For most people, reaching for the painkillers or getting treatment from a doctor is the regular thing to do when pain strikes. But for millions more people, the most popular alternative therapies are better options. Alternative therapies are becoming increasingly popular and provide a natural addition or alternative to conventional medicine.
If you are interested in complementary medicine and want to find out more, here is a list of the most popular methods of treating pain and many different health conditions without using prescription medicine or conventional medical treatments.
Do Alternative Therapies Work?
The list of alternative therapies is very long, and it encompasses a range of different treatments. The benefits and advantages of alternative treatments have been debated widely and tested by many different organizations. There are many studies that show certain alternative therapies as highly effective for treating certain conditions. There are also the more general benefits that go with alternative therapies, which include enhanced mental wellbeing and less stress.
If you are considering alternative therapies for a health condition it is a good idea to also consult your doctor so that you can maintain a treatment plan that is optimized for your own individual needs.
1) Reflexology
Reflexology is a natural therapy that is targeted towards the feet. The idea is that there are specific trigger points in the feet that relate to different parts of your body. As the trigger points are pressed and massaged, this results in healing in the specific part of the body that the trigger point relates to.
What Happens? A reflexologist works with a “map” of the foot which relates to these energy points. He or she applies gentle pressure to specific areas of the foot. Treatments usually last 30 minutes or an hour. A reflexologist will be able to work on special areas depending on where the person feels pain or which specific health condition they have.
2) Aromatherapy
With aromatherapy the theory is that certain essential oils are beneficial for treating certain parts of the body and overall health. Experts believe that essential oils can reduce pain levels, help reduce stress, relieve depression and anxiety, and promote better overall health.
What Happens? Essential oils are the concentrated extracts of plants, which can include the roots, the seeds, and the blossoms. An aromatherapy practitioner uses essential oils to treat pain or other conditions. The essential oils are massaged into the body, or they are inhaled in a vapor, or they may sometimes be given orally.
3) Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is well-known and is used to treat a variety of different ailments. It is when a massage therapist applies focused touch to specific areas of the body, which is designed to relieve symptoms of disease and to promote greater health.
What Happens? A massage therapist uses massage techniques in various positions on the body. They may use their full body weight or apply a lighter touch, depending on the circumstances. There are different types of massage that are used for different purposes, including sports massage for sports injuries, aromatherapy massage, and general relaxation massage.
4) Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a popular way of treating a variety of health conditions, and it is own of the most common alternative therapies to be used across the world. Acupuncture is said to release energy blocks from the body which contributes to better overall health and wellbeing.
What Happens? A practitioner applies tiny needles or electrical stimulations to specific points of the body. These points relate to different energy sources in the body and the stimulation of nerves within these areas is said to bring health benefits.
5) Chiropractic
Chiropractic medicine is often viewed as a conventional medical treatment although it is still in fact classed as an alternative remedy. It is one of the most popular treatments for back pain, neck pain, and joint pain.
What Happens? A chiropractor applies gentle and firm pressure to the joints in the spine. They aim to move the joints into their natural position and remove them from the point at which they currently stick. Once the spinal joints are realigned, muscles and bones are allowed to move back into their natural position, which results in better body alignment and less pain.
6) Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a method where a patient can control their own body processes in order to bring benefits to conditions where there are processes that are normally involuntary, for example headaches and high blood pressure.
What Happens? A biofeedback practitioner works with a patient and in the beginning the patient has electrodes attached to their body to measure and display certain bodily process like skin temperature and blood pressure. The therapist works with the patient so that they can learn relaxation and pain management techniques, which the patient can “see” working as their body processes change.
7) Homeopathy
In homeopathy the idea is that a small amount of a substance that causes a health condition is used to treat the symptoms.
What Happens? A specialist homeopathic practitioner takes medical history and exact symptoms from a patient and then recommends a specific regime of homeopathic remedies which are taken orally. These are designed to boost the body’s healing systems. Homeopathy is one of the most popular alternative therapies and many studies show that it does indeed work well.
