Alternative health strategies

Learn about alternative health strategies such as antioxidant vitamin megadoses, yoga and prayer, among others. Find out why so many people are using CAM these days.
This article first appeared in The Sept. issue of The ZoneNet newsletter

CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) therapies are essentially classified into 5 distinct categories or domains. Many of these domains have certain sub-domains but we will only give you a brief overview of the primary CAM domains.

Alternative Medical Systems are built on entirely different systems of theory with regard to the body and have evolved in a completely different direction from the conventional medical approach. 2 examples of alternative medical systems developed in Western cultures are homeopathic as well as naturopathic medicine. Some real world Eastern are Ayurveda, acupuncture plus the other countless local systems.

Mind-Body Interventions uses a specific blend of techniques supposed to improve the mind’s capability of affecting the body’s condition, including meditation, yoga, prayer, hypnosis and therapies that use creative outlets such as art, music, poetry and dance. Even something as routine as journal writing fits in this category.

Biologically Based Therapies such as natural and biologically based interventions, practices and products mainly composed of herbs, nutrients such as antioxidants and vitamins also count. Some overlap with modern medicine’s use of dietary supplements such as antioxidants, which started out as CAM. Anything from the use of Tea Tree Oil to the Paleolithic diet fall under this CAM category.

Manipulative and Body-Based Methods are based on manipulating at least one part of the body. This includes chiropractic manipulation, reflexology, colonics and massage therapy, among others.

Energy Therapies uses both subtle as well as less than subtle manipulations of the energy field that are supposed to surround and inject themselves into the human body. Examples include biofield therapies like Reiki, Qigong, natural healing and bioelectromagnetic-based therapies which involves the use of electromagnetic fields.

For more information about antioxidants visit Seahealth Plus Liquid Antioxidant supplements and learn more.

By Aaron Wilmont
Published: 2/5/2005
 
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