What is “Alternative” Health Care?
We hear about it all the time on TV, and read it in magazines and newspapers, yet many of us don't really understand exactly what is meant by “alternative health care.”
Sometimes it's called “complementary” health care, because it complements rather than replaces traditional medicine. The term “alternative” suggests that it replaces standard medical care, something that you do instead of conventional medicine.
Actually, both thoughts are accurate. Sometimes the non-
In our own healing work, we always advise our clients to continue to work with their doctors, and though we have seen spectacular results using our methods alone, we would never suggest that anyone stop seeing or seeking the advice of their standard medical care providers.
What Exactly Is Meant by the Term “Holistic” Medicine?
It's another word that we often hear used today, often interchangeably with “alternative” and “complementary.” Precise definitions can be a little elusive, but generally speaking, it means any kind of physical care that is not what you would imagine in a current hospital setting. Unorthodox. Unconventional.
That's a pretty broad definition, but it has to be, because what is “orthodox” or ”conventional” is constantly changing. Generally speaking, alternative, complementary, or holistic medicine tends toward more natural, less invasive approaches that consider the whole person, mind, body and spirit. That's where we get the term ”holistic”
Is It Accepted?
A few generations ago, doctors scorned the idea of washing their hands before assisting in childbirth. Now, No sane doctor would do otherwise.
Today, things that would have been unthinkable just five or ten years ago are being increasingly, used in hospital and clinical settings, some of which include:
• Reiki, Quantum Touch, Qi Gong, Therapeutic Touch and other energy healing modalities
• Healing with herbs
• Homeopathy
• Naturopathy
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
• Ayurveda
• Mind-
• Magnetic and Electromagnetic Therapy
If All This Is So Good, Wouldn't Doctors Be Offering These Choices?
The fact is, many doctors and hospitals are. One of the largest regional trauma centers in Western Pennsylvania, Allegheny General Hospital, makes Reiki available to its patients.
All these approaches to health and wellness can sometimes make for a bewildering
range of choices for the average person who just wants to feel better. And some medical doctors are simply unable to provide informed advice to their patients, because
many simply haven't been exposed to these modalities in their medical school training.
Doctors have spent a lot of years of hard work and study learning their own approach to
medicine, and they can't be expected to be experts in everything. The good news is
that more doctors are being given at least some exposure to alternative and
complementary medicine in their training, and they are beginning to be more open and
more likely to have an informed understanding when their patients seek out alternative
care to go along with their primary medical care.
The best thing most of us can do is to be educated consumers, read as much as
possible, and be open to new methods. Which in many cases have a history of literally
thousands of years of healing and helping people achieve optimal health.
Michelle,
Jamestown, PA