Alternative Medicine (con't)
Women’s Sourcebook: First off, what is “alternative medicine?” There are so many different terms used… do they all refer to the same thing or are there differences?
Donna Duffy: They are different. In the barest terms, alternative medicine generally refers to the therapies, products, and practices that aren’t usually included in traditional Western medicine. Examples of this might be acupuncture, Traditional Chinese medicine, and Ayurveda. There are also the categories of complementary and integrative medicines, both of which are a combination of alternative medicine with traditional Western medicine. The difference is that the alternative therapies used in integrative medicine have been scientifically proven to be safe and effective. Complementary therapies have not been scientifically “confirmed,” but they’re believed to increase the effectiveness of Western treatments. Some examples of integrative therapies would be yoga, nutrition, or biofeedback, while an example of complementary medicine might be herbal medicine.
WS: And “holistic medicine?”
DD: Means treating the whole person (mind, body, and spirit) rather than just the body’s physical symptoms.
WS: You’re certified in several different areas. What sort of training did you have to go through to achieve this?
DD: Certification for massage was through the American Institute for Massage Therapy, which in 2000 was a 500 plus hour program, and I continue to take classes. Reiki consists of classes from a Reiki Master-Teacher, and has a number of different levels one can attain over time. Hypnotherapy certification was a clinical and transpersonal program which was over a week and a half of in-person training. I attended a separate three day training program for Past-Life Regression therapy. I also completed a 77 hour online and phone training program from Coach U University, and continue to train to obtain credentials from the International Coaching Federation. I would say the training is typical in most instances.
While my background seems a bit diverse, it all comes together with a common goal of helping people attain balance and health in their bodies, minds, and spirits. I am also an avid reader and student of many more disciplines such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, to name a few.
WS: What are some of the options out there for people interested in trying out holistic medicine?
DD: A ton. Obviously there are the more widely known options like massage, Reiki, hypnotherapy, yoga, acupuncture, and chiropractic therapy, but then you also have things like aromatherapy, guided imagery, biofeedback, and sound therapy. Plus, there is always meditation and diet.
WS: Diet?
DD: Sure, people are always surprised at this, but it’s one of the most basic methods out there in terms of promoting wellness. The human body is an amazing machine that requires a healthy diet to keep it in balance. Eating healthy can have a significant positive impact on our health.
WS: Could you maybe expand a little on that? What makes a diet healthy?
DD: Eating a wide variety of different colored foods helps our body get more of the nutrients it needs. Green foods boost circulation, for example. White foods
like onions, fennel, or garlic are antivirals. Fish provide beneficial fats like omega-3 that the brain needs. And of course, avoiding foods that contain high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, or enriched flour is always a good choice. Basically avoid processed foods.
WS: You mentioned that some of these alternative therapies have some scientifically proven effects. What are some of the specific benefits alternative therapies can provide?
DD: Massage Therapy offers a plethora of benefits, including stress relief, alleviation of pain and muscle tension, improved sleep, better range of motion for joints, and of course the simple but important gifts of relaxation and human touch. Reiki, which is energy work, at the very least brings a state of profound relaxation, and may bring balance and healing to the recipient on physical, mental, emotional, and/or spiritual levels. Hypnotherapy takes self-healing to another level in reaching deeper levels of our mind, many times reaching the causes of certain symptoms.
WS: Holistic health is becoming more and more popular as time goes by, but in this age of iPads, smartphones, and WebMD, there are still plenty of skeptics out there. What are some of the more common misconceptions you run into?
DD: Some people still think of massage as a luxury and don't feel they should splurge on themselves. I think the pleasant experience of massage is nice and certainly worth the price alone, but it is the therapeutic effect that is the true value. Hypnosis still suffers from the misconception of the hypnotist "controlling" or having power over the recipient, when the opposite is true. In hypnosis one is actually in a state of heightened awareness and totally aware of all that is happening.
WS: Could you speak to the reactions of the traditional Western medicinal community? What seems to be their overall view of alternative medicine? Are physicians prescribing massage or acupuncture?
DD: I can’t speak for the traditional medicine community as a whole, but personally, I have noticed an increase in physician referrals for massage, yoga, and other stress-reducing therapies. There are certainly more integrated wellness facilities available and I know that many US medical schools now offer alternative therapies in their curricula.
WS: And finally, are there any books or sites you’d recommend for people who want to learn more about alternative therapies?
DD: Prescription for Nutritional Healing (the latest edition) by Phyllis Balch and James Balch, MD is a good overview to natural health. Dr. Andrew Weil has a number of good books out, as well as Deepak Chopra. These books are useful in that they provide an overview and introduction to prevention of disease and the maintenance of good health without the use of drugs. They’re also good explanations of the connection between mind and body.
Donna Duffy is a Certified Massage Therapist, Reiki Master-Teacher, Certified Hypnotherapist, Past-Life Regression Therapist, and Life Coach, with a BS degree in Holistic Health.
Donna Duffy: They are different. In the barest terms, alternative medicine generally refers to the therapies, products, and practices that aren’t usually included in traditional Western medicine. Examples of this might be acupuncture, Traditional Chinese medicine, and Ayurveda. There are also the categories of complementary and integrative medicines, both of which are a combination of alternative medicine with traditional Western medicine. The difference is that the alternative therapies used in integrative medicine have been scientifically proven to be safe and effective. Complementary therapies have not been scientifically “confirmed,” but they’re believed to increase the effectiveness of Western treatments. Some examples of integrative therapies would be yoga, nutrition, or biofeedback, while an example of complementary medicine might be herbal medicine.
WS: And “holistic medicine?”
DD: Means treating the whole person (mind, body, and spirit) rather than just the body’s physical symptoms.
WS: You’re certified in several different areas. What sort of training did you have to go through to achieve this?
DD: Certification for massage was through the American Institute for Massage Therapy, which in 2000 was a 500 plus hour program, and I continue to take classes. Reiki consists of classes from a Reiki Master-Teacher, and has a number of different levels one can attain over time. Hypnotherapy certification was a clinical and transpersonal program which was over a week and a half of in-person training. I attended a separate three day training program for Past-Life Regression therapy. I also completed a 77 hour online and phone training program from Coach U University, and continue to train to obtain credentials from the International Coaching Federation. I would say the training is typical in most instances.
While my background seems a bit diverse, it all comes together with a common goal of helping people attain balance and health in their bodies, minds, and spirits. I am also an avid reader and student of many more disciplines such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, to name a few.
WS: What are some of the options out there for people interested in trying out holistic medicine?
DD: A ton. Obviously there are the more widely known options like massage, Reiki, hypnotherapy, yoga, acupuncture, and chiropractic therapy, but then you also have things like aromatherapy, guided imagery, biofeedback, and sound therapy. Plus, there is always meditation and diet.
WS: Diet?
DD: Sure, people are always surprised at this, but it’s one of the most basic methods out there in terms of promoting wellness. The human body is an amazing machine that requires a healthy diet to keep it in balance. Eating healthy can have a significant positive impact on our health.
WS: Could you maybe expand a little on that? What makes a diet healthy?
DD: Eating a wide variety of different colored foods helps our body get more of the nutrients it needs. Green foods boost circulation, for example. White foods
like onions, fennel, or garlic are antivirals. Fish provide beneficial fats like omega-3 that the brain needs. And of course, avoiding foods that contain high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, or enriched flour is always a good choice. Basically avoid processed foods.
WS: You mentioned that some of these alternative therapies have some scientifically proven effects. What are some of the specific benefits alternative therapies can provide?
DD: Massage Therapy offers a plethora of benefits, including stress relief, alleviation of pain and muscle tension, improved sleep, better range of motion for joints, and of course the simple but important gifts of relaxation and human touch. Reiki, which is energy work, at the very least brings a state of profound relaxation, and may bring balance and healing to the recipient on physical, mental, emotional, and/or spiritual levels. Hypnotherapy takes self-healing to another level in reaching deeper levels of our mind, many times reaching the causes of certain symptoms.
WS: Holistic health is becoming more and more popular as time goes by, but in this age of iPads, smartphones, and WebMD, there are still plenty of skeptics out there. What are some of the more common misconceptions you run into?
DD: Some people still think of massage as a luxury and don't feel they should splurge on themselves. I think the pleasant experience of massage is nice and certainly worth the price alone, but it is the therapeutic effect that is the true value. Hypnosis still suffers from the misconception of the hypnotist "controlling" or having power over the recipient, when the opposite is true. In hypnosis one is actually in a state of heightened awareness and totally aware of all that is happening.
WS: Could you speak to the reactions of the traditional Western medicinal community? What seems to be their overall view of alternative medicine? Are physicians prescribing massage or acupuncture?
DD: I can’t speak for the traditional medicine community as a whole, but personally, I have noticed an increase in physician referrals for massage, yoga, and other stress-reducing therapies. There are certainly more integrated wellness facilities available and I know that many US medical schools now offer alternative therapies in their curricula.
WS: And finally, are there any books or sites you’d recommend for people who want to learn more about alternative therapies?
DD: Prescription for Nutritional Healing (the latest edition) by Phyllis Balch and James Balch, MD is a good overview to natural health. Dr. Andrew Weil has a number of good books out, as well as Deepak Chopra. These books are useful in that they provide an overview and introduction to prevention of disease and the maintenance of good health without the use of drugs. They’re also good explanations of the connection between mind and body.
Donna Duffy is a Certified Massage Therapist, Reiki Master-Teacher, Certified Hypnotherapist, Past-Life Regression Therapist, and Life Coach, with a BS degree in Holistic Health.