Alternative, complementary healing practices that are changing the face of holistic wellness

This list of healing practices, can go a long way in helping people around the world, to face and embrace their new normal, in the face of a global pandemic.

Medicine and healing has been as ancient to the human civilisation as disease and death itself! Over the years, man has evolved to discover, create, study, and propagate natural medicine and healing practices by leveraging its immediate surroundings, to combat life threats and win over illnesses. Today, in the aftermath of the pandemic, global populations are turning to alternative preventive practices, along with conventional measures, to safeguard against the virus. While this integrated approach to preventive care is highly visible, the use of integrated medicine and healing practices to treat illness – both mild and severe, have been steadily gaining popularity over the past few years.

The global market size for complementary and alternative medicine was pegged at USD 69.2 Billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.9%  over the forecast period of 2020-2027, as per a ‘Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market Report 2027’ by Grand View Research. The alternative medicine and practices which are popular and accepted, range from the well-known discipline of Yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and naturopathy to little known but traditionally effective practices of Reiki, Music therapy, Traditional Chinese therapy, Western Herbal Medicine, reflexology etc.  

The insights explore a series of Eastern and Western complementary healing practices that have been a part of Sameer’s journey and are mentioned in his book, ‘One Fine Day’, which is a transformative memoir about his experience of dealing with the stroke and coming back from the brink of hopelessness/death. This list of healing practices, can go a long way in helping people around the world, to face and embrace their new normal, in the face of a global pandemic.

1. Antioxidant Therapy: This has been steadily gaining widespread popularity in the recent decade, mainly due to it properties of healthy, glowing skin. However, its applications go much deeper than just the skin! Antioxidant therapy works on a cellular to reduce free radicals and has been found effective in preventing and healing heart diseases, and cancer. 

2. Energy Healing: Another alternative and highly effective traditional healing method, that is gaining widespread traction, is the work with energy balance. This method works on the physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing through restoring the energy balance across the body. As one of the most holistic wellness techniques, energy healing is used primarily for preventive and general wellness as well as for treating severe illnesses, especially mental illness. 

3. Lomi Lomi Massage: A traditional Hawaiian medicinal technique, the Lomi Lomi uses massage techniques, nut oils and elements of prayer, breathing and dancing to heal and restore energy and balance to the body.  

4. Nutrition and Diet as a Therapy: Therapies like Alkaline Diet, and herbal nutritious juice diets etc., are gaining medicinal value and significance, for both preventive and regenerative wellness. From consuming natural and fresh fruits and vegetables to adhering to vegan or raw foods, there are varied forms of diet therapies that are being prescribed to assist faster recovery or maintain long term health, in conjugation with conventional western medicine.

5. Ayurvedic Panchakarma: An ancient Indian healing and wellness technique, the Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapies consists of herbal pre-mix, best suited for specific conditions, and, as rely upon ‘five actions’, that leverage the basic five activities of the body to gain health. These include vamanam (vomiting), virechanam (purga-tion), niruham (colon enema), Anuvaasan (oil enema), and nasyam (inhalation of medicated oils). Its application as a supportive wellness therapy along with yoga, is gaining traction across the world, for its powerful soothing, healing, and rejuvenating properties. Combined with specialised therapies like Abhyanga – a herbal oil massage, Shirodhara –therapeutic administration of warm oils on the forehead, in a continuous stream, designed to eliminate toxins and relieve mental stress, and Shiro Vasti – herbal oil poured on scalp and allowed to be soaked in, before a warm relaxing head bath, are some of the most sought after and effective therapies.   

6. Music Therapy: Music has been used since ancient times as a tool to heal, sooth and promote an overall sense of wellbeing. In recent times though, specific frequency based music like Whole tones and Raga Therapy are increasingly finding popularity due to their ability to relieve anxiety, and assist in peaceful sleep by reducing overall stress. 

7. Yoga and Ayurveda: As one of the oldest and most popular forms of eastern healing and wellness practice, originating in India, yoga and Ayurveda offers a multitude of healing practices for both, regenerative and preventive wellbeing. From basic yogic kriyas, and specialised asanas, highly evolved breathing techniques, called pranayamas, and meditation techniques to Ayurvedic diet and massage therapies, yoga and Ayurveda have been accepted and practised the world over.  

8. Acupressure / Acupuncture: Although an ancient Chinese traditional medicine, Acupressure and Acupuncture are widely accepted and trusted modes for healing both mild to chronic conditions, over a long period of time. From helping alleviate pain and promoting a general sense of wellbeing to treating conditions like Asthama and chronic digestive/ neurological conditions, these traditional Chinese healing techniques can be easily accessed and leveraged.

Although growing at a fast pace, the use of alternative complementary eastern medicine is still far from mainstream, when it comes to using it as a helpful healing tool, along with the conventional western medicine. With the pandemic and the increased focus on preventive and regenerative medicine, it is time that we adopt a holistic approach to health and wellness to create a long term, overall wellbeing.