Alternative Therapies Quiz
Alternative therapies refer to treatments that take a different approach from standard medical practice. While these may be beneficial for some individuals, always consult your doctor before trying any new therapies or treatment plans. It is possible that there could be side effects from some treatments and many of these approaches come from other countries with differing views on mental health problems than in UK healthcare. It’s also important to remember that alternative therapies have their own specific regulations and requirements.
Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that utilizes fine needles to stimulate the body’s meridians. These meridians are thought to carry energy called qi, which can become blocked and cause pain when stimulated. Acupuncture needles are placed at points on these meridians in order to open them and release qi to alleviate symptoms associated with disease.
Therapeutic touch is a healing and restorative therapy that involves applying pressure to certain areas of the body. Practitioners believe that unruffling and redirecting an individual’s “energy field” leads to relaxation, comfort, and an overall sense of well-being.
Relaxation therapy is an alternative therapy that uses methods to calm the mind and increase awareness. It has the potential to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression as well as improve sleep quality, concentration levels, and cognitive performance.
Herbal remedies are widely used as alternative medicine to treat various conditions. Unfortunately, these herbal preparations must be purchased as dietary supplements and do not have FDA approval to be classified as drugs; thus they cannot be packaged or sold the same way other medications are.
Herbal medications can be used to treat a range of physical and psychological conditions, such as headaches, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, and depression. Herbal preparations may even serve as substitutes for certain prescribed medications or over-the-counter drugs.
Massage is a widely used alternative medicine therapy to improve circulation to muscles and joints, reduce stress, relax muscles, reduce tension, and reduce inflammation. It can also help improve posture as well as alleviate pain.
A form of alternative medicine that involves stimulating reflex areas on the feet to relieve symptoms of disease or discomfort. It’s also used to improve circulation and decrease stress response within the nervous system.
Magnetic therapy is another popular alternative therapy option. These devices increase circulation to the affected area, promote healing, and stimulate acupuncture points.
Images created for medical visualization often elicit physical changes in the body, such as pain relief. However, some forms of imagery can be illogical or irrational and should not be considered by nurses treating serious illnesses.
A biofeedback technique is a therapy that teaches individuals to use signals from specially designed equipment to regulate their body’s responses. This gives them control over how their own reactions to stressful situations.
Alternative medicines include homeopathy, naturopathy, herbal preparations, nutritional supplementation and spiritual therapies. Each has a distinct philosophy but all share the belief that people’s internal capacity for self-healing can be enhanced through certain behaviors.
