Alternative medicine: an overview
Alternative medicine uses alternative therapies is opposed to official medicine.
The basis of traditional medicine is the diagnosis. For this doctor matches symptoms with the results of the research, and then assigns the appropriate treatment, most often medication.
Alternative medicine specialists, by contrast, treat the patient, not the disease. In their view, disease is a result of disturbances of somatic and mental well-being, and medication may relieve the patient from symptoms, but not causes.
One of the principles of alternative medicine can be formulated as follows: when changing medicines alternative methods the human immune system acquires the ability to fight diseases and infections.
The main methods of alternative medicine:
Some people believe that alternative medicine is a new direction, but she uses the ancient methods of treatment, which in the East for centuries considered to be traditional. Among popular methods of alternative medicine are the following:
Traditional Chinese treatment method that involves the use of special needles to stimulate certain energy points on the body. Acupuncture provoditsya using a thin sterile needle and allows you to restore the energy balance of the body. This method helps to get rid of the pain.
Acupuncture is used :
– stress
– back pain
– menstrual irregularities.
The ancient method of treatment based on the use of various herbs for the treatment of both somatic and mental diseases.
Herbal special effective:
– eczema
– fever
– infertility.
Type of manual therapy affecting the body as a whole; helps to reduce pain and improve movement in the joints.
Type of manual therapy used for the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, affecting mainly the spine and nervous system. Chiropractic effective for pain in shoulders and lower back.
• Reflexology
A method based on stimulation of specific points on the hands and feet by pressure; effective stress and the gastrointestinal tract.
• Alexander Technique
The method allows to acquire correct posture and to learn to control their own body; effective for stress, diseases of the respiratory system, pain in the neck and joints.
Treatment of the body as a whole
The basic principle of alternative medicine is a holistic approach to human health (from the Greek holos – whole). She sees the person as a whole, rather than focusing on individual symptoms. Alternative medicine specialists take into account the psychological and emotional state of the patient, but also his social status.
Achieving harmony
According to different holistic methods such as naturopathy, homeopathy and traditional Chinese medicine, the human body strives for harmony, the maintenance of which is the way to achieve good health. A specialist in alternative medicine, working with the patient, pays attention to all aspects of his life and tries to achieve self-healing.
Some doctors prefer to combine methods of alternative and official medicine. So, the doctor, using only traditional methods of treatment, cures asthma solely using medications. A specialist who is experienced and also alternative methods, along with the appointment of traditional funds, trying to find the cause of asthma, such as allergic reactions or anxiety.
Precautions
Non-traditional methods of treatment can improve the psychological condition of the patient and help in many diseases. However, in severe and life-threatening diseases, their application is limited. One should never replace conventional treatments.
