KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 — Alternative and complementary healthcare today has begun to command great respect by the ever increasing practitioners of various types of therapies and holistic care, and the people seeking these treatments.

These healthcare treatments include traditional Chinese medicine and ayurveda, acupuncture, reiki, massage therapies, aromatherapies, chiropractic and tit tar.

Many have at least experienced some form of holistic treatment or have seen their friends or family members ‘recuperate’ from common ailments treated by traditional and complementary medicines.

In holistic healthcare, it is believed that the parts of something are intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole.

It is learnt that more than 30 per cent of adults and about 12 per cent of children in the United States use health care approaches developed outside of mainstream medicine or conventional medicine. This is sometimes termed and commonly referred to as "alternative” or "complementary” medicine or healthcare.

There is a difference. If a non-mainstream practice is used together with conventional medicine, it’s considered "complementary.” If a non-mainstream practice is used in place of conventional medicine, it’s considered "alternative.”

Most people who use non-mainstream approaches use them along with conventional treatments.

What is Integrative Medicine then? Probably there are many definitions for it but it involves bringing conventional and complementary healthcare approaches together in a coordinated way.

It is interesting to note that today, researchers are exploring the possible benefits that can be derived from integrative healthcare such as in cases of pain management and quick healing methods, cancer management and various other events that promote health.

In Malaysia the use of traditional, complementary or integrative healthcare is fast becoming a first choice for many healthcare seekers. People of all ages with wide ranging illnesses including terminal cases are known to seek the aid of professional practitioners of complementary healthcare. Patients suffering from diseases and disorders such as body aches and pains, bone and ligament disorders, depression, cancer, diabetes, kidney malfunction, and sleep disorders are believed to have obtained some form of relief from traditional and complementary healthcare. Many practitioners have also begun to use mainstream medical equipment and facilities such as the MRI and CT Scan in their treatment of diseases and pain.

Besides the common ailments treated by complementary healthcare such as acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathy, oesteopathy, tui na, cupping, nutritional therapy, massage therapy to mention a few, we have even practitioners and consultants for sound and music therapy, sleep therapy, hypnotherapy, yoga and psychotherapy. For wellness we have reflexology, spa, aromatherapy, Thai massage, wellness massage, shiatsu, qi gong and reiki.

Almost all of them are synonymous with an approach that is holistic and most of them do not involve ‘invasive’ techniques. The therapies are usually painless and the results after several sessions are encouraging.

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(Disclaimer: This special supplement features the holistic approach by practitioners of alternative, complementary and integrative healthcare. The views expressed are that of the practitioners — strictly for information only. The stories/features do not in any way reflect the opinion of and are not endorsed by Malay Mail or Marc Media. Malay Mail and Marc Media are indemnified from any legal issues. All articles are published for general information and knowledge only).