What Is Alternative Medicine? by Jane Thurnell-Read

Alternative medicine is becoming increasingly popular, but what exactly is it?

Many therapists don’t like the term ‘alternative medicine’ because they feel it suggests an antagonism to allopathic medicine that they do not feel. So they prefer to call themselves complementary therapists. Alternative medicine is sometimes known as CAM, which stands for complementary and alternative medicine.

There are many different types of complementary and alternative therapists, e.g. kinesiologists, reiki practitioners, Bowen therapists, etc. and the procedures and techniques they use can differ considerably, but they all share some beliefs in common.

One of the fundamental beliefs is that they are working holistically looking at the whole person rather than at a particular symptom. So, for example, homeopaths would ask you about your symptoms, but would also ask you if you like salty food, or are better in the fresh air. This is because there isn’t a homeopathic remedy for a given symptom or illness, but there are several that might apply. The exact one is determined by taking detailed information and knowing more about the client’s personality and characteristics. Health kinesiologists do not have specific procedures for a given illness, but determine what to do based on muscle testing. 

Therapists believe that the body can be helped to help itself, so that any intervention should work with the body’s natural desire to heal rather than imposing on it. Bowen therapists make minute gentle movements on the physical body and then wait for the body to process these and move forward.

Therapists also see symptoms as a way of the body (or energy system) highlighting that there is something wrong. Most therapists believe that fixing symptoms without looking deeper is storing up trouble in the long run – it is shooting the messenger rather than listening to the messenger. So, to lower a non-dangerous fever or stop diarrhoea is not necessarily an appropriate thing to do without knowing what is going on underneath. It may appear to solve the immediate problem, but can set up problems long term.

Practitioners see the physical body and the emotions and spirit as being inextricably interlinked. Some practitioners concentrate on the physical body more, whereas others concentrate on the emotional or spiritual aspects of the client, but behind it all is an understanding that we are multi-layered beings.

Often the answer to the question: “Is this a physical problem?” is “Yes, but it’s also a psychological or spiritual problem too.” Often the physical symptoms manifest the psychological stresses of the individual. People who bury their anger may get eaten up by it and suffer from digestive system inflammation (e.g. IBs or Crohn’s disease). People who are rigid and unable to see another’s point of view often have joint problems. Looking at these examples another way. People with digestive problems may feel angry and irritated. People with joint problems may find it difficult to move forwards and be flexible. Which comes first? In my view it doesn’t matter. What matters is bringing about healing and this is where many complementary therapists excel: healing the mind and the body rather than just dousing the flames of the symptoms.

This also implies that there is work for the client to do. The client is part of the healing process, not just a body that is “done to”.  People need to clean up their diet, address their emotions, sort out some of the stresses in their lives, but these things become easier to tackle with support and guidance from a good practitioner. A client once said to me: “You stood me up, so I could reach the door knob, but I had to go through the door myself.”

Getting healed is so much better than taking an allopathic drug to get rid of your symptoms. It can be an exciting journey, an adventure that will lead you to a better you.

Copyright 2010 Jane Thurnell-Read