Have you ever seen a commercial for a prescription medicine where they list a myriad of side effects that could occur? Sometimes you’re not even sure if the medication does more good than harm. Nowadays it’s difficult to know who to trust and what medication might be helpful. Doctors get incentives for selling certain medications from pharmaceutical companies who only care about turning a profit. Of course, prescription medication is usually the best option for most of our ills and aches, but if you’re looking for complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) we know of some methods that could be beneficial to you.

Acupuncture and Acupressure.

If you struggle with chronic pain, migraines, nausea, depression, or anxiety, you may get some benefit out of acupuncture. It’s basically a form of traditional Chinese medicine where thin needles are placed onto specific points on the body to stimulate your nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. There are many different forms of acupuncture so it’s best to do your research and find a well-recommended clinic or doctor who can perform it.

If you are terrified of needles then you may want to try acupressure instead. Basically, acupressure is acupuncture without the needles. Acupressure practitioners use their fingers, palms, elbows, or feet to apply pressure onto specific points on the body in order to improve circulation, reduce muscle tension, or stimulate endorphins. In some ways, it can be considered a specific form of massage.  Acupuncture and acupressure are some of the most well-known forms of alternative or complementary medicine.

Is Reiki an Alternative Medicine Treatment?

Reiki is not a medicine per se but it is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Similar to a massage, it is done with the hands and is based on the idea of an unseen life force energy. If your energy is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". It is meant to help you feel relaxed physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. By helping you relax, it can help improve circulation, lower blood pressure, and improve your immune system. Many people like to try it a few days before a surgery or operation to ensure that their body is calm. It’s a great therapy to use along with any other treatments you’re going through.

Nutrient IV Therapy, one of the best CAM Treatments.

If you are looking to improve your overall health physically, then a good way to start would be with IV therapy. IV therapy is done by delivering nutrients into your body intravenously. A lot of the time, we are not getting enough vitamins and minerals and it can start to affect our health. That’s one of the reasons why when you eat junk food instead of a salad, you don’t feel great and start to feel sluggish.

There are many different IV drips and many different health spas. Obviously, I recommend Liquivida Lounge where you can get a drip to boost your immune system, improve your athletic performance, help your skin look younger, or even cure a hangover. Liquivida has a trained staff of courteous and efficient professionals who make sure you feel comfortable and make sure the procedure is done correctly.

A nutrient IV session will take less than an hour of your time and can significantly improve the way you feel. It’s also a good fit if you have a cold, if you’ve been feeling sluggish, or if your body needs strength before an operation. Check it out and see if it’s right for you.

What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is becoming more and more popular. A lot of stores are now carrying essential oils and diffusers. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, aromatherapy uses natural plant extracts, combines them into essential oils, which is then placed into a diffuser which sprays the oil into the air for you to smell. There are other ways to use essential oils, you can even apply them directly onto the body, but they are meant to help relax your mind and body.

Aromatherapy can improve mood, help with insomnia, reduce anxiety, boost your immune system, and help with sore pains. Some oils include lavender, rosemary, lemongrass, patchouli, and ginger. Cancer patients sometimes use aromatherapy to alleviate the side effects to chemotherapy. If you’re looking to help your body relax and improve some health issues, aromatherapy can be of beneficial use.

Hydrotherapy Uses the Power of Water as a Complementary Medicine Treatment.

Hydrotherapy can also be beneficial. Hydrotherapy is using different kinds of water, in different forms, and different temperatures for a variety of uses. One version of hydrotherapy is watsu massage. This is a type of massage where you float in a pool and a masseuse focuses on stretches and points of pressure on the body to help improve circulation.

Saunas are also a good hydrotherapy. You sit in a room full of heat and sweat it all out. It can help improve liver function, cardiovascular health, and joint pain. Cold immersion can also be good. That is sitting in a tub of ice cold water after an intense workout. The cold temperature can help your body recover and helps to avoids the sores and aches that come after a workout. Besides these there are exercises that can be done in a pool where you feel weightless, so that there isn’t pressure on your joints. Whatever you prefer, just know that hydrotherapy might be one of the best ways to improve your health.

Ready to try one of the best CAM treatments?

There are so many different kinds of alternative medicine out there. A lot of them have no medical basis whatsoever and offer no benefits. But there are also a lot that do actually have some real benefits. It’s best to talk to your doctor, do your own research from verified sources, and see what’s right for you.

There is so much misinformation out there regarding alternative medicines so you really have to be careful. Some methods that have been are proven to be beneficial in some ways are acupuncture, acupressure, reiki, nutrient IV therapy, aromatherapy, and hydrotherapy. These can provide some use to someone who is not just looking to take another pill. These are for people who want a healthy and safe way to feel better.