Do you often feel reluctant to take pain killers or medicines considering their side effects on the human body?
Many a time in our lives we are faced with this dilemma of choosing medication or enduring the pain.
However, there are many practices that work with standard medical care and aid in the healing process.
Some of these practices can induce a healthy lifestyle and curtail the need for any medication.
Such medical practices that are not part of the standard medical care are referred to as Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM).
Many forms of CAM
Mind-Body therapies combine body movements with mental focus to relax the body and mind.
These consist of practices like Meditation, Hypnosis, Yoga, Tai Chi, and creative outlets like Music, Dance, or Art.
Yoga and Meditation have been found to have effective results on mental and physical well-being of a person.
Manipulative and Body-Based therapies involve practices like Massage, Chiropractic Therapy, and Acupuncture. These practices include working with one or more body parts.
Acupuncture has been seen to improve many conditions like allergies, anxiety and depression, insomnia, hypertension, menstrual cramps and many more.
There are whole medical systems that have evolved as complementary or alternatives to standard medicine which include Ayurvedic Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Homeopathy, and Naturopathic Medicine.
Dr. Namrata of Drugless Health Care Centre discourages dependency on medicines and advocates developing a healthy lifestyle.
The Drugless Health Care Centre uses alternative medicine therapies such as Acupressure, Sujok Therapy, Food Therapy, Cupping Therapy, and Music Therapy to treat patients.
Immediate Promising Results
Ayurvedic medicine, developed in India more than 3000 years ago, is one of the oldest healing systems. It aims to promote good health through a balance between mind, body, and spirit.
Homeopathic medicines have also been found to treat various illnesses efficiently. The doctors at Advanced Homeopathy, with an experience of 18 years, have had satisfying results in treating Asthma, Migraine, Depression and Anxiety, Sinusitis, Skin diseases, and many more illnesses.
In India, the Ministry of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) is purposed with developing education, research, and propagation of indigenous alternative medicine systems.
Dr. Reyaz Ahmad Khan, District Nodal Officer Ayush says, “During the pandemic, Ayush medicines as advised under the protocol of Ayush Ministry Govt. of India, have been used on a large scale to modulate the immunity of the people and to reduce symptoms of the COVID-19.”
Ayush has a significant role in providing healthcare services in the rural areas. Many programmes are being run in states with gross deficiency of health workforces. Ayush medicines are slowly occupying the urban spaces as Dr. Khan says, “Ayush medicines are gaining faith of people and are being sold worldwide to achieve health and fitness. There is great scope of further research in this area as well.”
Rohit Raina, Chairman of Dhriti Raina Agro Products Pvt. Ltd. which owns the Kayasiddhi brand, says, “We have many oils which help you concentrate on relaxation and reducing stress. They help to calm your emotions, relieve anxiety, and increase your general sense of health and well being.”
A study conducted on the perception, attitude, and usage of CAM among doctors and patients in a tertiary care hospital in India showed that doctors are increasingly using CAM and show a positive attitude towards incorporating it in their treatment. The patients also prefer to use CAM as they perceive it to be better, economical, safer, and easily available.
There is a significant interest in alternative medicines among doctors and patients. Many doctors recommend that there should be cross-sensitization among the allopathic and CAM practitioners to achieve a holistic understanding of the treatment.
