Acupuncture seeks to achieve a balance of ch’i, or energy in the body, of yin and yang. Skin color and body odor will be noted during diagnosis, as well as a patient’s emotions, stresses, fears and strengths. The acupuncturist carries out treatment by stimulating various points along the meridians, or pathways of energy, which enable the ch’i to flow more freely and affect the organ or system identified as causing the problem. The acupuncturist may use a fine needle, acupressure (pressure applied by finger), or moxa (a way of applying heat to a direct area) to stimulate any particular point.

Massage can be quite helpful in treating a vast array of medical problems. While there are many masseuses who are only trained in the art of relaxing muscles, many alternative practitioners are trained in the ways of energy, as well. Often using similar methods as acupuncture, the masseuse may stimulate certain points, often the same points an acupuncturist would stimulate, along one’s meridians in an attempt to allow one’s ch’i to flow more freely, and in doing so treating the patient’s medical problems.

Homeopathy is based on the theory that “like cures like”. A minuscule dose of a preparation, also known as a remedy, is administered that emulates the condition being treated in order to combat the condition. Homeopathy is based in the power of the body’s ability to heal itself, and symptoms are seen as the body’s way of striving to achieve a cure. Therefore, the symptoms must reach an extreme peak of acuity in order for the body to effectively carry out this function. The homeopath (a practitioner of homeopathy) will attempt to find the homeopathic remedy that will address the patient’s symptoms, thereby making them more acute, allowing for the body to enable it’s ability to heal.

Herbalism is the practice of administering natural herbs to treat medical illness. Herbalists have been practicing in most cultures throughout the world and throughout history. Although it fell from favor in many cultures will the fall of paganism, and with it the so-called “witch doctors”, it has regained much of it’s popularity and many of the same herbs are still used today that were used centuries ago. Popular herbalist remedies include: sage, thyme, elderflower, yarrow, hyssop and garlic for respitory infections; chamomile, lemon balm, lime flowers and lavender for sleeplessness and nervous excitability, and comfrey for soothing bruises or rubbed skin.