Do complimentary therapies work alongside conventional medicine?

Have you ever wondered if there’s any real benefit to complementary therapies such as reflexology, acupuncture, Bowen therapy or aromatherapy?

If there is, why doesn’t the NHS prescribe it? I often ask myself that question when I listen to the struggles some of my clients have with their health, and their reports about how the therapies I offer have given them back some quality of life, helped to manage their pain or helped them to feel more confident about moving forward in life.

So can complementary therapies work alongside conventional medicine?

The answer is most definitely yes. The reason they’re called complementary therapies is because they “complement” conventional medicine, often helping patients to better manage their condition. The NHS isn’t widely prescribing complementary therapies quite yet, but it is beginning to recognise there’s place for them in healthcare. Hospices in particular are leading the way by employing therapists qualified to give treatments including aromatherapy, massage and reflexology to people in their care.

So why are complementary therapies becoming more popular - or at least understood by - conventional medicine practitioners?

One of the main reasons is they’re recognised for their impact on reducing stress. Clients report feeling less stressed, less overwhelmed, more able to cope with what life throws at them.

Stress can be a major contributor to ill health, both mental and physical. Physical symptoms of stress can include general aches and pains, muscle tension, frequent colds, lack of energy, digestive issues, a rapid heartbeat etc.

Stress can manifest as changes in a person’s behaviour.  They may isolate themselves, find it difficult to make decisions, not be able to sleep, eat less or more than is healthy for them or begin to use alcohol or cigarettes to cope.

Cognitive changes also occur in people when they are stressed. They may find it difficult to concentrate, be more irritable than normal or become very negative about their life.

Therapies such as reflexology, massage, aromatherapy and Bowen Therapy work on reducing stress, not only by providing a relaxing treatment, but by calming the body’s nervous system, reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol and helping the body and mind to “reset”.