Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
| | A | | | B | | | C | | | D | | | E | | | F | | | G | | | H | | | I | | | J | | | K | | | L | | | M | |
| | N | | | O | | | P | | | Q | | | R | | | S | | | T | | | U | | | V | | | W | | | X | | | Y | |
How does it work? of Complementary therapies
Some of the most popular complementary therapies are:
Acupuncture Derived from traditional Chinese healing, acupuncture uses needles to stimulate the function of the organs (meridians), through 500 acupuncture points on the skin. The needles used are 4-25mm long and are left in place for about 30 minutes. The technique causes a tingling sensation and can be very relaxing, bringing about a feeling of extreme energy after the treatment is finished. Acupuncture is most often used for headaches, migraines, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, backache, circulatory problems, depression, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia syndrome, infertility, menstrual problems, sciatica, skin conditions and peptic ulcers.
Aromatherapy uses plant oils (known as essential oils) to improve emotional and physical problems. Essential oils are extracted from all parts of the plant and distilled to become concentrated. They can be bought over-the-counter and claim to have one or more of the following properties:-sedative, calming, stimulating, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiseptic, analgesic (pain relief), and decongestant.
Essential oils can be added to bath water, dropped onto a tissue or handkerchief, added to a vaporiser, or used in massage lotions. Essential oils can also be found in many common over-the-counter remedies such as cold and flu medicines. Some examples of this are eucalyptus, peppermint and camphor oil.
Chiropractic Chiropractors use manual techniques to diagnose, treat and prevent mechanical disorders of the spine, joints and muscles. Treatment consists of physical manipulation known as adjustments. These movements are thought to re-align the spine and other skeletal structures. They may also have some effect on the nervous system, releasing the body's natural healing ability. Chiropractic is regulated by an act of parliament.
Herbal medicine is closest to modern orthodox medicine, and many traditional drugs such as aspirin are derived from plants. Herbal medicines are used in combinations to create specific treatments for individual patients. For example, a treatment for eczema may contain one or more herbs that work to relieve the symptoms, as well as other ingrediants that treat the cause of the condition. There are three types of herbal therapies commonly used in the UK:- Western herbal medicine, Chinese herbal medicine, and Ayurvedic medicine (from India). Herbal therapy is commonly used for migraine, arthritis, respiratory, circulatory and digestive disorders, skin conditions, mild depression, insomnia, cystitis, PMS and menopausal problems. Herbal medicine can be bought over-the-counter from health food shops and pharmacies or can be made up on an individual basis by qualified herbalists.
Homeopathy is based on the ‘law of similars’; the theory that the symptoms of a condition are signs that the body is trying to cure itself. Therefore, tiny, highly diluted amounts of substances creating the same or similar symptoms of the condition are administered to encourage the body’s self-healing efforts. Homeopathic treatments are most often prescribed in tiny tablets made of sugar. They are also available in granule, powder or liquid form. They should be placed under the tongue using a spoon or special dispensing container and sucked or chewed, but not swallowed whole. They can be bought over-the-counter at pharmacies and health food shops.
Massage therapy is the stroking and kneading of the body’s soft tissue to promote a feeling of relaxation and stimulate circulation. The skin is the largest organ in the body and the second layer of the skin (the dermis) has thousands of receptors that respond to external stimuli such as heat, cold, pain and pressure. Other forms of therapy such as physiotherapy, are derived from massage techniques. Massage works by stimulating the skin’s receptors to trigger the release of endorphins (natural chemicals that make you feel good). As well as calming and relaxing, massage can help to prevent pressure sores in bedridden patients. There are a number of different massage techniques, including:- classical/Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, manual lymph drainage, Hellerwork and rolfing (extreme deep tissue massage), Eastern massage (including Shiatsu and acupressure), Reiki (Japanese energy healing), Marma massage (part of Ayurvedic therapy), and, Thai massage (combination of Chinese and Ayurvedic massage).
Hypnotherapy Hypnotherapists encourage their patients to achieve an extreme state of relaxation, when it is possible for them to communicate directly with the subconscious mind. Some NHS doctors such as psychotherapists, psychologists and dentists, perform hypnotherapy, in order to help patients to relax and to relieve anxiety about medical procedures. Hypnotherapy is most often used to overcome phobias such as vertigo, to break habits such as smoking or bedwetting, and to relieve conditions with stress-related causes such as eczema and panic attacks. The therapy usually begins with relaxation techniques and progresses into deeper trance-like states with visualisation techniques. The hypnotherapist will bring you back to a normal state of consciousness at the end of the session.
Osteopathy is a technique that diagnoses and treats problems with your bones and musclesthrough manual manipulation of the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments and tendons. Osteopaths identify imbalances in the muscular-skeletal system that may cause problems in the nervous system. Osteopathy is most commonly used to diagnose and treat conditions such as backache, neck pain, joint pain and arthritis, sciatica, sports injuries and repetitive strain injury (RSI), headaches, insomnia, depression, menstrual pain, digestive disorders and asthma.
Yoga is a technique used in the Indian healing system, Ayurveda. Yoga is a series of gentle exercises, designed to achieve balance between the body and mind. It is best taught by qualified instructors and encourages physical suppleness and flexibility, improves breathing and blood flow, and helps prevent anxiety and stress-related problems. The most common type of yoga practised in the UK is Hatha yoga. Yoga therapy uses specific posture positions for individual problems, although all classes will begin with very gentle warm-up exercises and end with exercises designed to help the body to cool down. Ideally, participants will finish the class in a state of complete relaxation of the body and mind.
Other complementary therapies include:
the Alexander technique, autogenic therapy, Bach flower remedies, biofeedback, colour therapy, craniosacral therapy, creative therapies, kinesiology, magnet therapy, meditation, naturopathy, nutritional therapy, qigong / chi kung, reflexology, relaxation and breathing, t'ai chi, Tibetan medicine, and visualisation.
