Although many Americans once scoffed at untraditional healing practices, a good deal of people are now dipping their toes into this trend. Holistic healing practices—aka alternative medicine—are any form of healing or medicine that is not deemed "traditional" by Western standards. Some of these practices include hydrotherapy and Reiki. When used in tandem with Western medicine, they are called "complementary practices"—they are only considered "alternative" when used instead of Western medicine.
Every five years, the National Health Interview Survey assesses how Americans embrace complementary and holistic approaches. The most recent survey taken in 2012 indicates that similar to previous years, 33.2% of American adults use complementary health practices. However, this study did indicate a significant increase in out-of-pocket dollard spent on chiropractic and acupuncture, which suggests that Americans may be relying more and more on holistic practices than ever before.
This means that if you haven't gotten on the holistic bandwagon, it may be time to at least learn about your options. From treating anxiety to lower-back pain to tension headaches, these practices have been called natural cure-alls. Scroll through to find out more about nine of the top holistic healing practices and how they may help you.
Every five years, the National Health Interview Survey assesses how Americans embrace complementary and holistic approaches. The most recent survey taken in 2012 indicates that similar to previous years, 33.2% of American adults use complementary health practices. However, this study did indicate a significant increase in out-of-pocket dollard spent on chiropractic and acupuncture, which suggests that Americans may be relying more and more on holistic practices than ever before.
This means that if you haven't gotten on the holistic bandwagon, it may be time to at least learn about your options. From treating anxiety to lower-back pain to tension headaches, these practices have been called natural cure-alls. Scroll through to find out more about nine of the top holistic healing practices and how they may help you.
ACUPUNCTURE
Chances are you've had a co-worker or friend who has suffered from such terrible headaches that they've gone to get acupuncture—and now swear by it. The process of using needles to stimulate key areas of the body to release energy was actually founded in China many years ago. A 2005 study in the British Medical Journal found that the use of acupuncture was actually able to reduce the number of tension headaches in patients by almost one half. The treatment is also more generally thought to help ease chronic pain, especially in cancer patients when used in conjunction with other therapies.
ACUPRESSURE
In this treatment, an expert applies pressure from their fingertips on certain points on the body similar to that in acupuncture. A 2011 study's findings showed that along with other treatments, acupressure was effective in treating those with mild traumatic brain injury. In this particular study, a type of treatment called jin shin was used in which there are acupressure pressure points along the meridians through the body that are linked with energy pathways. It's believed that different meridians are attached to different organs and body parts, including the brain.
"When there is a traffic jam in Denver that causes adverse effects as far away as Boulder, clearing the energy blocks, or in this case traffic jams, helps improve flow and overall health," says Theresa Hernandez, the head author of the study. After studying 38 test subjects, Hernandez and the rest of the team found that those with a minor brain injury who were treated with acupressure did significantly better on memory-related tests.
In this treatment, an expert applies pressure from their fingertips on certain points on the body similar to that in acupuncture. A 2011 study's findings showed that along with other treatments, acupressure was effective in treating those with mild traumatic brain injury. In this particular study, a type of treatment called jin shin was used in which there are acupressure pressure points along the meridians through the body that are linked with energy pathways. It's believed that different meridians are attached to different organs and body parts, including the brain.
"When there is a traffic jam in Denver that causes adverse effects as far away as Boulder, clearing the energy blocks, or in this case traffic jams, helps improve flow and overall health," says Theresa Hernandez, the head author of the study. After studying 38 test subjects, Hernandez and the rest of the team found that those with a minor brain injury who were treated with acupressure did significantly better on memory-related tests.
Read The Rest of Article Here: The Beginner's Guide to Alternative Medicine—and Exactly How It Works
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