What is Alternative Medicine and Its Types?

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Alternative medicine contains several medical practices that aren’t part of the conventional treatment or medication. They claim to have health benefits that are not backed by science. It is a side branch of science with various forms of treatments ranging free ancient methods to herbal remedies.

Alternative medicine is safe and has no health risks. In addition, it is proven to be beneficial for many people along with conventional methods.

Difference between alternative and conventional medicine

It is essential to understand that conventional medicine is backed by science. It is proven to be beneficial for all ailments with minimum side risks.

Alternative medicine is not backed but has a grown following of people who trust it. It is also known as complementary medicine. It is supposed to be taken with conventional methods, not instead of them. However, for best health results, one should incorporate both conventional and complementary medicines.

Types of Alternative Medicine

Ayurveda:

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian form of medicine that has been around for more than 4,000 years. The belief system of Ayurveda is that the imbalance in our body’s life force causes diseases. This is corrected using the body’s three qualities known as dosha: Vata, pitta, Kapha. The balance between these three energies is unique to each person and needs to be treated in the same way.

Homoeopathy:

Homoeopathy is a popular form of alternative medicine in India, but you’d be surprised to know it was developed in Germany. Homoeopathy uses the ideal that a substance causing illness in small doses can stimulate the body to heal itself against the disease. It uses naturally occurring substances.

Acupuncture: 

Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine. It works by regulating your body’s life force known as “Qi”. Disturbances create illnesses to the flow of qi. Using tiny needles and making puncture wounds at precise marks, acupuncture can help remove the disturbance and regulate your body’s flow.

Meditation:

Meditation is a mind-body medication technique. It helps regulate your attention to specific parts of your body. Meditating has proved to be highly beneficial for people suffering from stress or anxiety disorders. In addition, it relieves pain and even symptoms of chronic illnesses.

Chiropractic:

Chiropractic is a body-based alternative medication. It studies the relationship between the spine and the nervous system. 

Chiropractors are professionals in this field. They use various forms of therapy such as massage, heat or cold therapy, acupressure, among others. 

People who suffer from neck or back pains use this. Scientific research proves that chiropractic can give you short term relief.

Reiki:

Reiki is a form of medicine that originated in Japan. Reiki users manipulate energy through their hands. As a result, they cause energy changes which help with healing.

All forms of alternative medicine have little to no side effects. This is what makes them so sought after and popular. However, it is always good to remember while these forms of medicine promise relief, conventional and modern medicine have progressed much more and will indeed have better results.