Alternative Healing Methods

Health and well-being is what every man desires in life to achieve his other goals. Lack or loss of health and its subsequent restoration is an inevitable process that every man goes through several times in life. Sometimes, complete wellness becomes a myth when all known medicines fail to produce the desired result. That is when most people turn to alternative methods of healing. Alternative healing is not an exclusive way of treatment; in fact, most of the times it is effectively used in conjunction with conventional medicine to bring about total cure.

Alternative healing methods are wide and varied; each one has a different approach to illness and well-being; their methodologies and medicines are diverse. Basically, there are five major categories of alternative medicine all of which include several types of healing methods: whole medical systems, mind-body medicine, biologically based practices, manipulative and body-based practices, and energy medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine, ayurveda, homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, osteopathy, herbalism, etc. come under the whole medical systems; the operation of each of these sub categories is founded on a whole system of theory and practice. These medical systems are again divided into many branches; for example, acupuncture is a very common method of treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. In mind-body medicine, what the practitioners try to establish is the fact that there is a strong correlation between the mental, emotional, and physical capacities of a man; the holistic treatment methods that the mind-body medicine practices adopt have practically no risk and produce several health benefits. The most popular healing methods in this practice include meditation, relaxation techniques, guided imagery, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, cognitive-behavioural therapy, etc. Body-based alternative healing methods use body manipulation for treatment; famous examples are chiropractic, massage therapy, rolfing, postural reduction, and reflexology. Chemicals and other substances obtained from nature are used in biologically based alternative healing therapies; these substances include botanicals, animal-derived extracts, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, proteins, prebiotics, probiotics, whole diets, and functional foods. Energy therapies are of two types and both use the energy fields within our body to achieve health and healing; in biofield therapies, the practitioners use their hands to apply pressure in the energy fields; reiki, therapeutic touch, etc. are all biofield therapies. Another type of energy therapy is bioelectromagnetic-based therapy in which electromagnetic fields are used for healing.

There are many more alternative healing methods practiced in different parts of the world. Some even combine one practice with another for more effectiveness. For example, aromatherapy is used by massage therapists and chiropractors for improving the mood and cognitive function of the patient.