Treating Yourself Well: Complementary Therapies
While conventional medical care is essential in managing your hemophilia, some of the side effects of living with a chronic illness—from physical pain to stress, anxiety, and depression—may be alleviated with the addition of complementary therapies used in conjunction with your prescribed medical regimen.
What’s the Attraction?
Unlike traditional medical practitioners who may focus on a specific symptom or illness, providers of complementary therapies start from the basic idea that there is a self-regulating equilibrium that provides health and well-being in every individual—physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
“We view the body as a whole, and not as split into various functions,” says Jack Daniel, a registered acupuncturist in Baltimore, Maryland and co-founder of the Center for Traditional Acupuncture in Columbia, Maryland. “When there are signs and symptoms, those are indications that there is disharmony somewhere in the system."
Once considered beyond the norm by many conventional medical practitioners, complementary therapies are gaining acceptance, not only by patients, but also by mainstream healthcare providers, who often recommend such techniques as meditation to deal with stress and anxiety, yoga to improve flexibility and range of motion, and acupuncture to deal with pain. In several recent studies conducted by the University of Cincinnati, researchers even found that prayer can be effective in helping adolescents self-manage chronic illnesses.
Daniel believes that Western medicine is without equal for emergency interventions and saving lives. "That's what it's great for,” he says. “…And when both biomedicine and complementary medicine are each used for their strengths, they work wonderfully well together."
Coming to Terms
There are no set guidelines for what falls under the heading of complementary medicine, but here is a brief glossary of some of the more commonly used therapies:
Acupuncture: The use of very thin needles inserted along the body's "energy pathways," or meridians; believed to rectify the disharmony in the flow of a person's basic human energy, known in Chinese terms as Qi (pronounced “chee”). Acupuncture is used to treat a number of conditions, including chronic pain and drug addiction. In a small study presented at the Hemophilia 2010 World Congress, researchers from the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan reported that hemophilia patients treated with acupuncture saw an improvement in physical functioning, emotional problems, mental health, pain relief, and overall health in general. Because of the small risk of bleeding from the use of needles, treatment should be performed only by licensed acupuncturists, and with the close cooperation of a hemophilia clinic.
Acupressure: Based on the same theories as acupuncture, but using finger pressure on various points of the body instead of needles.
Ayurveda: A medical system developed in India that combines diet, exercise, meditation, herbs, and massage.
Biofeedback: The use of electrode sensors from a biofeedback machine that teaches individuals relaxation techniques they can then use on their own.
Chiropractic: Adjustment of the spine and joints to treat back problems, headaches, and other injuries.
Herbal Therapy: Used since ancient times and recommended for a variety of conditions, including insomnia and depression. Don’t self-treat with herbs; they can be harmful if used in the wrong doses and some herbs can cause complications for those with hemophilia.
Homeopathy: Based on the theory of "like cures like,” homeopathy relies on extremely diluted versions of whatever toxin is causing the body to react negatively.
Massage therapy: A therapist presses, rubs, and otherwise manipulates the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. Massage is used for a variety of health-related purposes, including pain relief, rehabilitation from injuries, stress reduction, relaxation, relief from anxiety and depression, and general well-being.
Mind-Body Medicine: The concept that the mind is important in the treatment of illness. Integral to the healing approaches of traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda medicine, mind-body practices such as meditation and yoga focus on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behavior to affect physical functioning and promote health.
- Meditation techniques include specific postures and focused attention. Meditation can increase calmness and relaxation, improve psychological balance, and enhance overall health and well-being.
- The various styles of yoga used for health purposes typically combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. Yoga can be used as part of a general health regimen, and also for a variety of health conditions.
- Other examples of mind-body practices include deep-breathing exercises, guided imagery, hypnotherapy, progressive relaxation, qi gong, and tai chi.
Keep in Mind
Critics of complementary medicine say that there aren’t enough well-designed clinical trials for many of these therapies; however, increasing numbers of studies are being conducted to provide information about the safety and effectiveness of many of these practices.
If you are interested in pursuing complementary therapies, keep these guidelines in mind:
- Complementary medicine should not be used in place of your prescribed medical regimen. Always consult with your healthcare provider before engaging in any complementary therapy regimens. Give them a full picture of what you do – and want to do – to manage your health to help ensure coordinated and safe care.
- Select practitioners with care. Find out about the practitioner's training and experience. You may want to start by asking your current healthcare provider for recommendations.
- Remember that some dietary supplements may interact with medications or other supplements, may have side effects of their own, or may contain potentially harmful ingredients not listed on the label.
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