Acupressure
Used for thousands of years in China, acupressure applies the same principles as acupuncture to promote relaxation and wellness and to treat disease. Sometimes called
Alternative Health Modalities
The Circle of Qi Tribe is committed to educating our guests and friends of the modalities that make up our tribe.
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The terms “alternative,” “complementary,” and “integrative health” are often conflated, but they have different meanings. “Alternative therapies are used to describe health and medical treatments that rely on the body’s innate healing power,” says Tabatha Parker, ND, the director of education at the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine in La Jolla, California. “Such therapies, which are rooted in global healing traditions, are designed to promote health, prevent illness, and raise awareness of disease conditions without the use of conventional medications and interventions.” Though there are many therapies that fit into this category when used in isolation from conventional medicine, a few examples are acupuncture with a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, traditionally and culturally used herbs and supplements, and energy practices like reiki.
As for how alternative and complementary therapies differ, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes that if one of these nonmainstream therapies is used together with conventional Western medicine, it’s complementary.right up arrow If used in place of conventional medicine, it’s considered alternative.
Previously, the common terminology was “complementary and alternative medicine,” and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other academic groups have shifted toward the use of “integrative” and “complementary health” approaches and therapies instead.
Parker considers “integrative health” a more modern terminology. “[It’s] inclusive of all providers and healing traditions that integrate science with holistic approaches,” she says. Integrative medicine focuses on treating the whole person with coordinated care across various conventional and complementary medicine providers.
Are Alternative and Complementary Approaches Safe?
Generally, yes, when they are provided by a trained practitioner, but it’s critical to see a licensed and certified professional. These qualifications vary by state and type of practitioner.right up arrow Before making an appointment with a provider, the NCCIH recommends understanding what your state requires in terms of certifications or licensing and using that as a guide when speaking to a professional about their education, training, and qualifications. They should also be willing to work with your primary care provider.
That said, there is a difference in safety depending on what therapy you’re using, says Susan Gaylord, PhD, a research associate professor and the director of the Program on Integrative Medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. For instance, it’s unlikely you can harm yourself by practicing mindfulness, but other approaches, such as taking supplements or herbs, could be harmful if not done under the guidance of a licensed practitioner. Some, like trying a detox or cleanse, can be dangerous.
“To be safe, it’s best if you can coordinate your care with a doctor who is trained in conventional medicine techniques and is also very knowledgeable about other therapies, or works with someone who is,” Dr. Gaylord says. It’s important to have a primary care provider or internal medicine doctor who can aid in diagnosis and watch for things like side effects and medication interactions. Remember that “natural” doesn’t always equal safe or free of harm, which is why it’s so important to see someone who carries the required certifications or licenses in your state.
Potential Benefits
Some therapies, such as acupuncture, have a body of research behind them and are becoming more a part of conventional medicine. Others do not. “Many of these practices don’t have the standard of research that we often come to expect from conventional medicine,” says Mary Guerrera, MD, a professor and the director of integrative medicine in the department of family medicine at the University Connecticut School of Medicine in Mansfield. Some of this is due to funding, she says. Other reasons, according to research, include a lack of well-qualified complementary and alternative medicine researchers, negative bias about this type of research, and reluctance from those in the complementary and alternative space to conduct mainstream research.
However, that doesn’t mean they’re not effective.
Each therapy has its own set of potential benefits versus risks, like every conventional therapy and medicine. For example, according to Parker, “meditation or acupuncture can help patients better manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life by reducing fatigue, pain, and anxiety.” By using therapies that “support the body’s healing,” she says, people may have fewer side effects.
If you’re interested in complementary and alternative health approaches, speak with your primary care physician about your goals for treatment or general well-being, and the therapies that you’d like to incorporate into your care. They can talk to you about the benefits (or help you research these) or refer you to someone who can (like a board-certified integrative medicine practitioner).
Alternative or Integrated Health Modalities
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Sometimes it’s called essential oil therapy.
Breathwork
Breathwork encompasses various techniques that incorporate intentional use of the breath. Basically, you can learn to regulate the flow of breath to balance the body and mind.
Channeling
Channeling is a natural form of communication between humans and angelic beings, nature spirits, non-physical entities, spirit guides, ascended masters, and beings in spiritual realms, or even animals and pets.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic Therapy is a healthcare profession that cares for a patient’s neuromusculoskeletal system — the bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. A chiropractor helps manage
Color Therapy
Colors have healing properties that can help treat psychological and physical wounds. Color therapy or chromotherapy is a holistic healing technique that, with the help
Crystal Therapy
Crystal healing is an alternative medicine technique that is supposed to tap into natural healing energy. Various crystals and minerals are placed on or around
Distance Healing
Distance healing is any form of healing energy “sent” across time and space that is received and has a healing effect on the recipient. With
Ear Coning
Ear candling, also called ear coning or thermal-auricular therapy, is a pseudoscientific alternative medicine practice claiming to improve general health and well-being by lighting one
Emotion Code Therapy
Emotion Code Therapy is a gentle, non-invasive and safe approach for emotional balance. The focus is on finding the trapped emotions and releasing them. Rather than focusing on the circumstances which caused the emotional imbalance. As you become more balanced, you’ll fee better, more at ease and happier!
Flower Essences
Flower therapy, or essence therapy, is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It’s based on the idea that flowers have a healing vibrational energy.
The practice uses flower essences, which are liquids infused with a flower’s energy. They’re also called flower remedies.
Healing Touch
Healing Touch is an “energy therapy” that uses gentle hand techniques thought to help re-pattern the patient’s energy field and accelerate healing of the body,
Herbology
Herbal medicine is the art and science of using plants to support health and wellness. Practiced since the beginning of time, herbal medicine has persisted as the world’s primary form of medicine with a written history dating back more than 5,000 years.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy Homeopathy is a medical system based on the belief that the body can cure itself. Those who practice it use tiny amounts of natural
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is any method that uses water to treat a variety of symptoms throughout your body.
Light Therapy
Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, is a treatment involving exposure to an artificial light source. The therapy primarily treats major depressive disorder (MDD) with
Lymphatic Therapy
Lymphatic drainage massage, also known as manual lymphatic drainage, relieves swelling that happens when medical treatment or illness blocks your lymphatic system. Lymphatic drainage massage
Magnet Therapy
Magnetic field therapy uses different kinds of magnets on the body to help boost your overall health. It may also help treat certain conditions. There
Meditation
Meditation has a long history of use for increasing calmness and physical relaxation, improving psychological balance, coping with illness, and enhancing overall health and well-being.
Naturopathy (Naturopathic Medicine)
Naturopathic medicine is a system that uses natural remedies to help the body heal itself. It embraces many therapies, including herbs, massage, acupuncture, exercise, and nutritional counseling.
Naturopathy was brought to the United States from Germany in the 1800s, but some of its treatments are centuries old. Today, it combines traditional treatments with some aspects of modern science.
Past Life Regression
Past Life Regression Past life regression is a technique that uses hypnosis to recover what practitioners believe are memories of past lives. It is thought
Psych-K® – Free Your Mind
Psych-K® – Free Your Mind PSYCH-K® is a holistic, therapeutic modality that uses western and ancient philosophies and methods in its processes and balances (muscle
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy (sometimes called “talk therapy”) is a term for a variety of treatment techniques that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behavior.
Rebirthing
Rebirthing is an alternative therapy technique used to treat reactive attachment disorder. This therapy uses a specific kind of breathing (breathwork) meant to help you release emotions.
Reiki
Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use.
Sacred Geometry and Your Chakras
What is a Platonic Solid? Named after Plato, a famous Greek philosopher and mathematician. They are special because every face is a regular polygon of
Sound Therapy
Sound healing therapy uses aspects of music to improve physical and emotional health and well-being. The person being treated partakes in the experience with a
Spiritual Counseling and its Benefits
Spiritual Counseling and its Benefits Spiritual counseling is a form of psychotherapy known for its tactful integration of spirituality with psychotherapeutic guidance and care. A
Tai Chi
Tai chi is often described as “meditation in motion,” but it might well be called “medication in motion.”
What is EFT & How Can if Help You Overcome Many Things
What is EFT & How Can if Help You Overcome Many Things What is EFT tapping? Emotional freedom technique (EFT) is an alternative treatment for
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Linda Fessenden-Butts, RN, BSN, CHTP
Linda Fessenden-Butts is a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner who practices Monday & Fridays at Ancient Wisdom Acupuncture and Wellness Center at 2171 Judicial Dr, Suite
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