It is standard for someone to seek out a quick fix when it comes to being sick. If you have a headache, you take Ibuprofin. If you have heartburn, you take an antacid. If you are feeling incessantly lethargic, you drink more caffeine. The problem with these band-aid treatments is that they don't address the root of the problem; they only mask the annoying symptoms.
Fortunately, more and more people are discontended with simply treating symptoms and have begun seeking out the true causes of their ailments and general dis-ease. What they are seeing is that, in the case of the headache, it may actually be stress that they need to manage. Likewise, It becomes apparent that heartburn can often easily be reduced through dietary changes, and that a new exercise program can usually alleviate lethargy.
Complimentary medicine is what the name implies-it is meant to be done in addition to or in conjunction with regular medical treatment. The hope is that when you use complimentary care you will reduce your need for conventional medicine. For example, if you can manage your stress through a yoga program, then your need for conventional medicine's anxiety medication will decline. What is not so apparent in the name "complimentary care" is the amount of personal responsibility that it requires from the patient.
We need an attitude shift regarding health. If we are to get relief and heal from ailments and diseases, lifestyle changes that prioritize health and wellness are essential. While a change in lifestyle might sound scary and turn off some of us, acheiving this is one of the most rewarding and satisfying feelings you will ever experience. It should be comforting to know that you may still use and depend on conventional medical care methods you have long used. For example, if you are on medication for high blood pressure, you continue to take the medication as needed.
Complimentary medicine often gets confused with "alternative" medicine. Alternative means that these treatments are being used in place of, not in conjuntion with, conventional medicine. Commiting to an alternative method, to use the example above, would have you off the blood pressure medication. This is not the case with complimentary care. Complimentary medicine intelligently chooses to use the knowledge and technology of conventional medicine to everyone's benefit.
Complimentary care is the future of health and wellness. There are roughly 36 million Americans practicing yoga today! Doctors are thrilled when you tell them you have been practicing yoga, going to a counselor, or seeing a nutritionist in addition to taking medications that they have prescribed for you. Yoga and ayurveda are two great systems of complimentary care that are highly recommmended by doctors around the country.
Yoga: Yoga is a science that includes practices in asana (physical postures and movements), pranayama or breath regulation, relaxation, and meditation. The benefits of establishing a yoga practice are many and include increased flexibility, improved muscular tone, increased circulation, nervous system regulation, emotional balance, and self-awareness. Establishing a regular yoga practice is one of the greatest compliments you can add to your health care. While there are a ton of great places to practice yoga in Buffalo, it is important to know that you don't need to go anywhere to practice yoga. There are great resources online and very informative books that can teach you how to establish a self-practice. You can also link up with a yoga teacher for some private sessions to help get started.
Ayurveda: Ayurveda is yoga's sister science originating from the Vedas of ancient India thousands of years ago. It promotes health on all levels: physical, mental, and spiritiual. Its methods of healing include diet, herbs, yoga, lifestyle routines, and massage. On a basic level, ayurveda teaches us to seek out who we are by nature through the lens of the five elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth. It teaches us to take personal responsibility for living in harmony with the elements inside and around us. When balance is achieved, one experiences radiant health and vitality. An auyrvedic consultation can help you understand yourself and the root causes of your ailments. An ayurvedic practioner will work with you and your conventional doctor to bring relief and healing.
Other systems of complimentary medical care include chiropractic care, Chinese medicine, homeopathy. natropathy, and massage therapy, all of which are accessible to us here in Buffalo. Each can help you address the root causes of your aliments and dis-ease. In a perfect world, our conventional doctors would integrate these complimentary methods into their own practices, and many are now referring out for things like yoga and massage. However, some are still a bit closed-minded or not up on the science. So for now, it is up to each of us to seek out a more comprehensive cure for what ails us.
