Demystifying Complementary and Alternative Health Care

by Rebecca Liston, H.D., DSHomMed

As the owner of a wholistic health care centre, I am often asked about what it is that we actually do at our clinic. I find people are extremely curious about their health care options and yet good, reliable, and simple-to-understand information about these options is often difficult to obtain.

When you sit down to research your health care options, one problem that you may come up against is the terminology that is used. So here is a quick definition guide to some of the phrases that you have inevitably heard or read.

Wholistic:
a method of treatment that assesses and addresses the patient as a whole being, meaning that consideration is given to physical symptoms, mental state, and emotional well-being in determining the course of treatment. Patients are seen as individuals - real people - not just a disease or collection of symptoms.

Natural:
here’s a term to be wary of because many people use this term loosely and incorrectly. In actuality, it should refer to a method of treatment that uses materials as they are found in nature itself which have not undergone any chemical processes (for example, the substances have not been radiated or had their molecular structure changed in any way.)

Complementary Medicine:
includes all health care options that can be used in conjunction with standard western medicine.

Alternative Medicine:
another phrase that is often misused. By definition, it refers to a form of medicine that cannot be used in conjunction with standard western medicine. The term “alternative medicine” has, in most circles, been replaced by the phrase “complementary medicine,” as most health care options can be used in conjunction with western medical practices.

Energy Medicine:
a range of therapies in which the practitioner uses subtle touch or holds specific points to find stagnations in the energy field in and around the body, harmonize the flow of energy through the body, and stimulate the body's innate healing capacity. Some types of energy work are Acupressure, Reiki, and Therapeutic Touch.

Once you get the “jargon” down, the next hurdle is deciding how to choose which form of complementary care is the best for you. Here are some of the more popular choices and a brief explanation of how they work.

Homeopathy:
a complete system of natural, wholistic medicine in which the medicines are prepared from plant, mineral, and animal sources according to specific, scientific principles.

Reflexology:
deep compression massage applied to the feet, hands, or head used to detect and release blocked energy in the organs and the rest of the body.

Reiki:
a form of energy work, it is the practice of transmitting healing energy through the hands to promote healing on all levels.

Therapeutic Touch:
a form of energy work, it is a consciously directed process of energy exchange during which the practitioner uses his or her hands as a focus for facilitating healing.

Acupressure:
literally "finger pressure," it is applied to specific pressure points on the body so that the body's tension and stress can be released. The body can then restore balance and heal itself on all levels.

While these definitions and explanations are extremely brief, I do hope that they have helped to demystify the field of complementary and alternative medicine. I hope that this column will encourage you to examine your options and ask the questions that need to be asked so that you can make the very best choices for your health.