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Types of alternative therapies
This page lists some common forms of alternative therapy. A registered consultant or therapist can guide you in your choice of therapies. (You'll find useful addresses and organisations are listed in the 'Research' section of this website.)
Please do not hesitate to contact MPD Support via the website if you feel that you can add to this list of alternative therapies.
Click on the link to read a description of each type of therapy.
- Acupressure
Acupressure is an ancient Chinese massage therapy involving the stimulation of acupuncture points using the fingers. It is thought that by stimulating specific points on the body, the body's own energies are activated to help fight illness and restore harmony.
- Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy that involves the insertion of very thin needles into the skin at specific points in order to stimulate the body into fighting illness and restoring harmony.
- Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy treats illness using highly concentrated aromatic oils that are massaged into the body. These oils are known as essential oils, and are extracted from plants.
- Chinese Herbalism
Chinese herbalism has become established as one of the most powerful and diverse medicinal therapies in the world over the last 5,000 years, treating all illnesses. These herbs consist of medicinal plants, as well as animal parts and minerals. The herbs do not always taste pleasant, but their effects are usually powerful.
- Cranial Osteopathy or Craniosacral Therapy
The cranium or skull is the collection of bone housing the brain. This therapy works on the whole body, by gently manipulating and balancing the cranial bones, meningeal membranes, cerebrospinal fluid, intracranial vascular system and the whole body's connective tissues.
- Homeopathy
Homeopathy tries to understand the patient's disease as a whole, learning about all the symptoms the patient has, whether they seem to be connected to the disease or not. Homeopathic remedies are made from substances (plant, mineral and animal products) that have been highly diluted (potentized).
- Nutritional Therapy or Common-Sense Nutrition
Whether you choose to see a professional (listed below) or whether you take matters into your own hands, eating right involves eating healthily, choosing organic produce whenever possible, going low-fat and eating moderate amounts. As we know, being overweight is not healthy for anyone. There is an increasing number of health food shops opening all over the United Kingdom, as well as a huge body of literature available.
- Reflexology
Reflexology works on the principle that all organs and systems of the body are reflected on the soles and backs of the feet. When specific reflex points are stimulated, these reflexes increase circulation in the different parts of the body, healing and energizing the corresponding organs.
- Reiki
Reiki (translated from Japanese, means 'universal energy or life-force'), is a healing system based on unconditional love. Practitioners learn how to tap into the healing energies of the higher spiritual planes and channel them into the patient. It has been shown to reduce stress levels, improve circulation and speed up healing, and seems to work best as a support to other therapies, conventional or alternative.
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