Different Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Some people describe Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) as holistic, natural, home remedy, or even Eastern Medicine. The practices used in CAM are not part of standard medical care and they are composed of various areas that may overlap with one another. Acupuncture, for instance, is also both used in conventional medicine and CAM.

Therapies for some types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine like acupuncture, yoga, and meditation were carefully evaluated and were found to be safe and effective. People with cancer may find CAM beneficial when dealing with stress and the side effects of their treatments like fatigue, pain, and nausea.  

What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine?

Complementary medicine is used along with traditional medical treatments such as medications, radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery since it “complements” these standard medical methods. Alternative medicine is used in place of traditional medical treatments like following a special diet to cure cancer instead of taking the prescribed cancer drugs.

Only a few scientific studies have been conducted so far for most Complementary and Alternative Medicine types. You can always seek medical advice if you are interested in trying some of the methods. To help you learn more about these different practices, here are 6 types of CAM and their examples. 

6 Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine

1. Traditional Alternative Medicine

These types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine healing methods have been practiced for centuries in various cultures and parts of the world. Traditional alternative medicine includes the mainstream forms of therapy.

• Acupuncture – This is a common practice in Traditional Chinese medicine where fine, solid needles are inserted into specific body parts that require healing.  It stimulates the nerves and muscles to release pain-relieving chemicals that can treat the symptoms and promote health.

Nurture Wellness Village offers detoxification services such as acupuncture. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing 30-minute acupuncture session which is based on the oriental approach of treating diseases through the stimulation of acupuncture points and unblocking energy channels.

• Chinese or Oriental medicine – There is a belief that the qi or the vital force flows along meridians in the body and sustains the balance of the physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional health of a person. Its objective is to bring back the balance between two forces: yin and yang.

• Ayurveda – This practice comes from India and aims to cleanse the body and restore the balance of the body, mind, and spirit. It also integrates other types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine such as herbal medicines, diet, breathing, meditation, and physical therapy.

• Homeopathy – The practice utilizes extremely diluted natural substances to cure physical and mental health issues. Homeopaths believe that a substance is more effective when it is more diluted.   

• Naturopathy – It is based on a philosophical perspective that all living beings can self-regulate and heal themselves through natural remedies. It uses natural agents like water, air, light, and heat. This approach also uses other types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine like therapy, herbal products, acupuncture, exercise, massage, aromatherapy, and nutritional counseling.

2. Body

Healing by touch centers on the idea that an injury or ailment in one area can affect the entire body. Body therapies sometimes involve manual manipulation compared to other types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  The injured body parts can heal and return to their finest health through the use of manual manipulation. Body techniques are also frequently mixed with those of the mind. Some common body therapies include:

• Massage – A therapy that involves kneading, rubbing, tapping, and stroking the soft tissues of the body to help you relax, improve your well-being, and alleviate physical pain. There are different massage therapies available.

Nurture Wellness Village takes pride in its Filipino roots through its professional wellness spa treatments using freshly blended therapeutic massage oils. Choose from several relaxing Pinoy massage treatments like Traditional Filipino Massage which is influenced by generations of gifted natural healers, Haplos Kalinga Touch Therapy which harnesses the healing power of touch, and Indulgent Foot Massage Treatments.

• Body movement therapies refer to several low-intensity physical activities and exercises that focus on mindful movements to aid healing. Its health benefits include reduced stress, improved self-awareness, and increased flexibility. An example is Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) which you can use to express yourself through your body. It can affect wellness by enhancing motor skills and reducing stress. 

• Chiropractic and osteopathic medicine – Chiropractic therapy involves the manipulation of the joints, spine, and skeletal system.

• Tai chi – A Chinese practice that uses controlled breathing and slow, graceful movements to enhance the flow of qi or life energy, relax the mind, and promote self-healing. It is a good form of exercise and meditation method.

Keep your body and mind healthy with Nurture’s Tai Qi Gong Exercises. These traditional Chinese exercises are done in the garden to improve health and to increase energy flow through gentle and graceful, repeated movements.

• Yoga – This ancient practice includes stretches and poses, meditation, visualization, and breathing exercises to balance the mind and body and increase self-awareness.

Nurture’s Laughter and Dance Yoga is a combination of dance, exercise, laughter, and fun. This activity releases endorphins or “happiness” hormones and provides a wonderful bonding opportunity for the participants.

3. Diet and Herbs

Man used to have a simple diet that consisted of fruits, vegetables, meats, and grains. The current food selections are often rich in fats, carbohydrates, and oils which may not be good for the health. Dietary and herbal approaches are addressed by these types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. These dietary and herbal methods attempt to balance the nutritional well-being of a person.

• Dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbs, and enzymes like fish oil, vitamin D, and calcium.
• Herbal medicine is a therapy that uses parts of a plant such as flowers, leaves, roots, and berries to cure the body of ailments.
• Nutrition/diet 

4. External Energy

This approach utilizes external energy to heal in contrast with other types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Some people believe that external energies coming from objects and other sources have an impact on a person’s health. External energy therapy can be harnessed in these methods.

• Reiki – This is a Japanese technique that places the hands lightly on a person or hovers them over the body during the treatment. It aims to channel energy from the hands to a person’s body to promote healing.
• Qigong – It is an age-old practice that involves meditation, movement, and breathing techniques to enhance the circulation of the qi, or life energy, around the body.
• Electromagnetic therapy

5. Mind

The connection between mind and body is important as studies have shown that people with good emotional and mental health can heal better. Therapies that use the mind for healing may include:

• Meditation – This includes breathing or repetition of words or phrases to calm the mind and reduce any stressful feelings and thoughts. This method is also used in other types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
• Hypnosis – A trance-like situation where a person induced in deep relaxation becomes more aware and focused on specific thoughts, feelings, sensations, images, or behaviors.
• Biofeedback – This is a technique through which you learn how to control your emotions, thoughts, or behavior. The therapist measures your body’s functions like EEG to measure brain waves or ECG for heart rate.

6. Senses

This practice is different compared to other available types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine since it uses the senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste to improve health. Some therapies integrate the senses.

• Art, dance, and music – These act as creative outlets.
• Visualization and guided imagery – The practice concentrates on creating positive images in the mind like imagining pictures, scenes, or experiences to heal the body.

ALSO READ: The Health Importance of Body Massage that You Need to Know

Complementary medicine is used along with standard medical treatments while alternative medicine is utilized instead of traditional medical methods of healing. Practices used in some types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine may overlap with one another like acupuncture, massage, meditation, and using herbal medicines. Some CAM practices are associated with certain countries like China (acupuncture, oriental medicine, and tai chi), India (ayurveda), and Japan (reiki). There are fewer scientific studies about different types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine which focus on techniques that aim to improve the health of a person.

Nurture Wellness Village offers various Wellness Packages such as its detox program where we will help your body naturally pull out harmful toxins with the aid of charcoal, enemas, proper diet, massages, and other healing treatments. Are you interested in our wellness packages?

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