What Is Alternative Health Care?

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Alternative health care is not a modern creation; it has, in reality, been in existence for centuries, in fact many people believe it predates written human history. So what is alternative health care? In Western culture it is frequently defined as “a healing method that does not fall within the field of conventional medicine”, e.g. medicine as practiced by M.Ds. and by allied health professionals.

Aromatherapy and aromatherapy oils – this is suitable for all age groups and is the art of applying essential oils, usually by massage. It can be used to treat many conditions, especially depression, anger, stress and linked conditions such as headaches.

An important difference between conventional and alternative medicine is that whilst conventional medicine targets specific symptoms and their causes, Alternative health care has a holistic approach;that is to say it treats the whole person, promoting self-care and self-healing and acknowledging the spiritual nature of each person. The idea that the mind is important in the treatment of illness dates back more than 2000 years. Similarly, spinal manipulation dates back to ancient Greece, and was incorporated into chiropractic and osteopathic medicine in the late 19th century.

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Alternative Health Tips

Naturopathy is Swasha Vritha or the prophylactic or preventive aspect. Ayurveda is the Athura Vritha or Therapy. Both are related sciences.The ideal time to get up is 04.30 AM. This is known as Brahma Muhurtha or the Time of Brahman, the Absolute.After getting up, one should know the condition of the body. Then one should brush one’s teeth and go to toilet for bowel movement. One should brush teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.Then one should go in for an Oil Bath. Oil, preferably coconut oil should be used. This oil should be pasted all over the body and one should wait for at least 30 minutes and then take a bath. Cold bath is ideal but for those suffering from diseases hot water bath is good.Oil bath gives you good sleep. Weakness of the body will disappear. Your body will grow in strength. Your eyes will sparkle. ” Abhyangam Achareth Nithyam ” says Ayurveda ( Daily you should go in for Oil Bath ). But those suffering from indigestion and excess Kapha should not go in for Oil Bath.

When Ayurvedic medicines are taken, one should observe Pathya or Diet Control.The Six Tastes of Ayurveda are – Sweet, bitter, astringent, sour, pungent and salty. Those suffering from Hyperacidity or Ulcer should not take in foods that are Sour or Pungent. This is known as Pathya.For every disease, there are foods that should not be taken in. For people suffering from heart trouble, cholesterol containing eggs, meat, beef etc should not be taken in. This is Pathya.Now there is a saying in Ayurveda that for one observing Pathya, there is no need for medicine, as negative food is phased out and Spontaneous Cure takes place. Also for one not observing Pathya, as intake of medicines become useless, as negative food devastates his disease.Pathya means the Way to Health. Apathya means taking in the negative food which foster the disease.

Because each person’s body chemistry is different, the number of treatments required for each person to achieve the desired effect, depending on the illness, varies greatly. For a number of years, scientists regarded acupuncture treatment as an experimental or inferior method to treat patients, but with the advent of new technology and a track record of success, this is changing. Much relief has been found through the careful and resourceful application of acupuncture therapy throughout much of the world, even in the United States. It is a branch of medicine which treats the whole person, not just certain symptoms or symptoms of symptoms which are related to a certain illness, and this is why this form of treatment is catching on.

Alternative Therapies: Acupuncture And Acupressure

 

The practice of Acupuncture and Acupressure has been around for hundreds if not thousands of years. Both are based off of the same basic principle, that your own body has the power to heal itself from any ailment. Both therapies, which originated in ancient China, are based on a belief that health relies on maintaining a balanced flow of qi, (also referred to as chi), a vital life energy present in all living organisms. Qi supposedly circulates along 12 major energy pathways in the body, called meridians. Each is linked to specific organs and systems in the body (Acupuncture and acupressure, 2010). When all meridians are properly balanced, your body can properly circulate qi and function at its optimal potential.

Many individuals pursue this type of therapy for a number of reasons, but usually as a result of traditional medicine failing to provide relief to a condition. Acupuncture and Acupressure specialists say that the conditions this alternative therapy is usually used to treat include relief from the effects of daily stress, headaches, neck and shoulder pain, aches and pains, allergies, menstrual difficulties, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, nausea, and back pain. Results are extremely high for those that suffer from high anxiety and migraines.

As with any type of medical therapy, an Acupuncture and Acupressure specialist must obtain a full medical history before the therapy can begin. This is extremely important to ensure the specialist avoids causing further damage to any current condition. It is also important for you as the patient to understand the therapy prior to going to the specialist so that you know exactly what your body will be going through and what to look for in the results. There is a major difference between the two therapies which may sway your decision on which to pursue first.

Acupressure is done by applying a light pressure to what s referred to as an acupoint and is rotated in a circular motion similar to receiving a massage. Usually, the acupressure professional will use their fingers, thumbs, hands, elbows, or knees, depending on the amount of pressured needed to be applied. The length of the pressure applied can last from 30 seconds to 20 minutes, depending on the amount of pain the patient is in or the severity of symptoms being treated.

The major difference between the two lays in the use of needles. Where Acupressure is solely based on the use of pressure, Acupuncture uses the insertion of thin needles, typically made if stainless steel, into specific acupoints on the body. Specialists explain that sometimes the needles are slightly heated or twirled into the skin to provide a different therapeutic benefit. Sometimes they are left in for a few minutes while other times, a few hours to even a few days. While you feel a slight prick in the skin, pain should not really be felt.