What exactly Alternative Medicine is
and what is it good for?

Alternative Medicine or  Complementary Medicine is a wide spectrum of medical and health care systems,  treatments and products that are not  included in modern  conventional medicine and are not supported by scientific researchers. There are different schools, not  necessarily tied to each other,  adopting different approaches.

Many doctors criticize alternative medicine claiming that it practically does not solve medical problems and the improvement one may claim is actually a placebo effect. Proponents claim that there's nothing wrong by using complementary therapies ending with placebo effect as far as the patients feel good and while these treatments are coming along with conventional treatments and not replacing them.

Alternative medicine includes many methods and many disciplines that we can include in this category. Most famous is the traditional ancient Chinese acupuncture. Other popular treatments are:  Shiatsu, Twina (or Tuina), Reiki, Reflexology and the use of dietary supplements and medical herbs and minerals.


Acupuncture - This is a very ancient Chinese method according to which the therapist tries to find the source of the energetic imbalance in the patient's body and return the balance. Acupuncture intends to release energetic blockages on the meridians (energy lines pass through the body).

The treatment is done by puncturing specific anatomical spots on the body by using small designated needles and does not involve any pain. The treatment supposed to help accelerating healing process and in pain relief.

Shiatsu  - Japanese therapy based on Chinese ancient medicine. It combines treatment through touch, pressing anatomical spots, bending and stretching limbs to influence muscles, nerves and internal systems to attain balance between body and soul. It is mainly used for headache, back and muscles pains and also for tension let go.

Tuina  - is another form of Chinese massage known also as Chinese Physiotherapy which is based on manipulating the patient's body.  It combines energetic and physical inputs on the acupuncture spots and various body tissues, and also use of oils, creams, compresses, cupping glasses or Moxa.

Reiki  - It is quite a relatively new technique which was developed in Japan only in the last century. Reiki treatment is usually done through touch - there are various positions according to which the therapist places his hands on the patient's body, or slightly above it, then, Reiki energy flows from the therapist to the patient.

Reflexology  -  This is medical diagnosis and treatment method for physical problems using touch  pressure in certain areas on feet and hands, which represent specific body organs. According to reflexology, by applying pressure, hitting or moving certain areas of the foot, can cure certain diseases by unblocking energy that does not flow properly.

Dietary supplements - These supplements are taken in addition to regular food in order to provide essential missing or insufficient materials such as vitamins, minerals, fatty acids or amino acids that we lack on regular diet.