Alternative Healing is not instead of
But rather working with other healing measures
Is Conventional Medicine really Alternative Medicine - modernised?
Where does Bio-Energy healing fit into all of this?
We are all familiar with the term "Alternative Medicine" or "Alternative Healing". Many believe it is a form of medicinal treatment departing from so-called "traditional" or "orthodox" scientific medicine practice. Alternative healing is one of the most natural treatments of illness and disease. Alternative healing methods have been in use since man first walked the earth.
It is however more accurate to describe "Alternative" as "Complementary" since it complements our modern medical form of treatment, and of course both complementary and modern conventional medicine both play a major role in our everyday health today. The basic ingredients of most of the drugs prescribed today originate from herbs and plants which in their original form have been used for thousands of years since man first discovered their natural healing abilities.
Conventional orthodox medicine also uses as its basis for healing many of the oldest forms of healing methods known to man - namely herbs, which now forms the basis of many of the prescribed drugs now used today extensively by the pharmaceutical industry.
Science can now show that herbs, plants, and herbal essences have a vibratory rate which brings about the healing effect at a vibrational level in the body. Herbs create their healing affect with subtle specific vibrating frequencies which trigger the body´s own healing processes at a chemical level. The chemical activity itself is activated by electrical impulses and vibratory frequencies at their cellular level. Modern medical diagnostic equipment such as Ultrasound etc works on the creation of vibratory frequencies or sound waves.
Alternative healing methods work on the fundamental basis of vibration. Our bodies vibrate. Our cells vibrate. And when we are sick or diseased it is again vibratory dysfunction of the natural frequencies out of harmony with the body´s natural rhythms that is reflecting the illness. Healing of any kind is really all about vibration and frequencies and most importantly creating within the body the correct environment for the body´s own self healing process to take place naturally.
Despite all the technological advances in science and medicine scientists today still do not know what keeps us alive. This life-force energy which pulses through our body is still a mystery. When a heart stops and all other methods of revival fails the next option is - yes you´ve guessed it - the application of electrodes to the body sending electrical vibratory frequencies via electricity, to try and "kick start" the heart.
A heart attack is a "circulation" problem when blood flow to the heart is blocked.
When the heart malfunctions and suddenly stops beating unexpectedly or the irregular electrical activity leads to ineffective contraction and inadequate blood flow, this is called Cardiac Arrest which is an electrical problem. The heart´s constant beating is regulated by electrical activity starting in the right atrium, passing through the atrioventricular node, and into the ventricles. This electrical activity is normally energised at a cellular level by the body´s own internal electrical system of life-force energy and operates under normal circumstances without any outside stimulus. Cells in the heart will spontaneous depolarize and contract at a slow rate.
When an electrical current is passed through the heart, electrical activity is briefly stopped, which allows the heart to be momentarily "shocked out" of the irregular electrical activity. Because different cells in the heart spontaneously depolarize and cause contraction, the momentary stop in electrical activity allows for a new rhythm and pulse to begin to kick in. Defibrillation is the process of applying therapeutic amounts of electricity to the heart.
Thankfully, many ancient practices such as Energy Therapy, Chinese Medicine, Hands on Healing Techniques, Nutritional Medicine, Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Massage, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Aromatherapy, and so on are being used more and more today with great results along with many other ancient techniques which support the natural healing function of the body. These come under the umbrella heading of alternative medicine or alternative healing.
Over the years people who have been ill have tended to rely too easily on the "quick fix" and in general tended to be distrustful of the use of ancient forms of treatments through lack of clear knowledge, hearsay and a general belief that it was quackery. However, more and more people are now seeking out alternative methods of healing. What is now called alternative medicine was disregarded for years in western society with the general public favouring conventional medicine.
Many principles remain common to the many different alternative therapies, modalities and alternative healing techniques:
The body has the ability to heal itself naturally, and given half a chance will remain healthy particularly if care is taken by paying more attention to our thoughts, feelings, emotions, attitudes, lifestyle, food and drink intake, nutrition, exercise etc.
It is equally important not just to look at oneself physically, but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually, in doing this we look at ourselves holistically - the whole self. A person´s state of mind, body and how they are emotionally can be contributing factors in health related problems. The person´s own positive attitude and mental outlook can have a profound effect on their body´s ability to heal itself back to full and vibrant health.
The emphasis must be on getting to the root cause of the disease/illness and treating the whole person (holistic healing) rather than to concentrate upon symptoms alone.
A major difference between so-called alternative medicine and conventional is that with modern conventional medical treatment the emphasis is more geared towards treating the symptoms of disease rather than the cause of disease.
One client recently spoke of having to attend three different hospitals in three different towns for three health concerns including, kidneys, heart and lungs. Each consultant would only deal with the particular part of the body he specialised in with no concern whatsoever for the other areas of the body.
Needless to say this in no way offered even a glimmer of hope for this person who was passed from one medical establishment to another with little concern for the person´s overall well-being. The additional stress of all of this on any patient/client does little to help their health situation as the emotional trauma impairs the immune systems functioning and additional stress can constrict blood vessels additionally burdening the heart.
Granted there is much to be said for having a health check up whereby bloods are taken and analysed, heart and blood pressure are also assessed but thereafter it´s down to surgery (which is irreversible) or prescription drugs which may or may not solve the problem. Sometimes it´s a case of diagnosing or treating a localised health concern with the use of scientific techniques and technology which is very advanced by today´s standards, however there is much to be said for diagnosing and treating the person as a whole.
Either ways prescription drugs are very often prescribed on a "try it and let me know how you get on" basis, or sometimes it may simply suppress the issues in question driving the problem even deeper which may mean dealing with it again sometime in the future. Pain is our "warning light" indicating that something is wrong and may need attention. It may be worthwhile looking at our eating habits, or looking at the stress factors in our day to day living, or perhaps a smoking or alcohol addiction that may need to be addressed. It could be as a result of not enough exercise or conversely too much exerted exercise.
Alternative medicine tends to put more emphasis upon the prevention of disease, as it seeks to treat the whole person (Holistically), so as to strengthen the body´s immune system to bring about sustained health, which may be more beneficial long-term.
Many diseases that have been deemed "incurable" are reported to have been successfully treated by traditional methods and we are hearing more and more reports of natural 'alternative' methods been equally productive. These "alternative" modalities and treatments are not always publicised sufficiently to bring it to the attention of the general public, but none-the-less there is an growing awareness in people´s minds to ´think outside the box´ when it comes to matters relating to health and well-being.
Despite all of this the first port of call for anyone suffering from any illness or disease is usually their GP and for a proper diagnosis you are best advised to consult with a recognised medical practitioner.
Sometimes the road back to good health may be a simple change in lifestyle such as the intake of healthy food, regular moderate exercise, looking at where you can reduce stress in your life or getting a good restful night´s sleep. The body requires peaceful quality sleep. Studies show there is a link between inadequate or interrupted sleep and serious health problems such as heart disease, heart attacks, overweight, diabetes etc.
A good night´s sleep may not guarantee immunity from sickness or ill-health however regular sleep is vital for to support and maintain healthy brain function and healthier overall physically, mentally and emotionally.
With this in mind it may be worth looking at possibilities which may be causing insufficient sleep. This may be due to thinking too much, being anxious, noise in the background, electrical apparatuses, or electromagnetic fields of energy or even Geopathic stress form overhead power lines, ley lines or undergrounds wells or streams. We need to start taking control of our own lives. We need also to be less intimidated by the fear mongering which threatens us if we consider a major change in our lifestyle, habits or way of thinking. Conditioning will tend to fearfully control our thoughts and actions.
However if we look at our overall health and all the options available to us; both conventional and alternative, we may begin to see that in the future the popular choice for maintaining health will inevitably be the most natural therapies and remedies we can find that resonate with our body´s frequency. Our scientists would have us believe that there is only one option - that which has been clinically proven. However science is rapidly unfolding with new discoveries emerging every day. What was "state of the art" and the "only option" yesterday becomes old hat and Newtonian thinking as each day new and exciting discoveries emerge offering more natural choices for our health and well-being.
Thankfully those interested in maintaining their health and who look forward to a quality lifestyle as they grow older are now more aware of are seeking out possible alternative health choices. They are also better educated about their health and the many new natural healing options available to them. They are less intimidated by advertising, media propaganda, doctors, consultants or the fears surrounding disease and illness, in the knowledge that there are many new alternative opportunities opened to them now to get their health back in order. Knowledge is empowering.
Alternative Healing sometimes referred to as complementary healing covers a wide spectrum of modalities. When dealing with particular health issues, many people´s first port of call would be the orthodox or medical route. Given the huge technological developments in methods of diagnosing and advanced surgical methods, this initial course of action makes perfect sense. However there are a steadily increasing number of people who will now consider complementary or alternative healing methods when given the choice to do so. Complementary and alternative healing is more commonly known as - CAM for short.
Alternative healing approaches the area of health more in terms of a natural or organic method using techniques which have proven useful and effective for thousands of years. Most of these alternative healing techniques originated in the East as part of Chinese or Japanese tradition and culture. And these more natural methods have become firmly integrated into western society and have spread all over the world.
Some of the most popular alternative healing modalities are:
ENERGY THERAPIES: With energy therapy, meridian healing, auric field healing, quantum touch, therapeutic touch and other similar healing therapies, the practitioner makes use of the biofield or energy field to manipulate, balance and clear the body´s life-force fields to improve health. In most cases the fundamental principals of energy therapy remain the same, namely that the healing used is based on the manipulation of the body´s life-force energy system, allowing the body to begin its own natural healing process to bring about a state of homeostasis.
ACUPUNCTURE: Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique whereby the practitioner uses very thin needles which are used to stimulate meridian energy locations around the body, to help restore the natural flow of life-force energy throughout the body.
REIKI: Reiki Healing is the name given to an alternative healing modality originally developed in Japan in 1922 by a Buddhist called Mikao Usui. It is a technique based on the manipulation of the body´s Chi or energy field to bring about a state of homeostasis in the body. It is believed that when the body´s systems and organs are operating in harmony and in balance that the body begins its own natural healing process.
HERBAL MEDICINE: In herbal medicine remedies are prepared using various combinations of herbs to create remedies for various illnesses. Archaeological evidence would suggest that plants have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Some evidence suggests the use of plants roots and herbs to create herbal remedies by the Greeks and Egyptian and Asian cultures date as far back as 5,000 years and may date thousands of years earlier. Today modern medicine uses many plant-derived compounds as the fundamental ingredients in pharmaceutical medicine and drugs.
REFLEXOLOGY: Reflexology is an alternative healing modality whereby the therapist applies pressure to special pressure points on the client´s feet and hands using their thumbs or fingers. This helps to stimulate energy meridian points and pathways which correlate with various organs and systems in the body, to bring balance, harmony and healing to those locations.
ACUPRESSURE: works in a very similar way.
CHIROPRACTIC: Chiropractic treatment focuses mainly on the musculoskeletal system with particular focus on the spine. It mainly looks for mechanical disorders, misalignments and irregularities affecting the spine. The traditional chiropractic practitioner uses a variety of techniques of physical manipulation and pressure to realign or normalize the skeletal system, vertebrae, or spinal column with the understanding that dysfunctions in these areas may interfere with nerves exiting from the spinal column which supplying organs and systems in the body.
Excerpt from Richard Gerber, MD author of "Vibrational Medicine":
Vibrational medicine is a diagnostic and healing approach to illness using energy in various forms and frequencies. As a therapy, vibrational medicine is the application of different types of energy for healing, including approaches as traditional as X-ray and radiation therapy for cancer, the use of electrical nerve stimulation for treating pain, and electromagnetic field stimulators for accelerating the healing of fractured bones. Even full spectrum light is used for treating seasonal affective disorders or the ´winter blues´.
However, vibrational medicine also covers the more subtle forms of treatment such as acupuncture, homeopathy, energy therapy, flower essences, therapeutic touch etc. The latter involves using subtle life-force medicine, but they are energetic therapies nonetheless."
This is a cross section of various forms of treatment and therapies that come under the umbrella of "alternative healing". Sometimes these are also referred to as ´complementary´ medicine" particularly when they are used in conjunction with traditional or orthodox medicine.
Holistic Medicine´ can be described as the treatment of the ´whole´ person. For more information on energy healing techniques, alternative therapies to help with relieving physical or emotional pain, plus professionally accredited training courses where you can learn self healing and Bio-Energy healing techniques as a career: visit www.heal.ie
Important: Bio-energy or other alternative healing techniques have been specifically researched and designed to enhance and activate the client´s own natural ability to heal his or her self. These techniques are not a substitute for any prescribed medical treatments or medication or other medical or scientific diagnosis by health care professionals. It is important that therapists or practitioners advise their clients to seek consultation with a medical or healthcare professional prior to any therapy.