Complementary and Alternative Medicine steps away from conventional medicine by examining the whole person and their individual situation as opposed to a diagnosis-led approach. Doctors use symptoms and medical tests to access the patient’s problem and prescribe treatment accordingly, often with chemical substances in the form of pills and various specially-prescribed medicines, that usually have many side effects.

Complementary Medicine goes for a holistic methodology—looking at the person’s mental, spiritual and physical being. Treatment attempts to stimulate the body’s own natural healing properties. The effects are more subtle and non-evasive. Traditional Chinese medicine, naturopathy and homeopathy are a few of the world’s holistic health systems.

Today many doctors are merging both conventional methods with complimentary medical approaches, realizing the body and mind work together as a whole and are not separated from each other as previous thought. Scientific evidence shows more and more that the mind and attitude of the patient helps or hinders the patience’s own natural healing ability—depending on the patient’s attitude.

The patience’s attitude can be examined both mentally and on a spiritual level. While we all have baggage from our past, it is how we deal with that baggage that help our heath and well-being. Connecting with a higher source of creation can be a great comfort to many and connect us to our inner selves, as well as to others and to the world. A 1995 Dartmouth Medical School research study found that patients who find strength and comfort in religious faith were three times more likely to survive six months after open-heart surgery than those with no religious beliefs. Those that had a deep faith in a universal source of creation and intelligence, despite never going to church, also survived equally as their church-going brethren.

Another 1995 research study published in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology found that many people turn to complementary therapies because they believe that they are more effective than conventional medicine. The attitude of that the patient can actively participate and add to their own healing was also an attractive factor.

Most people today use both conventional medicine approaches but add one or more complementary medicine approaches to their daily routine to maintain well-being and good health.

There are many types of complementary therapies available today. Therapies range from acupuncture to aromatherapy from light and color therapies to hydrotherapy and many more in-between. You are best to seek out a therapy that you feel comfortable with, have some knowledge about and which you finds helps you.

In general, most complementary therapies can be classified into three broad categories: touch & movement therapies, medicinal therapies and mind & emotion therapies.

Touch and movement therapies include Chiropractic, Reiki, massage, Alexander Technique, Rolfing, reflexology, dance and yoga. These therapies will often deal with the treating the body as a structure. Practitioners concentrate on muscle, bone and joints to provide relaxation and stimulate circulation.

Medicinal therapies work on vibrational or biochemical levels. Therapies that fit into this broad category include: herbalism, aromatherapy, crystal therapy, flower remedies and magnetic therapy.

In the Mind and Emotion Therapy, the importance is on the emotional, spiritual and psychological aspects of the patient’s health. Therapies include meditation, biofeedback, visualization, hypnotherapy as well as Feng Shui, art therapy, color and light therapies.

The use of complementary therapy aims to promote a body/mind/spirit state of good health. It’s use remains controversial to many although more are embracing these therapies each year as more research is done.

Certain precautions are necessary when dealing with complementary therapies, since complementary therapies are not regulated by the government. First and foremost, complementary medicine is indeed to be just that: complimentary to conventional medicine—not a substitute for conventional medicine. A conversation with your licensed medical doctor should be done before embarking on any type of non-conventional type therapy, especially if you have a medical condition that is being treated with conventional medications. Women who are pregnant or seeking to get pregnant, as well as children should be especially cautious. Consult your regular physician if you have questions.

Many conventional doctors are skeptical despite growing research and evidence that complimentary therapies work. Each individual will have to make this determination after researching the individual therapy.

While many complementary therapies have been around for ages, modern man as yet to embrace them all. Conventional medicine still reigns in the United States and alternative therapies may or may not be embraced by the medical profession. Other complementary therapies have been researched and found to be effective. There is growing evidence in scientific circles that the mind does help control and regulate the body’s health. Studies have found that spiritual well-being also help keep a person healthy.

The collective process of looking at the body as a whole is the approach of complementary or alternative therapies. Many therapies are known to help provide well-being in subtle and non-evasive manner with little to no side-effects. It is always best to check with a licensed medical professional before turning to complementary therapies.

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