative therapy is an umbrella phrase that
includes medical and health related practices and products that are not
currently embraced by conventional Western medicine. Conventional medicine is
practiced by practitioners licensed as Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathy
and other licensed health care professionals, including
physical
therapists, physician's assistants, psychologists, and registered nurses.
Alternative therapies may be used instead of conventional procedures or in
conjunction with them, in which case these therapies are re-defined as
"complementary therapies".
Many
conventional practitioners recognize the benefits of some alternative therapies
and encourage their patients to explore them. However, it is important for a
client to discuss whichever therapy he is considering with his physician. In
this way, the physician can advise the client about the therapy and perhaps give
information about it. It is vital for a physician to know what other forms of
treatment the client may be using, especially medication, and determine is it is
compatible with the traditional course of treatment offered. A physician may be
able to give information about an alternative therapy or to help the patient
understand information regarding it. Most doctors will urge a patient to fully
understand the types of alternative therapies that are available, and to fully
evaluate each before choosing one. Clients should know how each works and what
the goal of the therapy is, together with what risk may be involved. Much of
this information can be obtained from the internet by using a medical database
such as pub med or grateful med, which will also contain any articles that have
been written regarding research studies done on the specific alternative
medicine therapy or product. Information for medicinal products can also be
gotten online from the Federal Drug Administration at
www.fda.gov, which will list all information regarding the product that
occurs in its database. Nutritional supplement information is available at the
FDA's Centre for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Web site at
www.cfsan.fda.gov. There is a web page devoted to product safety alerts
and product recall information at
www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html.
Again, it could
be helpful to discuss this information with the primary care doctor and evaluate
the data together. After obtaining this background, the client should find a
qualified practitioner and thoroughly question him or her about the particulars
of the treatment, including research results, and all associated risks. It is
optimal to get a sort of "walk through" of the therapy to know what each stage
involves and what changes may occur. Currently, the cost of most alternative
therapies is not approved or reimbursed by health care insurance. Nevertheless,
nearly 40% of Americans spend billions of dollars of their own money to get the
form of health care they deem necessary and beneficial. Obtaining thorough
knowledge about a proposed alternative therapy should help the client decide
which therapy is the best for the condition and to enter into the therapy with
the proper positive frame of mind that is all important when beginning any
treatment, alternative or conventional.
Alternative Therapies:
East Meets West
Alternative therapies are often based upon a philosophy whereby the
entire body, including mental and spiritual aspects, should be taken into
consideration when pursuing health. Many practitioners of traditional medicine
have embraced the soundness of this theory and include some aspects of
alternative therapy into their treatment of certain conditions. This type of
Medical Practice is termed Complimentary and Alternative Therapy or CAT and
millions of Americans employed one of more of these treatment strategies last
year. The most popular, after prayer and herbal remedies, were breathing and
meditation, chiropractic medicine, yoga and body work, which will be discussed here.e.e.e.
Many breathing and meditation techniques have their origins in Oriental
philosophy,
and yoga, tai chi,
and qigong are examples. One example of deep breathing therapy involves
inhaling slowly and deeply through the nose, usually while counting to 10, and
exhaling in a slow controlled manner, akin blowing upon but not extinguishing, a
candle flame. Concentration of the mechanism of breathing is done to relax the
body and calm the mind, and is often performed in tandem with meditation, a
process of clearing the mind of everyday thoughts. Meditation is practiced daily
by many to reduce stress and elevate one's mood. Individuals with advanced
skills can alter bodily functions such as blood pressure, adrenaline levels,
heart rate, and reduce pain sensations. A more Western approach is to employ a
brain wave monitoring device that gives biofeedback regarding the effect of
relaxation techniques upon the user's heart rate, breathing blood pressure and
other characteristics. This technique is an effective treatment for stress, and
headache, and in controlling asthma. A prototypic mind-body approach is found
in yoga which integrates deep breathing with stretching exercises and
meditation. The exercises are an adjunct to and a form of meditation and are
done to relieve stress by stretching and relaxing the muscles, while
concentrating on the movements and breathing. Practiced correctly, yoga is a
form of body work that can reduce pain by restructuring and relaxing the
muscles, and more fully oxygenating the system.
Other forms of
body work include Reiki, acupuncture and Feldinkrais. Acupuncture is a form of
energy healing therapy in which "chi" or life energy is restored by inserting
fine needles into the crucial junctures at which it is blocked. It has been an
integral part of Chinese medicine for centuries and was used as a form of pain
reduction and for many other ailments, and to restore spiritual balance. Reiki
has similarities to acupuncture in that both attempt to restore the body's own
healing energy. Reiki practitioners provide energy through their hands into the
client's body to access the innate energy balance which in turn promotes
health. Another Western born bodywork healing therapy was developed by Moshe
Feldinkrais. His method promotes achieving awareness through movements which
increase flexibility and range of motion. His method is a poplar way to reduce
movement related pain, restore function after stoke, and to restructure the body
musculature.
Chiropractic Medicine is a popular form of alternative medicine that has been
nearly entirely integrated into traditional medicine to the extent that it is
often included in health care coverage. It is based upon spinal manipulations
performed by a trained practitioner that unblock nerve signals and allow the
body to self heal. It relies upon spinal and joint readjustments to treat back
problems, headaches, and chronic pain. These adjustments are rapid and can be
uncomfortable but many people swear that they have experienced profound pain
relief.
There
are many other types of alternative therapies that rely upon bodywork, exercise,
mind-body integration and supplements that may be used together with these
treatments or conventional treatments to achieve optimal health benefits. Some
provide real body changes while others are more of a placebo, but all have a
firm basis in the belief that the body benefits most when the mind is involved.
Also, a very strong dynamic is achieved in health care when people become
involved in their own treatment.
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