By Lauren Smithandrews

Although the most commonly used term for health care practices that are not included in traditional medical practice is “alternative,” many alternative practitioners would prefer the term “Complementary.” “Complementary” generates a more cooperative feeling and more accurately represents these practices. “Alternative” gives the feeling of “them vs. us” and this is really not accurate.

For instance, most alternative health practitioners could not do a heart bypass or set a broken leg properly.  But, they could facilitate the patient’s easier and more rapid recovery from these procedures.  

One very common form of alternative health practice, that has a body of research to back it up, is prayer. Even if the patient isn’t aware of being prayed for or doesn’t believe in prayer, research shows that results are more positive for those who are prayed for than those who aren’t.   

A major difference between traditional medicine, also known as allopathic medicine, and alternative practices is that traditional medicine more often deals with the symptoms of conditions and alternative practices deal with the causes for conditions. Another is that allopathic medicine works with the physical body, while alternative practices work with the body’s energy systems.

In the Alternative world, thought and emotions are important factors in understanding the source of disease or malfunctions.  Stress would be an example of an emotion that results in physical symptoms. We all have experienced the stress headache or tense neck or upset stomach.  We may have taken an aspirin, muscle relaxant or antacid tablet, but have we dealt with the cause — the stress?  This is where alternative practices would start.

Alternative practices work with the energy systems in the body represented by thought and emotions.  Some may question whether energy systems have anything to do with getting better. So, let’s consider a thought. A thought is not something physical, but we know it exists.  Some say we have 60,000 or so of them each day.  But, we can’t hold a thought in our hands and we can’t touch it.  We can’t smell or hear it.  But, we know it’s real.  After all, we think.  Likewise with an emotion, we can’t hold it, touch it, smell it, taste it or hear it, but we do feel its results throughout each day.  Thoughts and emotions are energetic. They are a part of the body’s energy system.

We all feel and talk about energy all the time.  We talk about how we’re cruisin’ right along or feeling like a limp dishrag. We have days when our minds are really clicking and other days when we can’t put two thoughts together that make sense.

We feel different when we hear a lively country tune than when we listen to a soft romantic ballad.  We respond differently to colors we really like and those we can’t stand. Sound and color are waves and frequencies which are forms of energy.

Alternative practices vary in their approach to our energy system, but they all work with the same energy.  In the following weeks, we’ll read about many different practices.  They are presented only to provide information and are not intended to convince the reader of the validity of these practices.

Nothing in these articles should be taken as medical advice or recommendations to change any treatment plan prescribed by a medical practitioner. They are not meant to diagnose any condition. They are for information only.

Lauren Smithandrews has been a complementary health practitioner for 15 years and with her husband, Dale, operates Mountain Harmony Wellness outside of Madisonville. This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to recommend or promote any health practice to the reader.