Popular Alternative Medicine Therapies

For a while, the alternative medicine practices have been eclipsed by Western medicine to the effect that the latter has been acknowledged as the traditional medicine rather than the former. Having seen what Western medicine has to offer and what it can't has led to the resurgence of the alternative medicine therapies along with the motivation of this generation to go back to the basic, natural and organic. Some of these are acupressure, yoga, tai chi, Ayurveda, herbal medicine, and meditation which have risen from the early human civilization of the East. Aside from these, there are other practices such as chiropractic practices, hypnosis and guided imagery that have already attained significant following.

Chiropractic Care as an Alternative Therapy

Chiropractics involve spinal manipulation to align it with the surrounding muscles and other bones to promote well-being as well as to relieve pain and tension. It is believed to have been practiced in the early stages of human history and civilizations by the Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks, and American and South American natives. The modern day chiropractic practice began in 1895.

To date, chiropractic care ranks as the second largest primary area of health care across nations. Spinal manipulation has been seen to work in the relieving of back and neck pain. Despite its lack of scientific clinical studies, practitioners claim that it can heal other discomforts and ailments such as asthma and headaches. There are efforts to make it holistic or treat whole body by combining it with homeopathic techniques called osteopathic spinal manipulation. The followers of chiropractic mostly believe in the body's ability to self heal.

Though it is generally safe, caution must still be exercised in handling stroke patients and those with nerve-related damages because there is spinal manipulation involved. To increase the margin of safety, it is best if one will inquire about the practitioners' credentials and affiliations. Inquire about their 'school' of chiropractic care (straight chiropractic or mixing chiropractic). The latter combines it with Western medicine and is usually practiced by a medical doctor. This is a good example of complementary alternative medicine (CAM).

Hypnotic Therapy

Hypnosis is a process that guides a patient to an altered state of consciousness akin to being asleep while remaining connected to one's senses and memories. It is used in healing through making subtle suggestions while the patient is in that altered state of consciousness. This is called hypnotherapy. It helps address stress and many kinds of pain. It has long been used to induce weight loss, treat insomnia and quit smoking. Hypnosis is now being made a part of holistic healing approach through an integrated health plan that combines Western medicine with several alternative medicine therapies.

One must be warned, however, that it doesn't work all the time for every patient. In fact, there are still shrouds of doubt insofar as its therapeutic effect or healing power is concerned. Centuries passed before hypnosis finally regained its credibility and this happened with the development of methods that made quantitative research possible. Today, hypnosis is generally accepted as a part of treatment of conditions like phobias, addictions and chronic, intense pain.

Seeing Through the Mind

Seeing through the mind or mental imagery is also understood as visualization or guided imagery. It is gentle yet powerful as a technique that involves not just the sense of vision but all the senses. It is not just mental either because it can involve the entire body. With its whole body focus, it is understandable why it is powerful and effective. It can be used as part of holistic healing and its power is evident in its applications in the treatment of cancer.

The process is facilitated by doctors as they direct patients to focus on a specific image that aims to increase the connection between the mind and the body. The connection is validated by the comparable brain activities between patients who just create mental images of an activity and those who actually do the activity. Being a right-brained activity, this mental imagery can enhance functions that reside in that hemisphere such as emotion, abstract thinking, and receptivity to music. It also assists unconscious and pre-conscious processes in forming and attaining conscious goals. These applications are far-reaching that include treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological and stress-related conditions, helping stroke victims relearn basic action and skills.

Chiropractics, hypnosis and guided imagery are alternative medicine therapies that promise amazing benefits especially when combined with established traditional medical protocols. Just think of these options when you want to heal more naturally or when your doctor declares that Western medicine can't do anything anymore with your medical condition.

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