ALTERNATIVE

SYSTEM OF MEDICINE

By
SHIJU VARGHESE
 INTRODUCTION

•Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes

various healing approaches and therapies that originates from
around the world and that are not based on conventional
western medicine. These therapies are called alternative
medicines when they are used alone and complementary
medicine when they are used with conventional medicine.

•Alternative medicine includes therapies and health care

practices not widely taught is most medical schools; however,
many such practices are popular, and some are used in
hospitals.
TERMINOLOGIES:
•Holism: The idea that the whole of the sick person, including
their body, mind and way of life, should be considered when
treating them, and not just the symptom of the disease.
•Humanism: A system of the thought that considers the
solving of human problems with the help off religious beliefs.
It emphasizes the fact that the basic, nature of humans is good.
•Balance: A situation in which different things exist in equal,
correct or good amount.
•Energy: The ability to put effort and enthusiasm into
an
activity, work etc.
•Healing: The process of returning to normal function after a
period of disease or injury.
 DEFINITION:

“Complementary and alternative to most

medicine is a group of diverse medical and
health care systems, practices, and products
that are not generally considered part of
conventional medicine.”
TYPES OF ALTENATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY SYSTEM
OF MEDICINE
Alternative medical systems.
Biologically based treatments.
Mind-body treatments.
Manipulative and body-based methods and
Energy therapies.
 Alternative medical systems.

SIDDHA

NATUROPA
-THY
AYURVED HOMEOPA
T
A -HY

UNANI
AND
TIBBI
 AYURVEDA:
•Ayurveda is a system of healing based on
homeopathy and naturopathy, with an
extensive use of herbs.

•Ayurveda (devanagari, the ‘science of

life’) is a system of traditional medicine
native to the Indian Subcontinent
originated > 5000 year ago and practiced
in other parts of the word as a form of
alternative medicines.
•The aim is to remove the cause of disorders, prevent
illness and harmonize body, mind and consciousness.
Ayurveda aids in maintaining good health, increasing
longevity and overall quality of life.

•Alternative Ayurvedic treatments self-help

and
regiments include nutrition, herbal remedies,
aromatherapy, and lifestyle recommendations,
massage treatments,
Panchakarma color/soundYoga,
(detoxification), therapy-meditation,
meditation and
rejuvenation therapies. Ayurveda empowers the
individual to take control of their own health and well-
being.
 SIDDHA
The Siddha medicine is a form of south Indian Tamil traditional
medicine and part of the part of the trio Indian medicines Ayurveda,
siddha and unani.

Lord Sri Akshunna a master of northern siddha tradition, says there

is use of siddha medicines in the north Indian part or rather in
Himalayan region as jharphuk and siddha buti (medicine) tantra.

The system is believed to be developed by the 9 nath and 84 siddhas

in the north and 18 siddha in the south called siddhar.

It is assumed that when the normal equilibrium of three humors

(vatha, pitha and kapha) is disturbed, disease is caused. The factors,
which assumed to affect this equilibrium are environment, climatic
conditions, diet, physical activities, and stress.
THERAPIES INCLUDED…

 PURGATIVE THERAPHY
 EMETIC THERAPHY
 FASTING THERAPHY
 STEAM THERAPHY
 PHYSICAL THERAPHY
 OLEATION THERAPHY
 SOLAR THERAPHY
 BLOOD LETTING THERAPHY
 YOGA THERAPHY
UNANI &TIBBI
•Unani has found favour in Asia, especially India, these
Unani practitioners can practice qualified doctors, as the
Indian government approves their practice. Unani medicine
is very close to Ayurveda.

•Both are based on theory of the presence of the elements

(In Unani, they are considered to be fire, water, earth and
air) in the human body.

•According to followers of Unani medicine, these elements

are present in different fluids and their balance leads to
health and their imbalance leads to illness.
 HOMEOPATHY
•It is system of therapy based on the concept that diseases can
treated with drugs (in minute doses) which are capable of
producing the same symptoms in healthy people as the disease
itself’
•Development in Germany in the late 1700s, homeopathy is
based on the principle that like curses like. A substance that,
when given in large doses, causes a set of symptoms is
believed to cure the same symptoms when it is given in minute
doses.
 NATUROPATHY
•It is a system of therapy based on preventative care, and on
the use of heat, water, light, air and massage as primary
therapies for disease.

•This therapy began as a formal health care system in the US

during the early 1900s.

•In treatment the whole person the naturopathic practitioner

searches for causes at many levels, and attempts to eliminate
the fundamental cause of illness not simply to remove
symptoms
1. NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
2. FASTING
3. SRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT
4. HYDROTHERAPHY
5. HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
6. EDUCATION
BIOLOGICALLY BASED TREATMENTS

HERBAL NUTRITIONAL
MEDICINE THERAPHY

BIOLOGICAL BSED
TREATMRNTS
 HERBAL MEDICINE
•Ginkgo Biloba may be effective in relieving the
symptoms of dementia and it may also support
memory in all older people.
•Ginger is an effective remedy for nausea and against
fungal vomiting.
•Horse chestnut seed extract can alleviate the
symptoms of varicose veins.
•Tea tree oil may be effective against fungal infections
such as athlete’s foot.
•Vegetables from the allium family (onions and garlic)
may protect against certain cancers if eaten regularly,
especially cancers of the digestive tract, though further
MIND-BODY TECHNIQUES:
•Mind-body techniques are based on the theory that mental
and emotional factors can influence physical health. Behavior,
psychological, social, and spiritual methods are used to
preserve health and prevent or cure disease.

Meditation
Hypnotherapy(hypnosis)
Biofeedback
Relaxation techniques
Guided imaginary
  Meditation
•In meditation, people regulate their attention or systematically
focus on particular aspects of inner or outer experience.
Meditation usually involves sitting or resting quietly, often
with the eyes closed. Sometimes it involves the repetitive
sounding of a phrase (a mantra) meant to help the person.
 Hypnotherapy(hypnosis)
This alternative therapy is derived from western practice. In
hypnotherapy (hypnosis), people are guided into an advanced state
of relaxation and heightened attention.
• Phobias & Certain pain syndromes
•Smoking cessation
•Conversion disorders (in which apparent physical illness actually
is caused mainly by psychological stress and conflict)
•Headaches
•Asthma &High blood pressure
•Some skin disorders (such as warts and psoriasis)
•Nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, particularly
the nausea some people get before chemotherapy (anticipatory
nausea)
•Anxiety and diminished quality of life in people who have cancer.
 Biofeedback

Biofeedback is a method of bringing unconscious biologic processes

under conscious control.
 Relaxation techniques
Relaxation techniques are practices specifically designed to
relieve tension and strain.
 Guided imaginary
Guided imagery involves the use of mental image to promote
relaxation and wellness, reduce pain, or facilitate ailment, such as
cancer or healing of a particular trauma
MANIPULATIVE AND BODY-BASED METHODS

•YOGA:
The fundamental idea behind the practice of yoga is to unite
the individual self (Jiva) with the supreme or pure
consciousness (Brahma). The factual connotation of Yoga is
unification.
BENEFITS OF YOGA THERAPY:
Yoga therapy shows positive results in treating depression.
Deep breathing associated with yoga is beneficial
in controlling premature ventricular complexes.
Yoga therapy shows significant benefits that includes
emotional functions, fitness variations, and psychological
benefits. It also shows variations in tension, mood
disturbances, cognitive function and gastrointestinal
disturbances.
If you are diabetic patient then yoga improves
nerve function and lower blood sugar.

Yoga helps in treating some problems like respiration

problems, back pain, etc. it helps in weight reductio
 CHIROPACTILE
•In chiropractice, the relationship between the structure of the spine and
function of the system is thought to be the key in maintaining or
restoring health. The main method of achieving balance is spinal
manipulation.
•TAI CHI & QIGONG:
It has recently been considered as an alternative method for lowering
the blood pressure levels. This discovery has big implications for
patients who are suffering from chronic hypertension
•ENERGY THERAPIES:
1. MASSAGE THERAPY:
Massage has been shown to help relieve muscle soreness, pain
due to back injuries, and fibromyalgia and to help relieve
anxiety in cancer patients. Massage therapy is also effective in
treating low birth weight infants, preventing injury to the
mother’s genitals during childbirth, relieving chronic
constipation, and controlling asthma
2.ACUPUNTURE:
A therapy within traditional Chinese medicine, is one of the
most widely accepted alternative therapies in the western
world. Specific points on the body are stimulated, usually
by inserting thin needles into the skin and underlying
tissues. Sometimes additional stimulation is added by using
a very low voltage electrical current, by twisting the needle,
or by warming the needle.
3.REFLEXOLOGY:
A variant of massage therapy, relies on manual
pressure applied to specific areas of the lot; these areas
are believed to correspond to different organs or body
systems via meridians. Stimulation of these areas is
believed to eliminate the blockage of energy
responsible for pain or disease in the corresponding
body part.
4.HAND MEDIATED BIO-FIELD THERAPIES:
Therapeutic touch (TT) is a mostly secular variant of faith
healing, started by Dolores Krieger in the early 1970s. The TT
practitioner moves his hands over the patient’s body, specially
the affected area, without actually touching the patient. TT
adherents claim that this directs the flow of chi so that the
patient can heal.
 OTHERS….
1.TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
•Traditional Chinese medicine: Originating > 2000 years ago,
traditional Chinese medicine is based on the theory that
disease results from improper flow of the like force (qi). Qi is
restored by balancing the opposing forces of yin and yang,
which manifest in the body as heat and cold, external and
internal, and deficiency and excess. Various practices (e.g.
acupuncture, herbal remedies, massage, and meditation) are
used to preserve and restore health.
2.CURADERISMO
It is cultural tradition found in Latin America and among many
Latinos in the United States. Although it is a traditional
healing system, it utilizes western biochemical belief,
treatment and practices.
3.AROMA THERAPY:
•Aromatherapy is based on the healing power of plant oils which may
be massaged into the skin, inhaled or used in the bath. Anecdotally it
is said to induce a feeling of well-being.
4.SPIRITUAL THERAPY:
•Spiritual therapy is a regimen designed to heal ones spirit and
psyche as well as the body. In many traditions it is believed if
one’s spirit is ailing one’s whole being suffers. This is where
spiritual therapy comes in. It treats the whole being, especially
the spirit to promote a healthy whole person.
 5.MUSIC
THERAPY

6.HUMOR AND
LAUGHTER:
7. BIOELECTROMAGNETIC THERAPY
8. PHOTO ENERGY THERAPY:
9.DETOXIFICATION THERAPY:
10.ANIMALS-ASSISTED THERAPY: