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Alternative & Complimentary Therapies
by Chelsea Mard, Healthy Living Advisor
There is much written about different ways of treating disease and disease management.
 Alternative Therapies
Alternative Therapy helps create a holistic approach to healthcare. Holistic health involves physical health as well as the mind, body, and spirit. Alternative therapy is used instead of the usual medical treatment of choice, whereas, Complementary therapies are used in addition to traditional medical therapies.
Some therapies focus on the mind such as dance, prayer, meditation, music, and art. Others are more biologically based including herbal and special dietary remedies. There are also body based therapies including chiropractics, massage, yoga, and tai chi, which also incorporate the mind. And last but not least there is energy therapy which is Reiki and therapeutic touch.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies include but are not limited to:
 Acupuncture: Part of traditional Chinese medicine Stimulates specific points in the body.
- Hair thin, solid, metallic needles are put into the body then manipulated by the practitioners hands or by electrical stimulation.
- The needles cause little or no pain
- Can help with frequent headaches, re-occurring back problems, or athletic injuries
- Patients feel relaxed or energized after a session.
- To see acupuncture in action click: Watch Video
Herbs: There are countless herbs that may be used to aid in traditional medical therapies.
- Anything from Aloe Vera, to green tea, to St. Johns Wart, is considered an herbal therapy. However, herbal therapies may interfere with prescribed medications; so be sure to contact a doctor before adding any herbals to your regimen.
- They come in forms such as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts and fresh or dried plants.
- For a complete list of herbal medications click: Herbal Medicine
 Music: Helps aid in communication, memory, feelings, alleviate pain, and manage stress.
- Alleviate Pain
- Express Feelings
- Enhance Memory
- Improve Communication
- Promote Physical Rehabilitation
- To find a local music therapist click: Music Therapy
 Reiki: Involves touch and energies to promote relaxation and health. Reiki is practiced by someone who has been trained to understand and perform it properly.
- Reiki is preformed by waving hands over a person’s body, finding their energies, whether they be positive or negative, then evening out those energy waves.
- For example if someone is suffering from long term knee pain, the person performing the Reiki would be able to feel the energy around the problem knee. Then they would able to disperse the energy evenly throughout the body, therefore alleviating the person from pain.
- See Reiki in action by clicking: Reiki
 Animal Therapy: When animals are used for therapeutic purposes the activities are known as Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT).
- Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) are when animals visit with people to improve human physical, social, emotional, and cognitive functioning.
- Animal Therapy can help people cope with stress, keep them company, and give people a sense of purpose because they feel needed to care for the animal.
- Animals can also help their owners, such as seeing-eye dogs.
- Some examples are: Assistance dogs, Visitations by dogs and cats, Equine (horse) therapy, Fish tanks
- See Equine Therapy by clicking: Horse
Yoga: Designed to bring the mind and body together, through meditation, poses, and breathing.
- Just to name a few forms of Yoga: Anusara, Ashtanga, Bikram, Hatha, Power, Restorative, Yin.
- Find more at: Types of Yoga
Whether it’s realized or not, most people practice some sort of complementary therapies on a daily basis. Some examples are gardening, exercising, dancing, and religion.
Remember to always consult your doctor before trying any alternative or complementary therapies.
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