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Complementary medicine
Complementary medicine covers a wide range of therapies and types of treatment,
of varying popularity. Over the past few years many people have started to look
at Complementary medicine in a more positive light, after many years of it being
stigmatized by society. Complementary medicine is used in conjunction with traditional
medicine.
The generally five main therapies in Complementary medicine and these are are:
- Acupuncture
- Osteopathy
- Chiropractic
- Homeopathy
- Herbal medicine
There are other well-known therapies, although not as common as the list above,
they include: naturopathy, nutritional medicine, aromatherapy, massage kinesiology
and crystal healing.
Complementary medicine focuses on the whole person, with lifestyle, environment,
diet and mental, emotional and spiritual health often being considered alongside
the common physical symptoms from a medical condition.
Diagnosis using Complementary medicine aims to identify the root cause of these
symptoms, so that the treatment is then designed not only to relieve the ailment
or disease but also to restore health and promote general well being. The emphasis
with Complementary medicine is on prevention not cure.
Many, but not all, complementary therapies are based on the idea that the body
naturally strives to maintain a state of balance: homeostasis. The treatments
using this idea aim to stimulate the natural healing ability in the body and
the idea of taking responsibility for our own health is regarded as an important
part of healing.
Complementary medicine is used in the treatment and prevention of a very wide
range of ailments, as well as for pain management and general health promotion.
The list below gives some examples of the types of treatments that Complementary
medicine offers:
- Arthritis
- Chronic fatigue syndromes
- Cystitis
- Eczema
- Asthma
- Tension relief
- Increase circulation
- Stimulate the immune system
- Stimulate digestive system
- Helpful in stress,
- Pain
- Mental and emotional situations.
- Treating PMT
- Treating infertility
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