Guide to Lesser known Alternative Therapies
Information and benefits of some less well knowncomplementary therapy treatments.

Lesser known Alternative Therapies

In recent years there has been an renewed interest and acceptance of Alternative/Complementary therapies. Many of us may have heard and even used some of the more popular forms such as Acupuncture, Hypnotherapy, Reflexology, Reiki or Aromatherapy, There are many more therapies being practiced and used worldwide.
Below are some of the lesser known therapies, some of these are centuries old and some have been introduced in more recent years.

Biofeedback
Biofeedback is therapy which uses monitoring devices to help people control and regulate their bodily functions including heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and muscle tension. In an effort to increase relaxation, relieve pain, and develop healthier and more comfortable life. The monitoring device feeds back impulses to the patient in the form of lights and bleeps; these are displayed on a biofeedback monitor The therapy tries to find a way to reduce the number of lights and beeps being fed back. This relaxes the body’s electrical impulses and reduce the patient’s symptoms. Eventually with training, the patient can apply knowledge gained without the use of a machine

Chelation therapy
Chelation therapy involves the use of synthetic amino acid EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid) which is injected into the blood stream, muscles or taken by mouth. These bind metals (lead, mercury, nickel, copper, and cadmium.) these toxins can then be excreted from the system usually via urine.

Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy is a powerful form of psychotherapy based on the belief that psychological problems are the products of faulty ways of thinking; it is a self-help technique that combats depression and other negative emotions by consciously changing the way we think.
The Therapy was developed by psychiatrist Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s.

Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy is an alternative treatment technique that is very similar to osteopathy. It is a non-invasive manual therapy that uses gentle massage of the head and neck to release tension and restore balance in order to improve health, reduce pain, and increase resistance to disease.
Craniosacral therapy is based on theories developed in the 1930s by William G. Sutherland that were originated by physician William Sutherland, (1873-1954),
and is now widely used in North America.

Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is an alternative therapy that uses water in the treatment of disease, help cure illness and maintain good health. Hydrotherapy makes use of water, either internally or externally, in a variety of different forms, including steam, and ice, in order to relieve muscle pain, increase circulation, and generally improve health. Hydrotherapy is practiced by licensed hydrotherapists, physical therapists, and naturopaths

Light Therapy
Light therapy is an alternative therapy used to help relieve a variety disorders, ranging from seasonal affective disorder, sleep disorders, chronic pain and depression. Light therapy uses bright, colored, and low-level forms of light delivering beams to various areas of the body in order to trigger hormone release and healing. Practiced by physicians, physical therapists, and psychologists.

Magnetic Therapy (Magnetotherapy or Magnotherapy)
Practitioners of this therapy use negative magnetic fields which have a beneficial effect on health. Placing magnets near or on an injury site practitioners believe can increase blood flow and stimulate harmed tissues. This fairly recent form of therapy is claimed to have beneficial effects for natural pain relief for knees, legs, wrists, back and arthritis,

Osteopathy.
Osteopaths acknowledge that there is a link between the body’s structure and how it functions. Osteopaths work through the musculoskeletal system, mostly on muscles and joints, paying special attention to how the internal organs can affect, and are affected by, the musculoskeletal system of the patient
Various manipulative techniques are used by the practitioner in conjunction with conventional medical, surgical, and other therapeutic procedures.

Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger point therapy is a touch therapy that is used to eliminate painful “trigger points”. It is used by massage therapists, chiropractors, and osteopaths. The therapist will apply concentrated finger massage to exert pressure on “trigger points" (painful irritated areas in muscles) this breaks cycles of spasm and pain. thus relieving pain and help to increase muscular flexibility.

This is by no means a definitive list of the lesser known alternative therapies. There are many more available both old and new. Many having developed from more mainstream therapies to treat very specific requirements

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What is Complementary Therapy

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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Guide to Lesser known Alternative Therapies Information and benefits of some less well knowncomplementary therapy treatments.

Lesser known Alternative Therapies

Guide to Lesser known Alternative Therapies
Information and benefits of some less well knowncomplementary therapy treatments.