Alternative Medicine
What is Alternative Medicine? Well, it can range from a wide range of different treatments! From traditional Chinese medicine, to medical cannabis, I am going to talk about alternative therapies and how they can help with a variety of issues, from Chronic Pain to mental illness.
The mind and body are one, not two separate entities. When our minds and our bodies are healthy, we feel at our best. This is when our A Game is at its strongest. However, many of us suffer from chronic health conditions. I, personally, have found alternative medicine to be extremely helpful. If you are one of the many people who suffer from a chronic health condition, please read on….
Acupuncture
What exactly is acupuncture? It is a form of traditional Chinese medicine. The practitioner will place tiny needles into different “meridians” (energy centers) in the body. When the meridians are flowing and are in balance (the term for this is Chi) the body is said to achieve optimal health. This promotes a feeling of calmness and tranquility; improving pain, enabling the limbs of the body to move more freely, improving mood, releasing unwanted emotions (anyone suffer from Anxiety?), and even combating insomnia!
Acupuncture has done wonders for my fibromyalgia and migraines. I consider acupuncture to be just as relaxing as a massage, or other spa treatment. Not only does it ease my joint pain (and my fatigue) it promotes a feeling of calmness and peacefulness. And the best thing about acupuncture? No side effects!
Acupuncture has also helped thousands of women overcome fertility issues (including pop superstar Mariah Carey).
Medical Marijuana
Medical cannabis is an age-old remedy for many maladies of the human condition. It has been used for pain, inflammation, nausea, and as a mood stimulant for thousands of years.
Medical cannabis can be consumed in a variety of ways. For instance, not every cannabis patient wants to inhale it by smoking it. The billion-dollar medical marijuana industry has come up with various creative ways to consume the natural pain killer. Nowadays, medical users can choose between eating it as a sweet confection (such as chocolate, lollipops, cookies, or brownies), taking it as a pill (which, as far as I know, is the most discreet form of medicating), as well as in lotion form (think rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, or other skin conditions). You can also choose to consume it in its most traditional form, smoking. Those who want to smoke in a healthier way, however, choose to vape.
What do I think about medical cannabis? Well, I used to be a stone-cold skeptic. However, when traditional forms of fibromyalgia treatment failed me, this stone-cold skeptic turned into a believer. Medical marijuana has literally saved my life. Instead of smoking it, I prefer taking it in pill form or as an edible. It does take up to one hour to take effect, but when it does kick in, all my pain disappears. Literally! I have fibromyalgia in the most severe form. Whenever I eat an edible, all my pain goes away AND I get up to six hours of relief! Instead of using THC (the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis) I personally choose to medicate using CBD (a non-psychoactive version of the drug). I do not get a “high” or a “stone” feeling, but a calm, relaxing feeling. It is the most soothing experience I have ever had. It does not make you high, however, one should NEVER (I repeat, never) drive while under the influence of CBD, or any other form of marijuana. Instead, it should be taken before bedtime or any other down time.
That is all I have for now! I will include other forms of alternative medicine that I have personally tried later. The bottom line is, when it comes to alternative medicine, it is best to keep an open mind. I was a skeptic of both acupuncture and medical cannabis. However, when I put my skepticism aside, I found the best form of medicine for my conditions. My advice: If you are suffering from a severe form of pain (physical or emotional) don’t put all your faith in pharmaceuticals. There are plenty of other treatments out there that can save your life. Keep an open mind. I would not be able to function if it weren’t for acupuncture and medical cannabis. And for that, I am eternally thankful.