What are alternative therapies? It can be tricky to differentiate between complementary therapy and alternative medicine (also known as CAM therapy), but the main difference is that complementary therapies are used as part of treatment, while alternative therapies are sometimes used instead of conventional medical treatment.
It’s important to note that these types of complementary approaches cannot ‘cure’ a medical condition and the benefits of alternative therapies should always be used alongside standard medical care, never as an alternative treatment. Always consult your GP for medical attention and if you are currently receiving care, seek their advice before undertaking any alternative medicine practices with a complementary therapist.
What is integrative medicine? According to the National Centre for Integrative Medicine , integrative health combines conventional, lifestyle and holistic approaches to improve health and wellbeing. This integrative, whole-person approach empowers the person to take charge of their health and feel more informed about their own care. Treatment ranges from craniosacral therapy to nutrition for wellbeing.
Complementary therapy and cancer While complementary medicine can’t replace conventional health care and cancer treatment for a cancer patient, such as someone suffering with breast cancer, certain types of complementary practice can help to ease pain, such as massage therapy. Meanwhile, alternative medicine such as aromatherapy can ease the mental health aspects of cancer. “Fatigue is a common side effect of chemotherapy,” says Dr Caroline Hoffman, clinical and research director at Breast Cancer Haven . “For those with a cancer diagnosis going through chemotherapy, we suggest taking moderate exercise and making sure you get enough sleep. However, we do recognise that some of the cancer drugs given alongside chemotherapy can adversely affect your sleep. Acupuncture, touch therapies, mindfulness and nutritional therapy can all help here, too.
“Pain is common after cancer surgery, or people may be living with pain because of the cancer, or get pain in the hands and feet as a result of some chemotherapy drugs. Exercises can be performed to gradually increase your range of movement back to normal after a cancer operation, while a scar tissue massage is very helpful to reduce tightness over the post-operative site after the wound has healed completely. It is best to check with your doctor when you can start exercising safely. Acupuncture can help with pain and is also very relaxing and balancing for the body. Reflexology or shiatsu can be used for people who don’t like the idea of needles (even though acupuncture needles are very fine and it is usually not painful). Hypnotherapy and mindfulness are also helpful for pain and give you the tools to support yourself during your cancer diagnosis.
For menopausal cancer patients “Menopausal symptoms are common following chemotherapy, especially in women already approaching menopause. Hot flushes and night sweats often need changes to diet (reducing foods and drinks that add heat to the body – alcohol, spicy foods, tea and coffee) as well as wearing natural fibres and layers that can be easily removed. Keeping calm, using relaxation techniques and mindfulness can be helpful. Keeping a fan to hand can also be helpful.
“Disruption to sleep may come as a result of pain or discomfort, night sweats, shortness of breath, anxiety and fear, or other reasons. A relaxation or mindfulness audio can help settle the mind and I’d recommend having an hour prior to bedtime without using any devices like phones, tablets or TVs. If waking up in the middle of the night is a problem, some find it best to bring their attention to the body’s sensations and the breath, thus short-circuiting worries and fearful thoughts that often crowd at night. For others, getting up and having a chamomile tea can also help. The scent of lavender oil is helpful for some to aid sleep.”
The different types of complementary therapy When choosing complementary medicine and alternative medicine, as well as a CAM practitioner, it’s important to do your homework. Ask yourself a few questions: what do you want to achieve? Do you want to feel generally better and more relaxed, or do you want to treat an illness or a particular health concern that conventional treatment can’t aid alone?
While most alternative medicine works on a holistic level, treating your body and mind as a whole, some complementary approaches address more specific issues. For example, bodywork is great if you’re looking for alternatives to physical therapy due to back pain. Or you might opt for an aromatherapy massage or guided imagery if you’re feeling stressed and your mental health is suffering. Take a look at the below at the different types of alternative therapy to see what’s right for you.
Reflexology: best for headaches This subtle, yet powerful complementary health approach is based on the theory that different points on the feet, lower legs, hands, face or ears correspond with different areas of the body. By massaging certain points aligned with different organs, you can help to boost energy and vitality in your body. What’s more, it’s very easy to do yourself once you’ve learned the main reflexology points. If you’re feeling a tension headache coming on, press the acupoint in the middle of the palm of your hand. This point is located on one of the most important meridians (or energy channels), which affects the heart, liver, and pancreas, where stress is often stored.
Reiki: best for energy balancing This beautifully relaxing CAM treatment is a form of energy therapy based on the idea that a ‘life force’ flows through our bodies. It is just one of many therapies that rebalance the body’s subtle energies to bring about healing on an emotional and physical level. Others include therapeutic touch, crystal therapy, reiki treatment, reflexology, theta healing, quantum touch and qigong.
Acupressure: best for pain management If you want to experience the many benefits of acupuncture, but the idea of needles sends you into a cold sweat, this complementary therapy is for you. Working on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, which focuses on the flow of energy (or ‘qi’) in your body, it releases blockages to bring about healing.
Like acupuncture, it can treat a variety of physical and emotional ailments, easing everything from insomnia and inflammation, to soothing sore joints and treating headaches. During the treatment, the practitioner applies gentle pressure to points on the body to rebalance your body. Sometimes, it can also involve stretching or acupressure massage therapy – which can be very soothing for rheumatoid arthritis – as well as other methods.
Alternative therapies for mental health With 77 percent of us regularly experiencing physical symptoms caused by stress, and 73 percent enduring psychological effects, anxiety disorders and mental health issues are a growing problem which should not be ignored. There is a range of alternative therapies for depression, such as herbal remedies, and activities that can be beneficial for treating anxiety.
Lemon balm This herbal medicine has a calming history which dates back to the Middle Ages. Once steeped in wine to help ‘lift spirits’, heal wounds and calm insect bites, it is now commonly combined with valerian to soothe stress. Studies also suggest that it can help aid indigestion, and that when used in aromatherapy, it can also help to improve cognitive function and decrease agitation in those suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Chamomile A lack of sleep is one of the most common triggers for an anxiety attack, but when you’re feeling stressed, the last thing on your mind is catching some Zs. Cue a restless night with wild thoughts racing through your mind, and the cycle continues! Break the chain with a calming cup of chamomile tea.
Valerian root A popular over-the-counter sedative in Japan, valerian root is a natural treatment for anxiety. Helping to promote sleep, control panic attacks and relieve headaches, scientists have found that this herbal medicine increases the amount of GABA (a chemical which helps regulate the nerve cells and calm anxiety) in the brain.
Alternative therapies for respiratory disorders Asthma can range from very mild to life-threatening, and in the UK, 1.1 million children are currently receiving treatment. Conventional medicine allows most sufferers to manage their conditions, but there are natural alternatives to traditional treatment, such as oxygen therapy which can provide relief from this debilitating condition, allowing you to breathe easier, or traditional Chinese medicine.
Buteyko breathing Ukrainian health professional Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko founded his eponymous breathing method during the 1950s. It centres around the theory that human beings have learnt to breathe incorrectly, and far too deeply.Breathe with the mouth closed at rest and during moderate-intensity exercise such as walking. If you have a dry cough, try to suppress it by swallowing and breathing gently through the nose.
Traditional Chinese medicine Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) differentiates between an asthma attack, or excess pathogen stage, and remission periods, which it calls the deficient condition. The acute, attack stage is seldom seen or treated in the clinic, however TCM acupuncture can have a significant effect in treating the deficient condition and by doing so, diminishes the number of asthma attacks. “Acupuncture can help strengthen your lung and kidney energies which in turn calms and eases your asthma symptoms,” says Andrea Steinlechner, TCM acupuncturist at Harley Street Acupuncture .
Alternative therapies for pain management More working days are lost to back and neck pain than any other health problem. This is owing partly to our current lifestyles and doing activities our bodies weren’t designed for – such as driving cars and sitting at computers. Standard treatment for pain management includes anti-inflammatories or often alternating ice and heat therapy, with hot and cold ice packs and heating pads, but these treatments don’t always get to the root of the problem. So what’s the alternative outside traditional medicine?
Alexander technique The Alexander Technique helps you to recognise how you are using your body so you can perform everyday activities in a more balanced and controlled way. The idea is that you become more aware of how you’re using your body and where you hold tension, and you are encouraged to visualise releasing it. During a session, in which you are fully clothed, the teacher uses gentle guidance with their hands and, as tension releases, the pain should start to ease.
Bowen technique Bowen Technique involves gentle movements with the fingers and thumbs along the muscles, ligaments, tendons and soft tissues of the body. The process releases energy, sending impulses to the brain to trigger the body’s own healing system. It is said to be particularly effective in correcting muscular and skeletal imbalances. The practitioner usually works through clothing, making light movements to encourage circulation of blood and lymph, increase mobility and release blocked energy.
Originally founded by Australian Tom Bowen, it’s a holistic treatment, focused on helping the entire body. What might appear strange on your first visit is that the alternative medicine practitioner leaves the room after each series of movements, but this is to allow the body to initiate its healing process. So, rather than ‘making’ the body change, Bowen’s strategy ‘asks’ the body to recognise and make the changes it requires.
Craniosacral therapy Physical knocks and emotional stress throughout the body cause tissues to contract, but they sometimes stay contracted, causing back pain, not to mention many other health problems. According to John Wilks, former chairman of the Craniosacral Association , “Every eight to 12 seconds, waves of cerebro-spinal fluid go up and down the body driving the bones of the skull. This movement is only very slight, but a trained therapist can feel it, mostly working around the head, the spine, and the sacrum or pelvic area. Any disturbances show up in the fluid and we work to release it.”
Alternative therapies and your hormones While nutrition always comes first (nothing can compensate for a poor diet), there’s evidence to suggest that bolstering our bodies with specific supplements can help support our systems. “Many women are generally nutrient deficient as they reach mid-life,” says clinical nutritionist Suzie Sawyer . “A lack of B vitamins, zinc and magnesium, for example, will lead to further hormone imbalances and an increase in menopausal symptoms.
“Vitamin D is essential for women to protect their bones as estrogen levels decline, but also helps with low mood. Taking a complete high-potency multivitamin and mineral helps plug these nutrient deficiencies, and probiotics can also be helpful.”
Alternatives to hormone therapy for menopause If you’re looking for natural alternatives to oestrogen therapy or ways of treating the menopause, then supplements can help you to plug the gaps where you might be vitamin or mineral deficient. “Falling estrogen levels during the menopause is one of the main causes of the many unpleasant symptoms that women suffer, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness,” explains Suzie. “However, estrogen receptor sites can be ‘topped-up’ by taking supplements containing phytoestrogens, which have a balancing effect.
Holistic medicine There are many types of holistic therapy: here we take a look at the most common ones, including homeopathy and aromatherapy.
Homeopathy A natural alternative medicine which involves treating individuals with highly diluted substances, usually in tablet form, homeopathy is used to prompt the body’s self-healing process. Homeopathy is based on the principle of ‘like treats like’ and scientific evidence backs up its efficacy.
Aromatherapy Aromatherapy is gaining momentum in becoming a popular complementary medicine. Used in a variety of applications for pain relief, increased cognitive function and mood enhancement, the blending of natural plant oils can enhance our psychological and physical wellbeing. “Aromatherapy is one of the most gentle and versatile healing arts,” explains Christine Fisk, consultant aromatherapist at Base Formula . “It harnesses the natural, therapeutic powers of essential oils to relieve a whole host of physical and emotional complaints ranging from stress, anxiety and fatigue through to insomnia, aches, pains and problematic skin conditions.”
Ayurveda The most ancient structure of medicine known to mankind, Ayurveda is a health system which focuses on the power of the mind to heal the body using herbal treatment, diet and yogic breathing. “Ayurvedic medicine is a healthcare approach that treats illness and promotes wellness by focusing on the unique aspects of each patient, and then individually tailoring interventions to restore their balance,” explains Dr Mauroof Athique, director of the College of Ayurveda .
Are there any alternative therapy courses near me? From dull office jobs to demanding careers which come with more stress than they’re worth, we’ve all sat and daydreamed about retraining in something we’re more passionate about. But are you ready to take the plunge? There are plenty of distance learning, remote learning and college learning centres for holistic healing therapies, such as the School of Natural Health Sciences , Luna courses , The Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) and College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM), which also offers a Health Coach Course .
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