Important Points On Alternative Healing Modalities

By Eliza Mendoza


Medicine is a constantly changing field. There have been numerous advances made in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the last few decades. Even as technology takes the field by storm, there are many alternative healing modalities that continue to be practised despite the fact that they lack adequate scientific backing. Some of the commonly used therapies under this category include naturopathy, acupuncture, homeopathy and chiropractic.

Naturopathy is a treatment that is based in the belief that many human processes are dependent on some form of special vital energy. This energy is responsible for processes such as digestion, reproduction, respiration and growth among others. This therapy has the advantage of not requiring the use of drugs or surgical techniques. A holistic rather than a systemic approach is adopted.

Another treatment that is in common use is known as homeopathy. It has been in existence on the European continent for many years. Homeopathy paradoxically believes that a sick person can be healed using a substance that would cause the same symptoms in a normal person. This approach is commonly known as the law of minimum dose. It is however in conflict with the basic laws of chemistry and physics.

Mind body therapies try to bring the body into communication with the mind by making the mind control functions of the body. Forms of mind body therapy are yoga, relaxation and spirituality. There are therapies that integrate the spirit with mind and body. Such include yoga, hypnotherapy, meditation, guided imagery and so forth.

The practice of yoga is built on the belief that life is like breath. It is something that you can breathe in through meditation, stretching and exercise. All these activities are said to improve the symptoms associated with various diseases. There is a close relationship between religious beliefs and yoga. The use of prayer and anointing to relieve physical or mental distress, are often incorporated into the practice. As a matter of fact, the practice is closely associated with the Eastern religions such as Jainism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.

Many studies have sought to establish the effectiveness of these therapies as compared to conventional therapies. Unfortunately, no concrete evidence exists to support the claims that have been put forward by the proponents of these modalities. The popularity of these treatments is most likely due to the long term existence in many parts of the world which has led to the rise of a strong belief among those who use them.

Ideally, tests are supposed to be done to ensure they are safe before being used on patients, just as it is done for scientific methods. This is because they are equally capable of causing side effects since they are also biologically active. However, according to those administering this kind of treatment no harm has been linked to anything natural. Homeopathy is free of undesired effects since it is under regulation by medical organisations.

Unless you have received guidance from a qualified physician, you should not use the two treatments simultaneously. This is because the risk of drug toxicities has been seen to be higher when this is done. Dangerous interactions involving drugs may be seen during ozone therapy, insulin potentiation and oxygen therapy done alongside alternative healing modalities.




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