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| The Main Types of Alternative Therapies | Acupuncture is a method of healing developed in China. Today, acupuncture involves a number of procedures: stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques traditions. The acupuncture technique penetrates the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.
Aromatherapy defines itself as the use of essential oils (extracts or essences) from flowers, herbs, and trees.
Ayurvedic is based on diet and herbal remedies treatment and makes a stress on the use of body, mind, and spirit in disease prevention and treatment.
Chiropractic is a CAM alternative medical system. It emphasizes attention on the relationship between bodily structure (primarily that of the spine) and function, and how that relationship can influence the preservation and restoration of health. Chiropractors use manipulative therapy as an integral treatment tool.
Dietary supplements. Vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, and metabolites are considered to be the dietary ingredients. Dietary supplements could be performed in various forms, including extract, concentrates, tablets, capsules, gel caps, liquids, and powders.
Homeopathic is an alternative medical system. It’s based on belief that homeopathic medicine in small, highly diluted quantities of medicinal substances cure symptoms, at the same time the same substances given at higher or more concentrated doses actually cause those symptoms.
Massage therapists manipulate muscle and connective tissue to enhance function of those tissues and promote relaxation and well-being.
Naturopathic Medicine, or Naturopathy, is a CAM alternative medical system. Naturopathic medicine says that there is a healing power in the body that establishes, maintains, and restores health. Practitioners work with the patient with a goal of supporting this power, through treatments such as nutrition and lifestyle counseling, dietary supplements, medicinal plants, exercise, homeopathy, and treatments from traditional Chinese medicine.
Osteopathic Medicine is a form of conventional medicine that influences on diseases arising in the musculoskeletal system. It believes that all of the body's systems work together, and disturbances in one system may affect function elsewhere in the body. Some osteopathic physicians practice osteopathic manipulation, a full-body system of hands-on techniques to alleviate pain, restore function, and promote health and well-being.
Qi gong is an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine that includes movement, meditation, and regulation of breathing to enhance the flow of qi (an ancient term given to what is believed to be vital energy) in the body, stimulate blood circulation and immune function.
Reiki is based on the belief that when spiritual energy is channeled through a Reiki practitioner, the patient's spirit is healed, which in turn heals the physical body.
Therapeutic Touch was developed from an ancient technique called laying-on of hands. It emphasizes its attention on the healing force of the therapist that affects the patient's recovery; healing is encouraged when the body's energies are in balance; and, by passing their hands over the patient, healers can identify energy imbalances.
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