Aside from traditional treatment, many people employ a variety of alternative and complementary therapies to cure their ailments. Unlike traditional treatments that have undergone extensive investigation, alternative medicine is typically done based on one person's and another's experiences.
Alternative medicine is found all around the world such as:
Traditional alternative treatment
Traditional alternative treatment includes therapies that have been practiced for centuries and have been accepted worldwide as a form of therapy. Traditional alternative treatments such as:
- Acupuncture - is the technique of injecting fine needles into the skin to treat health problems. This practice, which originated in traditional Chinese medicine, has been known for thousands of years.
- Ayurveda - is a traditional Indian treatment based on ancient writings, relying on a natural and holistic approach, combining various products (from plants, animals, metals, and minerals) as well as diet, exercise, and lifestyle.
- Homeopathy - is an alternative medicine on the principle that the substance causing the symptom can also help relieve the symptom, the substance will be diluted to help treat the symptom.
- Naturopathy - is a holistic approach based on the importance of a healthy diet, clean drinking water, sunlight, exercise, and stress management.
- Traditional Chinese medicine - a treatment method that has evolved over thousands of years, using psychological and physical approaches as well as herbal products to address health issues.
Read more: Acupuncture Traditional Medicine: Benefits And Implementation Procedures
Other alternative treatment
Body
Bodywork treatment is a type of treatment that uses touch as the basis of its treatment method, such as:
- Chiropractic - is a treatment that emphasizes the body's ability to heal itself. Forms of treatment include joint and spinal manipulation, exercise, as well as nutritional counseling.
- Massage - a type of therapy that involves rubbing or massaging soft tissues including muscles, connective tissues, tendons, ligaments, and skin. Massage is said to reduce stress, alleviate pain, and muscle stiffness, promote relaxation, and help boost the work of the immune system.
- Body movement therapy - is a therapy that refers to various conscious movement-based practices. These therapeutic practices are used to treat the mind, physical body, and spirit simultaneously.
- Tai Chi - is a meditation in movement that exercises the mind and body. It originated in China as a martial art that helps treat and prevent many health problems.
- Yoga - is a mind and body practice that combines postures, breathing techniques, meditation, and relaxation. This traditional medicine technique originated in India.
Diet and herbal medicine
Diet and herbal medicine are used as alternative treatments that utilize natural products such as fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, meats, fats, essential oils, and so on. This treatment relies on setting a healthy diet and also a combination of various plants that are processed into medicine.
Read more: Kunyit Is Good, But Be Careful With Side Effects
External energy
Some people believe that the external energy of objects affects human health, such as:
- Electromagnetic therapy - is a safe and easy noninvasive method of treating pain associated with musculoskeletal diseases.
- Reiki - is an energy healing technique that aids relaxation, and reduces stress and anxiety through touch. It is believed that this practice helps circulate energy to the body and improves energy flow and balance which supports healing.
- Qigong - is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves exercises to optimize energy in the body, mind, and spirit. The technique involves regulating thoughts, breathing, body movements, and postures.
In addition to the above techniques, you may also be familiar with treatment through hypnosis, meditation, imaginary visualization, dance, and music. However, keep in mind that these are all types of alternative treatments that have not been scientifically proven to be effective. If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
Looking for more information tips and tricks for health, first aid, and other home treatments? Click here!
- dr. Yuliana Inosensia
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2022). Acupuncture: What You Need To Know. Available from: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture-what-you-need-to-know
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2019). Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth. Available from: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ayurvedic-medicine-in-depth
NHS UK (2021). Homeopathy. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/homeopathy/
Better Health Channel. Naturopathy. Available from: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/naturopathy
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2019). Traditional Chinese Medicine: What You Need To Know. Available from: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/traditional-chinese-medicine-what-you-need-to-know
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2019). Chiropractic: In Depth. Available from: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/chiropractic-in-depth
Mayo Clinic (2023). Massage therapy. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/massage-therapy/about/pac-20384595
Melissa E. Phuphanich, MD, MS (2020). Movement-Based Therapies in Rehabilitation. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7476461/
Harvard Medical School (2022). The health benefits of tai chi. Available from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-health-benefits-of-tai-chi
Hannah Nichols (2021). How does yoga work?. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/286745
John Hopkins Medicine. Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/types-of-complementary-and-alternative-medicine
Teresa Paolucci, et all (2020). Electromagnetic Field Therapy: A Rehabilitative Perspective in the Management of Musculoskeletal Pain – A Systematic Review. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7297361/
Cleveland Clinic (2021). What Is Reiki, and Does it Really Work?. Available from: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/reiki/
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2022). Qigong: What You Need To Know. Available from: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/qigong-what-you-need-to-know