The Essence of 6 Alternative Medicines Explained

It’s no secret that the magical mantra for good physical and mental well-being is regular exercise and healthy diet.

When it comes to diet, plenty of raw veggies and fruits are what you need to lead a healthy life. Talking about exercise, all it takes to go from fat to fit is a balanced combination of resistance and interval training workouts.

However, if you have an existing ailment and are looking for medication, then it’s better that you start looking for alternative treatments, instead of pills and injections as these can cause serious side effects in the long term.

What is Alternative therapy?

Alternative therapy is a term used to describe health treatments that are not widely used in Western countries. It includes various categories of treatments that range from activating pressure points to poking needles into the skin to diet changes.

Here are some of the most popular alternative (aka complementary) treatments:

1. Acupressure

This is a type of treatment in which the specialist uses his/her hands, elbows, and feet to massage the pressure points of the patient. According to acupressure, a person might fall sick when his/her meridians (responsible for carrying energy in the body) are defective. There could be blockages or imbalance in the meridians which cause sickness, body pain, and other problems.

Acupressure is believed to clear blockages and correct imbalances to enable a free flow of energy throughout the body and restore wellness of the person.

Studies have found that acupressure can clear nausea in patients undergoing chemotherapy and even control stress and anxiety in people who are about to undergo surgical procedures.

2. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a 3000-year old healing method introduced by the Chinese. In this type of treatment, the practitioner uses needles or electrical stimulation to stimulate specific pressure points in the patient’s body to cure a range of physical and emotional problems. It is widely considered one of the best treatments for arthritis. However, the actual benefits go far beyond that.

Multiple clinical studies have proven that acupuncture offers an effective cure for anxiety, stress, depression, infertility, migraine headache, nausea, and musculoskeletal problems like neck pain, back pain, and leg pain. In recent years, a vast number of Americans have benefited from Acupuncture treatment.

3. Aromatherapy

This type of alternative therapy uses essential oils (extracted from the roots, seeds, leaves, stems, flowers, and wooden barks) to restore balance and harmony of the body and mind. The oils are inhaled or massaged onto the body and in some rare cases, they’re fed orally.

Inhalation of essential oils is believed to stimulate brain function whereas the absorbed oils are believed to penetrate through the skin and enter the bloodstream to offer whole-body healing. Some oils are effective in curing infections and inflammation, and others help promote relaxation.

4. Balneotherapy

Balneotherapy (also known as hydrotherapy) refers to the technique of treating diseases with mineral spring baths. With this 400-year old therapy water has been found to influence the condition of skin by using mineral water to help cure skin infections, pain, and swelling. Sometimes, mud packs and wraps are used to cure specific problems.  

5. Biofeedback

Biofeedback is a form of complementary therapy that trains patients how to control critical physiological processes like blood pressure, heart rate, skin temperature, and muscle tension. Usually, these are involuntary actions that happen by themselves. Biofeedback helps monitor certain actions and generates feedback to help patients learn how they can manipulate their actions for better well-being.

Biofeedback is believed to offer an effective cure for problems like chronic pain, blood pressure, anxiety, headache, and urinary incontinence. In clinical sessions, electrodes are attached to the skin of the patient and their movements are measured by the specialist.  

6. Chiropractic Adjustment

Studies reveal that chiropractic could be your newest antioxidant. Chiropractic adjustments offer a drug-free, surgery-free option to heal a range of physical problems. The treatment focuses on curing musculoskeletal and nervous problems such as back pain, neck pain, joint ache, and headache. However, the most popular application of chiropractic therapy is for ‘spinal manipulation’. It is believed that the spine is the central part of the body and any disorder in this area can lead to nervous system problems that could seriously affect long-term mobility. People who have undergone chiropractic adjustments have reported overall decreased body pain and improved physical functioning.

Conclusion

The goal of alternative treatments is to improve physical and mental well-being through traditional approaches while avoiding harmful drugs or painful surgeries.

 

About the Author: Joshna, is a blogger and a private tutor, sharing his experience in spheres of  blogging self-growth, and Fitness. Nowadays writing for numerous blogs around topic exercise and diet and helps educate readers on the best ways to improve their health and looks naturally.