Used alongside traditional Western medicine, complementary therapies can improve your well-being and quality of life, with benefits like controlling pain or fatigue.
It’s important to note that complementary therapies are those used alongside traditional medicine, and are not to be confused with alternative therapies, which are those used instead of medicine.
This article will be a quick guide to complementary therapies, what they are, how you can use them, and how they complement traditional medicine by your doctor.
Examples of Complementary Therapies
More common and accepted forms of complementary therapies include acupuncture, homeopathy, and traditional Chinese practices, but let’s look at some examples in more detail.
Body and Touch Therapies
Since the early days of medical care, touch therapies — such as massage, cupping, moxibustion, Gua sha, chiropractic and osteopathic medicine, Tai chi, and yoga — have been based on injury or illness in one area of the body and can affect all body parts as a whole.
Some people believe these techniques can be paired with mind-complementary therapy for optimal results.
Acupuncture is a widely accepted therapy in the Western world. Acupuncture involves stimulating specific points of the body by inserting fine needles into the skin, which is believed to affect the flow of qi, which is a life force that permeates the body.
Pilates and yoga are also great ways to feel energized and often have positive outcomes on health and wellbeing, such as weight control and improved posture.
Mind and External Energies
Traditional medicine understands the power of the mind and body. Therapies can include hypnosis, biofeedback, and meditation, and can help people with chronic pain, headaches, insomnia, anxiety and stress, menopausal symptoms, and other stress and mental health factors.
Likewise, energy therapies focus on energy fields believed to exist in and around the body — called biofields — using external energy such as electromagnetic fields to influence healing.
Qi gong and Tai chi use gentle movements, mindfulness, and breath to bring a person’s energy into a better state of balance.
Senses
Touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell can affect health, and examples of therapies focusing on these include art therapy, dance, music therapy, visualization techniques and guided imagery.
The effects of dance music therapy include improved motor function by training muscular activity, balance, flexibility, and training cognitive skills.
Herbs and Diet
Over the centuries, humans have largely transitioned from a diet of raw meat, fruits, grains and vegetables to foods rich in oils, fats, and carbohydrates, and complementary therapies focusing on herbal and diet approaches can include taking supplements and herbal medicine. Patients on anti-depressants for example might look at adding sleepy teas to their bedtime routine to help with insomnia.
For example, patients who struggle with dermatitis may consider strict elimination diets (such as the paleo diet) or the candida diet, to control inflammation. However, many diets aren’t backed up by medical research, and if you make any major change in your diet, you should be double checking with your doctor to see if it’s right for your circumstances.
Doctors and pharmacology experts like those who have completed the University of Findlay online Pharm D program are the best people to consult when deciding if a supplement is right for you.
Why do people use complementary therapies?
People choose to use complementary therapies alongside prescribed medications and other medical advice for many reasons. It should be noted that whatever your reasons, you should consult with your doctor before taking on any new forms of therapy or treatment.
People might opt to use complementary therapies to optimize their treatment, to try new things, to decrease stress and anxiety, and to increase their sense of control over their treatment, lifestyle, and therapy.
Explore Complementary Therapies in Your Own Life
These non-mainstream treatments alongside traditional medicine can improve overall health, wellbeing, and treatment outcomes when used correctly, following the advice of your health practitioner.
Please do note that some complementary therapies are not backed up by much scientific evidence, so they can cause unwanted or unsafe side effects. Always consult with your medical practitioner to ensure it is safe for you, even if it is from a natural source. If you have ideas or an interest in complementary therapies, do your research and speak to your doctor.
