Alternative Therapies

Have you ever been to a gym or office that offered alternative therapies? If you're curious about the effectiveness of “different” procedures but don't want to 'take the plunge' yet, here are a few of the basic therapies available. Many of them have a base in ancient Eastern practice, but some have been adapted to fit “American tastes”. They may not have all been scientifically “vetted”, but many people swear by them. I am going to give a very cursory explanation as to the purpose of these therapies, but have included links for more information.

Chiropractics. I used to work at a logistics company where one of the owners was also a chiropractor. The idea is that a lot of the pain and other issues we experience are due to having bones in the spine and other parts of the body out of “alignment”. The chiropractor has you lie down on their table and pushes on you to get the bones in their proper places. It sounds painful and might hurt at first, but it can be very helpful for people who have chronic headaches or pain from an injury. One of the most attractive parts of chiropractics is that the practitioners do not use drugs; it's completely holistic, meaning focused on treating the entire body using only natural means.

Reiki- Reiki is based on an Eastern spiritual discipline that combines the words "Rei" (God's Wisdom or the Higher Power) and "ki" (life-force energy). This life-force is thought to be what is responsible for a person's overall health; when the life-force is low, it opens the person up to the negative energies that can bring on the negative thoughts and emotions that contribute to a person's physical ailments.

The practitioner lays his/her hands on or just above the receiver as a way of redirecting the life-force back into the person's body. While it hasn't been scientifically tested, it's been very helpful to some people and has no negative side effects. It is often used as a relaxation treatment. For more information, visit http://www.reiki.org/FAQ/HowDoesReikiWork.html

Acupuncture- Like Reiki, acupuncture is based on an ancient Eastern philosophy that works to restore the balance of life-forces in the body. Tiny needles are placed through the skin at key points in the body and stimulated, either through electricity or the practitioner's hands. It's mostly used to treat pain, although it could also help with the nausea associated with chemotherapy. The idea is to redirect the natural energy everyone has to the parts of the body that need it the most. I have not had acupuncture, but I have had similar tests done and can tell you that it's not as painful as it looks. For more information, visit http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction.htm

Massage- A friend of mine is a massage therapist. She tells me that her practice focuses on putting pressure on various points in the body to work out any “kinks” that block the proper flow of chemicals in the body. These kinks are thought to be responsible for pain in other parts of the body, both physically and psychological. It is often used as a relaxation technique as well as very helpful for athletes and other people with chronic pain. Plus, who *doesn't* like a good massage from a good-looking guy? :) For more information, visit http://www.medicinenet.com/massage_therapy/page2.htm.

Praying/”laying on of hands”. I am part of a health-and-healing ministry at my church. It is not meant to 'cast out demons' or anything, but it does follow the Catholic understanding of the multiple facets of healing-curing, lessening of pain, aiding in emotional well-being and helping the person accept what is going on. It's not only for physical maladies; we have prayed with people over situations in their lives and the lives of others, with the belief that God can and will “cause all things to come together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes” (Romans 8:28). There are 'Deliverance' ministries that are aimed toward healing by driving away the dark spirits believed to cause illness, but I don't know much about them.

These are only a few therapies that fall outside of traditional medicine, but can be very helpful for people suffering from pain and other conditions. They are not meant to be a substitute for traditional care so much as being an addition to it. Either way, consult your doctor and be sure you are getting these treatments from a licensed professional.