If one of your resolutions this year is to become healthier, then may I suggest considering alternative medicine options? Madison, Wisconsin, and the surrounding area, is actually a sort of “energetic center” for alternative medicine. Sure, we have bio-tech, but there is also a flourishing population that fully believes in alternative medicine practices for health and longevity. But what exactly is alternative medicine?

Defining Alternative Medicine

Webster defines alternative medicine as “any of various systems of healing or treating disease (as chiropractic, homeopathy, or faith healing) not included in the traditional medical curricula taught in the United States and Britain.”

Sounds kind of lame to me. So, once any type of “alternative medicine” gets taught in medical curricula, it ceases to become alternative medicine? Hmmmm.

The Wikipedia view on alternative medicine goes on to elaborate that “If an alternative medical approach, previously unproven according to orthodox scientific methodology, is subsequently shown to be safe and effective, it may then be adopted by conventional medical practitioners and, logically speaking, should no longer be considered "alternative".

So orthodox scientific method is important for something to become non-alternative.

WebMD goes on to provide some examples of alternative medicine in action, such as:

• Homeopathic medicine
• Naturopathic medicine
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Ayurdeva
• Mind body medicine, such as meditation, prayer, art, music, dance
• Biological therapies; nutrition or dietary supplements
• Manipulative and body based methods, massage, chiropractic
• Energy therapies; Reiki, qi gong, and Therapeutic Touch
• Bioelectromagnetic based therapies

I think this is a pretty solid starting point as a list, though I would add Yoga as well.

So what can these things help with…

The Importance of Alternative Medicine

Stress, stress and more stress. Did I mention stress? Let’s face it, we are highly stressed out individuals living in the Age of Information. Alternative medicine is important to help alleviate the stress of the times.

How about health care costs? Prescription drugs, doctor visits, medical device testing, treatments, these things can all add up. The more we go to the doctor, to the hospital and in for treatment the more of our financial energy we have to give up.

The way I see it, alternative medicine, even when it transforms itself into conventional medical practices, is comprised primarily of preventative maintenance. When was the last time you took your car in for an oil change? How regularly do you do that? How about some tire rotations or a new oil filter? Seems to me that people are more mindful of the maintenance on their automobiles than they are for their own physical vessels. Preventative maintenance of the body is key for alternative medicine.

Perhaps one could say that preventative maintenance is an alternative to orthodox medicine.

I am a believer in curative applications of alternative medicine as well; however, if one is able to prevent a dis-ease from occurring, then one need not “cure” the dis-ease.

A Few Madison Alternative Medicine Options

Here are a few things we can do this year locally to test the alternative medicine waters.

Hit the Gym: Okay, okay, so this is already on the New Year’s resolutions list. But exercise can definitely be an alternative to medicine.

Change Your Diet: Eating the proper food can be a route to improving overall health, especially if you happen to be lactose or gluten intolerant and simply do not know it.

Pick up a yoga class: This is near and dear to my heart since I am a Kundalini Yoga teacher and have witness the powerful healing benefits associated with yoga in my life. The Yoga Journal Magazine actually declared Madison a yoga haven because we have many yoga studios options and a culture that is conducive to practice.

Visit Integrative Medicine @ the UW: Right here in our own back yard the, University is pioneering alternative medicine approaches for us. They call it integrative medicine. I think they would do well to bring on some reiki practitioners, but they are headed in the right direction.

Get a Reiki Session: Reiki is a type of energetic massage that alleviates pain and helps to balance a human’s energetic system. Arline Rowden is a well known and respected Reiki Master in this area. Actually, I am able to provide reiki treatments as well.

Try Ayurvedic Medicine: This ancient healing technique is on my to do list for this year. Puja Wellness provides Ayurvedic services. I intend to check out their initial consultation so I’ll be sure to let you all know how it goes.

Take a Cold Shower: Those folks doing the Polar Plunge not only support a good cause, they are on to something to improve their health. Cold showers provide hydrotherapy for the body, which work to improve circulation in your capillaries. This in turn encourages your glands to secrete, which promotes glandular balance. I like to think of it as capillary yoga.

Commit to your Spiritual Practice: You can go to church, synagogue, temple, or maybe just that sacred space you have carved out in your home. Whatever it takes to reconnect with that presence which you feel is the One.

Give Alternative Medicine a Try

Let’s make 2008 the year we take alternative medicine to the next level. There are so many healing benefits associated with these practices, and they are readily accessible in this area. I think that we will find that over time health care costs, and dis-ease in general will become greatly diminished.

Please drop us a comment and let us know of additional alternative medicine resources!?

May you be blessed with good health.