Alternative Medicine and Customized Care Plans

Have you ever felt like a number in a doctor’s office, like your doctor has no idea who you are and does not really care about you or your needs? Have you ever gone through test after test after test trying to figure out what is wrong only to receive a prescription that only halfway addresses the problem? This is the way many people feel in the current western medical system. While many unconventional practices may not be covered by your insurance, it might be worth looking into some of the following types of doctors who can provide customized care plans.

Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine is extremely broad in its definition. It may include acupuncture (the insertion of needles in the skin), Ayurveda (Hindu medicine), homeopathy (the dilution of a substance), naturopathy (the use of naturally occurring substances), and traditional Chinese medicine (the focus on the body’s harmonious functioning). Each of these types of alternative approaches has benefits and drawbacks worth researching. If your normal physician is not cutting it, these might be worth a look.
Biologically-Based Therapies

This is like a step up from alternative medical approaches, as far as evidence-based medicine is concerned. It makes great use of nature’s substances to treat patients. There is a strong focus on diet, supplements, and herbal products. They may bring up things you have never even considered before, (e.g. carbohydrate sensitivity), and then provide customized care plans and specify which foods to eat to address your needs.

Manipulative and Body-Based Practices

It probably does not sound too far out there when you hear that a massage can relieve muscle soreness and swelling. Other examples of this approach include the Alexander technique, chiropractic care, reflexology, therapeutic touch, and more. These techniques all have to do with the movement of various parts of the body to address pain and other complaints. This highly specialized form of medicine is great for addressing your specific needs, like areas on your back that are sore, or specific parts of your body that are swelling or in pain. The treatment is designed around you.


Other Approaches

There are other forms of alternative medicine like mind-body intervention and energy therapies. The former field may contain specialties like hypnotherapy, meditation, yoga, dance therapy, and more. The idea is that the mind can affect the body’s functions. The latter adopts the belief in energy fields around and throughout the body and in the manipulation of these fields. No matter what you are looking for, you may want to consider a specialist who can take the time to determine your needs and create customized care plans for you.