As moms, our lives revolve around our children, and taking care of ourselves often falls to the back burner. What makes alternative medicine so great for moms is that it’s natural, affordable, and easily accessible. Alternative medicine sessions are often relaxing and soothing experiences. What mom wouldn’t benefit from that? Alternative medicine can be used to treat almost any common health issue, and it’s becoming more widely accepted all the time. Here’s how alternative medicine can make all the difference in your wellness journey.
5 Alternative Medicine Therapies
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient form of alternative medicine that has been used in China for thousands of years. The procedure involves inserting ultra-fine needles into specific pressure points throughout the body to relieve pain or correct a variety of health issues. In recent years, it has been steadily gaining popularity and acceptance in the west.
According to acupuncture specialists at The Yinova Center in New York City, acupuncture offers an abundance of benefits for moms and moms-to-be. First and foremost, it is ideal for treating stress, depression, and anxiety. It is also a perfect way to improve your overall health during pregnancy while relieving nausea and other pregnancy symptoms.
Acupuncture treatments often induce a state of relaxation, so they’re useful for those suffering from insomnia. Moms who have issues with migraines could get immediate relief from an acupuncture session. In addition, acupuncture is beneficial for correcting digestive problems and imbalances in the female reproductive system.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a form of alternative medicine where pressure is applied to specific areas of your body, usually the feet, ears, or hands. Practitioners of this technique believe that certain pressure points on the body are connected to specific organ systems. When pressure is applied to the pressure point, the corresponding organ will be positively impacted. This is an excellent form of alternative medicine for busy moms because they can learn to do it on themselves. Or, their husband’s can learn to do it for them!
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a type of alternative medicine where essential oils are inhaled, absorbed into the skin, or sometimes taken orally. Essential oils are extracted from the roots, blossoms, seeds, and leaves of plants, and then they are concentrated down in an extract. Different essential oils have different uses.
Some are used to treat insomnia while others might be used to treat an infection on the skin. Some promising research also shows that they may be useful for treating chronic and acute pain, anxiety, and depression. Here are some favorite essential oils and their benefits for moms:
- Lemon: This essential oil can give your immune system a boost, so you’re not catching every cold your kids bring home from school.
- Frankincense: This essential oil is useful for treating scars, including stretch marks.
- Basil: Basil essential oil is believed to relieve depression and promote relaxation.
- Lavender: Lavender is incredibly useful for a variety of treatments, but moms will love it most of all for its ability to reduce anxiety and stress and promote restful sleep.
- Tea Tree: Tea tree oil is useful for treating insect bites, soothing acne, and managing a variety of other skin issues. It’s also a natural disinfectant.
- Peppermint: Use peppermint essential oil to relieve nausea and to eliminate odors throughout your home.
Aromatherapy is excellent for mothers because it’s so convenient, easily accessible, and affordable. You can pick up an essential oil diffuser and some essential oils online or at your local health food store. Each morning put a few drops of oil in the diffuser and enjoy the health and relaxation benefits all day long.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic care is a form of alternative medicine that is widely accepted in both Eastern and Western medicine. Chiropractors focus on repairing issues in the musculoskeletal and nervous systems which may be causing head, back, hip, joint, or neck pain. Spinal manipulation and adjustment are the most common examples of chiropractic practice.
The theory behind chiropractic care is that when the tissue around the joints becomes injured over time, those joints become less mobile. Bad posture is one common cause of this problem, but it can also be caused by an injury or overuse. Chiropractors can help people with chronic neck or back pain by restoring mobility to the area. Many studies show chiropractic care to be useful for relieving pain and improving overall wellness.
Chiropractic care is an ideal alternative medicine treatment for moms with babies or young toddlers. Carrying a baby or child around all day can cause a lot of neck and back issues. Chiropractic care is an ideal natural solution for those issues.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is quite popular for its ability to help you relax, and that alone makes it an excellent alternative medicine treatment for moms. However, it can do so much more than that! It’s also a great way to manage pain, especially lower back pain, which is a common issue for moms who carry around young children all day. Headaches also show significant improvement from massage therapy.
Expectant mothers can benefit significantly from prenatal massage. Moms to be can get relief from uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms like sciatica, hip and joint pain, and muscle cramps. Prenatal massage can also help to prepare the muscles and joints for childbirth, possibly even shortening labor and delivery.
Mom’s can also get an abundance of benefits from postpartum massage, including relief of postpartum depression. It’s an effective way to regulate hormones and speed up healing and recovery after pregnancy. The female body also retains a lot of fluid after pregnancy, which can cause uncomfortable swelling. Postpartum massage can help your body flush away excess fluid, improve your circulation, and stimulate lymphatic drainage.
If you’re a mom who’s looking for a way to improve your health naturally, alternative medicine is certainly worth a try. Visiting an alternative medicine practitioner is usually more like a visit to the spa than it is a doctor’s appointment, and any mom can appreciate that. Relaxation and health benefits all in one session? It’s really a no brainer!
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