Health the Non-Conventional Way  

By: Washma Nabi 

Have you ever pondered on what a good life means or consists of? Some may say a good life is one with happiness, wealth, family and so on. My answer will always be that a good life is a healthy life. 

A life of poor health consequently affects all other aspects of living whether it be happiness, wealth or relationships. Health is not merely being free of disease, it is the optimal well being of ones physical, mental and environmental self. 

Traditional medicine has come a long way. With the emerging technology and knowledge available traditional medicine continues to successfully treat many. However, the roots of this conventional medicine consist of alleviating symptoms of an illness or disease. Non-conventional medicine on the other hand attempts to identify the root cause of the symptoms. This type of misbalance, also known as Alternative, Complementary, or Integrative medicine, consist of practices outside of mainstream medicine. Whatever we may choose to call it, the use of such practices can be dated as far back as a 1000 years. According to alternative medicine, the body shall be considered as a 'whole', where body systems i.e., brain, heart, gastrointestinal system etc. work in harmony. A misbalance in one can cause others to fall out of balance as well. The result of this misbalance, as considered in alternative medicine, can lead to illnesses. The idea is to encourage a body's self healing process through natural resources and techniques. Hence, the practice of this type of medicine may also aim to avoid the intake of pharmacological drugs.

This holistic approach to health has many different techniques and practices. 

Acupunture- a technique that roots back to China. It involves the usage of needles in the targeted areas of the body. The needles can stimulate body points and can be used to treat issues such as neck/back pain, nausea, anxiety, depression, insomnia, infertility and much more. 

Ayurveda- Ayurvedic medicine has been practiced in India for centuries and is considered one of the oldest practiced form of medicine. It involves the usage and mixtures of naturally occurring herbs, plants, berries flowers, and foods to keep the body as a whole, healthy and functioning at its best. 

Naturopathy- treatment of naturopathy is a blend of homeopathy, herbalism, and lifestyle choices or changes. It can be traced as far back as Greek philosophers. Today, this practice requires licence and certifications. Similar to the other practices, how naturopathy works is that it aims towards self- healing of the body and mind through natural therapies, AKA maintaining a balance. This practice is personalized, tailored specifically for every individual based on their issue.  Instead of suppressing symptoms, as conventional medicine does, naturopathy aims to restore inner balance and find root cause, which will in-turn aid the body's self-healing processes. 

A naturopathic practitioner requires 4 years of Med School and a nationwide licence exam. They use evidence based techniques and their goal is to educate and empower towards healthier lifestyle choices. 

Chiropractic-  a manual manipulation technique that focuses on the spine and its functions. The practitioner adjusts and manipulates the spine and bone to fix its alignment. The benefits of this technique are pain reduction, improve skeletal function, and help the body to heal itself naturally. 

Chinese Or Oriental Medicine-  This medicine has been practiced in China for centuries and is prevalent still. Chinese medicine revolves around the idea that mind and body has an energy that surges through the body, misbalance in this energy can lead to disease and illness. Techniques such as tai chi, acupunture, cupping, massages, and herbal remedies have been used for years.

Other practices may include Yoga, meditation, massage and many more body and brain manipulation techniques that have been found to be effective in a healthy brain and body. Meditation brain benefits have been widely acknowledged, with some practices designed for certain emotional states for example: Clear the mind mediation or mediation for stress reduction etc. 

Complementary and Alternative medicine as whole, focuses on using natures resources to get healthy and encourages education of ones body and its functions as well as nature such as benefits of using natural medicine and uses of herbs, plants etc. It is important to ensure that you consult a medical professional prior to confirm if an alternative medicine is save an effective for you. It is important to avoid risk or underlying conditions that may cause harm if used in conjunction to natural medicine and techniques. 

Consider a Career in Alternative Medicine