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Alternative Medicine L - R
L
LaStone Massage
Developed in the United States during the 1990s, this is a variation on a traditional massage with oil, in which pieces of hot volcanic rock and cool marble are placed on the body. Very relaxing.
Laughter Therapy
Most people discover for themselves how much better laughter can make them feel. Now this knowledge has been developed into a therapy in the UK by Robert Holden, who has encapsulated his teachings thus: "The pursuit of happiness must always fail because it is based on a lie - happiness is not outside you. Until you get this, you will never quite make it!"
Light Therapy
A treatment based on the use of natural or artifical light to counteract a range of complaints from colds to jetlag. Its most conspicuous success is in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), where sufferers become depressed by the short, cold days of winter. An 85% success rate has been claimed for treating this condition. Light therapy is also used as a cancer treatment, but this application is rather more controversial.
Listening Therapy
Developed by a French ear, nose and throat specialist, Professor Alfred A Tomatis, listening therapy asserts that the muscles of the middle ear are active rather than passive, and can therefore be trained. With the emphasis on listening (active) rather than hearing (passive) sounds are communicated through headphones to the patient, in order to train the ear. Used as a treatment for autism and other forms of disturbed behaviour, it is also applied to conditions which affect the middle ear, such as tinnitis, vertigo and Ménière's disease.
Lomi Lomi
Translates as 'loving hands' - a traditional Hawaiian massage using long flowing strokes with the heel and palm of the hand.
M
McTimoney Chiropractic
A variant on regular chiropractic, McTimoney is very gentle, and recommended for pregnant women and young children. It claims sucess with children behavioural and coordination problems, such as ADD (attention deficit disorder) and dyspraxia.
Magnetotherapy
The theory behind this is that magnetism, whether in the form of magnetically charged items or pulses of electromagnetic energy, can restore the correct electromagnetic balance of the body's cells - possibly by improving blood circulation and thus the supply of oxygen to the cells - relieving pain and sickness. Advocates either wear magnets - in the form of jewellery such as bracelets, or in pads that can be positioned on painful parts of the body, or they dose themselves with pulses of magnetic energy from a portable generator attached to pads or straps. There is little evidence to support the claims, but a recent double-blind trial among post-polio sufferers produced findings of pain relief that could not be explained by the placebo effect.
Manipulative Medicine
A general term used to embrace all the variations on chiropractic and osteopathy.
Metamorphic Technique
Developed in the 1960s by British reflexologist Robert St John, the practitioner lightly touches 'spinal reflexes', which are points on the hands, feet and head. This is supposed to bypass your old energy patterns, thus freeing energy for you to create new, more appropriate patterns.
Moxabustion
A variant on acupuncture practised by some traditional Chinese acupuncturists, where dried leaves of artemisia vulgaris or artemisia sinensis are burnt. The herbal 'moxa sticks' are either attached to the acupuncture needles or placed on the patient's skin.
Music Therapy
A therapeutic approach that is particularly helpful for those who find difficulty in fully expressing themselves verbally. During a session, the patient and therapist play, sing and listen to music. It is used with people with autism, dementia and various forms of emotional disturbance or impaired communication. Increasingly, people without specific problems are turning to music and art therapy as ways of better understanding themselves.
N
Naturopathy
The underlying principle is that the body is its own best healer, and that it is constantly directing its energies towards cleansing, repairing and restoring positive health. Disease is therefore a manifestation of the body's efforts in this direction, so symptoms should not be suppressed, but rather efforts should be made to identify the real problem and eliminate it. Naturopaths believe that many chronic illnesses are the result of misguided attempts to prevent the body from doing its self-repairing work, by suppressing the symptoms which are a part of this process. A holistic approach is taken in naturopathy, with a combination of dietary, psychological and physical therapies to achieve physical, mental and emotional balance.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming
Also referred to by the abbreviation NLP. A motivational therapy, this is a behavioural technique based on the spoken word and developed in California, which claims to be able to help you overcome negative patterns of thought and behaviour, and to achieve your goals.
Nutritional Therapy
Food as therapy - this takes the premise that we are what we eat, and asserts that each person should have a unique diet which has been matched to their individual biochemistry. The fundamentals include the same commonsense dietary guidelines issued by health professionals everywhere, but on top of that is much testing of hair samples for food intolerances, so that a personal eating regime can be designed, to help you achieve optimum health.
O
Orthomolecular Therapy
Developed by Linus Pauling, a double Nobel prize winner, the underlying principle of orthomolecular therapy is that changing the levels of various chemicals in the body can influence health. The one example of this theory which everyone has heard about, is that megadosing yourself with vitamin C will stop you catching colds. Unfortunately, a lot of high quality research exists to prove that vitamin C does not prevent colds. The theory also took a battering when it was revealed that Hoffman-La Roche, the world's largest vitamin C manufacturer, was also the biggest corporate donor to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Osteopathy
The first CAM therapy to be officially recognised in Britain, osteopathy is a manipulative technique developed in America during the Civil War, by Doctor Andrew Still. Primarily used for treating lower back pain, it works on the muscles and ligaments, combining massage, spine cracking and gentle manipulation to restore efficient blood supply by realigning the vertebrae. Some osteopaths use it to treat a range of disorders from breathing problems to headache and digestive disorders. It is regulated by the 1993 Osteopathy Act.
Oxygen Therapy
Dr Otto Warburg, a double Nobel prize winner, developed this theory that harmful bacteria and viruses need a low oxygen environment in order to survive, therefore increasing oxygen levels in the body should prevent or cure conditions from HIV to herpes - even cancer. Patients may be given dilute hydrogen peroxide to drink, or oxygen can be introduced directly into the bloodstream via an intravenous drip with ozone or hydrogen peroxide. There are some clear hazards associated with oxygen or ozone therapy, not least the risk of hydrogen peroxide damaging the kidneys on its way through.
P
Panchakarma
Detox Indian-style - a cleansing treatment using massage, emetics, purges and purvakarma therapy (see below).
Pilates
A discipline that is very popular with dancers, Pilates was developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, and involves improving the posture through strengthening the abdominal muscles, thus relieving pressure on the spine. The essence of the system is a set of exercises that are repeated very carefully a set number of times, to build strength.
Polarity Therapy
A western offshoot of ayurveda, developed by an Austrian, Randolph Stone, in the 1920s. The therapy involves a mixture of head and body massage, yoga, hydrotherapy, counselling and nutritional advice, and rests on the belief that the top and right-hand part of the body are positively charged, while the bottom and left-hand part have a negative charge.
Pranic Healing
Prana is a Sanskrit word meaning 'life force'. Pranic healers claim to study the invisible (except presumably to them) energy field which surrounds the body for evidence of disease, and effect a cure without making physical contact.
Purvakarma Therapy
Part of the panchakarma detoxification therapy, a traditional Indian treatment in which special oils are administered through the skin, mouth and anus.
Q
Qigong
A discipline of traditional Chinese medicine, qi means energy and gong is practice. Qigong masters perform external qigong as a healing therapy; adherents practise its combination of loose, gentle stretches with controlled breathing, as a means of achieving relaxation.
R
Radionics
Developed by an American doctor, Albert Abrams, in the early 20th century, radionics entails a belief that healing can be achieved remotely, with the therapist detecting and counteracting the diseased energy vibration across the ether.
Reflexology
An American therapist, Eunice Ingham, first codified the principles which govern reflexology, namely that specific zones on the feet correspond to different parts of the body, and are therefore affected by the state of health of that part, and can in turn be used to influence the area or organ beneficially. Applying firm but gentle pressure systematically over the surface of the feet, the reflexologist can apparently feel tiny crystals of lactic acid in areas that correspond to a weakness or illness in the body. They continue to work on the area until the initial feeling of discomfort has passed, and in this way release blocked energy to improve the health of the related organ or body part.
Reiki
A Japanese therapy developed from an amalgam of Buddhist and Sanskrit teachings in the early 20th century, Reiki means 'universal life energy'. Primarily a philosophy of life, the main precept is the importance of living in the present. "Just for today, do not worry". Reiki healers treat their clients by placing their hands lightly on their body, with the intention of bringing healing, and willing the Reiki energy to flow. They also believe that healing can be achieved at a distance, by visualising or objectifying the intended recipient of the healing energy and directing their intent towards them.
Rolfing
See also HellerWork. Developed in New York in the 1930s, by Ida Rolf, rolfing is a holistic system of soft tissue manipulation and movement education designed to address the way that gravity effects the body. Ida Rolf called her system Structural Integration, but it is much more often referred to by its nickname, "Rolfing". It is seen as a way to ease pain and chronic stress, and to improve performance in daily activities. Caution: Rolfing is a deep and strong massage therapy - for some clients, that equates to pain!
Please note that any information provided on this site is offered without guarantees or any acceptance of liability. We do our best to verify accuracy, but are not offering advice. You should consult a suitably qualified medical practitioner before undertaking any treatment.
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