Alternative Modalities - Natural Health Solutions

What is Alternative Medicine?

Alternative medicine is any health treatment that varies from traditional medical practices. The methods used sometimes act as complementary practices alongside more traditional medical treatments. Many alternative modalities (medical services)  eventually become mainstream as research studies provide documented proof under clinical testing of their effectiveness.

• Functional Medicine - A Functional Medicine Practitioner uses science to identify causes of symptoms.

• Holistic Medicine - Also called holistic healing, holistic means "to treat the body as a whole." This would include the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional aspects of a persons interest.

• Integrative Medicine - Combines traditional (surgery and drugs) and alternative treatments (chiropractic, yoga, acupuncture, massage, mediation, etc) for chronic and serious illness.

Alternative care can include newly discovered methods or may be a continuation of ancient practices. There are many alternative options available to patients today.

• Acupuncture
• Applied Kinesiology
• Biomagnetic Therapy
• Chiropractic Care
• Energy Therapies
• Heart Sound Recorder

Acupuncture

The ancient art of acupuncture is the alternative medicine option that is the most familiar to the public. Acupuncture uses the insertion of tiny needles into the body that become activated by movement or electrical pulses to boost the energy flow through the system.

The flow, or Qi, helps to improve overall health and works as a viable treatment for many conditions. Acupuncture can help with pain relief, allergies, and insomnia, among many other common patient complaints.

Applied Kinesiology

Created by Dr, George Goodheart Jr. in 1964, Applied Kinesiology combines the diagnosis of emotional, physical, and structural wellbeing to form treatment plans for better health.

Patients may often see the practice included with chiropractic care, but the techniques come from many medical services. Applied Kinesiology combines methods from psychology, naturopathy, dentistry, and osteopathic services, among many others.

Biomagnetic Therapy

Magnets have been used as a healing modality for centuries. It's also known as Biomagnetic Pair Therapy and Biomagnetism. The practice involves using medium powered magnets to adjust the north and south polarity.

The results are impressive. It restores homeostasis and proper PH, supports optimal organ function, reduces inflammation, helps the body stimulate detoxification, and can even help overcome emotional issues from the patient's memory. Organ function and inflammation are related to immune system issues.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors, along with Acupuncturist, are probably the most recognized fields of alternative medicine. Medical doctors treat musculoskeletal issues with medicine or surgery. Chiropractors are taught to help the body heal itself by manipulating the spine or affected area with applied force, recreating a natural alignment.

Chiropractic care is safe and well known to treat spine issues including back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, inflammatory arthritis, and chronic headaches or migraines.

Energy Therapies

Energy therapies can balance the energy in a patient or bring the patient more energy. The process can take place using external stimuli like light or magnets, or it could utilize touch. Energy therapies often use healing touch, like those of Reiki practitioners, to harness the power of the energy already surrounding the body to benefit the patient.

Many of these techniques are based on Asian practices with thousands of years of experience. Acupuncture, Yoga, and Qigong are other examples of energy therapies developed to restore energy balance.

Heart Sound Recorder

A heart sound recorder is an advanced and non-invasive option that records heart sounds to detect health conditions. The device offers the opportunity to hear the heart's tone and rhythm in response to stimuli to the body.

How the heart reacts to emotional, chemical, or nutritional stressors can help holistic practitioners find natural options for improving heart health. In many cases, these natural options include dietary changes and whole food supplementation. The heart is the first muscle to respond to nutrition.

Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine uses natural, botanical ingredients for supplementation. The supplements may come in tablets, powders, or pills or added to lotions or oils and used as a topical treatment.

People may use a single herbal product, or a combination of botanicals based on their needs. The flexibility of dosing and delivery methods make herbal supplements an endlessly customizable option for people searching for natural health solutions.

Holistic Healing

Holistic healing uses everything that affects humans to promote better overall health and increase its potential to heal. The process looks at anything that affects the body, mind, and spirit. Holistic healing incorporates techniques to counter negative influences and boost the positive.

Most practitioners focus their research on the five aspects of personal health that holistic healing addresses. The five categories include emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual, and physical health. Some professionals also evaluate the patient's environmental and financial health in their treatment plans.

Muscle Testing

By stimulating the muscular system, the users of muscle testing can gather biofeedback to determine what a patient needs to boost their health. The testing provides accurate feedback on the experiences of the body.

Using the results enables the practitioner to work with the patient to make changes to resolve multiple health concerns. The process can benefit those with physical or psychological complications. Pain reduction without the need for opioids is one of the benefits of muscular testing. Applies Kinesiology and Nutrition Response Testing are examples of muscle testing treatments.

Nutrition Response Testing

Nutrition Response Testing is an excellent example of alternative medicine because it focuses solely on individuals and their needs. A practitioner tests the entire body to find what is not optimally functioning and then seeks to find the cause.

Common concerns include food allergies or overexposure to chemicals or heavy metals in the air, water, or food. Once the practitioner identifies the problem, they can craft a custom plan that addresses the issue. The patient remains under regular monitoring to allow adaptions to their wellness directions as needed until they regain their health.

Whole Food Supplements

Whole food supplements are just as the implies. Dietary supplements made from whole foods instead of chemicals from a lab. Diet is such an important part of immune and gut health that holistic practitioners may often use this therapy to help their patients re-balance their bodies while they make dietary changes.

Whole food supplemention is easier than food shopping, cooking and preparation, and eating fruits and vegetables at specific times of the day. Also, most practitioners will adjust the prescription based on your improvement. It is the most effective way to make dietary changes for well-being.