If you are considering taking alternative medicine or therapy then you should of course give it some thought, learn as much as you can on the subject and take advice from your Doctor. This is especially so if you are thinking of dropping any current treatments you may be having in favour of alternative ones.

Having said this taking alternative treatment alongside any existing medication prescribed is the best course of action providing your Doctor or health care worker agrees. There can be many benefits to going the alternative way; here are just some of them.

Alternative medicine can bring about a feeling of being in charge of your own life and medical aspects. It can make you think you are doing instead of being told to do. However, it is essential that you find out as much information about your particular illness and what alternative medicine can do for you before making any decisions.

If you are seriously considering taking the step into alternative medicine for a serious illness then it is important that you work with your Doctor every step of the way by informing them of any treatment or medication that you may have started, which is considered to be alternative medicine.

This is especially so if you are going to continue taking medication and treatment prescribed by your Doctor or hospital. Many Doctors and hospitals are now giving more credence to alternative medicine and therapies, where once they would have turned their nose up at the idea, in fact some now use them alongside treatment as routine.

If you are going to be taking a treatment such as acupuncture then it is essential that you find a practitioner that has a license. While acupuncture done in the right hands can be very beneficial to your health, if performed wrongly it can have adverse effects on your health and make the initial problem much worse.

Do a little research online into the background of the particular type of treatment you are thinking of going for, a simple search using one of the webs popular search engines will give you access to a vast amount of information.

You should also look into the safety aspect of the type of treatment you are intending to use, for instance if you are thinking of trying herbal remedies then look into the pros and cons of taking herbal supplements.

Also take care where you buy them, there are a vast amount of online stores selling herbal remedies without the background to support their products. While herbal remedies are considered to be safe some of them do have side effects and are not to be taken in certain circumstances.

Ayurveda is based on theories of illness and health and focuses on ways to prevent, treat and manage illness and problems. Being a total health care system it focuses on bringing together the mind, body and spirit and is thus classed by some as being a holistic form of medicine. The basis behind this theory is that if the mind and body is contented and happy then illness simply won’t exist.

While the main aim of Ayurvedic medicine is to prevent illness, it is also used to treat and deal with problems; these can be physical or mental problems with the aim behind it to cleanse the body of substances which have caused the illness or disease in the first place.

The major beliefs of Ayurvedic medicine

When it comes to health and disease those who practise Ayurvedic medicine look into many things when making a diagnosis regarding an illness or problem, they take into account the person’s lifestyle, attitude, health in the past and the world around them.

There is a belief that everything in the world whether it is living or not living affects us and is joined. Within every human there are elements that are contained in the universe and when first born everyone is in harmony with the universe. It is when there becomes an unbalance with the body and the universe, either physically, emotionally or a combination that illness shows.

Therefore illness and disease only occurs if there is disharmony within the person’s environment, while if there is harmony then the mind and body will be as one and the health will remain good.

The person’s constitution

The person’s constitution is taken into account in this form of alternative medicine, it refers to the person’s general state of health and how susceptible they are to illness and disease. The person’s constitution is made up of physical and physiological characteristics, these are influenced by such things as the body’s digestive system and how they are able to get rid of waste matter.

The constitution is made up of three parts which according to Ayurvedic medicine are called “doshas”. The three doshas control the human body, the doshas relate to elements space, air, fire, water and earth and each relate to a particular area within the body and bodily functions and they can be upset for a wide range of reasons.

Each individual has their own balance of the three doshas and usually one of them is more prominent. The doshas are continually changing throughout the course of the day depending on the foods that are eaten, activity taken and bodily processes.

How is the person’s dosha balance determined?

The practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine will thoroughly question the person to determine which of the three doshas is the more prominent. The consultation will rely on observation, touch, advisement and an examination.

The examination consists of checking the patient’s urine, stool, tongue, the body’s sounds, eyes, skin, appearance and questions will be asked regarding the lifestyle. This will help to determine the most prominent dosha and then treatment will be determined on restoring the balance of the doshas.

Where to find a good practitioner

You could start off by asking your Doctor or physiotherapist for advice and the names and telephone numbers of qualified practitioners, failing this many hospitals and health care centres have listings of those who practise various forms of alternative medicine. The most popular forms such as acupuncture and massage therapy won’t be too hard to find, while others may take a little searching out.

Looking online is also a great idea, the internet gives you access to a huge range of information regarding the various options for alternative medicine? Here you will be able to find almost any organisation you could wish for, with information and telephone numbers of clinics and practitioners.

Choosing a practitioner – what to ask

Once you have found a few practitioners for the type of treatment you are looking for, then the next thing you will have to do is choose one. Of course this can be difficult if there are many to choose from, here are some tips to help you choose the right practitioner.

Make an appointment and ask the practitioner about their qualifications and how long they have worked in the field. Ask to see any licenses and certificates to back up any claims they make and ask where they got their education from.

Ask the practitioner how many times they have treated similar cases to yours and the outcome of the cases they were involved in, did they have a good success rate?

Make sure you know what the cost will be and what is included for it, for example is the quote for an hours treatment and does the cost include any extras such as medication.

Find out if your choice of alternative medicine is covered by your insurance. Many private health care schemes will now include alternative treatments and therapies.

Ask how many sessions it is likely to take for the type of treatment you are asking for and when the sessions would be carried out.

Make sure you know what is included in the first assessment and any special requirements there would be before attending the assessment, such as not drinking or eating.

Most of all take notice of how you feel in the presence of the practitioner. Are they someone you feel totally at ease with, or does the practitioner make you feel uneasy?

Ask to look around the clinic; this is especially wise if the treatment you are planning to take could include staying for a period of time in a clinic or hospital.

Once you have made a choice and an appointment then make sure that you fully understand the type of treatment involved and what you should or should not do on the day.

A good practitioner will give you all the details in writing along with any information they think you might need.

Basically any form of healing which is not by traditional methods can be classed as alternative or complementary medicine. It is a form which is widely used in hospitals, care home and rehabilitation centres in many forms and is used in the treatment of a wide variety of ailments, diseases and illnesses.

Although used alongside many traditional forms of medicine many of the alternative therapies and medicines have no evidence suggesting that they actually work or that they don’t. Still millions of people throughout the world claim that alternative medicine does work and as such there are many specialist shops which sell and teach alternative treatments, remedies and techniques.

Is there any difference between alternative and complementary medicine?

In the majority of cases alternative medicine is used to replace more traditional medicine, for example someone who has cancer would try an alternative form of medicine or therapy instead of opting for surgery or chemotherapy.

Complementary medicine on the other hand is used alongside traditional medicine, for example a patient might take aromatherapy after they have had stressful surgery as a way to help them relax more easily or someone might have acupuncture as a way of relieving pain following surgery.

The major types of alternative and complementary medicines

Alternative and complimentary medicines can be divided into different types; these are whole medical systems and mind-body medicine. Practises which are defined as biological based, manipulative and energy medicine.

Whole medical systems are classed as such as homeopathic medicine, naturopathic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. They are complete sytems of medicine combined of theory and practise.

Mind-body medicine uses the mind to enhance body functions and symptoms and therefore reduce the symptoms associated with many illnesses.

Biological practises focus on the use of herbs, flowers, and plant material and dietary supplements.

Manipulative and body movements relies on the manipulation of body parts such as the feet, spine and hands to realign the joints and muscles.

Energy medicine relies on the use of manipulating the energy fields usually by way of magnets.

Some of the most popular forms of alternative and complementary medicine

Most of us will have heard of at least one form of alternative medicine and in some cases perhaps not even associated it as being as form of medicine. Acupuncture for instance is a relatively well known form and one of the most popular ones which forms part of the system of traditional Chinese medicine.

Aromatherapy is perhaps the next most known form, and is one which can be used in everyday situations. Following this is chiropractic, which is form of whole medical system and traditional Chinese medicine which has been around for thousands of years.