If you born before 1929, granny's remedies would have certainly
come to the rescue in times of illness. However, since 1929 and
the discovery of penicillin, the world of antibiotics and Western
medicine in general, has exploded to the point where sometimes
the body is not only fighting the illness, but is also fighting
the cure. There is no doubt that Western medicine is brilliant
and much needed, especially in times of crisis and trauma as we
are currently witnessing every day in the media. Nevertheless,
in spite of this brilliance, one of the sacrifices we have made
in the evolution of medicine is our abdication of personal
responsibility for our own health and spiritual growth. All of
which comes down to a question of balance.
When complementary therapies began to make a comeback in this
country in the early 1970s, they were often touted as
'alternative', implying an 'either/or' choice to be made and
something that only those on the 'fringe' subscribed to.
While some hard-liners continue to stand by this implication,
the reality is that those therapies considered 'alternative'
are actually complementary. Their role is about bringing us
into balance in mind, body, and spirit, and, they are about
integrating old world wisdom with new world technology. Whether
one is exploring the benefits of the therapies found in
Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Flower
Essences or the myriad of other complementary therapies
available, they all have the common thread of empowering the
individual to participate in their own healing process and
establishing a reconnection between mind, body and spirit.
There are several common questions that are often asked when one
is considering these therapies, but the three that arise the most
frequently are, when should I consider these therapies, which
therapies should I chose and how do I find a practitioner?
Typically, complementary therapies can be extremely effective
when one continues to struggle with chronic conditions such as
fatigue, allergies, and sometimes depression, just to name a few
examples. Often, the individual has been 'everywhere' in search
of relief, but nothing seems to be working. It is especially in
these situations that complementary therapies can set the
individual onto a new path of relief and wholeness.
Moreover, it is important to understand that therapies such as
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda are 'complete systems
of medicine'. Other therapies such as energetic bodywork, flower
essences, and homeopathy for example, can be called upon as
adjunct therapies. Nevertheless, the majority of complementary
therapies seek to treat the symptoms and to discover the root of
the problem, while Western medicine frequently just targets
symptoms. Once the immediate problem is resolved, the philosophy
behind these therapies becomes part of an overall change in
lifestyle, often incorporating exercise, stress reduction
techniques, and changes in diet. Another advantage of
complementary therapies is that one can incorporate individual
elements from various therapies into an overall healing model.
For example, you may be under the care of a practitioner in
Traditional Chinese Medicine, and while Yoga is not part of the
Chinese tradition, there is no reason that you cannot incorporate
it into your overall model.
This brings us to how does one choose a therapy (or therapies) to
work with and very importantly, how do you choose a practitioner?
These considerations are very much about what is working for you
and what feels 'right'. Let us suppose that you have done some
initial reading on the Ayurvedic approach to wellness. The
philosophy appeals to you and thus, the next step is to find a
practitioner. One of the best ways to do this is by referral and
checking credentials. Knowing someone whom you trust and can
refer you to a practitioner is an excellent place to start.
However, it is equally important that you thoroughly investigate
the practitioner's background and credentials. Fortunately, there
are resources available for this purpose. Forging a relationship
with such a practitioner is serious business. It is a
relationship that is much more than a 15- minute appointment and
a prescription.
Practitioners in Complementary Medicine are interested in
developing this relationship with you, knowing that the road to
balance can be a difficult one. This process requires attention
to all levels of our essence and our willingness to participate
fully in pursuit of this balance.
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