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Treatment: Alternative Therapy
Alternative, or "complementary therapies," the term
preferred by
many who practice these treatments, are therapies that are outside the field of traditional Western medicine.
Numerous people use these therapies as an adjunct to traditional medical treatment. Because of the popularity
and increasing use of these modalities, the National Institutes of Health created the National Center
for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 1998.
Many alternative/complementary therapies
are grounded in Eastern
philosophy and include such practices as yoga, tai chi and acupuncture. Although these therapies do not
follow traditional Western medical practices, some are endorsed by the Western medical community because
their benefits have been confirmed by anecdotal and/or scientific investigation.
There are many types of alternative/complementary
therapies, too
numerous to examine here. Listed below are summaries describing commonly used and/or accepted forms of
complementary therapies for people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Insurance coverage may be available
for certain types of treatment. People will need to contact their health insurance company to determine
what benefits are available.
Yoga
Yoga was first practiced
in India more than 5,000
years ago. The word literally means, "union," and more specifically, the union of body, mind and spirit.
Yoga is a system of exercises designed to realize physical or mental control and general well-being. It
can improve muscle tone, posture, mental clarity, stress control and self-understanding. Yoga can create
a sense of calm and relaxation that may be helpful for pain relief. Classes, books, videos and internet
resources are available to help learn more about this therapy. There are currently no standards or
certifying agencies that regulate yoga teaching and practice.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is
a Chinese therapy practiced
for
more than 2,000 years. It involves the insertion of tiny, hair-thin,
smooth-pointed needles into specific body points called meridians. There are 12
meridians, each believed to be associated with a vital body function or organ.
It is thought that by stimulating these points, a person's "vital energy," or
"qi," can be balanced. Acupuncture is used to relieve
pain, prevent nausea and to treat substance abuse as well as several other conditions. Side effects are
minimal but there is a risk of infection from improperly sterilized needles. To help decrease this risk,
it is important to find a certified practitioner. There are standards and certifications in place for
acupuncture practitioners.
Acupressure
Acupressure,
or shiatsu, is similar to
acupuncture in that it focuses on the body's 12 meridians, or pathways to vital energy. It is based on
traditional Chinese medicine that applies manual pressure to specific points along the pathways to relieve
pain, stress, mild depression, and other disorders. There are no national standards for the practice of
this technique.
Tai chi
Tai Chi is an ancient
Eastern martial art practice
combining the mind and body and is thought to provide
healing and soothing properties. This stress-reducing and healing therapy is based on the principle of
using slow continuous motions, evenly paced and natural, which are connected by breathing. The mind-body
connection of tai chi is based on the premise that negative physical body reactions can be minimized if
a person learns to control their own thoughts and their reactions to those thoughts. There are no national
standards and certifications in place to regulate the practice of tai chi.
Therapeutic Massage
The
theory of therapeutic massage
is that the body's soft tissues respond to touch, an essential element of health and well-being. According
to Massage Magazine, massage was the first health procedure used to relieve pain, because the first thing
that people do is touch and rub a painful area. Massage is defined as rubbing soft tissues of the body
to alleviate pain and stress. Proponents of this therapy also report that massage eases the symptoms of
irritable bowel syndrome. Nationally certified practitioners and health care providers routinely order
massage therapy and health insurance programs frequently cover this treatment.
Therapeutic Touch
There
is much
controversy surrounding touch therapy and its legitimacy has been
questioned; however, specially trained clinicians continue to provide this
therapy, which is found to help some people. Many touch therapists are
registered nurses who integrate this therapy with their routine nursing care.
Therapeutic touch attempts to redirect the body's energy fields to promote healing and alleviate
pain. The
name of this therapy is misleading because there is no actual touch involved. The therapist senses these
energy fields and, with their hands held above a person's skin, reroutes the energy. Practitioners can
obtain training certification but there are no national standards of practice for this therapy.
Naturopathic Healing
Practitioners
of naturopathy believe
in the natural healing capacity of a person and adhere to the concept of harmonious functioning of the
entire being: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, environmental and social. Naturopathic practitioners
treat people with a combination of many methods, which can include nutrition, plant-based (botanical)
medicine, physical medicine, exercise, massage, counseling, biofeedback, and hypnotherapy. Certified naturopathic
doctors undergo rigorous training and four years of postgraduate study in medical sciences. Other naturopathic
therapists have varying amounts of training but are not certified.
Homeopathic Treatment
Homeopathy utilizes highly individualized
treatment plans that consist of natural pharmaceuticals, derived
from plants, minerals and animals. These substances are chosen to create
the same symptoms a person is experiencing so that the body can build its own
defenses and heal itself. Supporters of this therapy cite the use of
immunizations in traditional medicine as a type of homeopathic therapy, because
the body develops antibodies (builds a defense system) to protect it from
disease after the vaccine is given. Certification is provided for medical
doctors (M.D.), osteopathic physicians (D.O.), and dentists (D.D.S.) by the
American Board of Homeotherapeutics and national standards govern the practice
of certified practitioners. National certification and standards are not in
place for other homeopathic therapists.
Twelve U.S. states
recognize licensed homeopathic practitioners and only three
U.S. states
license physicians to practice homeopathy. The Council for Homeopathic
Certification certifies non-medically trained practitioners. To obtain
certification, these practitioners undergo lengthy education and practical
experience (apprenticeship) and a rigorous certification exam
process.
Meditation
Meditation is
used to ease stress, chronic
pain and anxiety by giving the mind and body a break from the pressures that accompany life. The mind
and body are calmed by staying in the present moment. This is done by focusing on breathing, an image
or a sound. It takes practice to acquire the capability to do this, but once this is accomplished, proponents
of this therapy state that it is quite successful. Meditation can take several forms and it is important
that a person choose the one that is right for them. Learn more about this therapeutic technique by finding
an instructor, reading a book, listening to audiotapes or searching the Internet for additional information.
Biofeedback
According to
the Biofeedback Research Institute,
this therapy uses external instruments to monitor physiological responses to thoughts. Heart and breathing
rate, body temperature and brain wave activity are examples of physical signs that are measured. Biofeedback
teaches people to recognize their reactions to thoughts so that they can control these reactions, thereby
producing more positive effects for the mind and body. Biofeedback therapy is often available in hospitals,
clinics and mind-body wellness centers by trained technicians. Therapists are health care professionals
who undergo specialized training to learn biofeedback techniques and instruments and can choose to be
certified by the Biofeedback Certification Training Association of America, which has developed standards
of practice. Some insurance companies may cover biofeedback therapy.
Many of the Internet links noted below
provide information on
multiple
alternative therapies and can serve as resources for a variety of related topics.
Articles of Interest
Additional Resources
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