Ouch!

Alternative medicine takes sting
out of common health ailments

By KIRSTEN TATE
UNIVERSITY JOURNAL

In this day when pharmaceutical drugs are freely available for almost every illness, ancient alternative forms of medicine are becoming more popular.
Alternative medicine is defined as “therapeutic practices which are not currently considered an integral part of conventional allopathic medical practice,” the University of Pittsburgh reported on its Web site, www.pitt.edu.
A therapy is called complimentary when it is used in addition to conventional treatments, and it is called alternative when used instead of conventional treatments, the Web site also said.
Some forms of alternative medicine include acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage therapy, herbal remedies and chiropractic treatments.
Some patients of alternative medicine use a combination of several methods to achieve better health.
Brent Nielson, a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist, said some clients at Southern Utah Acupuncture & Herbs, located at 321 N. Mall Drive No. B-101, St. George, have acupuncture treatments only while others have a combination of treatments including the use of herbs and massage therapy.
Acupuncture originated in China between 2,000 and 5,000 years ago.
“It is a system of health care based on the principle of balancing energy flow in the body to correct physiological function,” according to the Web site www.amfoundation.com.
Chinese theory says: “There are more than 2,000 acupuncture points on the body that connect with places called meridians. The meridians conduct energy, or chi (pronounced chee), throughout the body,” the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reported on nccam.nih.gov/health.
The chi, or energy, is said to balance spiritual, emotional, mental and physical aspects of the body, the Web site said.
Chi nourishes the body and if the energy gets stuck, it is hard on the body’s organs and systems, Nielson said. Acupuncture releases the blocked energy and makes it flow to the areas in pain, he said.
Scientifically speaking, acupuncture points stimulate the central nervous system and release chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord and brain, the NCAM reported.
Aromatherapy is often used in conjunction with other forms of health care.
“It is the use of essential oils extracted from plants, trees and herbs for therapeutic purposes,” according to the Web site altmedicine.about.com.
There are approximately 40 different oils termed to be helpful in treating stress, invigorating the body and promoting general well being, the Web site said.
Aromatherapy works by using smell to influence the mind and body. The oils work both emotionally and physically. Emotionally, aromatherapy helps people feel better by causing pleasant memories to resurface. Physically, the aromas may stimulate the immune, circulatory or nervous systems, the Web site said.
There are three methods of using aromatherapy. The first is by direct application of the oils to the skin, which allows the substances to be more quickly absorbed into the skin, altmedicine.about.com reported.
The second method is by inhaling the scents. By breathing strong aromas, symptoms of congestion caused by cold, flu or bronchitis are lessened.
The third method is by adding the oils to a bath. After bath water has finished running, adding between eight to 15 drops of