Michael Phelps’ derrier can arguably be credited for cupping‘s recent rise to fame during the Rio Olympics, but the benefits of acupuncture, meditation, and other complementary alternative medicine (CAM) therapies have long and quietly been extolled as an integral missing piece of medicine. In the recent decade, alternative therapies including homeopathy and reflexology have started to gain wide-spread recognition as important elements of holistic healing, countering its overall reputation of quackery in the West.
In general, the philosophies that fueled alternative medicine view the body as a system whose balance must be maintained between the mind, body, and spirit. Ancient Chinese philosophy attributed maladies to a disruption of the body’s energy or qi; Egyptians burned myrrh and frankincense to improve physiological and psychological well being; and to this day, Hindus argue that mindfulness, meditation, and yoga can develop and strengthen the connections between the mind and body, improving most ailments and contributing to overall positive mental health.
Purchasing organic and natural products is just the first step in a longer journey towards health for ourselves and for the environment; the critical pivot comes when we truly choose to open our minds to something ‘alternative’ to what we’ve been taught our whole lives. Opening your mind and truly accepting something new can only come with the knowledge of it and understanding. So, to help you introduce holistic healing into your life, here’s a quick A to Z guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine —
Acupuncture
Acupuncture corrects the flow of a person’s qi by stimulating the problem muscles, nerves, and connective tissue with thin needles applied at the skin’s surface. Stimulating the area either through electronic pulses or massage, has been shown to help with the nervous system, endocrine and immune systems, cardiovascular system, and digestive system health. It has been most widely accepted as a treatment for nausea and pain, though it has also been reported as an effective complementary treatment for those suffering from addiction, stroke rehabilitation, menstrual cramps, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, and asthma.
Aromatherapy
Extracted from plants, flowers and herbs, aromatic oils are used to enhance psychological and physical well-being through topical application or influence through the olfactory senses and limbic system. Each oil is said to have its own properties; for example, lavender oil is used for stress relief, cell regeneration, and wound healing and chamomile for menstrual cramps, anxiety, and spasms. Chemotherapy patients report finding aromatherapy efficient in countering nausea from treatments, so the benefits extend to pregnant women, women with wicked PMS and cramps, and those with general digestive issues.
Cupping
Cupping involves creating a negative force of pressure over the underlying skin and muscle, causing increased blood circulation, soft tissue expansion, and the loosening of the connective tissue between the skin and muscles eliminating much of the tension and allowing for a greater range of motion. Both cupping and acupuncture are arguably better than deep tissue massage since the pressure and digital manipulation can often cause micro-tears and add to the inflammation.
It can aid with muscle pain, arthritis, insomnia, fertility issues, skin problems, respiratory disorders, and fibromyalgia. For athletes, it is similar to other sport-related physical therapies like freeze tanks and oxygen rich blood injections. Because inflammation and blood stagnation are common side effects of sports injuries and intense physical training, it’s no surprise that athletes like Phelps, swimmer Natalie Coughlin, and American gymnast Alexander Naddour, were leading the way in the grassroots, social acceptance of alternative therapies this past Olympics.
Homeopathy & Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies
Ayurveda addresses the imbalances of a person’s prakruti (Ayurvedic constitution). Cures aren’t just tablets, they are behavioral regimens are tailored to each person’s unique system taking into account their need for exercise, personal hygiene, social interaction, and other lifestyle elements.
Homeopathy taps into the bodies’ own immune system for healing. In theory, a homeopathic dose enhances the body’s normal healing and self-regulatory processes by introducing ‘like’ substances that trigger certain responses. Historically, people have used homeopathy to maintain health and treat a wide range of long-term illnesses, such as allergies, atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. Magnesia phosphorica is particularly said to help with menstrual cramps and pain.
Meditation & Yoga
This one is no secret. Among meditation’s 76 proclaimed medical benefits are focus of the mind, stress relief and increased concentration, but the real reward is being able to move through life with inner peace. There’s even scientific evidence showing how meditation works. In people who are meditating, brain scans show an increase in activity in areas that control metabolism and heart rate. Other studies on Buddhist monks have shown that meditation produces long-lasting changes in the brain activity in areas involved in attention, working memory, learning, and conscious perception.
Yoga keeps the body flexible and strong while improving circulation, respiration, and organ function; although it only has 38 health benefits, it can prevent the chance of injury, increase metabolic function and aid with weight loss, and aid with mental health illnesses like depression. The breathing techniques taught in yoga are critical for achieving optimal health function so be sure to pay attention to this portion of the class! Breathing techniques can lower blood pressure, aid in the relief of anxiety, COPD symptoms, PTSD, and depression.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a system of massage of the feet based on the idea that there are invisible zones running vertically through the body, so that each organ has a corresponding location in the foot. Applied pressure on certain points of the feet work to stimulate blood supply through different organ systems, relieve tension, and work on balancing the patient’s overall qi, energy, or overall life-force.
As a company that’s pioneered the Maxim organic and natural alternative in tampons and sanitary pads, it should come to no surprise that we’re advocating for other alternative healthy lifestyle practices. We hope you’ll try a few of these out and let us know how it goes!