Alternative Treatment

According to the American Holistic Health Association, “holistic medicine is the art and science of healing that addresses the whole person – body, mind, and spirit”. Holistic medicine considers the environmental, nutritional, physical, emotional, spiritual, and lifestyle components of a person’s life. The 2007 National Health Interview Survey revealed that approximately 38% of adults used complementary and alternative medicine. In total, 83 million adults spent $33.9 billion out-of-pocket for these services, and those numbers have likely increased. Holistic medicine consists of several different practices:

Acupuncture can be formally defined as “a complementary medical practice that involves stimulating certain points on the body, most often with a needle penetrating the skin, to alleviate pain or to help treat various health conditions,” according to LiveScience. Acupuncture is becoming more and more popular in America; a 2012 study found that 14.01 million people were using acupuncture in 2007, and the numbers have certainly increased from there. With the opioid crisis affecting millions around the United States, acupuncture is becoming more widespread. Acupuncture has been shown to provide many benefits, including stress reduction and pain relief, but also to increase levels of chemicals in the brain such as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, and more. According to Forbes magazine, acupuncture was recognized as a therapy for drug treatment by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1996. Many have been utilizing acupuncture as a way to manage their pain, which is reducing the number of opioid prescriptions needed, thus helping to reduce the number of opioid addictions. A 2015 study conducted by Harvard researchers, as explained on the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s official website, found that repeated acupuncture treatment was found to “reduce or eliminate the need for opioids by restoring the balance in key brain regions, altering pain-related attention and memory.” As more people are using this method to reduce their pain, opioids are becoming less critical. How does acupuncture relieve pain? Harvard Health notes that acupuncture releases endorphins – the body’s natural pain-killing chemicals – and by affecting the region of the brain that manages serotonin, the chemical responsible over our mood. Several treatment sessions may help a person feel more relaxed and experience less pain overall. While more research is being conducted, it’s clear that acupuncture is showing some signs of effective strategies. Perhaps people are finding more holistic, natural ways to help ease their pain without using prescriptions. If you are considering acupuncture, it is advised that you speak with your doctor first to ensure this would be a good fit for you.

According to a 2014 study titled “Acupuncture: Past, Present, and Future”, acupuncture has been around for more than 40 years and has taken upon more than 10 million treatments each year in the United States alone. Medical News Today states that with acupuncture, an acupuncturist will place small needles among meridians - or energy highways - to help open up energy flow and balance a person. Holistic practices such as acupuncture, also known as alternative therapeutic methods, have become increasingly popular as Americans attempt to find non-invasive remedies to everyday issues they’re experiencing. The following are some amazing benefits that acupuncture has been said to provide:

A new study published in the Yoga Journal found that nearly 20.4 million people practice yoga in the United States; yoga has become an increasingly popular tool to help people find balance amidst the chaos of life. Aside from the more traditional styles of yoga, such as hatha or iyengar, people from around the country have begun to create their own forms of yoga, including the unexpected: goats, dogs, horses and other animals, marijuana, nudity, “rave” scenes, aerial fitness, and more. While many may find these types of yoga to be beneficial, there are some key issues here. According to CBS News, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a mission to revitalize yoga through a campaign that will bring yoga back to its roots - India. During the clip, it showed how yoga is practiced in India - a much different way of life than how it is practiced in America. For example, yoga in India consists of cleansing the nostrils and snorting, meditation, and very strict, precise movements. The Prime Minister stated that yoga is not meant to be seen as a form of exercise, but rather a tool to become more connected with oneself and the world. Does this mean that Western civilization’s form of yoga constitutes as cultural appropriation? Yes, it does - but this can be mitigated by incorporating more of the nature that yoga was meant for - not just the physical component. Julia Gibran, a Toronto yoga teacher, stated for Vice Magazine, “In the West in general, we focus on one limb of yoga, and that is asana. It’s become a very physical practice. But there are ways to acknowledge the roots [of the practice]. People can put a little focus on meditation, or bring in breath work.” Gibran also noted that when she first practiced yoga it was taught by her grandfather, and she read a book called Bhagavad Gita with him - then moving on to learn more about Hindu tradition, cultural history, deities and symbolism, and more. She went on to explain, “....the study of asana does help the Western population in terms of anxiety and stress, so it’s been such a gift. But something I struggle with is I feel very lucky to be of West Indian descent teaching yoga...I do consider myself, oddly enough, to be a minority.” Does this mean that Americans should stop practicing yoga? Absolutely not - it just means that we need to work on incorporating more than just the physical component of yoga. We need to practice meditation and breathing, because these are key grounding tools that were developed to help us garner more love and peace for ourselves and the world.

A 2011 study conducted by researchers from Pennsylvania stated there are 5 factors that characterize human flourishing: 1) positive emotion, 2) relationships, 3) engagement, 4) achievement, and 5) meaning. There are a variety of elements that can impact these things, and music can be a significant influence. Research has shown that listening to music we enjoy increases positive emotions and feelings, leaving us with contentment, happiness, and interest, according to Psych Central. Conversely, music that focuses on sadness or anger can cause us to feel more of these things, making it even more important to fuel our thoughts with positive music. If you’ve been seeking some positive music to help you boost your mindset, look no further; here are some wonderful artists that exhibit music that is mostly aimed at love, happiness, and growth:

Time Magazine has stated that Americans are angrier now than ever, but why? It seems political debates and news of violence have enraged many, understandably – but are we letting too much get to us? As soon as we become upset about an issue, we set ourselves up to be irritable or agitated more easily than we would be if we felt content. This later translates into fights/arguments with our loved ones, road rage, substance abuse, and more. There are healthier ways to channel this anger, however, and they are healthy because they involve physical movement. Here are some things you can do to channel your anger for a worthy cause (your health):

Whether you are seeking treatment or are looking for a convenient way to manage your symptoms of stress, anxiety, or a physical/mental illness, phone applications are becoming ever-more popular in the field of health and self-care. The variety of apps available allows you to select one that works best for you – and the convenience provides you with the opportunity to keep track of your progress on your own time. The following are some wonderful (and free!) apps that you should try today:

The American Psychological Association claims that 44% of Americans have reported their stress levels going up over the past 5 years, with many in fear of their job, the economy, the political climate, violence and terrorist attacks, and more. These fears are rational, but how are people handling their stress? With the opioid epidemic, it seems many are relying on pain relievers and substances to self-medicate. There are more natural, holistic ways to manage stress, with one effective tool right at the tip of your pen – literally. Writing therapy is an excellent way to jot down thoughts and concerns to give your brain a “clean slate”. In doing this, you are likely to feel more relaxed, and less stressed. A study published in the journal, Psychotherapy Research, found that participants who were told to engage in writing therapy and express their emotions experienced greater reductions in their anxiety and stress compared to participants who did not. There are many benefits of writing therapy:

Over time, we have developed different methods for treating mental illnesses, and this helped so many people because each person has a unique way of learning, of coping, and of expressing themselves. Psychodrama therapy has been known to help people improve their relationships and communication skills, overcome grief and loss, restore confidence and well-being, enhancing learning and life skills, and more. Psychodrama therapy can assist in a variety of issues, such as eating disorders, autism, trauma, addiction, attachment concerns, and more. Psychodrama therapy can assist people with anxiety by increasing their spontaneity – the more a person can act out distinct roles and take on different approaches, the more they can reduce their anxiety levels. However, because spontaneity and anxiety are opposing forces, the less spontaneity used, the higher the anxiety levels can rise. How does psychodrama therapy work? According to the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama, psychodrama “employs guided dramatic action to examine problems or issues raised by an individual or a group. It clarifies issues, increases physical and emotional wellbeing, enhances learning and developing new skills.” There are 5 basic elements of psychodrama: 1) the protagonist, which is the person selected to represent the “theme”, 2) the auxiliary egos, which are group members who take on the roles of significant individuals from the event, 3) the audience, which are group members who witness the drama, 4) the stage, which is the physical space in which the drama takes place, and 5) the director, which is the psycho-dramatist who guides participants throughout the phases of the drama. A 2016 study conducted by a researcher in Italy examine the benefits of psychodrama therapy on students with mathematics anxiety, and found that it significantly decreased their anxiety surrounding the subject. Participants took part in 10 group sessions each of 90 minutes that were held weekly over a period of 3 months. Psychodrama proved beneficial in helping the students with elevated levels of anxiety before taking a test, assistance with their memory, improved self-esteem and motivation to learn mathematics. Psychodrama doesn’t just help students, however. Studies have shown that psychodrama therapy can help adults with anxiety surrounding a situation because it allows them to act out scenarios or replay a situation that once caused them distress. In doing this, they can better express themselves and understand the situation from others’ point of view.

Many people search for outlets to feel their emotions and work through their struggles – some outlets are healthy, such as an adequate amount of exercise, taking on a new hobby, or jotting down thoughts can be effective ways of coping. Music is another great avenue, as music allows us to express ourselves creatively and connect with another person’s life experiences through their lyrics or musical instrument. If used effectively, music can be a wonderful stress management tool. Music provides a soothing, relaxing atmosphere where you can release your stress and overcome negative thoughts.

When it comes to recovery, finding healthy outlets is key. Recovery is a time for growing, learning, and bettering ourselves. A time where we can focus on how our mental illness or addiction affects us and others – and during recovery we develop tools so overcome our addiction or tools to better work with symptoms of a mental illness. These tools are incredibly important – we take them day by day, and over time we transform.

Gestalt therapy is a client-centered approach to psychotherapy that helps the client focus on the present and what is really happening in their lives right now instead of what they perceive to be happening based on experience. Clients may be asked to re-enact past experiences rather than simply talk about them and through this, may become more aware of how their negative thought patterns are blocking their way to true happiness. Psychology Today notes that gestalt therapy has been proven effective for depression, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, and even small physical ailments such as headaches and back spasms. Gestalt therapy aims to bring people into awareness; the belief is that once a person is made aware of their problem, they can learn to deal with it effectively. California State University states that therapists often ask “what” and “how” instead of “why” because they want to promote present awareness. Becoming aware means making connections with emotional and physical needs – activities often help us recognize our true feelings regarding a situation or may help us understand others. A 2016 study explored gestalt therapy’s effectiveness on a client with substance use and bipolar disorder. This person was a part of an in-patient program and was facing an open criminal charge, was regarded as having antisocial personality disorder and he stated that he also had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After 18 sessions of gestalt therapy, the researcher found that the patient could more closely connect with himself and his environment. This ultimately contributed to his success in rehabilitation, reintegration with society and decreased his relapses, both with drugs and criminal activities. Gestalt therapy helps people become more connected to themselves and their feelings, and gestalt practitioners heighten and illuminate each person’s experience of life, self and others. A variety of techniques are used in gestalt therapy. Good Therapy, an online therapist directory, notes the “empty chair technique” as a way for the client to engage in dialogue and explore their thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Exaggeration exercise is another common technique, where the person is asked to physically exaggerate their emotions so that they can recognize how they feel a little more clearly.