Alternative therapies
Welcome to www.medimatters.co.uk for all your local complementary and alternative health therapies needs in Brighton, Hove and Sussex. Email info@medimatters.co.uk Call 07854 187412
Choosing a therapist
Complementary therapies are a growing business in the UK
make a few simple checks before undertaking any treatments
Check that your therapist/practitioner is a member of an established
and recognised body that can give accreditation to their training.
Currently there in no one single body that covers the complementary
and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies offered in the UK
Questions to ask your therapist before starting any treatments
- What training and qualifications does the therapist have?
- Where did he or she train?
- How much experience does the therapist have?
- Has the therapist treated other people before with a similar condition
or symptoms and what results were there?
- Does he or she belong to a professional organisation?
- Is he or she professionally indemnified?
- Is the therapy proven safe?
- How will the treatment benefit oneself?
- What does the treatment involve?
- How many treatments will be needed?
- How frequent and long are the sessions?
- How much does the course cost? -and how does the therapist
take payments and offer any discounts for a course?
- Does the therapist make one feel comfortable with their
approach?
What to expect
Practitioners of complementary medicine take a holistic approach
and treat the whole person rather than just the symptom.
This generally means that the first consultation with a practitioner is
far longer an appointment than when treatments are given, as
extended questions are asked concerning past and current medical
history and lifestyle and any current symptoms being experienced.
It is always wise to inform your doctor when you are planning to try
some form of complementary therapy in case the doctor knows of good reasons why you should not continue.
Always check first, if treatment should be undertaken if you suspect
you are pregnant.
acupuncture
alexander technique
aroma therapy
art therapy
ayurveda
bowen therapy
chiropractic
colonic irrigation
colour therapy
creativity coaching
crystal healing
feng shui
healing
herbal medicine
homeopathy
hypnotherapy
iridology
kinesiology
massage
neuro linguistic programming
nutritional therapy
osteopathy
reflexology
reiki
shiatsu
t'ai chi
traditional chinese medicine
about these therapies
and information about their professional bodies
Alexander technique teaches you to strip away the movement habits
and tension patterns at the root of your discomfort, learning how to
balance, sit and move with safety efficiency and ease.
Aromatherapy uses pure essential oils, derived from plants, in a huge
range of beauty and healing treatments including therapeutic massage.
Art Therapy can be used for a variety of symptoms such as anxiety, depression, isolation, low self- esteem where patients can express themselves through means of art, not skilful creations but through finding an outlet to express their emotions and images from within, in a safe and confidential environment.
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Originating from Indian, ayuryeda promotes the principles of natural living; including food, environment, lifestyle. Due to Western regulations, styles
in the UK are mainly massage, dietary and herbal advice.
The bowen technique allows the body to reset and heal itself by a
treatment which consists of a series of gentle moves on skin or
through lightweight clothing whilst the patient relaxes lying on a couch.
Treatments can last from half an hour or so.
Colon hydrotherapy is an internal bath of warm filtered water, which helps
to clean the colon of accumulated faecal matter, mucoid deposits, gas
and toxins. A number of medical conditions respond well to this treatment.
This therapy, originates from Australia, where very few and gentle moves
are done across muscles and tendons to engage the body self healing process. These moves overlap reflex and acupuncture points.
Creative Coaches help to provide the painter with further vision, and creativity; overcoming rejection to previous works or projects, help to overcome obstacles or a block in art-practice or creative life. They help the painter and other artists such as singers or writers to even take up their practice or continue through with their practice.
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The study of crystals is a Science, still in its embryonic stage but has been used for centuries for divination and/or healing purposes. It is believed that crystals hold living energies; therapists use these to heal and repair damage.
Used by millions of people around the world. Feng shui consultants suggest ways to improve your environment and harmony in the home or at business properties.
Usually consultants have different methods and working practices but most will use a number of similar techniques based on the requirements of their client.
The success often relies upon a working relationship between client and consultant in this complex subject where each set of recommendations is unique and represents a whole picture of your property and its occupants from the viewpoint of feng shui practised by each consultant.
Everyday healing is a mixture of treatments, being both orthdox and complementary – and the workings of the body's own healing abilities.
Energy healing sees the whole process of healing as working with the
body's energy fields. It may include treatments that work alongside the
body's healing process (drugs, surgery herbs and supplements) and those that enhance the body's healing process (such as homeopathy).
Energy-based healing aims to restore completion, wholeness, contentment and joy.
For most illnesses this is satisfactory, but in life-threatening and chronic illnesses, this is not enough.
Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis for treating a number of conditions such as addictions, anxiety, depression, obesity, phobias and to manage stress and others.
The Hypnotherapist induces a state of relaxation in the patient by a number of differing methods. Hypnosis is not a state of sleep but a state of relaxation varying from light to deep. Once the patient is in this state, the therapist uses suggestion which is aimed at influencing behaviour and relieving symptoms.
It is quite common to treat for several negative emotions in one session, but many simple phobias can be cleared quite quickly. Sessions normally last between an hour and an hour and a half.
This is the study of the eye where the iris reveals changing conditions of every part and organ of the body.
Every organ and part of the body is represented somewhere in the iris in a defined area. In addition, through various signs such as discolouring and marks, nature reveals the weaknesses and strengths of the body.
Iridology complements other therapeutic sciences. It provides information as to root causes of illnesses and can help to reveal the appropriate treatments
required. It is a safe, non-invasive diagnostic science, which can be integrated with both orthodox and complementary medicine.
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Kinesiology is literally the study of body movement. A holistic approach to
balancing the movement and interaction of a person's energy systems.
Gentle assessment of muscle response monitors those areas where blocks and imbalance are impairing physical, emotional or energetic well-being.
The same method can identify factors that may be contributing to such imbalances.
Developed in the USA by a Chiropractor, only in use since the 1960's, it is now practised around the world.
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There are many types of massage but a qualified massage therapist will generally start with a consultation trying to establish the cause of any pain.
Treatment will include a variety of techniques, but should start slowly as the therapist first warms all your muscles before easing into tight muscles and 'knots' of tension, getting deeper as you begin to relax, generally using oils.
Massage has been shown to reduce levels of anxiety, stress and depression,
improving circulation.
Some massage involves the patient lying on a massage table or sitting or lying on the floor, generally partially or unclothed.
Some of the more popular forms of massage are – bowen therapy, crano sacral therapy, deep tissue massage, hot stone massage, rolfing, scalp massage, shiatsu, sports massage and sports therapy, stone massage, swedish massage, thai massage.
For a full explanation of most common types of massage refer to Wikipedia
Based on the idea that life experiences inform the way you see the world.
Clients are helped to change their behaviour to improve communication and happiness.
Nutritional Therapy is not just about healthy eating. It seeks to deal with fundamental cause of ill health by identifying possible:
- nutritional and biochemical imbalances
- environment factors
- emotional factors
- problems related to digestion, absorption and elimination and detoxification
The body has the natural ability to heal itself and needs the right raw materials to achieve in optimum nutrition.
Nutrition can help many conditions including lack of energy, indigestion, joint and muscle pain and aches, hormone imbalances, stress, anxiety, depression, weight gain, weight loss, skin disorders and cardiovascular problems.
The therapist will take a medical history at a consultation and usually the patient completes a questionnaire on diet and lifestyle. The patient may also be asked to keep a food diary. A health programme will be drawn up to meet personal needs. The strategy and dietary recommendations are explained clearly so these can be incorporated easily into daily life routine.
The patients programme is monitored as they progress to achieve goals in optimum nutrition. Diagnostic tests may be required to check for food allergies or nutritional deficiencies.
Treatment normally consists of the consultation, generally lasting up to one hour and a series of follow-up consultations of shorter duration, monitoring progress and allow minor changes in the diet if still necessary to be implemented.
Reflexology is the system of complementary medicine where the application
of pressure, stretch and movement to feet and hands breaks up patterns of stress affecting corresponding parts of the body, restoring energy.
It can help with a number of symptoms such as arthritis, digestive
problems, neck and back pain and can also help to reduce the side effects
of psychotropic medication (drugs to treat mental problems), and can moderate the highs and lows of mood swings.
A Japanese form of healing developed in the early part of the twentieth century and in recent years has become extremely popular.
It involves the transfer of energy from therapist to patient to enhance the body's natural ability to heal itself through the balancing of energy.
Reiki therapy has several basic effects; it brings about deep relaxation, destroys energy blockages, detoxifies the system, provides new vitality in the form of healing life energy and increases the vibrational frequency of the body.
The patient remains full clothed as the Reiki practitioner
using various hand positions focuses on the main energy
points of the body, these areas known as major Chakras,
of which there are seven running down the body.
Diagnosis is unnecessary, so there is no need for you
to share details of any medical condition.
There are three levels of reiki therapists; level two is where therapists can treat others and level three is where they can teach others.
Originally from Japan, a form of massage that works like acupuncture,
stimulating and balancing the body's energy flow along pathways
known as meridians, using techniques such as holding, pressing and
stretching.
Treatment is usually given with the patient lying on the floor on a futon.
There are five main styles practised in the UK, developed from the system originally taught in China. practised as a martial art but now promoted as a
therapy for health and longevity.
T'ai Chi is well known for its slow routines where people practice every morning in parks across the world. its practical value is to teach balance, stability of behaviour.
TCM is a long, established and holistic system with more
than 3000 years of history. As well as acupuncture, TCM
incorporates lifestyle adjustment, massage and herbal
medication.
The TCM approach is different from that used in Western
medicine. It looks at the whole person, not just a set of
symptoms, and is more concerned with maintaining general
good health.
There are few complaints that cannot be helped by TCM
as long as the practitioner is able to complete a full diagnosis,
including pulse and tongue analysis.
Herbs are often used to help repair the immune system and
restore energy during after chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Need more information? en.wikipedia.org
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