Finally A Quick and Easy Guide to Understanding
The Different Alternative Types of Medicine

Part 1

Trying to understand all the different alternative types of medicine available can be a minefield.  There are that many to choose from, deciding which one or ones to use can be so difficult that some people are put off.

If you are fairly new to using alternative medicine and alternative therapies you may have lots of questions going round in your head.….

“Should I go for acupuncture or acupressure?”

“Are herbal remedies more effective than homeopathy?”

“Would my back pain respond better to Bowen Therapy or Reiki?”

“Do I have to stick with one or can I mix and match?”

or

“What on earth are these treatments you are talking about?!”

But don’t dismay – I’ve put together this handy 2-part guide to give you an insight into some of the most common alternatives.  What’s more this guide will also help you decide which alternatives to choose, for whatever problem you are looking to treat.

So What is Alternative Medicine?

Alternative medicine is an umbrella term that covers various types of treatment that fall outside the realms of conventional or allopathic medicine.  These range from acupuncture to healing and from herbal to homeopathy.  The use of the word medicine is a bit of misnomer because, although some alternatives involve swallowing a pill, many don’t.

Likewise alternative medicine is more and more frequently referred to as complementary medicine.  This is because it doesn’t have to be an and/or situation.  For many people, alternative treatments are used alongside conventional medicine to provide even better healing and give them plenty of options when taking care of their health.

Why Would I Choose Alternative Medicine?

The reasons people start to use alternatives as part of their health care varies widely.  And not everyone would feel comfortable adopting alternative treatments as part of their health regimen.  Increasingly though the acceptance and interest in alternative medicine is growing. 

You will have your own reasons for seeking out more information on this subject – here are just a few that may ring true with you.

• A conventional treatment you are undertaking doesn’t seem to be working any more.
  
• You are suffering from side effects of a prescribed medication and wondering if an alternative medicine would be more patient friendly.
  
• You are increasingly conscious about what you put in to your body and would like to have options that are more in harmony with you.
  
• A friend/colleague/relative told you about an alternative treatment they undertook and now their back pain (insert whatever ailment they had) has now completely disappeared.
  
• You wake up in the morning feeling a bit stiff and wondering whether a good massage or something similar will help you feel more youthful.
  
• You’ve started to get that bit older and you have a sudden realisation of the importance of good health.  You decide you want to do something now to ensure that you stay healthy and happy for many years.
  
• Life is just too hectic and you are looking for a way to de-stress without turning to prescription medication, drink or drugs!
  

So What Are The Alternative Medicine Options Available?

There are so many different alternative medicines and therapies available that to avoid totally overwhelming you I’ve listed below some of the most commonly used ones.

  Acupuncture
  Acupressure
  Aromatherapy
  Ayurveda
  Bach Flower Remedies
  Bowen Technique
  Chiropractic
  Cranio-Sacral Therapy
  Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
  Healing
  Herbal Medicine
  Homeopathy
  Indian Head Massage
  Massage Therapy
  Meditation
  Naturopathy
  Nutritional Therapy
  Osteopathy 
  Qigong
  Quantum Touch
  Reflexology
  Reiki Healing
  Shiatsu
  Thought Field Therapy

In Part 2 of this report I will go in to these in a little more detail.  But in the meantime, to help you think about what type of alternative treatment would suit you, here are a few questions to ask yourself: -

  Do you have a specific condition that you want to treat? 
  Are you currently on any prescription medication?
  Are you generally in good health and looking to maintain this?
  Are you happy with a therapist touching your body?
  Do you feel comfortable stripping down to your underwear or would this be embarrassing for you?
  Are you prepared to make changes to your diet and/or lifestyle? Or does your resolve last only until you see the next fast food diner!
  Do you suffer from a paralysing fear of needles? !!!
  Have you got time to fit in an alternative treatment that requires daily practice?
  Do you have the patience of a saint or are you more of a quick fix type of person?
  Are you looking for something that you can self-treat with or would you prefer to work with the services of a specialist?
  What’s your level of belief in alternative therapies – can you accept things that may not have an obvious explanation or would you be happier with an alternative that had more tangible evidence.
  Are you good at making meticulous notes of the signs and symptoms of your condition or do you have trouble even jotting down what you need to get from the shops? !!!

Although some of these questions may seem a bit strange choosing the best alternative for you will depend on the type of person you are, how you live your life and the how much control you want over the treatment.

Some people love the idea of stripping off, jumping on a massage couch and zoning out for the next hour.  But this could be your idea of hell – and the only time anyone sees you like this is when you catch a glimpse of your own reflection in the mirror as you jump into the shower.

And certain alternative treatments require you to be very aware of your signs and symptoms, in some cases to a very high degree.  If you are anything like me, struggling to remember what you did the day before, this may make choosing these types of alternative treatments a bit of a challenge!

If you can give a little thought to the questions and points raised in this report you will start to get a feel for what’s important to you.  This will give you a great advantage when choosing the right type of alternative treatment for you.

That brings me to the end of Part 1 of this report.  Go check out Part 2 here, which will tell you more about the different types of alternative medicine and what you can expect from a treatment.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this report is for informational purposes only and is not meant to take the place of the professional advice of a doctor or other medical staff member.