Alternative medicine is becoming ever increasingly popular in this day and age, but what exactly is alternative medicine? It takes on many forms in a wide variety of guises from remedies such as Herbs, Oils, Massage and Chinese Acupuncture, which most of us will have heard of and maybe even tried to Ayurvedic medicine which has widely been used in India for over five thousand years.

Alternative medicine was once perhaps given a wide berth by the sceptics but today over 600 million people pay visits to those offering alternative treatments and remedies.

Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient Hindu medical system dating back from the sixth century BCE. It is based on the theory that there are three main factors which underlie disease and illness; these are wind, bile and phlegm. A fourth type was added blood which is typically surgery, but surgery and physical ayurveda are two separate traditions.

According to the Ayurvedic system there is no single cause for an illness every aspect of a person’s life contributes and all people are born in a state of equipoise but either through bad diet, not taking care of themselves or living in a location that is not best suitable for them they lose it.

The Chinese have been treating illnesses and disease with herbs as far back as the 3rd century BC; the same tradition is widely used today. Herbal medicine is based on the theory of Yin and Yang where everything has an equal, for example for good there is bad, light there is dark. This theory correlates to the body in that elements in the body are out of harmony and body may lack vitality.

What illnesses or Ailments can Chinese Herbs be used for?

There are a multitude of ailments and illness for which Chinese herbs may be used, the length of treatment will depend entirely on the person and the stage or severity of there illness.

We all have seen crystals in some shape or form and admire the beauty of them but crystals can be used on a different level, they are said to posses a certain amount of healing power. Each crystal has different properties that are said to be beneficial in helping a certain condition or illness, crystals cannot cure the illness or disease but it is thought that they can help to ease the symptoms and bring a sense of relief.

Crystals are thought to work alongside our body’s “chakras” these are seven points in our body or “energy centres” that start at the head and align throughout the body down to the pubic bone. Each has a specific name and is associated with a certain part of the body.

Homeopathy is a complete system of health care based only on natural remedies and cures; it is thought to be over 200 years old and is one of many alternative treatments which are becoming increasingly popular. A wide variety of illnesses can be helped both physical and emotional for it is based on a system that gets to the root of the problem.

Homeopathy is different from traditional medicine in that when you have an illness you would go to your doctor and he or she would prescribe a particular medicine to ease those symptoms.

Macrobiotics is a complete health care system based on diet it is said that this system can be the cure for a variety of illnesses including cancer. Macrobiotics is based on the principle that what we eat affects our whole being and our place in the universe.

By choosing this holistic lifestyle you begin to discover your place in life and you begin to see food in a totally different way, everything you eat can have a healing influence in your life rather than be just something that you put into your mouth automatically when you feel hunger pangs.

Most of us will have experienced how music can change the way we feel, coming home after a particularly stressful day at work, or having put the children to bed and now you have some time to yourself you put some classical music on the stereo and just sit back and relax. Music can also be used as part of therapy in a wide variety of different circumstances and with different people; this therapy can be not only by listening but also playing and singing.

You by no means have to become an expert it doesn’t mean that you will have to learn a particular instrument but rather patients are encourage to use a variety of instruments such as percussion.

Reflexology as with most alternative treatments to come from China is based on the body’s energy channels or meridian channels, the therapy is based on the principal that there are certain points on the bottom of the foot that represent certain organs in the body.

The right foot relates to the right side of the body and the left foot the left side, gentle massage pressure to the feet with the hands is thought to trigger the nervous system which then triggers the brain to send signals to the various internal organs.

Meditation is a simple technique that practically anyone can learn, it has a multitude of benefits on both the mind and body when practised on a regular basis for 15 to 20 minutes morning and evening. It is by no means a cure for any specific illness but medication can help to bring about a sense of general wellbeing and relaxation which can co exist with more traditional therapy’s and medication.

What Is Transcendental Meditation?

Meditation can be learned by anyone of any age, it is simply allowing the body and mind to reach a state of total peace, and this is achieved by sitting in a comfortable position with your eyes closed and allowing your mind and body to relax totally but still remain alert.

Acupuncture is thought to help a wide variety of illnesses and ailments, some of which include anxiety and stress, back problems, asthma, arthritis, circulatory problems, high blood pressure, skin conditions and ulcers.

Acupuncture is thought to be safe for people of all ages and is thought to be particularly useful in the relief of pain during childbirth also throughout pregnancy.