Complementary and Alternative Medicine

For years alternative medicine has been seen as a non-reliable or perhaps even false practice. It’s regarded as just that, an alternative to “real science-based medicine.” However, few people know that alternative medicine actually predates what we would now consider real medicine and in many cases can be beneficial to the individuals who try it. Complementary and alternative medicine or CAM for short is divided into five subcategories each with their own unique practices. Keep reading to find out what they consist of and how they can help you.

Traditional Alternative Medicine

Traditional CAM is what most commonly comes to mind when we think of alternative medicine. Acupuncture, Ayurveda, naturopathy, homeopathy, and traditional Chinese medicine are all examples. Acupuncture is by far the more recognized of the bunch and as many of us know consists of the insertion of needles into the first layer of the skin to help relieve tension, stress, and pain.

Body Medicine

This type of alternative medicine follows the ideal that with manual manipulation the body can be brought back to optimal health. For instance, yoga, massages, chiropractic practices, and even Tai Chi have all proven to be beneficial for the body and mind. Yoga has been proven to induce weight loss, improve cardiovascular health, and even promote mental wellness. Chiropractic care has been shown to improve a patient’s post-op mobility, reduction of pain, and helped boost the immune system. There is a lot of benefits to body medicine, after all, a little massage never hurt anyone.

Diet and Herbs

This particular practice actually has a lot of science to back it up. As we know, a majority of the medication that we ingest on a regular basis is derived from a plant of some kind. It wasn’t until recently that chemically manufactured medication became mainstream. As a result, there are some people who take to diets and herbs as a way to solve their medical discomforts. For example, turmeric is a proven anti-inflammatory; lavender is a stress reliever, and ginger is commonly used to treat stomach pains. Additionally, certain diets also have been proven to help improve certain conditions or help relieve symptoms.

Mind Medicine

Mind Medicine is something that some physicians and many people argue has some validity and science behind it. It is the belief that the mind and the body are connected and if you have good mental and emotional health that directly affects your physical health. Practices include meditation, biofeedback, and hypnosis. Meditation has been shown to decrease stress levels and improve overall mental wellness which can have a connection to physical wellness. Both biofeedback and hypnosis also have their benefits for those open enough to try them.

External Energy

This practice relies on the belief that external energy, whether from people, places, or things can have an effect on the health of an individual. Reiki and Qigong are both examples of this practice. Reiki is the Japanese technique that involves the laying of hands as a way to manipulate the energy, and Qigong is a combination of breathing, movement, and meditation that also improves vibrational energy.

Senses

Finally, sense practices utilize the belief that sights, smells, hearing, touch, and taste can have an impact on health. Art therapy, music, dance, and even cooking can be considered for this subcategory. Music has been proven to improve emotional health and art has been proven to help relieve stress and it certainly isn’t bad to look at.