Alternative medicine classified into 5 broad categories

Filed under: Medicine

Alternative medicine “any healing practice” that does not fall within the scope of traditional medicine, or anything that has not been shown consistently to be effective. “They fall into 5 broad categories of the National Center for free and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).

This article describes this alternative medicines and their components.

1. Alternative medical systems – a system built on the “The combination of theory and practice” and is basically an alternative type of medicine do not come from Western countries. This is a traditional Chinese medicine, Tibetan medicine, homeopathy, ayurveda, acupuncture, Native American methods of treatment, and naturopathy.

2. Mind Body intervention – used in conjunction with traditional medical system, this type of approach, medical treatment for health, although psychological and behavioral, social and religious practices. They draw attention to the ability to influence the type of body healing. This is yoga, hypnosis, meditation, music therapy, prayer therapy, humor therapy, dance therapy, guided imagery and biofeedback.

3. Manipulative and methods based on the body – the treatment is based on the manipulation of body movements. A sound knowledge of anatomy is mandatory. This is the Trager approach, massage therapy, chiropractic, reflexology, Rolfing, acupressure, Alexander technique and the therapeutic relationship.

4. Biologically based therapy – an alternative type of medicine uses methods and products (eg, plant and animal derived extracts) derived from nature to help heal. This is a dietary supplements, orthomolecular medicine, herbal products, diet and megavitamins.

5. Energy Therapy – She refers to “various alternative and complementary treatments based on the use, modification or manipulation of energy fields.” This is therapeutic Touch, Reiki, pulsed fields, magnetic fields, Oi Gong and AC.

Although alternative medicines and treatments abound with criticism from the usual medical practice in relation to the diversification of methods of treatment and some time non-Western, they are widely used for medicinal purposes.