AYURVEDA
Ayurveda - the Sanskrit term for "science of life" - is a complete health care system that evolved in India approximately 5 000 years ago. Based on teachings from ancient Vedic scriptures, Ayurvedic philosophy perceives man as an integral part of the natural environment and promotes inner peace and spiritual harmony as the basis of health and self-healing. The emphasis of Ayurveda is prevention.
A person's individual body type (prakriti or basic nature) is the first step in an Ayurvedic diagnosis. This is the blueprint outlining the innate tendencies of the individualistic psycho-physiological profile. The body type is established by pulse diagnosis. There are ten possible body types made up of varying proportions of the three elements (known as doshas) that govern the human body - vata, pitta and kapha. Ayurvedic treatment is individualised according to body type as each one responds differently to stimuli such as food, weather, emotion, stress, pollution and toxins.
Ayurveda incorporates a range of treatment options. There is specific emphasis on diet as foods are also classified according to the doshas. Other treatments include massage, detoxification, herbal medicines, yogic exercise and meditation.
CHIROPRACTIC
The term ‘chiropractic' is Greek in origin and means ‘manual practice', or ‘treatment with manipulation'. Chiropractic has been defined by the British Chiropractors' Association as ‘an independent branch of medicine which specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders of the joints, particularly those of the spine, and their effect on the nervous system'.
Derived from similar roots as osteopathy, chiropractic was founded by American Dr David Daniel Palmer in 1895. He pointed out that subluxations (displacements) of the vertebrae could be related to a wide range of symptoms. Chiropractors identify these subluxations and correct them manually in order to eliminate symptoms.
Although there are similarities between chiropractic and osteopathy, chiropractors believe that their treatment works via the nervous system while osteopaths say their effects are attained via the circulatory system.
Chirporactors use X-rays, orthopaedic tests and neurological or physical examinations on their patients. Most people consult chiropractors for back and neck pain. The spinal manual therapy provided by chiropractors is known to be safe and effective in relieving musculoskeletal problems and is recommended for low back pain, disc lesions, sciatica, leg pains, hip and knee problems, headaches, neck pain and shoulder and arm pain as well as pins and needles or numbness sensations.
HERBAL MEDICINE/PHYTOTHERAPY
Plants and herbs have played a significant role in medicine since prehistoric times and were used extensively by the ancient Greeks, Chinese, Indians and Egyptians - and many other aboriginal societies. Knowledge of the healing power of plants was traditionally handed down from generation to generation by tribal herbalists. The Greek physician Hippocrates made a list of over 400 plant remedies, and apothecary Nicholas Culpepper (1616-1654) became famous for his book on herbal remedies.
Although herbal medicine was temporarily eclipsed by the advent of modern pharmaceuticals, it has recently experienced a resurgence in popularity in the West and is today one of the fastest-growing health trends.
Also known as phytotherapy, herbal medicine involves the preparation of the roots, leaves, stems and seeds of plants, either for consumption in the form of medicine or for use on the skin in the form of balms and ointments. Plants act in a variety of ways. They can be used for cleansing, eliminating and detoxifying as well as for stimulating the body's self-healing capacity and to boost immunity and resistance to disease.
The pharmaceutical industry owes much to the plant kingdom. Many synthetic drugs are based on the active ingredients found in plants. These active ingredients are isolated, imitated, refined and marketed as drugs. But it is often the whole plant, not just the active ingredient, which has the beneficial action as the plant constituents work synergistically to stimulate the body's healing capacity.
Many medicinal plants have highly beneficial therapeutic properties and can be used to treat a wide range of symptoms and diseases. While some people consult a trained medical herbalist, most people use herbal medicines to self-medicate for prevention or treatment of common ailments.
A variety of herbal preparations is available over-the-counter in health shops, pharmacies and supermarkets.
Although generally considered safe, it is important to be aware that herbal medicines contain active ingredients, which can be toxic if taken in excess and can also interact with prescription medications. With the growing popularity of herbal products, more research is currently being conducted into their safety and efficacy.
HOMEOPATHY
A ‘minute-dose therapy', homeopathy is based on the work of 18th century German physician Samuel Hahnemann. The word homeopathy translates into ‘similar suffering' and is based on the principle that ‘like cures like'. Also referred to as the ‘Law of Similars', this practice is based on the understanding that, if a substance produces certain effects when taken by a healthy person, it will treat a disease that manifests similar symptoms in a sick person. The assumption is that the symptoms are not signs of disease but are indications that the body is fighting the disease.
Hahneman also discovered that the potency of a homeopathic remedy was not related to its strength and that the more the remedy was diluted, the more effective it became. He claimed that the remedy would be most effective when there was not even a molecule of the original substance left, placing homeopathy in the category of energy or vibrational medicine. This ‘potentising' principle was - and often still is - rejected by the majority of orthodox physicians, pharmacists and drug manufacturers.
There are over 3 000 remedies in the homeopathic Materia Medica. These homeopathic medicines are made from a variety of substances including plant extracts, minerals, chemicals and animal products. Remedies are manufactured using a very specific method of dilution and then succussion (vigorous shaking). The potency, or number of dilutions, is indicated by a letter and number ie D6, 6X or 30C. Lower potencies like D or X are used to treat acute symptoms and the higher C potencies for chronic disease.
Available in liquid, tablet, pillule or powder form, these remedies are either prepared from a single substance or a combination of substances. Many are available over-the-counter at health shops and pharmacies. A specific homeopathic remedy can be used to treat many different symptoms.
A qualified homeopath will take a very detailed case history of a patient in order to find an individualised remedy for their personality and ailment - and their model of healing is summed up in the words "First, do no harm".
NATUROPATHY
The roots of naturopathy can be traced to the healing traditions of numerous ancient cultures, including Greek, Native American, Arabic, Chinese and Indian.
The three basic principles of naturopathy were published in 1936 in Harry Benjamin's book Everybody's Guide to Nature Cure. These state that the cause of disease is due to the accumulation in the body of waste products; that symptoms of disease are attempts by the body to expel waste materials; and that treatment will aim to harness and stimulate the natural healing power of the body to restore equilibrium and wellness. The actual methods employed will depend on the naturopath consulted.
A naturopath will take a detailed case history and then decide on specific modes of treatment. Dietary modification - often including fasting - is commonly recommended. Fresh air and exercise are usually advocated as part of the cure. Massage, nutritional advice (which may or may not include the use of supplements), herbal medicines, hydrotherapy, sauna and lifestyle counseling may also be employed. Many naturopaths also take into consideration that the accumulation of waste materials can be the result of more complex psychological difficulties and suggest appropriate treatment in the form of relaxation techniques or, if necessary, psychotherapy.
Naturopaths view a person as a multi-dimensional being and work to treat the underlying imbalances by using safe, natural therapies.
OSTEOPATHY
The founder of osteopathy, Dr Andrew Taylor Still (1828 - 1912), believed that in order to function properly, the structure of the body must be sound. Osteopathy works to establish and maintain the normal structural integrity of the body. This is done primarily through manipulation of joints.
Dr Still believed that good health was dependent on the integrity of the spinal column. Therefore, the spinal column is the main focus in osteopathy because it is basic to the whole bone and muscle system. He also maintained that the spinal cord regulates the entire body because of its link with the autonomic nervous system. Blood circulation, skin disorders, stomach problems, headaches and the like could, according to Still, all be linked to vertebrae that have gone out of alignment. When the vertebrae are realigned, homeostasis is restored and the body is then able to heal.
An osteopath will take a thorough case history that sometimes includes measuring blood pressure, listening to the heart and lungs, taking blood or urine samples and examining eyes for clarity. They concentrate on examining patients for areas of muscle tension and joint strain - observing how they walk, sit and stand, as well as paying attention to indications of stress symptoms.
A connection between symptoms and vertebrae will be ascertained and the relevant manipulation treatment or ‘functional technique' utliised to correct the problem. This could range from a very gentle form of manipulation to a short, sharp rotational movement or a more energetic ‘high-velocity' thrust. Soft tissue work includes stretching and relaxing muscles and connective tissue as well as massage to improve blood supply. Patients will commonly consult an osteopath for back problems
THERAPEUTIC AROMATHERAPY
Aromatherapy describes a therapeutic treatment in which essential oils or ‘aromatic essences' are rubbed into the skin, used as inhalants or in baths and footbaths. The term implies the use of our sense of smell in the prevention and treatment of disorders.
Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts derived from a variety of plants, herbs, spices, flowers, woods and resins. Most commonly applied by a specific massage technique, these fragrant oils with their medicinal properties benefit mind and body by being absorbed into the epidermis as well as being inhaled.
The essential oils contain biochemical compounds with specific pharmacological properties and these can be antibacterial, antiviral, antispasmodic or diuretic. They also encourage vasodilation or vasoconstriction and promote digestion as well as relax, energise and detoxify.
The therapeutic properties are present only in pure essential oils, not synthetically produced varieties.
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE
Therapeutic massage therapy (TMT) uses the oldest form of healing known, namely touch, for physical rehabilitation and emotional nurturing by influencing anatomical structure, physiological function, psychological states and emotional health. The therapy also provides emotional nurturing to assist patients in dealing with the consequences of unnaturally high levels of stress.
TMT encompasses a wide variety of styles, approaches and techniques including deep tissue, orthopaedic, medical, remedial, relaxation, sports, connective tissue, myofascial, wellness and holistic massage.
Until recently massage was viewed as part of the leisure and beauty sector but is now acknowledged as capable of playing a role in the prevention as well as the treatment of a wide variety of conditions. TMT is considered as a relevant, viable and safe treatment option for stress management, repetitive strain disorders, post-operative musculoskeletal rehabilitation, general rehabilitation and maintenance of the soft tissue to prevent wear and tear on the skeletal system, general health maintenance to prevent degenerative conditions; biomechanical wear and tear to preserve the integrity of the body structures, management of degenerative diseases such as arthritis, diabetes and multiple sclerosis, pre-and-post sports care, emotional and psychological disorders and as a form of palliative care for patients suffering from a terminal illness.
THERAPEUTIC REFLEXOLOGY
Reflexology is an holistic healing technique based on the premise that the entire body is mirrored on the feet through a system of reflexes. The aim of a reflexologist is to stimulate these reflexes utilising a specific form of therapeutic foot massage and thereby triggering the body to return to a state of homeostasis (balance).
This massage helps clear blockages and encourages vital body energy to flow unimpeded. Reflexology has the potential to impact on the whole person so therapists do not diagnose or isolate a disease and treat it symptomatically, nor do they work specifically on a problem organ or system.
As the feet represent a microcosm of the body, all the organs, glands and other body parts are laid out in a similar pattern on the feet. Pressure is applied to the reflex areas using thumb and finger techniques. This causes physiological changes to take place as the body's inner healing potential is activated.
The roots of reflexology are embedded way back in ancient history when pressure therapies were recognised as preventative and therapeutic modalities. Evidence indicates that therapeutic foot massage has been practiced throughout history by a variety of cultures. A widely held theory is that reflexology originated in China over 5 000 years ago and was also practiced by Egyptians, Babylonians and early Europeans. However, Eunice Ingham (1879 - 1974) is considered the mother of modern reflexology as she revived the practice in the United States. Reflexology is now taught by numerous schools around the world and has become a respected healing modality.
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) evolved approximately 3 000 years ago and is a unique system of diagnosis and health care. TCM is fundamentally different from orthodox Western medicine. Based on a holistic understanding of the human body as described in Taoism, it maintains that healing is a process that must engage the entire body, regardless of where in the physical body a problem manifests.
According to TCM, humans are made up of the five elements - wood, fire, earth, metal and water. All tissues and organs are connected through a network of channels known as meridians through which the vital life-force (ch'i) flows. Disorders are viewed as an imbalance of the elements as well as a disruption in the flow of ch'i.
Clinical diagnosis and treatment is based on the theories of the ‘Five Elements' and yin-yang polarities. These theories apply the laws of nature to the study of physiological activities and pathological changes in the human body and its interrelationships.
TCM has developed a highly sophisticated set of practices designed to cure illness and maintain health and well-being. These practices include acupuncture, herbal remedies, diet, meditation, exercise forms like Tai Ch'i and internal energy techniques like Qigong.
TCM boasts and extensive herbal pharmacopoeia. Many TCM herbal formulations contain multiple ingredients and this may be the reason they are prescribed for multi-system illnesses.
Acupuncture: The term acupuncture is derived from the Latin word acus (needle) and punctura (to prick). It is used to describe a technique in which needles are used to puncture the skin at certain defined points in order to restore the balance of ch'i energy, which acupuncturists believe is essential to good health. Points are found mainly along lines of 12 main meridians. The therapy is used to treat a variety of disorders and is particularly effective for pain relief. Numerous therapists now practice acupuncture, including chiropractors and physiotherapists.