Alternative therapies

The terms "alternative" or "complementary" are used to refer to non-traditional methods of diagnosing, preventing, or treating illness and have become more popular in recent years. This page will give you a brief guide to the most popular complimentary therapies.

The links on the right of this page will put you in touch with local practitioners.

Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical procedure involving insertion and manipulation of needles at more than 360 points in the human body. Applied to relieve pain during surgery or in rheumatic conditions, and to treat many other illnesses, acupuncture is used today in most hospitals in China and by some private practitioners in Japan, Europe, and the United States.

Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the art of applying essential oils to suit individual needs. The oils work directly on the chemistry of the body, via the skin and bloodstream.

Chinese medicine
An ancient health-care system based on the notion that the best doctors cure illness before it occurs. To accomplish this, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine are attentive to changes in Qi, or the body's natural energy flow, which are said to precede biological changes. Practitioners seek to reverse energy imbalance and strengthen the body's natural healing faculties. Traditional Chinese medicine is heavily reliant on methods such as acupuncture and herbal therapy.

Complementary therapies
Among popular complementary therapies are acupuncture, osteopathy, chiropractic, homeopathy and herbal medicine. Other therapies include aromatherapy and massage.
Some therapies are part of complete medical systems from other cultures, such as traditional Chinese medicine, Tibetan medicine and Ayurvedic medicine from India.

Herbalists
Herbal medicine As a form of treatment that is said to be as old as mankind itself, it is interesting to notice that this most ancient form of medicine is coming back to challenge the most sophisticated system of medicine in the world's history. Today, the World Health Organisation estimates that, worldwide, herbal medicine is three to four times more commonly practiced than conventional medicine.

Homeopaths
Homeopathy Homeopathy is a system of prescribing which uses plants, minerals, and some animal remedies, prescribed on the principle that "Like cures like". This is called the simile principle. The word "homeopathy" is derived from the Greek words "homoios" meaning like or similar, and "pathos" meaning suffering.

Hypnotherapists
Hypnotherapy has nothing to do with what can be seen on stage where performers try to manipulate people into acting in silly ways. Somewhere between wakefulness and sleep is the state of consciousness that hypnotherapists use. You will not lose consciousness or awareness, but become able to gain a different perspective on what has been troubling you.

Nutritionists and dieticians
Nutritional Therapy is not just about healthy eating. It is a form of complementary medicine in which a practitioner will work with a patient or client, helping their body rid itself of stressful substances, providing raw materials, and improving the assimilation of food in order to aid physical repair. In a recent survey of 300 people treated by a nutritional therapist, it was found that 85% of headache/migraine sufferers, 82% of people with digestive problems, 70% of people with hormone-related problems, 55% of chronic fatigue sufferers and 54% of people with skin problems reported a definite, lasting improvement, usually within two months

Reflexology
Reflexology is a form of complementary medicine and involves a method of treatment using massage to reflex areas found in the feet and the hands. Most commonly, the feet are used as the areas to be treated.

Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese word meaning Universal Life (Rei) Energy (Ki). It is a spiritual healing discipline and has its roots in ancient Buddhist teachings. Reiki is the vital life energy which flows through all living things and which can be activated for the purpose of healing. Reiki practitioners believe that everyone has the ability to connect to their own healing energy.

Shiatsu
Shiatsu is a traditional Japanese healing art. It has its roots in ancient Oriental medicine and has evolved from Traditional Chinese Medicine and Anma, a traditional Japanese form of massage. The philosophy underlying Shiatsu is that vital energy (Qi in Chinese, Ki in Japanese) flows throughout the body in a series of channels called meridians. For many different reasons, Ki can stop flowing freely and this then produces a symptom. Shiatsu can be beneficial for a wide range of conditions - from specific injuries to more general symptoms of poor health.