How many alternative therapies are there

Scraping Scraping Scraping a manipulative and body-based practice , also called gua sha, involves rubbing a dull implement across lubricated oiled or wet skin, usually on the back, neck, or extremities. Moxibustion Moxibustion Moxibustion a manipulative and body-based practice is a therapy within traditional Chinese medicine.

Dried moxa herb a mugwort is burned usually just above but sometimes directly on the Some of these therapies cupping, scraping, and moxibustion result in lesions that may be mistaken for signs of trauma or child abuse.

However, very little high quality research has assessed their efficacy. Energy medicine intends to manipulate subtle energy fields also called biofields thought to exist in and around the body and thus affect health.

All energy therapies are based on the belief that a universal life force qi or subtle energy resides in and around the body. Historically, a vital force was posited to explain biologic processes that were not yet understood. As biologic science progressed, this force was dismissed. Some investigators continue to explore the existence of the biofield and subtle energies.

Acupuncture Acupuncture Acupuncture, a therapy within traditional Chinese medicine, is one of the most widely accepted complementary therapies in the western world and is often part of integrative medicine. Magnets Magnets Magnet therapy an energy therapy utilizes static magnetic fields constant fields produced by permanent magnets or pulsed electromagnetic fields intermittent magnetic fields produced by Therapeutic touch Therapeutic Touch Therapeutic touch is a type of energy medicine.

Usually, practitioners do Reiki Reiki Reiki, which originated in Japan, is a type of energy medicine. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Manual was first published in as a service to the community. Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge.

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Energy Medicine. Examples include: homeopathy acupuncture osteopathy chiropractic herbal medicines Deciding to use complementary or alternative treatments To understand whether a treatment is safe and effective, we need to check the evidence.

Others have been proven to work for a limited number of health conditions. For example: the Alexander technique for Parkinson's disease ginger and acupressure for reducing morning sickness manual therapy for lower back pain Finding a CAM practitioner If you think you may have a health condition, first see your GP. CAMs and regulation The practice of conventional medicine is regulated by laws that ensure that practitioners are properly qualified and adhere to certain standards or codes of practice.

There's no statutory professional regulation of any other CAM practitioners. Finding an osteopath or chiropractor Osteopathy and chiropractic are regulated in the same way as conventional medicine.

All osteopaths must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council. You can use the General Osteopathic Council website to find a registered osteopath near you or check if someone offering osteopathic services is registered. All chiropractors must be registered with the General Chiropractic Council. You can use the General Chiropractic Council website to find a registered chiropractor near you or check if someone offering chiropractic services is registered.

Finding other CAM practitioners Apart from osteopathy and chiropractic, there's no professional statutory regulation of complementary and alternative treatments in the UK. This means: it's legal for anyone to practise the treatment, even if they have no or limited formal qualifications or experience these practitioners are not legally required to adhere to any standards of practice or to join an association or register If you decide to use a CAM, it's up to you to find a practitioner who will carry out the treatment in a way that's acceptable to you.

Find more information on the PSA's accredited registers Questions to ask before starting a treatment Once you have found a practitioner, it's a good idea to ask them some questions to help you decide if you want to go ahead with treatment.

You could ask: about the cost of treatment how long the treatment will last whether there are any people who should not use this treatment what side effects the treatment might cause whether there's anything you should do to prepare for treatment what system the practitioner has for dealing with complaints about their treatment or service for documentary proof of their qualifications for documentary proof that they're a member of their professional association or voluntary register for documentary proof that they're insured for written references Page last reviewed: 11 December Next review due: 11 December Naturopathy typically involves a variety of treatment techniques, including nutrition, behavioral changes, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and acupuncture.

Acupressure is similar in practice to acupuncture see below , only no needles are involved. The reasoning holds that illness can occur when one of these meridians is blocked or out of balance.

Acupressure is thought to relieve blockages so energy can flow freely again, restoring wellness. More research is needed, but a handful of studies have found positive results. In , researchers worked with a group of adolescents suffering from insomnia. They found that acupressure helped them fall asleep faster and get deeper sleep. Carotenuto M, et al.

Acupressure therapy for insomnia in adolescents: a polysomnographic study. DOI: Acupressure may also offer pain relief. In , researchers did a review of existing studies and found that acupressure could relieve a range of issues, including pesky lower back pain , headaches, and even labor pain. Chen YW, et al. The effectiveness of acupressure on relieving pain: a systematic review.

There may even be some mental health benefits as well. A review of 39 studies found that acupressure provided immediate relief for people experiencing anxiety.

Au DW, et al. Effects of acupressure on anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Another study that same year found that acupressure 3 times per week for a month was able to assuage anxiety, depression , and stress for dialysis patients.

Hmwe NT, et al. The effects of acupressure on depression, anxiety and stress in patients with hemodialysis: a randomized controlled trial. Though reading about this practice of traditional Chinese medicine may immediately bring sharp needles to mind, the term actually describes stimulating specific points on the body.

The best-known variety consists of penetrating the skin with thin needles controlled by a practitioner, but electrical stimulation can also be used. Using acupuncture to treat premenstrual syndrome. Acupuncture for treatment of insomnia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Vickers AJ, et al. Acupuncture for chronic pain: individual patient data meta-analysis. Newer research looks promising as well. For example, a study with 2, participants found that acupuncture may be effective for tension or chronic headaches, though more trials are needed to be sure.

Linde K, et al. Acupuncture for the prevention of tension-type headache. Not so. Acupuncture for chronic pain: Update of an individual patient data meta-analysis. Aromatherapy uses essential oils — highly concentrated extracts from the roots, leaves, seeds, or blossoms of plants — to promote healing.

Stefiltisch W. Aromatherapy — From traditional and scientific evidence into clinical practice. The oils can be inhaled using a diffuser, or diluted in a carrier oil and massaged into the skin. Some are used to treat inflammation or infections while others are used to promote relaxation and calm. In clinical settings, researchers have focused on aromatherapy for anxiety, depression, pain relief, nausea, and insomnia.

In a study, for example, aromatherapy with lavender was found to promote sleep and reduce anxiety for patients with heart disease. Karadag E, et al.

Effects of aromatherapy on sleep quality and anxiety of patients. In , researchers rounded up a group of female nurses working night shifts, curious to see if aromatherapy massage would help their sleep. It turns out, after massage with sweet marjoram essential oil, and drinking a glass of warm water, their sleep quality improved. Chang YY, et al. The effects of aromatherapy massage on sleep quality of nurses on monthly rotating night shifts.

Though more research is needed in this area, a study found that pregnant women who inhaled linalool found in mint and linalyl acetate found in lavender felt calmer after just 5 minutes. Igarashi T. Physical and psychologic effects of aromatherapy inhalation on pregnant women: A randomized controlled trial.

Some essential oils can be dangerous for pregnant women, children, or pets. Do not apply them directly to skin, and avoid prolonged exposure without ventilation. Also known as Ayurveda, this modality originated in India and has been around for thousands of years.

Practitioners use a variety of techniques, including herbs, massage, and specialized diets, with the intent of balancing the body, mind, and spirit to promote overall wellness.

There are several studies that show positive results for specific Ayurvedic practices, like taking turmeric for inflammation, He Y, et al Curcumin, inflammation, and chronic diseases: How are they linked? The effectiveness of nasal saline irrigation seawater in treatment of allergic rhinitis in children.