Search Deeper
- Ruqaya Jawad
- Feb 26, 2021
- 3 min read
In the last few months, I have become deeply invested in the world of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). It is a fascinating field of science (yes, science), and has helped me immensely with my path to ED recovery. Most people believe that Alternative medicine is ineffective, an ancient world of outdated techniques enjoyed by hipsters and Kourtney Kardashian on her trips to Bali. But Alternative medicine is so much more than that. It leads one down a path of everlasting healing, a path so satisfying that practices become routines, and routines become second nature, as crucial as breathing or eating.
For me, Alternative medicine has helped me mostly through understanding myself, befriending my inner peace and fighting back my self-destructive tendencies. I have learned through months of psychotherapy under a Naturopathic doctor's care that simply throwing me in a recovery clinic or spoon-feeding me anti-depressants is essentially mal-practice, and that, especially with ED, long-lasting recovery comes from visiting the core of the problem, tracing it back to certain life events, and shining a light on something much bigger than how many calories I should be consuming in a day. This was the help I knew I needed, and from that point forward, I dedicated the majority of my free time to researching and learning as much as I can about this fascinating field.
The term "Alternative Medicine" is quite vague. Many different areas may exist within the realm of Alternative Medicine, and many fields may overlap with both Alternative and Conventional Medicine. However, most practices of Alternative medicine follow a similar path of recovery, focused mostly on holistic preventative healing, and the centering of the mind, body, and soul.
1) Our bodies:
Our bodies have been used in Alternative Medicine since the early days of medical care, with Ancient scribes from all over the world describing how practices of touch can help heal the physical body. Healing by touch is built upon the idea that the body works as a network of interconnected systems, working together to guarantee optimal performance. If one part of the body is injured, it can affect all other parts of the body. But with manual manipulation, the other parts can be brought back to optimum health. Physical touch is often accompanied by religious chanting, ceremonial oils, and other tools to enhance physical perception. Examples of body therapies include:
- Chiropractic and Osteopathic Medicine
- Massage
- Body movement therapies (dance)
- Tai chi
- Yoga
2) Diets and herbs:
Over many centuries, humans have gone from Hunter/Gatherer societies to Agricultural farmers, cultivating the world's riches including meats, fruit, vegetables, and grains. Over time, different societies began developing culturally-specific foods and spices based on what was available in their areas. This diversity of cultures has not only enriched our understanding of the benefits of different foods but has also lead to the development of different medicinal herbs that have contributed greatly to the world of medicine. Some of the most fascinating herbal medicines that I have researched/ personally experienced include:
- Echinacea: coneflower originally used in Native American Practices to treat a variety of ailments (wounds, toothaches, sore throats)
- Ginseng: herbal remedy traditionally used in Chinese medicine to boost immunity and brain function
- Gingko Biloba: herbal medicine derived from maidenhair trees and is used to treat heart diseases, dementia, and sexual dysfunction
- St. John's wort (from personal experience): herbal medicine derived from flowering plant Hypericum perforatum to help moderate the symptoms of depression. This medicine can be quite dangerous if used in high dosages or with other medicines, so professional advising is required
- Valerian root (from personal experience): a root used as a natural sleep and anti-anxiety aid
3) The Mind:
In Alternative Medicine, there is a huge emphasis on the connection between the mind and body. As a matter of fact, some ancient societies were able to highlight some neurological connections between chronic fatigue and depression way before conventional medicine ever did. Studies have shown that people heal better with a balance of mental and physical satisfaction, and such balance can be achieved with the help of certain Alternative practices including:
- Meditation
- Biofeedback
- Hypnosis
As skeptical as you still might be of the legitimacy of this medical field, there is no denying that long-term preventative healing requires patience, compassion, and understanding. Seeking help from Holistic healers as an alternative solution to Conventional medicine might unlock some answers about who you are and where you fit in the world, as well as build a strong relationship between your mind and your soul. By no means am I arguing that this field of medicine is for everyone, but it might help you as much as it helped me.
Comments