Aromatherapy
There are literally hundreds of types of unconventional medicines.
An
unconventional medicine is any type of therapy that is different
from
traditional medicine in the way that it focuses on a patient’s mind,
body, and
inner energy, to aid in healing. Some, use magic charms, colour
therapy, sound
therapy, and juice therapy, in which natural juices are used
as tonic therapies.
Flower remedy is a system of natural medicine that
uses remedies distilled from
blooming plants and trees, and some followers
believe that flowers are
nature’s gentle tools for treating and preventing
disease. (Gottlieb,1995:37)
There is even a healing process called food
therapy. It involves a healthy diet
and relating nutrition to disease,
something a lot of conventional doctors do
not practice these days.
Hydrotherapy involves using different water temperature
and pressure to help
heal many things such as sprains, headaches, and even
pneumonia. It is
usually accompanied by massage, and used often in sports.
Imagery is a
type of therapy in which the patient imagines that they are being
healed, and
before long, they will feel better. For example, if a patient had a
bad
sunburn on their back, they could imagine that a block of ice was
melting
inside their neck and dripping down the back. Within minutes, the
pain should be
gone. Imagery can also include sounds, tastes, and smells.
(Nash,1996:45) The
list of alternative therapies goes on and on. For every
disease known to
mankind, there is probably a complementary alternative
medicine to counter it.
Most alternative medicines are unheard of in
North America, where conventional
medicines and doctors dominate over eastern
medicine. This is mainly because
when North Americans hear the term
"alternative medicine", they can think up
some pretty exotic images. In
recent years though, the more popular eastern
medicines have become more
widely used in the west. For example, a few years
ago, herbal teas, were used
as remedies for everything from insomnia to morning
sickness, were sold
mainly in health food stores. Today, one can find seemingly
endless varieties
in a regular supermarket. Of all the different remedies that
exist, North
Americans are probably most familiar with therapies that are most
talked
about and receive the most attention. Reflexology, aromatherapy,
and
acupuncture are valid and considerable forms of alternative medicine.
They are
proven to work effectively, and when administered by a professional,
are usually
safe, and non-toxic. These three types of natural medicines are
often talked
about on television specials, in magazine articles, and other
visual and print
media. They are being used more commonly as people are
getting tired of
conventional medicines that don’t work, or worsen the
problem, and doctors who
do not treat their patients as individuals, and are
always overbooked. Now is a
time when people crave information about the
human body. Many people would like
to heal themselves of illness, or prevent
disease, using methods that have fewer
toxic side effects than many of
today’s modern pharmaceuticals.
(Gottlieb,1995:2) This is why many people are
turning to the ancient tools of
the past. Reflexology is a skilled treatment
of pressure points on the feet,
developed by an American medical doctor,
William Fitzgerald. "It has become
one of the most popular complementary
therapies because it is so effective."
(Mackay,1997) It is gentle, painless,
very relaxing, and has no harmful side
effects, yet it is quite effective
because it corrects the underlying cause of
the problem, rather than just
masking the symptoms. Reflexologists believe that
certain spots on the feet
are directly linked to other body parts, including
muscles, bones, organs,
and more. Working these spots helps the body relax,
giving it a chance to
heal. (Gottlieb,1995:108) The idea is that pressure is
applied to the hands
and feet promotes a beneficial response throughout the
body, providing a
break from stress. Although researchers are still looking for
the how's and
why's of reflexology, Kevin and Barbara Kunz, reflexology
researchers in
Santa Fe, New Mexico, and authors of Hand and Foot Reflexology,
say "The
results are obvious. Reflexology can be a great contributor to
overall
health." (Gottlieb,1995:107) According to reflexology, the body is
divided
into ten zones called "energy zones". Every tendon, ligament, organ,
muscle,
bone, and brain cell in included in one of these zones, and every zone
ends
at the soles of the feet. (Hill,1978:187) Reflex areas are the spots on
the
feet that when massaged, correspond to specific body parts and help them
to feel
relaxed. Hands also have reflex areas, but feet need the relaxation
more so
because they are constricted to shoes all day. Some reflexologists
say that
toxins settle in the feet because of gravity, so this is another
reason why the
feet need to be worked on more than the hands.
(Rosenfeld,1996:162)
Reflexologists say that they can often tell from the
feet when something in the
body is wrong. Tender spots on the feet indicate
that you may have a problem in
the corresponding part of the body.
(Gottlieb,1995:110) An explanation behind
reflexology is still a mystery, but
evidence is building up that it does work.
Research remains limited, but
one study shows a possible link between
reflexology and the relief of
pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). The study involved
35 California women who
complained of PMS symptoms, and the women who received
true reflexology
reported feeling significantly better than those who received
placebo
reflexology sessions which included working on parts of the ears, hands
and
feet that are not supposed to have any effect on PMS.
(Jacobs,1996:193)
Reflexology can be used to treat many things including
anxiety, arthritis,
bronchitis, indigestion, sinus problems, and even grief.
Laryngitis, for
example, can be treated by paying special attention to the
throat, chest, lung,
diaphragm, and lymphatic system reflex points on both
feet. It is also suggested
to thoroughly work all of the points on the sides
and bottoms of the toes.
(Gottlieb,1995:409) Aromatherapy is another form of
alternative medicine. It the
use of essential oils to promote good personal
health. It combines the sciences
of chemistry, botany, and physiology with
the art of essential oil blending to
achieve physical, emotional, and mental
balance. (Monte,1993:212) Healing
effects of organic chemical components are
done by inhalation or application of
essential oils and hydrosols. Essential
oils can be inhaled by diffusers,
candles, a handkerchief- or anything that
can give off a scent. A hydrosol
(which is the leftover water from distilling
the plant material) is spritzed in
the air or on the face and inhaled with a
deep relaxing breath. By application
and inhalation, aromatherapy claims to
affect the entire being to promote vital
health and wellness. It is a form of
complementary medicine to heal physical and
mental imbalances. (Earle &
Rose,1996) Aromatherapy often works because"humans relate fragrance to specific
experiences. Take for example, being in a
rain forest. The brain records
these experiences, often unconsciously, and when
the odour is re-encountered,
one recalls the specific point in time."
(Monte,1993:212) Essential oils have
the ability to help heal and prevent
infections. During World War One,
chemist Maurice Gattefosse experimented with
the use of essential oils for
the treatment of soldiers war wounds. In July of
1910, he burned his
hands in a laboratory explosion. He rolled in grass to put
out the flames,
but gas gangrenous sores began to appear. He applied essential
oils of
terpene-free lavender to the burns and noticed a sudden arrest
of
gasification tissues. (Nash,1996:19) Quick healing, arrest of blisters,
and
masking of gangrenous odours were all achieved in record time.
Aromatherapy is
known to help the immune system stay strong. Lavender, lemon,
bergamot, thyme,
chamomile, pine, sandalwood, myrrh, and vetiver are all
essential oils that
stimulate the production of infection fighting white
blood cells. (Earle &
Rose,1996) The antiviral action of certain
essential oils with terpenoid
compounds are very specific- the citruses and
the pine oils are the most
effective at boosting immunity. (Keville &
Green,1997) Headaches can also be
treated by a range of different oils and
herbs depending on the specific origin
of the headache. It is important to
find the cause of the headache in order to
obtain the proper essential oil.
Peppermint oil is one of the more traditional
aromatherapy remedies for
headaches. It can be applied as a compress, or
straight- one or two drops
directly to the back of the neck. A significant
reduction in pain, as well as
positive mood change, and noticeable performance
improvement was seen in
aromatherapy patients in a large experiment in 1990.
(Earle & Rose,1996)
Natural remedies are said to increase the body’s
resistance to disease by
improving its ability to fight infection. No single
essential oil will heal a
person, but many plants have immune modulating
properties.
(Rosenfeld,1996:45) Essential oils should not be solely relied upon
in cases
of serious illnesses, but may be integrated into any therapeutic
program such
as physiotherapy, or massage therapy. Aromatherapy is both a
specific
science, and a deeply complex art. An understanding of the human body
and the
interrelated functions of all its systems allow the aromatherapist to
act as
both an artist, and a scientist for their patient. This form
of
unconventional medicine is slowly making its way into acceptance in
society. In
the past few years, acupuncture has also established itself as an
effective and
considerable form of medicine in North America. It’s
recognition has increased
in the conventional medical world, and has also
made an impression on the
public. Acupuncture has a reputation for treating
the person as whole, as well
as curing specific ailments and complaints, and
its growing role in the west is
matched by an increasig demand for well
trained and qulaified acupuncturists.
Acupuncture invloves using very
fine needles that peirce the skin, which work as
antennae to draw Qi
(pronouned "chee") into the body at specific points and
along certain
meridian lines. (Monte,1993:247) It works by stimulating the
body’s own
healing abilities. The fine hair-thin needles do not inject
anything into the
body, but instead, the healing components of the body are
broadened,
directed, and generally made stronger in order to manage future
health
problems. (Nash,1996:15) According to the Chinese, a huge group of
pathways
run throughout the body. These pathways flow from organ system to
organ
system, and connect with every cell of the body. Along these pathways,
close to
the surface of the skin are little nodules, or acupuncture points,
that only a
trained acupuncturist can feel. (Galem,1997) When these points
are stimulated by
heat, touch, or penetration by a needle, the nodules cause
a chain reaction of
events that affect many aspects of the body, mind, and
spirit. (Nash,1996:15)
These pathways, or meridians were explained by the
Chinese as being channels of
energy, or Chi (pronounced "chee" and sometimes
spelled "Qi"). Dr. Ben
Galem says that: "Each person is, in reality, an
energetic body with a
physical body contained within. By cultivating and
building Chi in the body, we
strengthen ourselves so that our body works
better, our immune system gets
stronger, our energy level grows, and we have
a greater sense of well being."
(1997) A concept of Chinese medicine that
influences acupuncture, is that of yin
and yang. Everything is composed of
opposites, which need each other to exist-
like a cycle. Hot does not exist
without cold, and vice versa. Sometimes these
opposing forces become out of
balance with each other, and acupuncture, and
other Chinese medicine can turn
up or turn down the Chi and cause a balance to
return to the individual who
is being treated. (Eisenberg & Lee,1995:52) For
example, if a person is
too hot, then hot can be turned down, and cold raised.
If a person is too
cold, the cold can be turned down, and the hot raised.
(Galem,1997) Another
way acupuncture works, is by countering outside influences
such as cold
weather. Acupuncture can help build the body’s immune system so
that catching
common colds and other viruses is less likely. If treatment is
given in the
early stages of cold, symptoms will be less intense. If it is given
in the
late stages, it can speed up recovery time. Duration and frequency
of
treatment depend on the initial patient condition and severity of the
disorder.
Usually, patients see their acupuncturist twice a week for the
first two weeks,
then once each week, and then less frequently as symptoms
settle. After therapy
is over, maintenance visits are five times yearly. The
goal is to maintain
homeostasis in the body for longer periods of time.
(Galem,1997) Acupuncture can
be used to treat many conditions including
migraines, asthma, bursitis,
tendonitis, menstrual pain, aid in weight loss
and quitting smoking, back pain,
sports injuries, and much, much more. It is
a very well known type of therapy,
and its possibilities are almost endless.
The use of major alternative medicines
is increasing in areas where they
remain inferior to conventional medicine,
mainly in Canada and the United
States. This is because people with health
problems and complaints do not
like the atmosphere of a regular doctors office,
and they do not feel as if
the doctor is giving them the attention that they
need and deserve.
Practitioners of natural healing all believe that the patient
and their
illness must be looked at deeply, and seriously. The mind, body,
inner
energy, and lifestyle, must be treated as a whole. There must be
no
distractions, and the appointment must not be rushed, as is the case of
many
conventional doctors offices with crowded waiting rooms, and small,
stuffy
examining rooms. Reflexology, aromatherapy, and acupuncture are
all
unconventional medicines that are worth consideration. They are proven to
be
valid, effective, and very helpful. Believers and patients of these
natural
remedies swear by them. Researchers are constantly finding evidence
that back up
practitioners theories that natural remedies really do work just
as well, if not
better, than popping a few pills. Although most alternative
medicines are safe,
and have far less toxic side effects than many doctors
prescriptions, some
natural remedies, whether they include flowers and herbs,
or sound and a wide
imagination, can have unwanted, and sometimes harmful
side effects. This usually
happens when an inexperienced person tries to
treat themselves and they know
nothing about the field. A professional should
always be consulted before action
is taken. There is a lot of information to
be found as more and more research is
brought out about alternative medicine
methods such as reflexology,
aromatherapy, and acupuncture, and many, many
more. One should converse with a
qualified practitioner and come to a
decision on what type, or types of, natural
healing methods that they wish to
use to help heal their sickness. Natural
remedies can be used on their own,
or blended with another for faster relief.
They can also be incorporated
with modern science and modern medicines,
pain-killers, or supplements. For
anyone seeking help for anything from
depression and insomnia, to headaches,
and the common cold, and thousands of
more unwanted sicknesses, many
believers of natural remedies will strongly
recommend this form of healing
which dates back thousands of years, to aid in
therapy of open minded
individuals.
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