Alternative medicine at a glance

The term Alternative Medicine means any form of medicine that is outside the mainstream of western medicine or conventional medicine as practiced a majority of doctors today. This term is loosely used to over all forms of medicine except allopathy

Alternative medicine exists in all cultures to some degree and terms such as traditional medicine, indigenous medicine or folk medicine etc. are used to describe such practices. These medicines date back hundred or even thousands of years depending on the country and culture concerned.
There are more than 100 systems of alternative medicines still in practice all over the world.  Every country, region or area has its own traditional system of health and medical cares such as for the Chinese it is acupuncture, for the French, magnetic healing; for the Germans, Heilpraxis; for the English, Herbalism; for India, Ayurveda with Siddha being widely practice in the southern part of the country; for Japan, Shiatsu etc.
The most popular forms of alternative medicine are Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Yoga, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Magneto therapy, Shiatsu, Herbalism, Meditation, Aromatherapy, Bach Flower Remedies, Chromo therapy, Diet therapy, Hydropathy and Reiki.

Acupuncture

A key component of Traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is practiced by inserting extremely thin needles through the skin at strategic acupoints on your body. The goal? To re-balance the flow of energy or life force known as chi. Don’t be frightened by the word “needles”—they’re almost as thin as a strand of hair and most people feel little to no pain

How it works: Needles stimulate acupoints, which rouses the nervous system to release endorphins and opiumlike compounds to the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. This can change the experience of pain and trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones that influence the body’s internal regulating system. 

an array of procedures that stimulate specific points on the body. The best-known variety consists of penetrating the skin with thin needles controlled by a practitioner or electrical stimulation, and it’s currently used by millions of Americans each year 

despite its popularity, controversy over acupuncture’s efficacy abounds. Some studies find it helpful for chronic pain and depression, but evidence on all counts is mixed

 

Acupressure

This ancient Asian technique is similar to acupuncture—without the needles. Practitioners use their hands or tools to apply pressure to various acupoints on the body to open energy flows, release tension, and promote emotional balance 

How it works: Stimulating various points on the body can trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s pain-reducing chemicals, and increase the flow of blood and oxygen to areas of the body to relieve discomfort and soreness.

According to the theory behind acupressure, meridians are channels that carry life energy (qi or ch’i) throughout the body. The reasoning holds that illness can occur when one of these meridians is blocked or out of balance; acupressure is thought to relieve blockages so energy can flow freely again, restoring wellness. More research is needed, but pilot studies have found positive results: Acupressure might decrease nausea for chemotherapy patients and reduce anxiety in people scheduled to have surgery