Complementary Medicine: the Popular alternative

Complementary medicine lists  treatments that can be given in addition to Western medicine to alleviate pain and enhance healing. Complementary medical techniques have existed since centuries. But scientific testing of such techniques is limited and there is no proof to show that such techniques actually work.

Complementary medicine can be divided into five categories:

Sensory,Expressive, Cognitive, Physical and Medical systems. But please be aware that there is a very good chance that newer and newer complementary medical technique and processes will come into force. Please do not blindly follow each and every technique even if it promises the world.  Research it well and you should be fine.

Sensory: Systems that work with the five senses are called as sensory systems. These are a few of the most popular systems in the world at present.

•    Aroma therapy: Treatment using scent of essential oils mainly through the sense of smell. Essential Oils are like Lavender, Rose, Peppermint, Bergamot, Rosemary etc.

•    Landscape therapy: Showing greenery and pretty paintings in the form of landscapes to patients to evoke peace and calm.

•   Music therapy: Incorporates both listening to and playing music. Through music, patients explore emotional, behavioral and social issues.

•    Massage: It relies on body’s pressure points and nerve endings to promote relaxation. There are several forms of massage: Shiatsu, Heller work and Reflexology.

•   Therapeutic touch: It supposes that individual has energy fields that can be exploited to provide soothing touch.

•    Reiki: Is a form of Japanese meditation and healing practice.  Practitioners are trained to use and direct Reiki energy sending it to areas in the patients that need healing.

•    Reflexology: Practitioners apply pressure to area on the foot and all over the body that are believed to heal organs.

•    Acupuncture: Chinese system of pricking fine needles at specific points of the body to cure particular ailments.

Cognitive therapy: Uses positive thinking to heal the body and mind. Practitioners use Guided imagery (patient is guided in imagining positive images and outcomes), Hypnotherapy (guided imagination through deep relaxation), Prayer, Meditation (relaxing the mind for achieving peace and relaxation), Relaxation and deep breathing, Bio Feed back (using signals from the body) in different combination’s to relax the patient and get him back to a state of optimum health.

Expressive therapy: Is a form of therapy where patients are encouraged to express their thoughts- The most common fields where you will see expressive therapy are in Psychotherapy and counseling, Support groups, Journal writing and Art therapy.

Physical complementary medicine: Physical exercise (releases mood elevating hormones), Yoga ( gentle exercise consisting of body postures and breathing techniques), T’ai Chi (non combative martial art form uses breathing techniques and graceful movements symbolizing the flow of life energy also called as mediation in motion)Qi Gong ( Qi or life energy stimulated by movement, meditation and breathing techniques).

Medical systems: These are complementary regimes of therapy that are approved by medicine and work on almost the same principles like Naturopathy, western herbalism, Chinese herbalism and Ayur Veda.

Thus there is a wide variety of complementary medical systems that can assist in the healing process.