Alternative medicine offers a broad-based, proactive approach to promote wellness and healing. It’s a wide-lens view of overall health rather than the narrow, reactive approach that characterizes our current mainstream healthcare system. Wellness Practitioners can include:
- Chiropractors
- Osteopaths
- Naturopaths
- Acupuncture
- Chinese Medicine Tibetan or Ayurveda
Services
Alternative medicine draws on multiple sources to treat patients:
- nutritional therapy
- key supplements
- relaxation techniques
- a combination of treatments
Alternative medicine can work in conjunction with conventional methods. The idea is to achieve true healing and wellness in the patient – not just treat symptoms.
Complementary and alternative medicine therapies fall into five major categories:
- Alternative Medical Systems
- Mind-Body Interventions
- Manipulative and Body-Based Methods
- Energy Therapies
- Biologically Based Therapies
Preparation
- Alternative therapy should be discussed with your current physician.
- Check with your health insurance company for alternative wellness coverage.
- Complete a comprehensive list of your existing prescription and non prescription medications.
- Identify all known allergies.
- Find out from your medical doctor the upcoming path, and if alternative healing is compatible with the ongoing treatment plan
Evaluation
- What are the risks associated with this alternative therapy?
- What benefits can be expected from this alternative therapy?
- Is this therapy part of a clinical trial?
- Will the therapy interfere with conventional treatment?
- Ask basic questions about their credentials and practice.
- Where did they receive their training?
- How much will the treatment cost?
- Will the therapy be covered by health insurance?