When opting for one or another natural therapy, many people do not know what to do, because the information about them is usually confusing and limited.
- Main natural medicines and alternative therapies
- How to choose the specialist that suits us
- Test to choose the right therapy
- How to choose the most suitable specialist
- What if the therapy I choose doesn’t work?
Official medicine proposes to go to the family doctor before any relevant symptom to attend to the patient or refer him to a specialist. Treatment may vary depending on the doctor’s knowledge and experience. However, many times the patient decides to complement this treatment with a natural therapy.
It is convenient in that case to know how to choose well the therapy that can best help you. The mere act of choosing implies that you are participating in your own healing and also means that if one treatment does not work it is possible that another will be effective.
But when you can choose there is a risk of not getting it right, and natural therapies, many of which are not officially recognized in our country, can lead to confusion. We tell you what types of natural therapy exist and when they are convenient.
MAIN NATURAL MEDICINES AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
Often the patient already has a diagnosis and wishes to receive one of the many natural treatments available. So, it is normal to ask which is the most effective, but the truth is relative: often the same therapy that helps a person does not achieve anything with another who suffers from a similar problem. It is necessary to assume that the decision is personal and that there are no guarantees.
To get it right, it is advisable to gather as much information as possible about the disease and about the therapies that are of interest. Family, friends, patient associations, books and the internet help in the search.
The important thing not to get lost is not to follow a single clue no matter how well-intentioned or reliable it may seem. You have to look for different, even contradictory, opinions to finally form a personal criterion.
Hopefully we will conclude that for our health problem there are one, two or three therapies that have been shown to be effective with quite a few patients. It may even be appropriate to perform a combined treatment of several therapies.
Personal inclinations also play a role. To treat the same health problem, some people rely on improving nutrition or physical manipulations, others on psychological work and others on harmonizing the different energy levels (acupuncture, reiki …).
It is advisable to be informed about the theoretical basis of therapies, even if it implies an effort of understanding. It is important to be open to other points of view and above all to take into account the results.
Currently we speak of “evidence medicine”: a treatment is valid if it is effective, regardless of whether or not its mechanisms of action are understood, something frequent for example in the case of homeopathy.
Not surprisingly, a patient receives diagnoses in different “languages”: hypothyroidism, stagnant chime in the spleen, or excess hapha may be describing the same problem, in the words of an endocrinologist, acupuncturist, or Ayurveda expert respectively.
Although every therapy is prepared to deal with a wide variety of disorders, it is logical that each one achieves more success with specific problems. The combination of personal preferences and efficacy data is the key to making a good choice.
As a general rule, if you believe that a problem may have an emotional or nervous origin, you can find effective help with homeopathy, different psychotherapies or even Bach flowers.
If, on the other hand, the problem seems essentially physical, you can go to osteopathy, chiropractic or oriental massages.
After trying a first option, the therapist may indicate another therapy that could help complete the treatment.
But when you can choose there is a risk of not getting it right, and natural therapies, many of which are not officially recognized in our country, can lead to confusion. We tell you what types of natural therapy exist and when they are convenient.
MAIN NATURAL MEDICINES AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
Often the patient already has a diagnosis and wishes to receive one of the many natural treatments available. So, it is normal to ask which is the most effective, but the truth is relative: often the same therapy that helps a person does not achieve anything with another who suffers from a similar problem. It is necessary to assume that the decision is personal and that there are no guarantees.
To get it right, it is advisable to gather as much information as possible about the disease and about the therapies that are of interest. Family, friends, patient associations, books and the internet help in the search.
The important thing not to get lost is not to follow a single clue no matter how well-intentioned or reliable it may seem. You have to look for different, even contradictory, opinions to finally form a personal criterion.
Hopefully we will conclude that for our health problem there are one, two or three therapies that have been shown to be effective with quite a few patients. It may even be appropriate to perform a combined treatment of several therapies.
Personal inclinations also play a role. To treat the same health problem, some people rely on improving nutrition or physical manipulations, others on psychological work and others on harmonizing the different energy levels (acupuncture, reiki …).
It is advisable to be informed about the theoretical basis of therapies, even if it implies an effort of understanding. It is important to be open to other points of view and above all to take into account the results.
Currently we speak of “evidence medicine”: a treatment is valid if it is effective, regardless of whether or not its mechanisms of action are understood, something frequent for example in the case of homeopathy.
Not surprisingly, a patient receives diagnoses in different “languages”: hypothyroidism, stagnant chime in the spleen, or excess hapha may be describing the same problem, in the words of an endocrinologist, acupuncturist, or Ayurveda expert respectively.
Although every therapy is prepared to deal with a wide variety of disorders, it is logical that each one achieves more success with specific problems. The combination of personal preferences and efficacy data is the key to making a good choice.
As a general rule, if you believe that a problem may have an emotional or nervous origin, you can find effective help with homeopathy, different psychotherapies or even Bach flowers.
If, on the other hand, the problem seems essentially physical, you can go to osteopathy, chiropractic or oriental massages.
After trying a first option, the therapist may indicate another therapy that could help complete the treatment.
DIET THERAPY AND ORTHOMOLECULAR NUTRITION
WHAT IS DIET THERAPY
Diet is one of the most important factors in maintaining psychophysical balance. Nutrients and foods (vitamins, minerals, fatty acids…) can be used to cure.
SESSIONS
The duration of treatment depends closely on the problem and the patient: between a few days and a lifetime.
MAIN INDICATIONS
Cholesterol Mia, hypertension, osteoporosis, inflammatory diseases, food allergies.
HOMEOPATHY
WHAT IS HOMEOPATHY
The treatment of homeopathy takes into account individual characteristics including fears and mood conflicts that favor the disease. The goal is to stimulate the healing power of the body.
SESSIONS
The first visit can last more than an hour. Depending on the results, the treatment is adjusted, whose duration is very variable depending on the person and their ailment.
MAIN INDICATIONS
All kinds of diseases, including psychosomatic: digestive, allergies, asthma, anxiety…
ACUPUNCTURE
WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture consists of inserting very fine needles at exact points to restore the correct flow of vital energy in the different organs and body meridians.
SESSIONS
A session lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. From 3 to 20 sessions are necessary. The improvement is usually noticed in a few sessions.
MAIN INDICATIONS
All kinds of ailments (digestive, nervous …); Pain from any cause.
CHINESE PHYTOTHERAPY
WHAT IS PHYTOTHERAPY?
Phytotherapy: the combinations of Chinese plants regulate the yin and yang of the various organs and together with the diet reinforce the effect of acupuncture.
SESSIONS
As prescribed by the expert in traditional Chinese medicine. Compound formulas are more common than simple plants.
MAIN INDICATIONS
All kinds of ailments: digestive, nervous …, migraines, ringing in the ears.
AYURVEDA
WHAT IS AYURVEDA
Ayurveda: Personalized medicine based on the predominance of one of the three humors (doshas), including diet, massages and psychophysical exercises.
SESSIONS
They vary greatly depending on the complexity of the problem. In a few weeks improvement should be observed.
MAIN INDICATIONS
Digestive, circulatory, skin, mood problems, obesity, stress.
REFLEX THERAPY
WHAT IS REFLEX THERAPY
Reflex therapy: The sole of the foot can act as a mirror of the whole organism. Pressing specific points can affect internal organs.
Sessions
The sessions last between half an hour and an hour and the effects can be seen immediately.
MAIN INDICATIONS
Painful disorders and alterations in muscle tone (constipation, asthma…)
OSTEOPATHY
WHAT IS OSTEOPATHY
Osteopathy: The manipulation of bones, muscles and connective tissue serves to restore harmony between the various organs and systems of the body.
SESSIONS
The session lasts 45 minutes and is done at 14-day intervals. In very few sessions the improvement is usually appreciated.
MAIN INDICATIONS
Post-traumatic pain, back pain, joint problems, migraines, asthma.
CHIROPRACTIC
WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC?
Chiropractic: Precise manipulations of the spine free the nervous system and thereby promote overall health.
SESSIONS
The sessions last 45 minutes. An average of six sessions are performed. although they may vary depending on the problem.
MAIN INDICATIONS
Back pain, dizziness, digestive and menstrual problems, allergies.
RPG OR GLOBAL POSTURAL RE-EDUCATION
WHAT IS GLOBAL POSTURAL RE-EDUCATION OR RPG
RPG: After analyzing the patient’s body posture and movements, the pathological compensations in the muscle chains that are at the origin of the symptoms are corrected.
SESSIONS
There are weekly sessions of one hour (between 6 and 10 sessions for a general restructuring), plus personalized exercises at home.
MAIN INDICATIONS
Herniated discs, lordosis, kyphosis, joint, muscular and tendon pathologies, flat feet.
CRANIO-SACRAL THERAPY
WHAT IS CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
Cranio-sacral therapy: Gentle manipulation of the skull and sacrum to restore the correct rhythmic impulse of the cerebrospinal fluid.
SESSIONS
The session lasts about an hour. In two sessions many problems are solved.
MAIN INDICATIONS
Back or joint pain, anxiety, stress, osteoarthritis, blows, falls.
SHIATSU
WHAT IS SHIATSU
Shiatsu: It means finger pressure. It is a massage that stimulates key points from which you can influence the flow of energy and energetically affect the various organs.
SESSIONS
If chronic, sessions take place once a week for a season. If it is acute, every other day. The effect is noticeable in very few sessions.
MAIN INDICATIONS
Back, muscle, or headache pain. Digestive and liver problems. Stress and nervousness.
CONVENTIONAL MASSAGE
WHAT IS CONVENTIONAL MASSAGE?
The hydromassage, gentle or deep, of the muscles strengthens all the systems of the organism and relieves specific problems.
SESSIONS
The duration of treatment depends on the problem, but the effects begin to be noticed after the first session.
MAIN INDICATIONS
Muscle pain, stress, functional recovery.
YOGA
WHAT IS YOGA
Yoga: Millennial discipline that combines static postures, diet, breathing techniques and meditation to achieve physical and mental well-being.
SESSIONS
Although yoga can be learned by oneself, at first it is advisable to follow the teachings of a teacher. Classes last approximately one hour.
MAIN INDICATIONS
Lack of vitality. back problems, stress, lack of concentration, poor flexibility.
RELAXATION
WHAT ARE RELAXATION TECHNIQUES
Relaxation techniques (sophrology, autogenic training) reverse the processes triggered by stress and bring peace of mind.
SESSIONS
It is part of the treatments prescribed by naturopaths and psychotherapists, but also by conventional medicine.
MAIN INDICATIONS
Stress, anxiety, asthma attacks, irritable bowel, skin problems.
BACH FLOWERS
WHAT ARE BACH FLOWERS
Bach flowers: The elixirs obtained from certain flowers attenuate fears and improve emotional balance, which indirectly affects health.
SESSIONS
At first it is preferable to follow the recipe of a floral therapist. Then it is possible to experiment for oneself.
MAIN INDICATIONS
Fears and insecurities, emotional problems.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE SPECIALIST THAT SUITS US
For the choice of “general practitioner” it is necessary to take into account what it offers and if it adapts to the tastes and preferences of the patient.
A conventional doctor has at his disposal a large number of objective and technology-based diagnostic methods, from blood and urine tests to x-rays, biopsies or MRIs.
In addition, their decisions are usually based on protocols that have the support of the scientific community.
As for treatment, it is usually focused on the suppression of symptoms and for this it uses medications that may present undesirable side effects.
However, conventional solutions are often the best, especially in severe cases requiring surgical or technological interventions.
The naturopathic doctor has at his disposal the same means for diagnosis, in addition to others such as iridology, kinesiology or bio resonance, but gives more importance to the patient’s lifestyle.
If the doctor is homeopathic, he is especially interested in his type of psychophysical constitution and to define it he performs an extensive questionnaire that goes far beyond the symptoms presented by the patient, looking for the factors that most destabilize him, whether emotional or coming from the environment.
The traditional Chinese, Ayurvedic or Tibetan doctor observes the state of the energies that govern the body and mind of his patient. To do this, he resorts to the interview, to the observation of the general appearance and of certain areas of the body or to the subtle taking of the pulses.
The therapist may use one or more of the therapies that constitute traditional Chinese medicine, such as phytotherapy, acupuncture or tuna massage.
Schematizing, it can be said that the naturist, the homeopath and the traditional oriental doctor observe the sick person globally and that the conventional doctor diagnoses the disease.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE MOST SUITABLE SPECIALIST
Most of the keys to a good choice have to do with the patient.
In the first place, you may have more or less information about what happens to you and this conditions which should be the professional to whom you should go.
For example, if you are in the phase where you have noticed discomfort that you had not experienced before and do not suspect what its origin may be, it is best to go to a professional with very extensive knowledge and who is trained to make a reliable diagnosis. It is highly recommended that you have a university degree and that you are collegiate.
You can practice one of the great medical systems, that is, you can be a conventional doctor, a naturopathic doctor, a homeopathic doctor or an expert in Chinese medicine.
These are the great global conceptions, although there are therapists with other types of training who also consider themselves capable of making a diagnosis.
Once the therapy is chosen, the selection of the professional is a crucial step because it is often more decisive for the healing of the therapist than the therapy, and this is true for both natural and conventional medicine.
Ideally, it should be a person with academic training, who if he presents himself as a doctor must be a university student. The names of well-known educational establishments give more confidence than foreigners with a bombastic name.
It is not uncommon to find naturopaths who do not master English but who exhibit degrees from British or American centers; However, some foreign diplomas endorse a serious training that cannot or could not be found in our country, frequent case in osteopathy, chiropractic or RPG.
The recommendation of a relative, a friend, a person related to the health world or, better yet, people who have been treated by the therapist, may be the best guarantee.
Humility, ability to listen, tolerance towards the patient’s opinions and towards other therapeutic options are positive traits in a healthcare professional.
On the other hand, the absence of reliable titration, the scarce variety in treatments or announcing the cure, sometimes without even having examined the sick or when others have failed, are precautionary reasons.
The first visit is the key moment. Do not hesitate to ask all the precise questions about the diagnosis, the justification of the treatment, its duration and cost.
Trust in the therapist and his methods is an important factor. Before that person you have to feel safe and cared for enough to entrust him with painful and intimate aspects, often related to the disease.
According to a study conducted by Truax and Car huff, the most effective therapist is the one who establishes a relationship with his patient based on empathy and respect. It is only justified for the patient to leave the consultation troubled when the therapist is forced to address an inner conflict that he is avoiding and that may be the cause of his ills.
Anyway, a good therapist should never cause guilt. On the other hand, it must reinforce the responsibility of the patient, decisive when it comes to healing or, at least, living constructively with the disease.
WHAT IF THE THERAPY I CHOOSE DOESN’T WORK?
It is possible that the first choice of doctor is the definitive one because the chosen one initiates a satisfactory treatment or that it becomes a guide to other therapies.
The experience of many patients shows that conventional doctors do not usually show understanding towards treatments with natural therapies. However, every day there are more doctors with an open mind.
On the other hand, naturopathic doctors and homeopaths usually know the different natural treatments and may recommend consultation with another therapist.
In the event of back pain, for example, they will prescribe their remedies and may also suggest that you visit an osteopath, a chiropractor or a specialist in relaxation techniques.
It is easier for this to happen when several professionals work in the same health center. It is also your obligation to direct your patient to conventional medicine when this is the best option.
