Rather than treating disease and health conditions by suppressing symptoms, alternative health care and holistic healing methods have become popular ways to support the body’s natural healing abilities.
Many of the alternative health care practices pay attention to the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of health, in addition to the physical body. The term “holistic medicine” came from this unification of the mind and the body. Holistic practitioners treat the whole person as opposed to the individual organs of the body where symptoms occur.
“Some commonly accepted alternatives to traditional health care are acupuncture, massage, chiropractics and homeopathy,” says Ginny Hridel, the product manager of health insurance and wellness programs for the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE).
Smart Business spoke with Hridel about alternative health care and how it can benefit you and your employees.
What is acupuncture?
Since it was brought to the United States, acupuncture has grown widely in its acceptance and use. In November 1997, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Panel examined all available research on the ancient Chinese therapy. The consensus statement concluded that acupuncture:
- Clearly works to treat a number of conditions, including nausea from chemotherapy, pregnancy and pain after surgery (including dental surgery).
- May also be an effective adjunct therapy for a number of other conditions, including stroke, rehabilitation, relieving addictions, headaches, menstrual cramps, muscle pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, low back pain, osteoarthritis and asthma.
- Has a substantially lower incidence of adverse side effects than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same conditions.
- Should be integrated into standard medical practice and be covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies.
How are massages medical treatments?
Massage therapy has become an alternative and popular way for individuals to treat a variety of ailments. Once thought of as a way to pamper oneself, massage therapy is becoming accepted as a way to treat not only daily aches and pains but chronic pain, as well. Relaxation is one of the well-known benefits of receiving a massage, but that just scratches the surface. Massage increases circulation of lymph fluid, reduces muscle cramping and spasms, and relaxes and softens injured and overworked muscles. It can also help to decrease stress levels by lowering blood pressure.
What about chiropractics? How do they tie in to a health plan?
Chiropractic care is a natural, safe, drugless, hands-on form of health care. Chiropractic care helps treat pain caused from misaligned bones, called a sublaxation, which occurs when the nerves are irritated leading to muscle tightness or other health problems.
Athletes have been utilizing chiropractic care for many years. Chiropractics are drug-free alternatives to achieving maximum health and performance. Chiropractic adjustments help the body function as efficiently as possible and can also help injured athletes shorten their recovery time. It is estimated that 90 percent of all world-class athletes utilize chiropractic care.
What is homeopathy, and how can one benefit from it?
Homeopathy is based on the principle that substances that are poisonous in large doses can be very beneficial in small doses. The principle of homeopathy has a lot in common with immunizations. Homeopathy introduces the toxin into the body in very small doses so our defense system builds up immunity to the poison over time.
Homeopathic remedies, which are made from naturally occurring plant, animal or mineral substances, are recognized and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are manufactured by established pharmaceutical companies under strict guidelines. There are more than 2,000 homeopathic remedies that are derived from such exotic sources as bee stings, snake venoms, arsenic, gold and silica, and even compounds from diseased tissue.
So is alternative health care the way to go?
Alternative health care is one option in a wide array of health care choices. Don’t forgo conventional treatment of health conditions. Ideally, the various forms of treatments you select should work together with the care of your medical doctor. You may find that certain alternative treatments help you maintain your health and relieve some of your symptoms. But continue to rely on conventional medicine to diagnose problems and treat diseases. Don’t change your conventional treatment — such as your dose of prescribed medication — without talking to your doctor first. For your safety, tell your doctor about all alternative treatments you use.
GINNY HRIDEL is the product manager of health insurance and wellness programs for the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), one of Ohio’s largest small business support organizations. Reach her at [email protected] or (216) 592-2263. Composed of more than 17,000 members, COSE strives to help small businesses grow and maintain their independence. COSE has a long history of fighting for the rights of all small business owners, whether it’s through group purchasing programs for health care powered by Medical Mutual of Ohio, wellness programs designed specifically for small business, workers’ compensation or energy, advocating for specific changes in legislation or regulation, or providing a forum and resource for small businesses to connect with and learn from one another.
