With a pandemic affecting many countries around the world, everyone has become highly aware of the fragility of the human body. Concern over health and well-being has never been higher, and people are always on the lookout for whatever can help them and their situation.

But as modern medicine becomes inaccessible for many (be it from sheer expensiveness, or difficulty of acquisition), different forms of healing have begun popping up. Some people call it ‘alternative medicine’, others call it ‘complementary medicine’. While some are questionable, some merit a deeper look. The scientific and medical community are starting to look into these commonly ignored ‘alternative medicines’, wanting to verify their effects or lack thereof.

However, in many situations, these alternative or complementary forms of medicine can actually provide help, but not in healing disease, but help the patient cope. These methods make for great ways to calm down anxiety or relieve pain, and should not be so readily dismissed as bogus. If you would like to learn more about other forms of medicine, we wrote down three of the most popular ones for you to check out.

Aromatherapy

Smelling is one of the ways we interact with the world. There are pleasant scents that remind us of the good things in life, while there are also unpleasant scents that make us want to retch. What’s interesting is that what we smell can also affect us in a deeper, more involved manner. Aromatherapy uses essential oils extracted from plants to create fragrances that can help our minds and body.

Most of us have experienced smelling a certain scent that reminds us of nostalgic memory, or a favorite perfume that puts us in a good mood. Aromatherapy works in a fundamentally similar way but in a broader sense. It can help with anxiety and reduce stress while relieving nausea and pain. Even cancer patients utilize aromatherapy to deal with the side effects of their treatment.

Essential oils and aromatherapy are still shrouded in mystery and doubt, and it’s definitely good to be skeptical of anything that reports a good effect on people’s health. But aromatherapy has little to no side effects and serves only as a means of calming the body, so it’s definitely worth trying out.

Chiropractic Care

Many of us have seen those viral videos of chiropractors cracking the backs of famous athletes and celebrities. Some find it satisfying, some find it disturbing, but everyone is intrigued. What do chiropractors actually do? It’s essentially spinal manipulation, working around the idea that the body’s musculoskeletal structure must be properly aligned so that it can heal itself.

Chiropractic procedures are often used as treatments for pain, such as back pain or from injuries. That’s why athletes from different kinds of contact sport often make use of chiropractors- the constant pressure to the muscles and bones often results in chronic pain, and chiropractic procedures can help alleviate stress. The results can be felt quite instantaneously, with many patients claiming they feel the pain reduced by about 40 to 80 percent. However, for a chiropractic program to be truly effective, patients need at least 3 visits a week in a span of two to four weeks.

Chiropractic is continuously gaining popularity and many report the quick relief they receive from it. It’s worth considering as it is a pain-free option to getting rid of chronic body pain, especially if you live an active lifestyle.

Cannabis and Cannabinoids

With medical cannabis and CBD oils receiving relative recognition for their medicinal properties, more and more people are opening up to the idea of its medical applications. While certain states or territories do allow medical use of cannabis and other related products, it’s best to know whether your area allows it or not.

Cannabis is commonly used as a means of controlling pain. While it’s not potent enough to serve as a painkiller for more severe types of pain from broken bones or post-surgical pain, it works particularly well on chronic pain. And compared to opiates (another common form of medicine for pain management), it’s difficult if not impossible to overdose on it, and is not as addictive. It also allows patients to continue their day-to-day activities without feeling highly sedated and disengaged.

Of course, as with any other form of medicine, it’s best to consult a doctor before you commit to a decision. Some doctors in areas where cannabis for medicinal use is allowed do prescribe and counts as a legitimate form of alternative medicine.

A medical professional’s opinion supersedes any advice, of course. So, make sure you get a doctor’s referral before committing to any decision.

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