Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) offer a different approach to conventional or mainstream medicine. Complementary therapies take a holistic approach to care. This means that you are supported as a whole person, incorporating physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Many complementary therapies concentrate on boosting relaxation and reducing stress. They may help to calm your emotions, relieve anxiety, and increase your general sense of health and well-being. The therapies are designed to work alongside and not intended in any way to replace any conventional medication you have been prescribed by your GP. Although, you may become less reliant on prescribed medication over time depending on your chosen treatment and how your body adjusts to alternative therapy.
Alternative medicine:
In place of conventional medicine. An example of an alternative therapy is using a special diet to treat cancer instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has been recommended by a conventional doctor. Although please bear in mind, doctors are not trained in Complementary or Alternative therapies, therefore this may not always be the case. You may need to research or try out a range of alternative therapies before you know what works for you.
Integrative medicine is an approach to medical care that combines conventional medicine with CAM practices that have shown through science to be safe and effective. Integrative health also emphasises multimodal interventions, which are two or more interventions such as conventional health care approaches (like medication, physical rehabilitation, counselling), and complementary health approaches (like massage, yoga, and nutrition) in various combinations, with an emphasis on treating the whole person rather than, for example, one organ system. Integrative health aims for well-coordinated care among different providers and institutions by bringing conventional and complementary approaches together to care for the whole person.
Complementary/alternative therapies can help you feel better, but they won’t cure major illnesses. It’s important to also pursue conventional medical care and medical emergencies, you should always seek advice from your GP.
A holistic approach to health is essential to address the leading cause of the problem. It takes everything into account from nutrition, lifestyle, symptoms and signs of an illness in the body and mind and encourages people to take charge of their health and well-being. In doing so you may be able to prevent and find long term solutions for existing illnesses.
Holistic healthcare recognises the connection and balance between physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. It looks at the interaction between different conditions and wellbeing factors to treat a whole person.
The modern Western Holistic movement began in the 1960s as people thought modern medicine as people thought modern medicine focused too much on drugs and medical technology for diagnosing and treating diseases. There was a growing desire for a healthcare approach that felt more natural and empathetic, which is precisely what holistic therapy offers.
These sentiments persist today. With prolonged waiting times for conventional medical treatments and apprehension about the future of mainstream healthcare due to budget cuts, many individuals are turning to holistic therapy as an alternative.
For some, holistic therapy complements traditional medical treatments to manage chronic conditions, while for others, it serves as their primary form of treatment. Regardless of how it is utilised, holistic therapies have shown promise in alleviating various health concerns and supporting overall well-being across different stages of life. Holistic therapy can be personalised to meet individual needs and preferences, empowering patients to take charge of their healthcare decisions.
Complementary therapies are viewed as safe, gentle or natural. However, this does not mean that they may not have their own side effects, and this is why it is advisable to only use experienced and qualified therapists. Your therapist will ask you questions about your health and lifestyle prior to commencing any treatment and they will also monitor your response to your chosen therapy.
Some of the more popular complementary therapies include: