Contemporary healing techniques have grown popular throughout the years. These methods deviate from the treatments medical practitioners offer. Alternative healing mainly revolves around the idea that the body heals itself naturally, and these methods are just supplementing the process.
Here are some well-known alternative therapeutic techniques widely used throughout the globe.
1. Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis or hypnotherapy is a process where a person is put in a trance-like state to increase their consciousness and focus. Several hypnotic methods are used in hypnotherapy like the quantum healing hypnosis technique. This approach aims for a person to have a better understanding of their selves for them to heal.
Hypnotherapy could also be beneficial for people battling stress and anxiety. This therapy could help a person attain control of their behavior. It’s also suggested as a helpful way to manage phobias, addictions, and anger.
2. Ayurvedic Medicine
Ayurvedic medicine or Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system that incorporates a healthy lifestyle practice to prevent or cure illnesses. It’s a holistic approach that uses medicinal plants and minerals to maintain and improve health.
Indians use Ayurveda to renew the balance in the body. They believe that it doesn’t only cure physical ailments, but also alters a person’s lifestyle to enhance their well-being. Ayurvedic medicine also emphasizes the importance of a proper diet in treating diseases and maintaining a balanced body.
3. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese practice that involves the insertion of thin needles on specific parts of the body. Those parts are called acupuncture points. This method is commonly used for relieving pain.
The goal of acupuncture is to help the flow of the body’s energy called ‘chi’ by triggering the acupuncture points. Most acupuncture enthusiasts believe that this process releases the natural hormone endorphins which may result in better blood flow in the body.
4. Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a healing method that involves the sense of smell. It uses essential oils derived from plant extracts. The scent from these oils is believed to have beneficial effects on humans. Aromatherapists find that sensing the aroma from the oil may help people relax, improve their sleep, and relieve pain.
Aside from the sense of smell, aromatherapy also functions through skin assimilation. Products such as diffusers, inhalers, bathing salts, body oils, creams, and lotions can be used for aromatherapy. These products are widely available online. Aromatherapy at Kumi has bundles that come with essential oils and diffusers in one.
5. Bowen technique
This technique developed by Thomas Bowen is believed to change the body’s reaction to pain. It involves some physical contact where the therapist gently stretches the tissue which surrounds the organs and muscles.
Some people consider the Bowen approach as a type of massage rather than a treatment method. But Bowen therapists claim that this could be used to treat several ailments to relieve the body from pain and improve bodily functions.
6. Homeopathy
Homeopathy was first practiced in Germany during the late 1700s with the belief that the body could heal itself. Homeopathic doctors, also called homeopaths, use watered-down natural substances for their treatment.
They believe that substances diluted in water are more effective than the original substance. They also claim that a diluted mixture is less likely to cause undesirable effects because of the weakened dose of the substance.
7. Massage
Massage therapy has been one of the foremost strategies to ease body pain. It has been carried out in both Eastern and Western cultures. This therapy incorporates different methods to enhance health and wellness.
Massage uses hand skills to handle the body’s soft tissues. Various massage styles involve different hand stroke techniques. It varies from long and smooth strokes to small and stark ones.
Here are some popular massage techniques according to their style:
• Swedish Massage: long, soft, and kneading strokes
• Deep Tissue Massage: slow and deliberate strokes
• Shiatsu Massage: rhythmic pressure on different points of the body
• Hot Stone Massage: use of warmed stones for heat transmission
• Aromatherapy Massage: soft and gentle pressure with the help of essential oils
• Sports Massage: full-body massage with deep pressure
• Reflexology: focuses on pressure points like the feet, ears, and hands
• Prenatal Massage: specially dedicated to pregnant women
• Chair Massage: focuses on the back, shoulders, and neck.
8. Reiki
Reiki is a therapy that originated in Japan in the late 1800s. The word Reiki was derived from two Japanese words, ‘rei’ which means universal, and ‘kei’ meaning life energy. This therapy revolves around the concept that humans have a ‘life force energy’ circulating the body. It’s thought that when the energy is low, it leads to illness.
This therapy aims to cure the body through energy healing. It’s believed that the energy from the therapist’s hands could be transferred to the patient’s body through the laying of hands. Practitioners claim that Reiki could help the body heal naturally.
9. Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a health system that started in China centuries ago. TCM is based on two central ideas, ‘yin’ which is the negative, and ‘yang’ the positive. Chinese believes that well-being comes from the balance of yin and yang.
TCM consists of several techniques to keep the balance of the body and promote good health. This may include the following:
• Tui Na: therapeutic massage closely related to acupuncture
• Cupping: using heated cups to suction the skin to create a vacuum
• Gua Sha: a folk medicine method of scraping the skin to release toxins
• Chinese Herbs: a combination of plant parts used as treatment. May come in the forms of tea, capsule, or extract
• Tai Chi: a Chinese exercise that focuses on breathing and slow movements
10. Yoga
Yoga therapy is designed to improve self-awareness through physical and spiritual practices. Several studies suggest that yoga could help alleviate signs of depression and anxiety. This strategy involves mindfulness, meditation, and breathing exercises.
Several types of yoga cater to different physical needs. Here are some popular types according to their styles:
• Hatha: creating balance through physical posture
• Bikram: yoga is done in a hot, sauna-like room
• Iyengar: focuses on precise and detailed movements
Final Point
Though licensed practitioners conduct most of these therapies, these alternatives lack scientific research to back their claims. Be careful in engaging in these therapies. Always consult licensed practitioners before trying these contemporary styles of healing.
