Many people take “complementary medicine” and “alternative medicine” to mean the same thing. And, although they are often grouped together under the umbrella of CAM (complementary and alternative medicine), they’re actually different. Both terms refer to treatments, like herbs or acupuncture that are out of the medical
mainstream. But complementary medicine is when these therapies are used along with traditional Western medicine. Alternative medicine is when these approaches are used instead of traditional medicine. Examples of non-mainstream medicine include yoga,
chiropractic medicine, meditation, and massage therapy. Few people use alternative medicine, and experts recommend against it. But
more and more traditional doctors are accepting complementary medicine. In many cases, the two health systems actually overlap. For instance, many traditional medical doctors also practice acupuncture. And many major medical centers offer complementary approaches. Some of them are even covered by
insurance. In theory, anyone. It doesn’t matter if they’re sick or healthy. Every person will respond differently to each product or practice. It’s also important to know that some complementary approaches have been studied more than others. For example, research shows that
acupuncture may be helpful in fighting chronic pain, including that of the lower back and neck. It’s also been proven effective in treating pain from
arthritis and different types of headaches. Yoga may help with pain, too. It can also reduce
depression and anxiety, as well as blood pressure and
heart rate. Some complementary therapies like acupuncture can help with fatigue, nausea, and other side effects of cancer treatment. Yes. That’s the case for all types of medicine, traditional Western included. But alternative medicine can be very dangerous if it’s used in place of traditional treatments. It can even be life-threatening. That’s partly because you’re not getting proven treatments for your condition. But many forms of complementary medicine -- like meditation -- don’t have many side effects and can be used safely. Some herbs, supplements, and vitamins also have potential side effects These substances aren’t regulated by the government in the same way that drugs are. And, although many claim to be “natural,” this doesn’t always mean they’re safe.
Ingredients, dosing, and manufacturing processes can vary widely from product to product. Here are some specific dangers linked with natural products: Is Complementary Medicine Right for You?Always talk to your doctor before making a decision. They’ll help you to make the best choice for you. And they may be able to direct you to a certified and licensed practitioner. Your risk of complications is lower if you have a provider who has the required training and experience. You should also tell both your doctor and complementary medical provider what mainstream treatments you’re getting. This’ll help you get the best of both worlds. All types of complementary medicine should fall under five major categories, as listed here:
Let us look at each in turn and find a couple of examples of each to illustrate what they are and how they work. Whole Medical Systems Whole medical systems, also referred to as Traditional Medicine, have been developed to treat the individual, no matter the ailment, and have come about completely separately from what we see as conventional, or allopathic, western medicine as practised by doctors in hospitals and surgeries. The two types of medicine should be integrated because both can be of help to the patient. The problem lies with doctors, consultants and medical staff educated in allopathic techniques who believe complementary medicine lacks evidentiary support. Unfortunately, in many cases they will ignore evidence presented because it doesn’t fit in with their accepted paradigm of medicine and they will refuse to look into it for themselves. The results, they would find, are overwhelmingly positive. Such alternative whole medical systems can be found in Eastern cultures. For example: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine in India and Kampo in Japan. There are traditional forms of medicine to be found all over the world in every culture, some surviving more successfully than others. Two whole medical systems that developed in the west are Homeopathic Medicine and Naturopathic Medicine. Homeopathic medicine – Homeopathy is based on the belief that the body can heal itself of ailments. The client is given miniscule amounts of natural substances to kickstart the process. Basically, what ails you can be treated if your immune system is triggered; for example: if you are suffering with allergies, the homeopath will give you a tiny amount of a substance that would naturally produce an allergic reaction – this will tell your body to start fighting back and stand up against whatever is causing your allergies. Naturopathic Medicine – Naturopathy is a way of curing the ills of modern life. These days we are plagued with stress, anxiety, pollution, and poor diet. The naturopath will use a variety of techniques to counter the affects you are feeling from these ills and more. They employ herbal remedies, homeopathy as discussed above, acupuncture, colonic cleansing as well as giving advice on nutrition and telling you to drink more water – probably the best advice you could ever take on board! Mind-Body Techniques It is accepted in Eastern therapeutic practices that the mind has way more influence over the body than has been acknowledged in western medicine. Although the mind and body have always been thought of as two separate entities in this part of the world, holistic practitioners of various disciplines have learned this valuable positive connection and now the mainstream scientific community’s research is forcing it into recognising these complex links too. The various complementary practices that take advantage of this positive impact include behavioural, psychological, social, expressive, and spiritual approaches. Two prime examples of healing techniques that recognise and take advantage of the vital connection between mind-body are acupuncture, tai chi. Both of these techniques have gained enormous popularity in the west in recent years. Acupuncture – A holistic therapy that dates back millennia and is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Most people will visit an acupuncturist for pain relief for one condition or another, but acupuncture is useful as a therapy in so many ways, from weight loss to anxiety, tinnitus, insomnia, nasal congestion and many many more, the list goes on. Although, like so many other holistic practices, western medicine dismisses acupuncture as a pseudoscience, not enough research has been done to come to such a definite conclusion. Meanwhile, results speak for themselves as patients find relief from what ails them. Tai Chi – Originally developed as a martial art in China in the 13th century, the health benefits of Tai Chi Chuan as a holistic therapy are undeniable. Using deep breathing along with a series of flowing movements creates relaxation and a oneness between the mind body and spirit. It helps people, especially the more senior among us, improve their muscle tone and strength, as well as their posture, balance and mobility. Biologically Based Practices In complementary medicine the biologically based therapist uses natural substances to help with the clients’ illness and dis-ease. These natural substances can include herbs, plant-based diet plans or vitamin and mineral supplements that might be lacking in their everyday diet. There are other types of therapy that are biologically based and causing consternation in western medical circles that you may read about, such as using shark cartilage as a cure for cancer. While doctors will insist these therapies are unproven, that simply means not enough scientific research has been dedicated to them to definitively prove in their minds whether they work or not. Two forms of biologically based practices within the realm of complementary and alternative therapies are herbal medicine and nutritional therapy. Herbal Medicine – As the name would suggest, herbal medicine is the use of various herbs, plants and flowers grown naturally that have been used for centuries by healers all over the world and known to have healing or restorative qualities. In fact, they would have been widely used by doctors until pharmaceutical companies produced chemicals to replicate their effects. The remedy may contain the whole plant, or parts of it such as the root, stem, leaves or flower. If you are going to use herbal remedies for any reason it would be best to talk to a practitioner in herbal medicine first because not all herbs and plants are good for you. Nutritional Therapy – You are what you eat, as they say. These are not just empty words, your body is a complex machine and, as such, needs a combination of vitamins and minerals to help it run efficiently. Unfortunately, too many of us have been foregoing the natural, wholesome food we require and submitting to the temptation of fast foods which entice us with taste enhancers such as an overload of salt and sugar along with saturated fats. Other factors such as artificial fertilisers and soil degradation produce fruit and vegetables with less of the vitamins and minerals than they used to contain. The nutritional therapist will help you find the right balance for your body’s needs with nutritional diet sheets and topping up with supplements. Manipulative and Body-Based Therapies Too many of us suffer from lack of movement. Whether that is because we spend too long crashed out in front of the television or playing video games and have become couch potatoes, or we work long hours behind a desk then sitting in our cars on the way home, only to be too tired to do anything else but crash out in front of the television. Movement is vitally important to our wellbeing. Like any machine the human body needs to move; if it doesn’t things will start seizing up! Manipulative therapies are designed to ensure that doesn’t happen. Two examples are Chiropractic and Osteopathy. The difficulty arises in trying to explain what the difference is between the two. Both the Chiropractor and the Osteopath are complementary therapists who believe in manipulation of the body aids the body in healing itself. Both are used for improving posture, pain relief, and increasing the ease of mobility but they can be used for the relief of other symptoms too; for example reducing blood pressure, relief of migraines and digestive issues among other things. There is little difference between the two but… Chiropractic – Concentrates more on the spine and spinal alignment. Osteopathy – Uses more soft tissue massage to release tension of the muscles. Energy Therapies The various energy therapies employed by holistic practitioners around the world are some of the most powerful yet least understood and definitely most maligned of the complementary or alternative therapies we have discussed. People, especially people in the medical profession, are always ready to dismiss these valuable types of holistic therapy as pseudoscience or quackery, without actually experiencing their effects for themselves. They might argue there is no actual scientific evidence for them to work, and yet they do work as many who have enjoyed treatments and benefitted from them will readily admit. We are surrounded by universal energy that constantly flows around us and through us. The holistic therapist will manipulate that energy to promote healing. Remember: these therapies are not advertised as cures, they are advertised as complementary medicine; in other words, they complement the medicine and advice given by doctors. Two examples of the many holistic techniques that can be found are Reiki and Qigong Reiki – Although Reiki has only been with us since the end of the 19th century, when Mikao Usui developed it and began teaching it in Japan, the elements, symbols, and ideas it teaches are much older. The Reiki practitioner will have been attuned to the “Reiki Source”, i.e. the universal energy that they will use to aid healing and relaxation. Some Reiki practitioners will use the hands-on method to channel the energy, some feel no need to actually touch the client and will hover their hands a few inches above the various parts of the body. Many treatments will start with a scan where the practitioner runs their hands above and along the sides of the client and actually find what part of the body needs their attention. The energy flows through us along nadis which are like powerlines connecting the chakras. The experienced Reiki practitioner will feel if the chakras are turning too quickly or two slowly and will clear them to return to their normal speed. Reiki is slowly being recognised more as beneficial in the healing process amongst the Western medical community and is now offered to patients in some hospitals across the United States. Qigong – Originating in China, Qigong is an ancient form of energy therapy that uses a series of movements, postures, stretches, and breathing to help healing energy flow through the body along meridians to enhance the qi. The qi in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the fundamental lifeforce that exists in all of us, with each of our organs having its own qi. Qigong is interesting because regular practice can help us improve the balance in our bodies, this is called internal qigong. External qigong is when an experienced qigong master uses it to heal others by passing their own energy to those who need it. Qigong is still an important part of therapy offered by Chinese hospitals along with other elements of TCM. What are the types of complementary and alternative medicine?Complementary and alternative medicine includes practices such as massage, acupuncture, tai chi, and drinking green tea. Integrative medicine is an approach to medical care that combines conventional medicine with CAM practices that have shown through science to be safe and effective.
What are the five categories of alternative medicine?What are the different types of CAM?. Acupuncture.. Ayurveda.. Homeopathy.. Naturopathy.. Chinese or Oriental medicine.. What are the five domains of complementary and alternative medicine?NIH/NCCAM has identified five domains or types of complementary therapies.. Mind-body therapies. ... . Biologically-based therapies. ... . Manipulative and body-based methods. ... . Energy Therapies. ... . Whole medical systems/Alternative medical systems.. What is the most common complementary and alternative medicine?Acupuncture. Tai chi, yoga, and other mind-body therapies. Vitamins, herbs, and other nutritional therapies.
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What are the 5 major types of complementary and alternative medicine
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