Alternative medicine and alternative therapy are growing trends in our world. Some of these options have been around for millennia already and are being re-discovered or re-visited. Others are newer ideas. The fact remains though that methods such as aromatherapy, acupuncture and various types of energy healing are all on the upswing. So too are herbal medicines, supplements, homeopathy, and cannabis treatments. Yet many of us haven’t seen a lot of info in this field yet. So let’s take a look at 5 facts about alternative medicine and alternative therapies you didn’t know.
Alternative Medicine Can Be Overdone!
Think about this for a second – would you pick out a bunch of different prescription meds and just chuck them all together to boost your chances? No, because there could be all kinds of interactions, or you could end up with dangerous levels of certain hormones or chemicals. Be careful with what you take, consult a professional if possible and do some research too. Just because it’s a natural option, doesn’t mean it can’t be overdone. While you can’t easily overdose on things like Vitamin C, other supplements like Echinacea are only supposed to be taken for a few weeks and then discontinue use. To see some common interactions, just take a look on drugs.com. After all, you don’t want to risk your health!
Get a Proper Diagnosis
Relating to the previous point, you need to know exactly what you’re dealing with and what your best options are. Treatments such as medical marijuana are still viewed skeptically by some, so extra information can be a massive help. Good clinics, like Aleafia, will provide you with a consultation and diagnosis before any cannabistreatments are recommended. This helps you to understand exactly how your treatment plan will work and they can explain the legal side to you. It also gives you the chance to discuss topics like long-term plans and/or aftercare. For more information, visit Aleafia here. Alternatively, if you are looking into homeopathic medicine, be sure the professional you are seeing is registered with the National Center for Homeopathy.
It is Increasing in Popularity
There are plenty of people who have become frustrated with modern pharmaceutical treatments and big pharma. The result is a huge chunk of the population now trying out alternative and/complementary medicine to aid their healing and increase their health. Over 10 years ago we had already reached near 40% of the population using alternative therapies and that number continues to grow. Marijuana legalization has brought even more growth since then as more and more people realize the immense and impressive benefits of cannabis medicine. Probiotics have also gained massive popularity in recent years as an increasing number of people are realizing how important gut health is to the rest of our health. Yogurt has become a household staple now and at this point in time, it’s a safe bet the majority of western populations have at least tried alternative medicine for one reason or another.
Multiple Applications for Individual Treatments
Some alternative medicine can be used to treat multiple ailments. Imagine a patient who uses suffers with sleep disorders, anxiety and depression. This patient might find that acupuncture or meditation is able to help with all of these problems instead of just one. On that same note, someone suffering from indigestion, constipation, and brain fog could greatly benefit from a high dose of probiotics. More and more people are beginning to understand that a lot of our ailments are symptoms of a larger problem and we need to treat the cause, not just put a bandage on the symptom.
Unexpected Benefits
Often we under-appreciate how much alternative therapies can help us. Some of you might think alternative medicine and alternative therapy options are just for crazy hippies and those weirdo crunchy folks, but it just isn’t so! Many people have started out treating an obvious issue and noticed a knock-on effect which bettered their quality of life. This can be anything from improved general health to better personal relationships and career success. It’s already been shown alternative therapy can help quality of life, a lot of people just haven’t realized yet how many ways it can help.
In closing, I would recommend that everybody try alternative medicine before signing themselves up for one more prescription drug. Nature has given us many tools to stay healthy with! With a little personal research of your own, consulting professionals in the alternative therapy field, and following a definitive plan of treatment, you’ll find the unexpected benefits of alternative medicine to be much better than you thought!
