Complementary medicine: the alternative A-Z

A-Z of therapies | Find out more

Increasing numbers of people are turning to complementary therapies for help both with physical ailments and, in particular, with psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. Deaf people are more likely to be diagnosed with depression or anxiety than hearing people, according to a recent study by mental-health charity Mind, so complementary therapies may be of particular interest.

But what works? And what with? Unfortunately, with a very wide range of therapies available and comparatively little scientific research, there are no easy answers to these questions. Some therapies are clearly flakier than others. Some have gained acceptance over centuries of use; but others with more recent origins may also have their place. It's really up to you to decide if you want to try a particular therapy and then to judge whether or not it works.

However, you should bear in mind that though complementary treatments are often considered more 'natural' than conventional medicine, any effective treatment – whether conventional or complementary – involves both benefits and risks. The particular danger of treatment chosen as an alternative to conventional medicine is that you might be misdiagnosed or a serious condition might be missed. Also – as with conventional medicine – a treatment might cause unwanted side-effects or actually harm you.

Another problem is that many practitioners are not regulated in the same way that doctors are. So if you decide to use a complementary therapy, it's up to you to try to take precautions to ensure that the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.

You should always consult your GP if you develop specific symptoms, and it's worth telling your GP about any complementary treatment you decide to try. For more advice about safety and a wide range of other information, check out the Channel 4 complementary medicine website.

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But first, get to grips with the subject with our alternative A-Z.

Acupressure | Acupuncture | Alexander technique | Aromatherapy | Ayurveda | Bach flower essences | Biodynamic massage | Body psychotherapy | Champissage | Chiropractic | Colonic irrigation | Colour therapy | Cranial osteopathy | Dance movement therapy | Dolphin therapy | Equine therapy | Feldenkrais method | Feng shui | Flotation | Geopathic stress | Gerson therapy | Healing | Hellerwork | Herbal medicine | Holistic medicine | Homeopathy | Hydrotherapy | Hypnotherapy | Kinesiology | LaStone massage | Light therapy | Listening therapy | McTimoney chiropractic | Naturopathy | Nutritional therapy | Orthomolecular therapy | Osteopathy | Oxygen therapy | Panchakarma | Pilates | Qigong | Reflexology | Reiki | Shaw's technique | Shi'zen no-hands massage | Shiatsu | Swedish massage | T'ai chi | Tens (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) | Thai yoga massage | Traditional Chinese medicine | Yoga | Zero balancing | Zone therapy

Acupressure
Similar to acupuncture, but without the needles. Fingers are usually used to apply pressure.

Acupuncture
Based on Taoist philosophy and first recorded 300 years ago. Practitioners stick fine needles into what they call the 'meridians' or energy channels in the patient's body. Supporters say that acupuncture can be used in a number of ways, from treating high blood pressure and anxiety to helping people quit smoking. Sceptics say that the evidence from scientific research suggests that it has much more limited scope, but may be effective in relieving pain and nausea, for example.

Alexander technique
Developed by actor FM Alexander (1869-1955), this emphasises the importance of the alignment of the head, neck and back. Used for repetitive strain injury, back pain and reducing stress.

Aromatherapy
This uses essential plant oils in massage and via inhalation and baths. Some believe aromatherapy is good for reducing stress.

Ayurveda
Practitioners use herbs, minerals, special diets, yoga and meditation in this traditional Indian medicine focusing on the body's nadis (Sanskrit for 'canals') and prana ('energy'), which must be adjusted using different techniques and preparations depending on the person's exact personality.

Bach flower essences
Flower essences mixed with water can be used to cure an array of ailments, practitioners say.

Biodynamic massage
Massage based on the Norwegian idea that the body also has a psyche processing emotions.

Body psychotherapy
Massage and counselling.

Champissage
Indian head massage (champi) combined with general massage stretching down to the upper arm. Users say it's good for stress.

Chiropractic
Aiming at pain relief and mobility improvements, practitioners work on manipulating the joints in the spine and bodily extremities.

Colonic irrigation
Clears out the colon using as much as 20 gallons of water. Aims to get rid of poisons and trapped waste matter, but the benefits are unclear and there is a risk of puncturing the colon wall.

Colour therapy
Uses colour to focus on defined parts of the body for many conditions.

Cranial osteopathy
The first several vertebrae and the head are manipulated with the aim of easing tension, aiding movement and relieving pain.

Dance movement therapy
Aims to help the psyche through movement that expresses the inner feelings.

Dolphin therapy
The patient touches a dolphin to transfer energy to himself or herself. Perhaps surprisingly, some research indicates that this may be of some help for various emotional disorders.

Equine therapy
Aims to relieve stress and has also been used in an attempt to stimulate people with head injuries. May simply involve stroking a horse.

Feldenkrais method
Movement regime aiming to enable a patient to recognise body parts in new ways so that movements causing problems can be changed.

Feng shui
Involves arranging your domestic or work environment in a certain way to prevent or repair problems.

Flotation
Patients are suspended in salt water in a dark room. The aim is relaxation, to rest injuries and to 'balance' the brain.

Geopathic stress
Geopathic stress is supposedly created by something in the environment, such as high-power cables. Once you've identified the problem, the cure is logical: try to remove it or move away yourself.

Gerson therapy
A radical diet regime, prohibiting coffee-drinking and prescribing a lot of consumption of organic fruit and veg, to engage the body's own healing capability.

Healing
Healers lay their hands on patients to 'channel energy', claiming to treat almost any condition.

Hellerwork
Massage, psychotherapy and body realignment to improve posture.

Herbal medicine
The use of traditional herbal remedies.

Holistic medicine
Involves treating the whole patient, so rather than just treating the ailment that presents symptoms, the practitioner will take account of the person's whole life including mental and social factors. Many complementary therapies are holistic.

Homeopathy
Probably the biggest branch of complementary medicine, homeopathy is certainly one of the oldest, dating back to the 18th century. It uses small doses of drugs that, in larger doses, would produce symptoms like those of the disease in a healthy person. The theory is that homeopathy works a bit like immunisation.

Hydrotherapy
Involves the use of Jacuzzis and other aerated baths full of either warm or cold water to relax and relieve pain as well as help heal wounds and varicose veins. Warm pools are also used for physiotherapy.

Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis to treat a disease or condition. Used for pain relief and psychosomatic conditions, as well as for helping people change their behaviour, for example by giving up smoking.

Kinesiology
Magnets, nutrition, massage and contact points are used with the aim of revealing and correcting body imbalances.

LaStone massage
Massage using oil with hot and cool stones placed on the body, aiming to relax the subject and relieve stress.

Light therapy
Using light with the aim of helping such conditions as depression and tiredness.

Listening therapy
Developed by Professor Alfred A Tomatis, this therapy claims that musical sounds can be used to treat various conditions such as autism, vertigo and tinnitus.

McTimoney chiropractic
A gentle chiropractic that, practitioners say, can help co-ordination problems and Attention Deficit Disorder. It is also particularly used to help the strains, aches and pains of pregnant women.

Naturopathy
Based on the idea that the body can heal itself. Practitioners try to help it to do so by changing the patient's diet and trying for emotional and physical balance, drawing on a wide range of therapies.

Nutritional therapy
Diet is changed in accordance with the result of tests conducted on a patient's hair samples, with the aim both of curing specific ailments and generally fostering a healthier life.

Orthomolecular therapy
Changing the balance of an array of substances in the body can cure or inhibit various illnesses, it is claimed, for example increasing vitamin C to prevent colds.

Osteopathy
Involves the massage and gentle manipulation of muscles and ligaments to foster good blood supply, as opposed to the chiropractic technique of working on the joints to help nerve endings. Often used for back pain and sometimes for menstrual pain and problems with digestion or breathing.

Oxygen therapy
Aims to increase oxygen in the blood, working on the theory that bacteria and viruses, such as from colds or flu, survive only when there is little oxygen in their environments.

Panchakarma
Involves an array of methods, from enemas to massages, aimed at detoxification.

Pilates
Seeks to strengthen the 'centre' of the body and improve posture through exercises on the back and abdominal muscles, on the principle that this affects general health.

Qigong
Ancient Chinese technique using stretching and breathing exercises, mainly for relaxation. Qi means 'energy', gong means 'practice'.

Reflexology
Reflexology is based on the principle that parts of the foot correspond to specific parts of the body, so foot massage to stimulate nerve endings can help cure or prevent various conditions.

Reiki
Reiki in Japanese means 'universal life energy'. Therapists rest their hands on the body in a set sequence, aiming to cure various conditions.

Shaw's technique
Similar to Alexander technique but based in the swimming pool.

Shi'zen no-hands massage
Deep-tissue massage with the 'seven surfaces' of the practitioner's forearm, for relaxation.

Shiatsu
Japanese form of acupressure in which practitioners aim to balance vital energy in the body with massage.

Swedish massage
Vigorous massage for relaxation and stress relief.

T'ai chi
Gentle, gradual movements linked with breathing techniques to help relaxation, concentration and mobility.

Tens (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
Electro-acupuncture. A conductor band creates small electric pulses on skin.

Thai yoga massage
Acupressure combined with gentle stretching and yoga-like positions.

Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the principle that everything stems from the interaction of two forces, yin (femininity, quietness, darkness,) and yang (masculinity, loudness, daytime). It aims to balance these forces and the qi ('energy') flowing through the body to promote health and cure illnesses.

Yoga
Ancient Hindu physical and mental discipline aiming to promote physical and mental wellbeing. Different forms involve varying degrees of physical exertion.

Zero balancing
Stretching and finger pressures for relaxation and easing tension.

Zone therapy
Reflexology.

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Find out more

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Organisations

Ayurvedic Medical Association UK
1079 Garratt Lane
London SW17 0LN
Tel: 020 8682 3876 (Mon-Fri 10am-2pm and 5-7pm, Saturdays 1.30am-4pm) Maintains a register of qualified ayurvedic practitioners in the UK. Gives information on ayurveda and organises seminars.

The British Massage Therapy Council
17 Rymers Lane
Cowley
Oxford OX4 3JU
Tel: 01865 774123 (24-hour answerphone)
E-mail: info@bmtc.co.uk
Website: www.bmtc.co.uk
Umbrella body representing massage therapy schools and associations. Members include representatives of all forms of massage, including Eastern massage techniques.

Guild of Complementary Practitioners
Liddell House
Liddell Close
Findhampstead
Berkshire RG40 4NS
Tel: 0118 973 5757
Fax: 0118 973 5767
E-mail: info@gcpnet.com
Website: www.gcpnet.com
UK's largest multidisciplinary association in the field of complementary medicine. The site has a list of all accredited schools for anyone wishing to train as a therapist. There are also over 5,000 therapy listings for those requiring a practitioner in complementary medicine.

The Reiki Association
Cornbrook Bridge House
Clee Hill
Ludlow
Shropshire SY8 3QQ
Tel: 01584 891 197
Fax: 01584 891 197
E-mail: administrator@reikiassociation.org.uk
Website: www.reikiassociation.org.uk
Set up in 1991 to provide support for reiki practitioners.

The Reiki School
Budworth
Shay Lane
Hale
Altrincham
Cheshire WA15 8UE
Tel: 0161 980 6453 (Mondays to Fridays 9am-5pm)
E-mail: info@thereikischool.co.uk
Website: www.thereikischool.co.uk
Specialises in teaching reiki and self-development techniques that use reiki for personal transformation. Has a network of reiki masters in the UK and overseas.

The Shiatsu Society
Eastlands Court
St Peter's Road
Rugby CV21 3QP
Tel: 0845 130 4560 (Mondays to Fridays 9am-5pm)
Fax: 01788 555052
E-mail: admin@shiatsu.org
Website: www.shiatsu.org
Set up in 1981 to facilitate communication within the field of shiatsu and to inform the public of the benefits of this form of natural healing.

The Ayurvedic Company of Great Britain
81 Wimpole Street
London W1G 9RF
Tel: 020 7224 6070
Fax: 020 7224 6080
Website: www.ayurvedagb.com
Pioneers of ayurvedic products, research, education and founders of the first ayurvedic charitable hospital in Europe.

UK Reiki Federation
PO Box 1785
Andover SP11 OWB
Tel: 01264 773774
E-mail: enquiry@reikifed.co.uk
Website: www.reikifed.co.uk
An independent federation of individuals aiming to form a national umbrella organisation for education, training and guidance in the public practice of reiki.

Websites

Channel 4's Guide to Complementary Medicine
www.channel4.com/health/microsites
/C/comp_medicine
Part of Channel 4's Health House, this section is devoted to complementary therapies.

Channel 4's Stress Magazine
www.channel4.com/health/microsites/H/
health/magazine/stress/
All you need to know about stress.

Deaf.co.uk
www.deaf.co.uk
Has a section on alternative medicine with a list of recommended links.

Healthy Me: massage
www.ahealthyme.com/topic/topic13808
An article describing different types of massage.

Healthy Pages
www.healthypages.net
Gives a good overview on all health matters, including articles on complementary medicine and the results of recent medical studies.

The History of Massage
www.gedq.freedombird.net/history.htm
An individual's website that describes what massage is and what happens during a session and gives suggestions on how to find a therapist, plus a range of links.

Quackwatch
www.quackwatch.org/index.html
A guide to health fraud and quackery with articles sent in by sceptics.

Reiki: Health, Healing and Relaxation
www.rei-ki.co.uk
An individual's site featuring information about reiki and a useful reading list.

RNID: Look After Your senses
www.rnid.org.uk/html/news/events/
england_south_east.htm
Information about a free exhibition on sensory health in London.

Royal Association for Deaf People
www.royaldeaf.org.uk
Check out the noticeboard for information about alternative therapies on offer. In addition, there are links to complementary therapists in the Deaf Businesses section.

The Skeptic's Dictionary
http://skepdic.com/acupunc.html
Includes complementary medicine.

Books

	Body Massage: Therapy basics by Mo Rosser (Hodder & Stoughton, 1996) A basic introduction to massage techniques. Buy this book from Amazon.

	The Desktop Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An evidence-based approach edited by Edzard Ernst (Mosby, 2001) Concise evidence-based information on 64 popular forms of complementary and alternative medicines and 38 common conditions frequently treated. Buy this book from Amazon.

	The Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Complementary Health edited by Nikki Bradford (Hamlyn, 2000) Describes more than 40 major and minor therapies. Contains an extensive ailment-based section and a directory of useful addresses. Buy this book from Amazon.

	Handbook of Massage Therapy by Mario-Paul Cassar (Butterworth Heinemann, 1999) Describes the theory and application of massage techniques and the effects of treatment of many common conditions. Buy this book from Amazon.

	The Health Robbers edited by Stephen Barrett and William Jarvis (Prometheus, 1994) How to identify health frauds, fad diagnoses and unproven treatments. Buy this book from Amazon.

	An Introduction to Reiki: Healing energy for mind, body and spirit by Mary Lambert (Collins and Brown, 2000) A beginner's guide to the Japanese origins of reiki. Describes the basic positions that can be practised at home. Buy this book from Amazon.

	The 'Which?' Guide to Complementary Medicine by Barbara Rowlands (Which? Books, 1997) Examines issues such as treatment methods and the efficacy of individual therapies. Also looks at the regulation of therapists and gives advice on how to seek legal redress if things go wrong. Buy this book from Amazon.

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