Caregivers are people, too. They experience stress, anger, and other emotions that, after time, can lead to physical and emotional problems. Caregivers may already be dealing with their own health issues and may be looking for ways to improve their health using alternative methods. Starting with more natural methods of healing the body and mind are usually preferred over pharmacological or medically invasive interventions.
Brief Overview of Alternative Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine began around five thousand years ago. It is based on the theory that illness results from the improper flow of the life force or the qi, through the body. Qi is restored by balancing the opposing forces of the yin and yang. These two forces manifest in the body as heat and cold, internal and external, and deficiency and excess. Herbal remedies, massage, medication and acupuncture can be used to restore balance and promote healing.
(NOTE: Interested in learning more about Employee Wellness? Checkout my Employee Wellness CEUs on CEU Academy and try a FREE CEU today!)
Acupuncture
Acupuncture should be performed by a licensed practitioner. It involves stimulating specific points in the body by inserting fine needles into the skin and underlying tissue. This technique is believed to unblock the flow of qi along energy pathways or meridians, and restore balance between the yin and yang.
Naturopathy
Naturopathy has roots in almost every culture on the planet and is as old as time itself. It began as a formal health care system in the United States in the early 1900s and has grown ever since. Naturopathy is based on the healing power of nature. It emphasizes prevention and treatment of illness through a healthy lifestyle, treatment of the whole person, and the use of the body’s natural healing abilities. Naturopathy also incorporates nutrition, herbs, exercise, counseling, stress management and acupuncture.
Mind-Body Techniques
These techniques are based on the theory that mental and emotional factors greatly influence physical health. Many experts have long believed in the mind and body connection concerning health and well-being. Various behavioral, psychological, social, and spiritual methods are used in mind-body healing. Techniques such as relaxation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, meditation, imagery, biofeedback, and hypnosis are used to promote health and healing. These techniques have been shown to be effective in treating a number of illnesses including heart disease, headaches, insomnia, asthma, pain and high blood pressure.
Meditation
Some people may prefer meditation over medication for a number of conditions including anxiety and depression. Meditation allows the individual to focus and still the mind to allow for greater awareness. It usually involves sitting or resting quietly and sometimes involves repeating or chanting a mantra. Meditation has been shown to be effective in treating stress and pain.
Herbal and Orthomolecular Medicine
Can ginseng, cannabis, green tea, shark cartilage or glucosamine provide health benefits? Lots of studies find that they do. Herbal medicine is the oldest known form of health care. It involves using plants to treat illnesses and promote health. Over 80,000 species of plants are used as medicine throughout the world today and have for thousands of years. Aloe vera, chamomile, grape seed, hemp, kava, cranberry and garlic are now known to have numerous health benefits.
Orthomolecular medicine is also known as Megavitamin Therapy and focuses on proper nutrition to maintain and restore health. It promotes the use of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It recommends the use of shark cartilage for cancer, chelation therapy for heart disease, and glucosamine and chondroitin to treat arthritis.
Final Thoughts on Caregiver Health and Alternative Medicine
This short article doesn’t even scratch the surface of the massive industry known as alternative medicine. Other topics including Ayurveda, homeopathy, relaxation techniques, guided imagery, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, energy therapies and Reiki would make a more comprehensive read on the topic. Caregivers deal with their own health and emotional difficulties and some may prefer to start with the most natural approaches first. I hope this short article inspires caregivers to examine their health and wellness and do more to improve it… naturally.
(NOTE: Interested in learning more about Employee Wellness? Checkout my Employee Wellness CEUs on CEU Academy and try a FREE CEU today!)