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5 Things You Must Know About Alternative Medicine

1. Alternative medicine is a type of practice where other methods of healing different from conventional western medicine practices are used. Alternative medicine takes the form of herbal treatments, oils, massage, practicing yoga and other forms of meditation, Chinese acupuncture, aromatherapy, Chiropractic treatment, ayurvedic medicine and many more. Alternative medicine is growing more popular and is practiced by an estimated 600 million people across the globe, and though there's no scientific evidence to support this practice, many people swear by its effectiveness and safety.

2. Alternative medicine is not complimentary medicine. While alternative medicine provides alternative treatment options to the more conventional methods, complementary medicine is designed to provide additional treatment to conventional medicine. However, many forms of therapy can be described as both complementary and alternative medicine. For instance, aromatherapy may be administered by surgeons to patients who have just undergone surgery. This is an attempt to make them feel more comfortable, complementing the surgery. In the alternative medicine sense, aromatherapy is intended to lower stress levels of patients by inhaling scents of certain herbs, oils or flowers. This can be done through massage.

3. Acupuncture is on of the most popular types of alternative medicine. it is one of the many forms of Chinese medicine, where ultra-thin needles are inserted into the body in specific places. The aim of this practice is to distribute energy reserves in the body which have been blocked, causing imbalances and general poor health. Usually, acupuncture should not be a painful procedure and results in the patient feeling more relaxed or energized. It has been practiced in China for over two thousand years and only recently has the West started to embrace the practice. Many studies have shown acupuncture to be highly effective in reducing vomiting and nausea after surgery, relieving headaches and pain, and pain caused by arthritis.

4. Herbs and vitamins taken in alternative medicine are regarded mostly as nutritional supplements. Many of these herbs do not face government restrictions, and do not require a doctor's prescription to use as they are only considered dietary supplements. The Chinese have practiced Traditional Chinese Medicine - TCM - for thousands of years and have a wide range of herbs they use for treatment of common complaints such as acne, hair-loss, pain and even infertility. According to them, there are herbs for almost any ailment, including cancer, though some of these herbs are still unproven. Many of the these herbs are available in form of pills, fresh herbs, dried herbs, creams or syrups.

5. Mind and Body medicine is another popular form of alternative medicine. The mind is highly involved in these cases as a means to promote the well-being of the both. For example, meditation is used to prove calmness and relaxation. Yoga combines various postures, meditation and various breathing techniques to improve focus and health. Mind and body medicine is based on the belief that the mind plays a huge part in the general health of a person. Other forms of mind and body medicine include hypnotherapy and gi gong, a practice combining calculated breathing, movement and meditation to improve the flow of blood in the body.