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Complementary
Therapy (Alternative Therapy)
Is as the name suggests a form of therapy or medicine that "complements"
conventional treatments, it is variously known as Complementary
Therapy, Alternative Therapy, or Holistic Therapy. (Examples of
further terminology are described below)
Practitioners are consequently referred to as complementary therapists,
alternative therapists, healers, complementary medicine providers,
holistic therapists etc.
There
is evidence that many of these alternative therapies have been
in use for centuries, recent years have seen (particularly in
the Western World) a rise in the popularity of these Complementary
Therapies. Millions of people now subscribe to Complementary Health
and use complementary therapies worldwide, and demand for these
therapies is still growing.
About half of GPs, in the UK, now provide some kind of access
to this form of therapy. Although Britain came late to complementary
therapies. It is estimated by practitioners that demand for these
therapies has increased by up to 30% in the last ten years.
It is currently estimated that 3 in 10 local health authorities
in Britain now offer some form of alternative therapy to patients
and that as many as one third of people in the United Kingdom
have tried at least one form of alternative therapy, usually for
the treatment of various problems such as backache, arthritis,
or headaches migraine.
Much
has been written on the subject of Complementary Therapies and
Health (we have a wide range of articles elsewhere on our website)
and a great deal of information and opinion is available on the
internet.
Complementary
Therapy is also referred to as Alternative Therapy, Holistic medicine
is a narrower term. We have included a few definitions of Complementary
Therapy showing how this "non conventional" form of
healing is variuosly referred to.
Complementary
Therapy
Complementary therapies offer a variety of "complementary"
treatments, outside the scope of conventional medical practice,
and are often used alongside standard treatments -- e.g. nutritional
supplements, herbal remedies, massage, acupuncture, energy work,
etc.
Complementary
Medicine
The term complementary medicine is used by conventional medical
practitioners to refer to non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical techniques
which are used in conjunction with medical treatments such as
drugs and surgery. The term implies that conventional medicine
is used as a primary tool and the non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical
techniques are used as a supplement when needed.
Alternative
Therapy
A variety of treatments, outside the scope of conventional medical
practice, and used instead of standard treatments -- e.g. nutritional
supplements, herbal remedies, massage, acupuncture, energy work,
etc.
Alternative
Medicine
A broad category of alternative treatment systems (e.g. chiropractic,
herbal medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, and spiritual
devotions) or culturally based healing
Integrative
medicine
Is defined for USA usage by the National Center for Complementary
and Alternative Therapies, combines conventional medical treatments
and alternative and complementary treatments for which there is
some high-quality scientific evidence of their safety and effectiveness
An increasing desire for wellness, in response to today’s
stressful lifestyle, has led to the rising demand for Complementary
Therapy and Alternative therapies. It is true that many people
are becoming disenchanted with conventional medicine's drugs and
the approach to healing. On the other hand, Complementary therapies
tend to be "holistic", where an individual's health
is considered as a whole and treatment not just focused on the
symptoms. Complementary therapy employs "natural" methods
to aid the healing powers of the body to return to a state of
health. Treatment is holistic; that is it takes into account every
aspect of a patient and not just on the health symptoms that he
or she is experiencing.
It
is highly recommended that you use a qualified practitioner who
is a member of a regulatory body. By law, chiropractic and osteopathy
practitioners must be registered with the appropriate professional
bodies
In
the United Kingdom, there is an organisation that monitors CAM
therapists known as British Register of Complementary Practitioners.
On their site, they say "The British Register of Complementary
Practitioners (BRCP) is a professional register of practitioners
who have proved their competence to practice by either completing
an approved course or through an assessment made by the Registration
Panel. They also agree to observe a Code of Ethics and Practice
and have full practitioner insurance." This helps monitor
the quality of CAM in the UK and reduces the risk of quackery
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