What is complementary / Traditional / Alternative Medicine?
Unlike clinical medicine which handles acute- as well as chronic-illnesses and is based on long and complex scientific research and evidence based treatments with the help of strong chemical (licensed) drugs and often invasive manipulations (surgery), the slower and very personal approach of Alternative/Complementary/Holistic Healing is rather traditional, scientifically less documented since it is delivered by word-of-mouth and anecdotal samples, and mostly strives to avoid any artificial materials and chemical drugs. There are continuous debates between scientists and healers about the reliability and effectiveness of these competing (they should actually complement and support each other, not disapprove of each other) methods, each trying to prove the other less trustworthy. However, the more modern clinical medicine becomes, more physicians tend not to deny the (even if only partly) good results on clients that the complementary healing approaches are achieving. On the other hand, in many cases complementary/holistic healing cannot improve the medical situation of patients and clinical medicine needs to step in with more resolute methods. All medical and healing methods try to provide cure, wellbeing, stable health, but invalidity or death may not be avoided at times by any of the available methods.
We at Medico-Services consider all methods of medical approaches – clinical, complementary, wellness, herbal, energy – worth knowing about, and this is the reason that we produce this information to enlighten our readers about the variety of available medical and healing methods, as long as they do not prove to be fake, cheating or endanger any readers. Many complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, massage, meditation and yoga, are not likely to cause harm and seem to help many patients. However, the readers should always discuss any therapies that is considered with their doctor.
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“Complementary” means to “complete” or “another choice”. Patients are helped back to “whole health and mental balance” using physical, mental, emotional methods of treatment.
"Wholeness" means that the physical, mental, emotional and vital forces are all in balance among themselves and with the spiritual consciousness known as the Soul. The body is, or should be, an expression of the Soul. Healing is the natural way in which all imbalances are rectified so that the symptoms of the stress or illness can be controlled. Sometimes our own natural ability to heal ourselves cannot cope so we need the help of others. Drugs may help in the short term but healing happens separately and this is why it is important to understand the process so that patients can help themselves back to health.
Complementary Medicine (CM) includes many different techniques of treating a patient. These are mostly based on systems practiced for many centuries and can in fact be considered to be of the original forms of medicine, based on belief and skills. They all have one aspect in common which is that they treat the patient as a whole person rather than treating a specific acute or chronic symptom. CM does this by treating the life force of the patient at their physical, mental and emotional levels.
When used in conjunction with mainstream medicine, some complementary therapies can help in the treatment of back pain, skin problems, gastro-intestinal matters. To obtain the best benefits from complementary medicine (or in fact, any medical treatment), however, takes investigative effort on the part of patient and doctor alike and a good, open relationship between the patient and his or her doctor.
Healing is the act of getting rid of all the bodily and mental imbalances and creating harmony with the Soul. Consequently, Complementary Medicine is patient centred. The physical body is ultimately controlled by the mind and Soul consciousness. During our lifetime our computer-like brain is programmed by every experience we have so that we react to external forces like threats, anger, danger, beauty, compassion and love. Each reaction of the mind has a direct influence on the physical body which responds in the way it has been programmed. Sometimes that programming is wrong, which prevents the body own defence mechanism from functioning correctly This allows illness and disease to get a foothold.
The old traditional medicine accepted the vital forces and spirit as health factors, and treatments were also directed at the healing energies which touched both the vitality and Soul to bring them back into harmony with the physical body.
Every one should realize the importance of correct thinking, motivation and nourishment as being means to maintaining health in the fullest sense. Healing is the equivalent of starting the vital force. Healing also helps the patients to recognise past problems and re-programme themselves towards health and well-being.
The Healing Process:
Complementary Medicine is a system of medicine which treats the physical, mental, emotional and vitality of the patient together with the spirit. This central view runs through a variety of disciplines which traditionally work towards the same goal where harmony between all levels of consciousness including the vital force and spirit must be achieved if true healing is to happen.
Healing the whole person has traditionally been seen as part of a co-ordinated programme of treatments. However, the scientific approach has tended to separate the treatment of the symptoms from treatment of the cause. Science does not recognise the common factor which unites all traditional medical approaches i.e. the vitality or spirit of the patient because the basis of scientific evidence is not provided. Vital force and spirit can be equated with “Chi” in Chinese Medicine, “Shakti” in Indian Medicine, “Vital Force” in Homoeopathy, etc.
The Healing Mechanism:
This is difficult to evaluate. Healers channel this energy to the patient. The process begins with a sense of compassion felt by the healer for the one in distress. Mothers feel this sense for their children and "kiss the hurt better" or gently "stroke" the pain away. Every aspect of the mother's thought, physical. mental, emotional and spiritual energy is concentrated on helping her child to overcome the pain. In terms of healing energy, the mother's vital force and spiritual senses are focused on helping the child to regain its balance and overcome distress.
Does the healer try to heal the symptom or seek to help the patient come to terms with the cause of the problem? It is not always easy to establish the primary need. In an ideal world both conditions need help and this is why the healer’s prayer is usually on the following lines - "May this patient receive the healing that they need." In this way, the appropriate energies are drawn from the healer in such a way as to begin the process of regaining the overall balance between all levels of consciousness. The process is not usually very fast and the healer will need to help the patient to realise that as it probably took a considerable time for the illness to develop so it will take time for the body to remove it. Scientists are very conservative in accepting such spiritual-healing methods as reliable.
Working with Healers:
There is a tendency for the public to think of healers as ordinary folk who have a natural gift. This gift can be from God, Nature or the Universe according to the individual belief and they give their services by the laying on of hands or prayer.
Healing is certainly a gift which, if one has it can be used, but all the ancient traditional medical treatments as well as modern-day Complementary Medicine Methods must be properly learned before becoming a practitioner. The Institute for Complementary Medicine lists the following topics as part of the study-process: Homoeopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic, herbal medicine, aromatherapy, acupuncture and others. It is also a fact that many healers have tried to remove the concept of healing energy from the training and focus on a more simple and symptomatic approach. Osteopathy is an example where a partially qualified practitioner may only be concerned with the structure of the body and pay little attention to the mental, emotional and spiritual health of the person. In these cases, a complete removal of the symptoms may not be easy to achieve. Joints may be realigned but the change is often not permanent because the cause has not been treated. The patient is always required to play a crucial part in their treatment but some cannot find the strength of purpose to make necessary changes in their life style and belief systems to allow healing to reach its full potential.
The Attitude (Belief) of the Patient:
The way the patient views their problem is crucial and every attempt must be made to ensure that a balance between accepting the nature of the problem is balanced with expecting healing to occur. This is especially important if the condition is life threatening. There is a need to remain quietly confident that the healing processes will stimulate both the body's immune response and the determination to change, remain uppermost in the patient's mind. Recognising the possible cause of the illness is useful where it is possible to change but it must be recognised that dwelling on past mistakes can inhibit the healing. It is better to look at today as the first one of the rest of your life. By living in the present, it is possible to focus on a programme of healing which will build for the future and automatically remove problems from the past at a pace which the patient can manage without adding additional trauma.
A Glossary of some of the many disciplines within Complementary Medicine:
ACUPRESSURE:
Using the Acupuncture points, pressure from the fingers is applied where appropriate.
ACUPUNCTURE:
Fine needles are inserted into the body at meridians or energy centres. This ‘unblocks’ or regulates the CHI energy circulating the body, which in turn, stimulates the healing process. There is a mass of Chinese research but Western science does not yet accept the principle.
ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE:
F. M. Alexander (1896-1955) was an Australian actor who lost his voice. He realigned his posture and found the voice returned. The Technique is to persuade the body to return to its normal position and so allow the brain to recognise and retain the realignment. The head and neck positioning are particularly important.
AQUA TOUCH:
A whole body treatment given in water which has been developed by Patricia Morrell. See also Reflex Touch.
AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE:
The ear has a number of meridian points and can be used to effect the whole body. There has been some research using this method of treatment for drug addiction.
AYURVEDA:
Ancient Indian system of medicine of preventative medicine and treatments which includes diet, yoga and meditation.
BACH FLOWERS:
These formulae were developed by Dr Bach as an offshoot of homoeopathic medicine. The usefulness of this lies in the way the remedies can be effective treatment of mood swings and emotional conditions. The remedy for shock and other upsets is considered particularly helpful.
BATES METHOD:
Exercises to improve muscle control of the eyes which were developed by Dr William Bates in the USA. The treatment follows the naturopathic idea of stimulating blood flow by the use of warm or cold water baths but, in this case, the eyes are splashed alternatively.
BIODYNAMIC MASSAGE:
In common with all Complementary Medical treatments, the vital force is perceived to affect all the organs of the body. The link between the psyche and the physical was further developed by Gerda Boyesen in the Norwegian hospital service in the late 1960’s, where she used massage to remove emotional trauma from organs of the body. She claimed to detect the variations in health by monitoring the fluid sounds through her stethoscope.
BOWAN THERAPEUTIC TOUCH:
Light touch used in certain sequences appears to release energy blockages. Probably based on the Chinese concept of CHI, Chapman’s reflexes and other healing techniques, this system is being shown to work although it is not yet fully understood.
CHELATION THERAPY:
Cardiovascular treatment which uses ethylene diamine tetra acid (EDTA) as part of a naturopathic programme to help the removal blocked arteries.
CHIROPRACTIC:
Manipulation of the spine and movement of the extremities attributed to D.D. Palmer about 1890. Chiropractors vary in their approach. Some give extended massage before treatment whilst others do not.
MACTIMONEY CHIROPRACTIC:
The MacTimoney method is more subtle and is claimed to induce the natural healing process.
CHINESE MEDICINE:
Has much in common with other Eastern systems and is the foundation of many techniques currently used in the West. Provides a comprehensive range of treatments for problems arising from imbalances at physical, mental, emotional and spiritual parts of the consciousness.
COLONIC HYDROTHERAPY:
Warm water is pumped into the colon and the residues of fecal matter and other deposits can be cleared. The central point is that poisons and fecal matter are flushed out and replaced with beneficial bacteria. Best used in conjunction with nutritional advice.
COLOUR THERAPY:
The benefits of coloured light on the skin is well known and the colour practitioner will diagnose and provide the appropriate coloured light to help bring back health and well-being. There are other systems such as: Detecting the colours in the energy field of the individual and providing the tints which will help achieve a return to the normal. This is often practised by healers with the gift of extended perception either by sight or touch. Colour can be used in the choice of clothing and furnishing since they affect the mood and attitude of mind.
CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY:
Developed by Dr William Sutherland in the 1930’s, as an extension of the ancient Chinese Tuina and Osteopathic techniques. The process appears to rely on the practitioner’s healing energies directed into the head and neck. Practitioners claim to feel a slight movement in the bones of the skull which sceptics claim is not possible.
CRYSTAL HEALING:
Crystals transmit energy which are claimed to be able to tune to the bodies fluctuating vibrations. Crystals are chosen according to their energy and the needs of the patient.
CANDLES:
Sometimes used to attempt to extract ear wax but this is not recommended.
DOLPHIN THERAPY:
Swimming with dolphins has shown that many patients have improved their quality of life and regained their physical energies.
FELDENKRAIS:
Enables the person to recognise the relationship between different areas of the body and breakdown any unhelpful movement patterns which are causing distress. Moshe Feldenkrais was an Israeli judo expert who devised the sequences of movement.
FLOTATION:
Floating in water in a darkened pool amount to sensory deprivation and this can trigger healing. The support of the water, which often contains Epsom salts, can rest injuries and help the patient to achieve good balance between the left and right cortex of the brain.
GEOPATHIC STRESS:
The concept of energy patterns, which are created by the Earth, that can adversely affect the human body. Treatment is to move away from the offending energy pathways.
GERSON THERAPY:
Dr Max Gerson devised this nutritional regime for cancer and other health conditions. The programme aims to re-energise the body’s own immune response.
HEALING:
The healing energy is part of every person and normally provides a repair and regeneration process for every injury and disease we get. Certain people are able to channel these energies to assist others who are ill and thus help to ‘jump start’ their own immune healing mechanism again.
HELLERWORK:
Joseph Heller used deep tissue massage together with psychotherapy and postural re-alignment. A pupil of Dr Ida Rolf (Rolfing), Heller broke away from Rolfing because his technique also used counselling.
HERBAL MEDICINE:
Herbs are used in both Eastern and Western medicine. The aim is to use all parts of the herb and particular emphasis is laid on the energetic content of the herbs and its ability to stimulate healing. Thus the method of picking the herb and the time of day can affect the potency. The whole herb has a wider healing potential than the single active agent used by the pharmaceutical industry.
HOLISM:
Generally regarded as a word from HOLOS – Greek for whole. In Complementary Medicine the whole is seen as more than the sum of the parts and describes treatments which are focussed on the physical, mental, emotions, vital force, Spirit and Soul.
HOMOEOPTHY:
Hippocrates and Samual Hahnemann (1796) are credited with using the homoeopathic principle. This means treating the vital force to enable the body to re-energise it own repair mechanisms. The Homoeopathic remedy does not treat the presenting symptom but the body’s ability to heal itself with the result that prescriptions for the same named disease will probably be different in each case.
HYDROTHERAPY:
Bathing in water has been used throughout history but the mineral baths which were opened during the nineteenth century in the UK and Europe claimed the most successful treatments.
HYPNOTHERAPY:
This is not just hypnosis but a partnership between practitioner and patient which aims at defining the cause of the problem thereby helping the patient to overcome it in their own way and a time scale of their choice.
IRIDOLOGY:
Diagnosis from the iris of the eye which are the exposed nerve endings which are seen as the coloured area. There is little reliable research but qualified practitioners appear able to make a significant contribution to helping the patient to understand those parts of the body which need attention.
KINESIOLOGY:
The use of testing muscle strength to find products which disturb the patient’s well-being. Can be used to find which foods are most conducive to health and those which may cause unwanted symptoms. It is also used to find the appropriate natural medicine such as a homoeopathic remedy.
KOSMED:
The Kosmed is the Russian trade name for an instrument which can be used to assess lowered energy levels or ‘blockages’ of parts of an energy pathway in the human body. The instrument will then transmit the appropriate energy to bring back balance and so allow the life energy to flow again. Can be used to reduce pain.
MASSAGE:
See Swedish Massage and Sports Massage and Thai Massage. (Such descriptions are availalble in our website under "spa centres, foreword").
MANIPULATIVE MEDICINE:
Based on massage techniques and structural manipulation. When used in the ancient Chinese way, the whole emphasis is on gentleness and encouraging the muscles to relax before attempting to help to re-align the bones. Attempting to make adjustments before this relaxation has been completed can result in considerable pain and the change may well not be permanent. In these cases, many treatments will be required which is not the case when the preliminary work is correctly completed.
MUSIC THERAPY:
Sound and music produce vibrations and these can have marked effects on the healing process.
NATUROPATHY:
The Naturopath will have many different treatments to offer but all are based on the concept that the body will heal itself if given the right stimulus.
NEURO-LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING:
Looks at behavioural traits and bad habits. Treatment provides the patient with verbal instructions to reverse the trends.
NUTRITIONAL THERAPY:
The diet can have dramatic influences on our health and well being. If we recognise that the body chemistry of each person is different, the need for different diets is apparent.
ORTHOMOLECULAR THERAPY:
Developed by Nobel Prize Winner Linus Pauling who postulated that provided one has the correct level of vitamin, mineral and nutritional input, the body can overcome disease.
OSTEOPATHY:
Structure governs function is the tenet of osteopathy. Andrew Taylor Still is given credit for initiating the system at the end of the American Civil War but there is much in common with Chiropractic and the Eastern techniques of ensuring that the skeleton is in correct alignment so that nerves are not pinched.
OXYGEN THERAPY:
Forms of oxygen (ozone) have been used in many contexts from water purification to a disinfectant in the bottling industry. As a treatment, it has been recognised that harmful bacteria and viruses can only live in a low oxygen environment. Treatments vary from sitting in a ‘steam’ bath and being surrounded by ozone to treating the blood by passing ozone through it and clearing impurities. Dr Otto Warburg proved that cancer cannot live in a high oxygen environment.
PILATES:
Specific exercises to correct the posture first developed by Joseph Pilates in the USA. Now available in the UK.
POLARITY THERAPY:
Healing system having much on common with ayurveda. Developed in Austria by Randolph Stone in the 1920s, the idea is that parts of the body have a positive charge whilst others are negatively charged. Treatments consist bring the body into ‘balance’ by using counselling, healing, exercise and nutrition.
PRANIC HEALING:
Prana is the Sanskrit word for ‘life force’. The traditional healer interacts with the patient’s aura or energy field to allow and interaction of healing energy to take place.
QI GONG:
Part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Means energy practice and involves the transmission of the healing energy into the patient.
RADIONICS:
Dr Albert Abrams and Ruth Drown were among those who developed Radionics on the premise that disease produces its own unique energy vibration. The Radionic instrument is used to focus the healers mind on the relevant vibration so that healing can be transmitted.
REFLEXOLOGY:
The principle is that all the organs in the body are reflected on the foot or hand. By pressing the relevant point, healing can be transferred to the particular area in need. Original practitioners thought that crystal of lactic acid which caused sensitivity must be crushed to enable healing to take place. The pain was often considerable and this process has been superseded with more gentle methods.
REFLEX TOUCH:
This is a development associated with Patricia Morrell who achieved success with her methods of diagnosis and light touch (Morrell Reflexology) which have been further refined.
REIKI:
A Japenese healing discipline developed by Mikao Usui. The principles are similar to most other healing techniques except that the system follows a pre-determined set of hand positions which form the basis for each treatment. The system relies on the development of the students ability to transfer the healing energy and this may take considerable time. Some courses offer a mastership in three weekends.
ROLFING:
Dr Ida Rolfe developed this treatment which considered that muscles had a ‘memory’ which could cause problems unless controlled by the patient. The Rolfer works on connective tissue of the myofascial system to break down tension and create a better balanced body. The system can be painful.
SHIATSU:
A Japanese system similar to acupuncture without the needles. The practitioner may use elbows, feet, knees and fingers to transfer the QI or vital energy to balance the whole body of the patient.
SPORTS MASSAGE:
Particular treatments aimed at maintaining the strength and muscle power of the sports person. Emphasis is usually on prevention.
SWEDISH MASSAGE:
Common system of massage using kneading, stroking and pummelling to achieve relaxation and increased circulation of the blood.
TAI CHI:
Part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Flowing slow movement and breathing techniques stimulate and regulate the flow of Chi energy.
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE:
The basis of much ancient healing wisdom which also shows a similarity to other traditional in both thought and delivery of treatment. The belief stems from the concept of Ying and Yang – Yin being about the feminine traits, quiet calm and introspection whilst Yang represents loudness, light and masculine traits. These must be balanced to achieve health and well being. Treatments include exercise and Manipulation (TUINA), Herbal medicines, Healing (QI GONG)and Acupressure amongst others.
TRAGERWORK:
Tragerwork is alight and gentle form of massage which does not use oil or rubbing. Main new thought is the use of mental gymnastics (Mentastics) which has had success in reducing pain.
TUINA:
Massage in the Chinese way meaning pull and grasp. Baby Tuina was developed about 750 years ago when mothers were taught to ‘stroke’ their babies to achieve relaxation.
YOGA:
Indian Medicine places much emphasis on prevention and yoga is used with that in mind. There are many different type of yoga postural and stretching exercises and the student is always advised to go to a qualified teacher.
ZERO BALANCING:
Light manipulation programme based on Chi energy transfers and stimulating the energy flow though the body.
ZONE THERAPY:
Another name for reflexology. Healing treatment is given to the zones of the foot which appear reflect the sensitivity of certain organs.