About alternative medicine

Many forms of alternative medicine are now becoming popular among many people. In essence, alternative medicine is already around and used by mankind long before the birth of conventional medicine. We are only now rediscovering and re  realizing the benefits and advantages of alternative medicine.

Alternative medicine is popular due to its simplicity and ability to provide cure for many ailments using cheaper and easier to use medicines and methods. For example, instead of going to the doctor to get a prescription for sleeping pills, you can instead use aromatherapy oils like lavender and chamomile that can induce a feeling of sleepiness during or after some relaxing massage.

Alternative medicine as already mentioned is most of the times more cost effective than conventional ways of healing. Herbalists would know that readily available kitchen spices such as onions, ginger and garlic can be used for treating common sicknesses like colds, fever and cough instead of OTC medicines. In fact, there are commercially available drugs that are plant based or are made using plants as main ingredients.

If you are one of those people who are somewhat afraid of surgeries and its side effects, you have another reason for preferring alternative means of healing. Some patients whose illnesses seem not to be detected or healed by conventional medicine seek alternative ways to cure their diseases.

In many forms of alternative healing, patients receive some really personal treatments from the alternative healer. Massage therapy for instance, not only will your tired muscles be massaged and conditioned but the masseuse can also help you in your goal towards wellness by encouraging you to be hopeful and following advised practices. Alternative medicine also works on balancing the body and mind and not just on a single area of the body which is affected by the illness. Yoga for example is not just about stretching the body but putting the mind and the body in balance and perfect harmony.

Medicine for diabetes

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, defines complementary and alternative medicine as a "group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine." Complementary medicine is used with conventional therapy, whereas alternative medicine is used instead of conventional medicine.

Some people with diabetes use complementary or alternative therapies to treat diabetes. Although some of these therapies may be effective, others can be ineffective or even harmful. Patients who use complementary and alternative medicine need to let their health care providers know what they are doing.

Some complementary and alternative medicine therapies are discussed below. For more information, talk with your health care provider.

Acupuncture is a procedure in which a practitioner inserts needles into designated points on the skin. Some scientists believe that acupuncture triggers the release of the body's natural painkillers. Acupuncture has been shown to offer relief from chronic pain. Acupuncture is sometimes used by people with neuropathy, the painful nerve damage of diabetes.

Biofeedback is a technique that helps a person become more aware of and learn to deal with the body's response to pain. This alternative therapy emphasizes relaxation and stress reduction techniques. 

Guided imagery is a relaxation technique that some professionals who use biofeedback do. With guided imagery, a person thinks of peaceful mental images, such as ocean waves. A person may also include the images of controlling or curing a chronic disease, such as diabetes. People using this technique believe their condition can be eased with these positive images.

About Complementary Medicine

Complementary Medicine is the use of natural therapy and medicines to restore and maintain health in addition to conventional medicine. Dating back to 420 B.C., around the time of Hippocrates, complementary medicine is also considered a practice beyond the realm of conventional modern medicine - naturopathy, chiropractic, Ayurvedic, homeopathy, acupuncture and so many other complementary medicine treatments are steadily in demand and on the rise. Because our bodies are composed of chemical and physical reactions, holistic practitioners affirm that illness is not directly caused by pathogens such as viruses or bacterium; instead is the consequence of the body's reaction (in an effort to shield and heal itself) to a pathogen.

Naturopathic and holistic doctors assist potential clients through complementary medicine by plainly alleviating symptoms of disease. Complementary medicine can treat most conditions like headaches, sore throats, flu and cold, indigestion, ear infections, dermatitis, urinary tract infections, sprains and strains. Some chronic conditions such as migraines, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, cancer, muscle-skeletal pain, depression, stress, and even pregnancy and childbirth may be treated with complementary medicine as well.

Complementary medicine teaches proper nutrition in conjunction with vitamin and mineral supplements. Plants and herbs are commonly used in alternative medicine to treat illness, as well as remedies produced from animals and minerals. Hydrotherapy and hypnotherapy are also utilized in complementary medicine for maximum benefits. All in all, complementary medicine improves mental, emotional, and physical health. It encourages psychic and spiritual growth, and an overwhelming sense of wellness.