The term Alternative Medicine has come to embrace any form
of medicine that is outside the mainstream of western or orthodox medicine
(allopathy) as practised by the majority of western doctors today.
Alternative medicines are in fact an approach to health and
well-being. Being holistic in nature, it represents the sum total of measures,
ingredients, customs and creative procedures of several forms, both material,
psychological and spiritual for more than 5000 years which have enabled man to
remain healthy by protecting himself against disease, alleviating human
suffering and curing disorders.
In contrast orthodox western medicine’s sole preoccupation
is with the mechanical or physical side of the body to the almost total
exclusion of other considerations.
The holistic approach regards life as a total synthesis of
spirit, mind and body and in accordance with conviction, positive health is
regards as the blending of physical, mental, social, moral and spiritual
well-being.
A unique feature of the alternative approach is that the
individual is made conscious and aware of their own health during the process
of recovery and becomes their own physician
Aromatherapy
Proverbs 27:9 Ointments and perfume encourage
the heart; in a similar way, a friend’s advice is sweet to the soul
The application of fragrances in the form of flower essences,
essential oils, or vapours.
2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ
among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
Leviticus 2:9 Then the priest shall take from the grain
offering a memorial portion, and burn it on the altar. It is an offering made
by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.
Ephesians 5:2 And
walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering
and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Genesis 8:21 And the
LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, 'I will never
again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart
is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have
done.
On a physiological sense: smell is made possible by the
direct connection of sensory olfactory neurons to the first central relay: the
olfactory bulb, and is developed as soon as the embryo is formed. With this we
also know that humans can distinguish between at least 1 trillion olfactory
stimuli. Smells also induce hormonal changes, as in preparation to eat, avoid
rot and death.
On an emotional level smell can trigger
memories, and affect attachment between people. Smells can also revitalise or
calm a person, creating a specified mood.
Alternative medicine describes treatments that are used either with or instead of mainstream allopathic (pharmaceutical) therapies. It can also be called complementary or integrative medicine.
In alternative medicine we use a holistic view, considering the whole person, spirit, soul and body. Knowing that the various systems in the body are not isolated as parts, but function together to form a complete homeostasis.
Amongst the practices included is SCIO, biofeedback, Ayurveda, Bach Flower Essences, and Herbal Medicine.
Disease is usually only a symptom of multifactorial influences. Spiritually, the disconnect from God, your loved ones, and even business relationships can take a toll on your peace. Unforgiveness being one of the major cause of things like cancer and high blood pressure.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10865-007-9105-8
Spiritual healing and restoration of relationships are part of the biblical counselling that is needed in many cases.
The mind, will and emotions have a strong influence on the body, and vice versa, as chemical imbalances in the body can lead to hormonal shifts that severely impact the emotional wellbeing. Counselling is balanced by physiological analysis using blood pressure, SCIO and other biofeedback systems.
Herbology
The study of any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used
for flavouring, food, medicine, or perfume. Ezekiel 47:12 By the river on its
bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food.
Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear
every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will
be for food and their leaves for healing.” Revelation 22:2 in the middle of its
street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds
of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for
the healing of the nations.
Herbology is probably the oldest medical science in existence,
and is the forefront from which pharmaceutical products were made. Traditional
and alternative medicine utilises the herb as a whole, with all the isomeric
variations in it’s chemical structure. Westernised medicine focuses on
identifying single isomers that have the greatest desired effect on a single ‘disease’
in a control group. This sometimes leads to chemical build-up in different
populations, and can lead to adverse effects. Different molecular isomers allow
for a larger variation of genetic individuality to be accommodated, and
different molecules have different effects in the body.
A comparison was made in a study comparing reactions of aspirin
and willow bark (natural aspirin) to see how it effected individuals. Willow
species contain low quantitie of the prodrug salicin (aspirin). Salicin is
metabolized into various salicylate derivatives when fully digested. The amount
of salicin in a normal dose of willowbark on it’s own will not be seen as
sufficient for pain relief, when compared to the concentrated amount for an analgesic
dose of aspirin. Isomeric variation, flavonoids and polyphenols add
to the potency of the willow bark analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. The
different components of willow bark provides a diverse medium of action
michanics, which in turn leads to less adverse effects and NCDs than aspirin,
as willow bark does not damage the gastrointestinal mucosa. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.3386
2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.