Complementary Medicine

Complementary medicine is a term used to explain the varieties of treatments that may be concerned with traditional Western medication. Examples of complementary medicine consist of massage, meditation, biofeedback, tai chi, reiki, music therapy, guided photographs, and nutritional supplements.

Health Benefits of Complementary Medicine

Each type of complementary medicine can target specific aspects of your health. In general, complementary approaches can provide one or more of these health benefits.

  • Relieve pain.
  • Reduces anxiety and stress.
  • Relieves nausea.
  • Improves mood.
  • Enhances relaxation.
  • Improves wound healing.
  • Promotes happiness, joy, positivity, and inner peace.
  • Relieves muscle tension.
  • Reduces fatigue.
  • Improves flexibility and circulation.

Types of Complementary Medicine

Certainly, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices consist of a variety of disciplines. In addition, many parts of one field can overlap with parts of another field. Acupuncture is also used in traditional medicine, for example. In the United States, about 38% of adults and 12% of children use CAM.

Examples of CAM include:

Traditional alternative medicine

This area includes more established and recognized therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and oriental practices. Certainly, these treatments have been practiced around the world for centuries. Traditional alternative medicine such as:

  • Acupuncture
  • Ayurveda
  • Homeopathy
  • Natural remedies
  • Chinese herbal medicine or oriental medicine
Body

Touch has been utilized in medication since the dawn of medication. Basically touch recuperation is based on the concept that illnesses and accidents in certain regions of the body can affect any part of the body. When the other components are manually regained ideal health, the body can completely focus on healing the injured or sick area. Physical strategies are certainly blended with mental strategies. Examples of body therapy such as:

  • Chiropractic and Osteopathic medication
  • Massage
  • Body movement therapy
  • Tai Chi
  • Yoga
Diet and Herbs

Although, over the centuries, humans have evolved from a simple diet of meat, fruits, vegetables, and grains to a diet of foods high in fats, oils, and complex carbohydrates. In today’s society, overnutrition and deficiency are problems, certainly, both of which lead to certain chronic illnesses. Many nutritional and herbal approaches try to balance the nutritional well-being of the body. Nutritional and herbal approaches such as:

  • Dietary Supplements
  • Herbal Medicine
  • Nutrition / Diet
Senses

Some humans consider that contact, sight, hearing, odor, and flavor can have an effect on general health. Examples of treatments that encompass sensation are:

  • Artwork, Dance, Music
  • Visualization and steering pictures
Mind

Basically, conventional medicine recognizes the power of the mind-body connection. Studies show that people heal better when they are emotionally and mentally healthy. Mind-based therapies such as:

  • Meditation
  • Biofeedback
  • Hypnosis
External energy

Some people believe that external energy from objects or other sources directly affects human health. Examples of external energy therapies such as:

  • Electromagnetic therapy
  • Reiki
  • Qigong
Differences

The differences between these approaches are following:

Complementary Medicine

These are additional methods used along with conventional medical approaches such as drugs, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

Alternative Medicine

Alternative approaches used in place of conventional medical approaches.

Integrative Medicine

Integrative medicine focuses on different aspects such as mental, emotional, functional, spiritual, social, and community aspects of health.

See Our Complementary Medicine Books

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