4 minute read
Holistic Health
What is alternative and complementary medicine all about? Sara Whatley shares her findings and experience
Is an ailment troubling you? It might be a new illness, a reoccurring trouble or a chronic issue. It might be more than just physical; it might be mental or spiritual as well. If so, have you ever considered looking to alternative medicines to help you?
Sometimes, we need a little extra help away from the doctor’s surgery, or alongside it. Alternative and complementary health practices can be used to treat illnesses and ailments on their own, known as alternative medicine, or if they are used alongside conventional medicine they are known as complementary.
People generally turn to these different types of medicines if they are dissatisfied with or want to augment the conventional medical system, or they feel that health care alternatives are more congruent with the rest of their belief system, values and lifestyle.
Some well-known examples of alternative medicines are acupuncture, osteopathy, homeopathy, and Chinese or Oriental medicine. But there are many, many more types of therapy, some focusing on traditional alternative medicines; some focusing on body touch; some focusing on diet and herbs; some on mind; some on external sources and energies, such as light therapy; and some are focused on the five bodily senses, such as art or dance therapy.
It can take some time to find the one that really resonates with you, but it’s worth persevering because when you do, powerful results can take place. Personally, I know many women who have been helped to conceive by using acupuncture, back problems that have been helped with chiropractics, osteopathy and massage, and emotional difficulties which have been treated with homeopathy.
If you are new to this type of medicine, go in with an open mind and enjoy the whole holistic process. Mind and body is often treated together in alternative medicines and overall wellness is taken into account rather than just treating one problem, which is what conventional medicine tends to do.
Sometimes, the healing process can take a bit longer when using health care alternatives, and a few sessions of your Seeking an alternative can make you feel in control of your healthcare
chosen treatment may be necessary. This can be quite costly, as some alternative and complementary medicines are not scientifically proven, so their availability on the NHS is limited. In my experience, the process of seeking treatment with an alternative or complementary medicine practitioner is very positive. Waiting lists are more like days or weeks, rather than weeks or months, and seeking an alternative can make you feel in control of your healthcare. Longer treatment sessions mean the practitioner can properly listen to and understand the issues, and will often take a full medical history into account. I have always felt listened to and treated with respect. Most importantly, I have had many positive and successful outcomes to the treatments. l
N.B. If you are feeling unwell, always visit your GP first before seeking alternative medical treatments
The Cause
The primary cause of gum disease is plaque. This starts off as a fine film of live bacteria that grows constantly on the tooth, root, and gum surfaces. If it is not completely removed each day it calcifies to a hardened material called calculus or tartar. This cannot be removed just with a toothbrush or floss and requires professional removal in the surgery.
Plaque forms constantly in our mouths, initially in a protein layer deposited from our saliva, and it is thus unrealistic to attempt to make a mouth plaque free. The priority is to reduce the volume of plaque in your mouth to a level at which it is theoretically harmless and thus bring the disease under control. The Solution
At Oakmead Dental Care our team of hygienists aim not only to achieve a healthy status in your mouth, but to also involve and give you the essential knowledge to help you keep it that way. ‘Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I learn”
Benjamin Franklin
How can I stop my gums bleeding?
“I am so pleased with the way Debbie has helped to stop my gums bleeding. I am so happy to have found such a caring and thorough hygienist and I would highly recommend her. I do struggle keeping up with dental hygiene and have found some hygienists to be very patronising. However, with Debbie I didn’t feel discouraged at all – quite the opposite!”
Red, swollen gums which bleed easily
