In general, five categories of complementary or alternative medicine are recognized:
Complete medical systems
Mind-body medicine
Biological practices not commonly used in conventional medicine
Handling practices and body foundation
Energy medicine
The name of many therapies only partially describes their components.
Complete medical systems
Complete medical systems are comprehensive systems with a defined philosophy and conception of disease, diagnosis and treatment Kambo Stick. They include the following:
Ayurveda
Homeopathy
Naturopathy
Chinese traditional medicine
Mind-body medicine
Mind-body medicine is based on the theory that mental and emotional factors regulate physical health through a system of interdependent neural, hormonal, and immune connections throughout the body. Behavioral, psychological, social and spiritual techniques are used to increase the mind’s ability to affect the body and thus maintain health and prevent or cure disease.
Because there is abundant scientific evidence supporting the benefits of mind-body medicine, many of these approaches are considered conventional. For example, the following techniques are used to treat chronic pain, coronary heart disease, headaches, insomnia, and menopausal symptoms, and as an aid during childbirth:
Biofeedback
guided imagery
Hypnotherapy
Meditation, including mindfulness
Relaxation
These techniques are also used to help patients cope with symptoms related to cancer disease and treatment and to prepare them for surgery.
Biobased practices
Organic practices use natural substances that affect health. These practices are the following:
Botanical medicine and natural products
Chelation therapy
Therapeutic diets
Handling and body-based practices
Manipulative and body-based practices primarily focus on the structures, apparatus, and systems of the body (e.g., bones, joints, soft tissues). These practices are based on the belief that the body can regulate and heal itself and that its parts are interdependent. include
Chiropractic
Massage
Reflexology
Suckers
Gua sha (e.g. scraping , using coins or spoons)
Moxibustion
Acupuncture is also sometimes considered a manipulative therapy.
Some of these therapies (cupping, scraping, and moxibustion) cause injuries that can be confused with signs of trauma or abuse. These therapies are thought to stimulate energy and allow toxins to be eliminated from the body. However, its effectiveness has only been evaluated in mixed-quality studies and more research is needed.
Energy medicine
Energy medicine aims to manipulate the subtle energy fields (also called biological fields) that are believed to exist in and around the body and consequently affect health. All energy therapies are based on the belief that a universal life force (qi) or subtle energy resides in and around the body. Historically, a vital force was postulated to explain biological processes that have not yet been understood. As biological science advanced, this force was no longer taken into account. Some researchers continue to explore the existence of the biofield and subtle energies.
Energy medicine is a component of several therapies, including the following:
Acupuncture
Magnets (magnetotherapy)
Therapeutic touch
Reiki
Qi gong and tai chi, components of traditional Chinese medicine , use gentle postures, conscious movements and breathing to better balance the patient’s energy.