COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES

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If you’ve ever felt that popping pills didn’t solve your health problems, you might have considered alternative medicine. More than 30% of adults use complementary and alternative therapies. 

What Exactly Is Alternative Medicine? 

Alternative medicine refers to medical treatments that are used in place of traditional (mainstream) treatments. Some people call it "integrative" or "complementary" medicine. This blog explores some popular alternative medical treatments and their potential risks and benefits.


Acupuncture

This method of traditional Chinese medicine involves stimulating certain body locations using needles. Acupuncture is considered safe when performed by an experienced practitioner using sterile needles. Based on acupuncture theory, acupuncture points lie along meridians along which qi, a kind of vital energy flow.  Before beginning the acupuncture treatment, observe the following: 
  • the patient does not have an empty stomach. 
  • the patient is not mentally disturbed. 
  • the patient should have sufficient rest before &after treatment. 
  • keep a concentrated solution of glucose

Acupuncture treatment regulates the flow of yin, yang, Qi,  and Blood, notifying where there is a deficiency, draining where there is excess, and promoting free flow where there is stagnation. However, some adverse effects might occur after acupuncture including minor bleeding after the removal of needles, dizziness, and hematoma which manifest as bruises.  


Chiropractic Medicine

This practice focuses on the body’s structure - mainly the spine and how it functions. A trained professional called a chiropractor uses different techniques to adjust (“manipulate”) your spine or other parts of your body so that they’re in proper form or alignment.

The goal of chiropractic medicine is to ease pain, improve body function, and help your body to heal itself naturally.  It is a manual treatment to re-align the vertebra and restore the function of spinal nerves. 

Magnetic Therapies

These techniques focus on the energy fields many people believe exist in and around the body. Energy therapies include bioelectromagnetic-based therapies. Its balances the electromagnetic fields of the body. However, there is no scientific evidence of its efficacy. 
Magnetic therapy is the most common type of energy therapy. Magnets are used to correct disturbances of electromagnetic fields and restore health.  FDA – no medical value but relatively harmless. However, these therapies must be avoided by patients with pacemakers or defibrillators.

Reiki

Those who practice this alternative treatment believe it taps into the body's natural energy to speed healing. The practitioner hovers their hands over your body or places them lightly on your skin.

The goal is to channel energy through their hands to your body to promote healing. There’s very little research to prove it works. Visualization and touch balance energy flow to bring healing energy to organs and glands.

Herbal Medicines

Herbal medicines are those with active ingredients made from plant parts, such as leaves, roots or flowers. But being "natural" doesn't necessarily mean they're safe for you to take.

Just like conventional medicines, herbal medicines will have an effect on the body, and can be potentially harmful if not used correctly.If you're taking, or plan to take, any herbal medicines, be aware of the following:
  • They may cause problems if you're taking other medicines. They could make the other medicine less effective or cause the other medicine to trigger unexpected side effects.
  • You may experience a bad reaction or side effects after taking a herbal medicine
  • Not all herbal medicines are regulated. Remedies specially prepared for individuals don't need a licence
  • Evidence for the effectiveness of herbal medicines is generally very limited. Although some people find them helpful, in many cases their use tends to be based on traditional use rather than scientific research.

Ayuverdic Medicine

Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest medical systems. It started in India more than 3,000 years ago and is still widely used in that country today.

Those who use it rely on herbs, special diets, and unique practices to treat illnesses. But Ayurvedic products can also be dangerous. Researchers have found toxic minerals or metals, like lead, in some of the products. There hasn’t been enough research or clinical trials to support that Ayurveda works.






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