Do complementary therapies really work?
Some CAM therapies have undergone careful evaluation and have been found to be generally safe and effective. These include acupuncture, yoga, and meditation to name a few. However, there are others that do not work, may be harmful, or could interact negatively with your medicines. Complementary physical and/or psychological approaches include tai chi, yoga, acupuncture, massage therapy, spinal manipulation, art therapy, music therapy, dance, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and many others. These approaches are often administered or taught by a trained practitioner or teacher.Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is treatment that falls outside of mainstream healthcare. These treatments range from acupuncture and homeopathy, to aromatherapy, meditation and colonic irrigation.What is complementary medicine? Complementary medicine is a term used to describe types of treatments you may receive along with traditional western medicine. Examples of complementary medicine include massage, meditation, biofeedback, tai chi, reiki, music therapy, guided imagery and dietary supplements.Today, CAM practices may be grouped within five major domains: alternative medical systems, mind-body interventions, biologically-based treatments, manipulative and body-based methods and energy therapies.
What are the most common complementary therapies?
Complementary physical and/or psychological approaches include tai chi, yoga, acupuncture, massage therapy, spinal manipulation, art therapy, music therapy, dance, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and many others. These approaches are often administered or taught by a trained practitioner or teacher. Reflexology and body massage are most popular complementary therapies survey finds | Federation of Holistic Therapists Directory Service.Many people get help from complementary medicine. Some research suggests that there are benefits of certain therapies. For example, acupuncture may help with pain. Mindfulness meditation can help with sleep problems, and tai chi may help with balance.There are many different complementary therapies. Some of these have been scientifically tested to see how safe and effective they are, and whether they have side effects. For some therapies, there is good evidence for their use in certain situations. But there are other therapies where it is not so clear.
Why are complementary therapies good?
Complementary therapy shares similarities with Oriental medicine, such as Chinese medicine, known for its holistic approach to health. It aims to promote recovery from illness, enhance health, and improve quality of life (QOL) by viewing the human being as a whole and boosting natural healing processes. Holistic health is an approach to wellness that addresses the whole person—physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual—rather than just treating isolated symptoms.
What is the basic principle of complementary therapy?
Complementary therapies tend to share a few core beliefs, including: Illness occurs if the body is out of balance. The body can heal itself and maintain a healthy state if given the right conditions. The whole person should be treated, not just the disease or the symptoms. Feeling more in control. Sometimes it might feel as though your doctor makes many of the decisions about your treatment. It can feel like you don’t have much control over what happens to you. Many people say complementary therapy lets them take a more active role in their treatment and recovery.