Alternative & Complementary Therapies


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	Alternative & Complementary Therapies

Excerpts from "Treatment Information Program", British Columbia Persons with AIDS Society, November 1999

Definitions
Alternative therapies are those kinds of treatments which are used as alternatives to conventional Western medicine (also known as allopathic medicine).

Complementary therapies are those kinds of treatments which are used in combination with conventional medicine, in an "integrated" approach to health care.

Types of Alternative or Complementary Therapies

1. Systems- systems are unique kinds of medical practices that stem from a particular philosophy. There are many of these kinds of systems. They include:

Naturopathy. Naturopaths see disease as an attempt by one’s body to get rid of toxins and restore balance. They use natural products and procedures to boost the natural healing powers of the body. The patient is expected to play an active role in staying healthy. Naturopaths use a holistic approach to staying healthy that can include herbal medicine, nutrition, supplements, homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, chiropracty and other therapies.

Homeopathy. Homeopathy is based on the principle of "like cures like". The symptoms of a sick person are treated with small doses of a medicine that would bring about the same symptoms in a healthy person who received a full dose of that medicine. Most homeopaths use medicines found in nature. The medicines are strongly diluted, so that only minute amounts are administered. In homeopathy, the treatment is very individualistic. People presenting with the same condition may be treated differently, according to the needs of each of their bodies.

Traditional Chinese Medicine. Under this system, illness is seen as an imbalance in the body’s energy flow. The energy moves along invisible pathways which connect the body’s organ systems to each other and to specific points in the body known as pressure points. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners use acupuncture needles in the pressure points to balance the pathways. They often prescribe Chinese herbs as well, usually in combination. The prescriptions are tailored to the needs of each individual.

Ayurvedic Medicine. Originating in India more than 5,000 year ago, Ayurvedic medicine is based on the belief that the mind and consciousness create matter - in other words, that one can affect one’s health through what one thinks or believes. Ayurvedic medicine uses natural healing methods such as nutrition, herbs, exercise, massage and meditation to bring the body to a healthy state.

Chiropractic. This system began in the United States in the late 19th century but is thought to have its origins in ancient Greece. Chiropractors see disease as the result of abnormal functioning of spinal vertebrae and nerves. Chiropractors correct these displacements through direct manipulation after diagnosis, thus creating the conditions for the body to heal itself. All Chiropractors in Canada must be licensed in order to practice.

Indigenous North American Medicine. Based on the experience of First Nations people over many centuries, this form of medicine addresses the spiritual origins of disease and health, and is based on the belief that healing arises out of the patient’s relationship to society and the cosmos. Within indigenous North American medicine, it is not possible to fragment an individual’s sickness from the condition of society and the surrounding environment.

2. Physical Agents - This term refers to substances which are ingested or applied to the body. For the sake of simplicity, physical agents can be divided into three categories: herbal medicine (including herbs, and aromatherapy), nutrition (both micronutrients and macronutrients), and "other" kinds of therapies that are ingested or applied to the body (like ozone, DNCB, or shark’s cartilage).

3. Hands-On and Body Therapies - This category of therapies includes massage and other "touch therapies, such as reflexology, reiki, shiatsu, and exercise.

4. Mind-Body Interaction - These are the therapies that are designed to harness the power of the mind to promote health and aid healing. Examples include yoga, meditation, psychoneuromminology, and sweat lodges.

Why Use Alternative or Complementary Therapies

Alternative/complementary therapies can be used in many ways for different reasons. Some of these include:

to fight HIV directly (as anti-virals)
examples include: olive leaf extract, SPV-30, papaverine
to boost or sustain the immune system
examples include: supplementation with vitamins and minerals, bitter melon, Chinese herbs, Cat's Claw
to manage symptoms (nausea, headache, etc.)
examples include: aromatherapy, acupuncture, marijuana
to provide more energy and reduce fatigue
examples include: yoga, ginseng, reflexology
to manage opportunistic infections
examples include: for candida - garlic, for herpes - thioctic acid,for wasting - whole lemon/olive oil drink
to relieve stress
for example: art therapy, exercise, massage therapy
to balance chemical deficiencies in the body
for example: glutathione, B-vitamin complex, essential fatty acids (e.g. evening primrose)
to manage side effects or be able to take conventional drugs.
for example: milk thistle, acupressure, L-glutamine

Remember that many of these treatments and remedies can be used for multiple reasons at the same time. For example, acupuncture treatments can relieve stress, stimulate appetite, relieve peripheral neuropathy, and eliminate headaches all at the same time. If you’re interested in using alternative or complementary therapies, the first place to start is to decide what you want to use them for. From there, you can research what kinds of things you can use.

Alternative and complementary therapies are very individualized, which means that sometimes they will work for one person and not another. It’s important to try out different things and decide what works for you. Information about all the above therapies (and many more) can be obtained by contacting the Treatment Information Program.

DISCLAIMER

This information does not recommend, advocate, or endorse the use of any particular treatment or therapy provided as information. The Board, Staff and volunteers of the BCPWA society do not accept the risk of, nor responsibility for, any damages, costs, or consequences of any kind which may arise or result from the use of information disseminated.