What are some complementary and alternate healing therapies?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Some types of complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies are:
• Practitioner-based body manipulation -- acupuncture, massage,
chiropractic, and osteopathic manipulation --
•Sauna- Your great-grandmother might have suggested that when you
have a cold or flu, cover your head with a towel and sit over a pot of
hot water, and she may have been on to something. Spending time in
a hot sauna may be a CAM remedy that actually has some steam. High
temperatures of a sauna probably provide comfort because it promotes
nasal drainage, but it also may make the environment so inhospitable
for viruses that they just surrender (maybe chicken soup does this
too?). So if you don't have heart disease or another circulatory
medical condition, head to the sauna a couple of times a week to keep
viruses away during cold and flu season.
• Cupping-- In traditional Chinese medicine stimulating acupuncture
points is commonly used to restore balance to the flow of energy along
invisible meridians of Qi, the vital life force. The cupping technique
combines this energy fine-tuning with body manipulation. When heated
glass cups are strategically placed on top of the skin, suction pulls skin
inside the cup to increase circulation and stimulate the flow of energy
in that area. It produces temporary mild bruise-like marks from the
suction cups.
• Reiki is another popular energy healing therapy, which is typically
• Natural products (nonvitamin, nonmineral) -- herbs, fish oil/omega 3,
performed by a trained Reiki master. Here the practitioner's light touch
on, or slightly above, specific areas of the body is used to balance the
flow of energy throughout the body. The laying on of hands on the
head, face, neck, chest, abdomen, and back delivers varying degrees
of natural vibrational "heated" energy as needed, to strengthen the
body to heal itself. Reiki can also be self-administered
glucosamine, St. John's wort, echinacea, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, garlic,
flaxseed, chondroitin, coenzyme Q-10, ginger
• Breath work -- deep breathing exercises, meditation
• Relaxation techniques -- guided imagery, progressive relation
• Body movement -- yoga, Qi gong, Tai chi
• Diet-based therapies -- macrobiotic, vegetarian
Some types of complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies are: • Practitioner-based body manipulation -- acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, and osteopathic manipulation --•Sauna- Your great-grandmother might have... More -
Lisa Oz answered:The types of complementary and alternate healing therapies are as follows:
Massage: This is a wonderfully relaxing, stress-relieving, healing technique. And, it is not just about chilling out for an hour at the spa. Massage is actually great for stimulating lymphatic drainage, which is your body's internal detoxification system.
Homeopathy: Bruises, scrapes, colds, fevers, nausea, and menstrual cramps are all effectively dealt with using a few tiny sugar pills. The principle behind homeopathy is "Like cures like." So, substances that may cause certain symptoms in large doses, for instance arsenic and belladonna, when diluted stimulate the body's immune system to combat those symptoms.
Bach flower remedies: These are tinctures made from flower essences that work primarily on emotional states. The one we use most frequently is a blend called Rescue Remedy, and that is exactly what it is.
Reflexology: This is sort of like massage, but it is just for your feet, hands or ears. The theory is that different areas on the feet represent the different regions of the body. For example, the head is roughly the toe area. The spine is the outer edge of the foot. The reproductive organs are in the heel, and so on. If you are in good health, it feels awesome. But, if you have a problem somewhere in your body, the corresponding location will be quite tender on your foot. You will want the practitioner to take it easy, but really working the area is what stimulates healing, so embrace the sensation and see how great you feel afterward.
Aromatherapy: Essential oils can be used either directly on the skin or inhaled through the nose. They are believed to treat both physical and emotional ailments. Aromatherapy can be used for everything from flu to skin irritations. Lavender is found to be calming and incredibly effective for burns. Tea tree oil can be used for minor infections.
Craniosacral therapy: Here, a practitioner very gently and almost imperceptibly manipulates the skull to subtly adjust the cranial bones. I was treated for headaches, which it turns out were caused by an injury I had received ten years earlier. The osteopath could tell exactly where I had hit my head and, by using slight pressure, was able to take away the pain entirely.
The types of complementary and alternate healing therapies are as follows: Massage: This is a wonderfully relaxing, stress-relieving, healing technique. And, it is not just about chilling out for an hour at the spa. Massage is actually great for... More -
Chris Kilham answered:Herbal medicine, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, foot reflexology, Yoga therapy, stress reduction methods, meditation, biofeedback, color therapy, music therapy, art therapy, visualization therapy and many other modalities are all considered complementary and alternative therapies. The truth is, though, these are far older than current pharma therapy, which by contrast is more dangerous (according to published mortality data), and far more experimental.
Herbal medicine, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, foot reflexology, Yoga therapy, stress reduction methods, meditation, biofeedback, color therapy, music therapy, art therapy, visualization therapy and many other modalities are all considered... More
