An overview of the many different forms of Alternative Medicine. Includes the history, popularity and uses of each.
People look to alternative medicine for many diverse reasons. Some begin to explore the alternative world when conventional medicine doesn't work or when the suggested course of action is worse than the condition being treated. Others are looking for an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs, more afraid of the side effects than the benefits promoted. Still others look at alternative medicine first, before consulting doctors, specialists and prescription drugs.The world of alternative medicine is as varied as the cultures and peoples on earth. What is considered alternative to one person may be standard operating procedure to another. Some forms of alternative medicine such as chiropractic, hypnosis and acupuncture are slowing being accepted into mainstream, professional medicine.In order to understand each different alternative healing method, one has to grasp a basic understanding of what each therapy includes.
Herbal Medicine
Often the first alternative healing method use, herbal medicine was the first form of doctoring illness. From herbs and plants, many of today's modern medicines were born. Aspirin, which comes from the bark of the willow tree, was probably the first herb to come in pill form approved by doctors. Herbs and herbal supplements can be purchased almost everywhere that sells over the counter medicines. For those that choose to make their own herbal remedies, most health food stores carry the medicinal parts of the herb in bulk, ready for purchase.Many large cities have practicing herbalists that can be consulted for specific conditions. For those that do not have access to a certified herbalist, there are many books written on the subject of herbal medicine and many websites devoted to the subject.
Aromatherapy and Essential Oils
Similar in thought to herbal therapy, aromatherapy works by using the essential oils of herbs and plants and allowing the scent to play a part in the healing. The use of fragrance for healing goes back to the time of the Egyptian Empire and remained strong through both the Greek and Roman Empires before declining during the Middle Ages. Only recently, has aromatherapy begun to catch on once more. Beginning in the late 1960s and promoted during the 1970s and 1980s by well known celebrities, the use of essential oils and aromatherapy has made a dramatic comeback. Second only to herbal medicine of which it could be considered a branch, aromatherapy and the use of fragrance for healing is here to stay.