Wellbeing and wellness refer to the mental, physical, and emotional conditions where an individual is happy, satisfied, healthy, and fit. When your emotions are balanced (do not have any grudges), when you do not have any physical and mental complications, when you experience fulfillment or accomplishment, are full of positive energy, you are not only healthy and fit but also happy and satisfied.
There are a lot of techniques for wellbeing and wellness. These techniques are aimed at improving your physical and mental health and help you grow emotionally strong so that you experience happiness and contentment.
Here are some alternative therapies for wellbeing and wellness. If nothing has been working for you, these alternative healing methods will help you manage your pain, stress, anxiety and promote general wellbeing and wellness.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a type of massage where masseur or reflexologist will apply pressure on certain points (called reflexes) on hands, feet, and head through fingers. The idea is to relieve tension and relax your mind and body. According to Reflexology, there are reflex points on the hands, feet, and head, and these reflex points are connected to every part of the body. By applying pressure on reflexes on hands, feet, and head, your entire system will function better. Reflexology is used to treat various complications like post menstrual syndrome, post-surgery pain, depression, anxiety or muscular pain. There have enough studies that prove that stimulating various points on the body can actually release endorphins, the pain managing hormone.
Even though there are no clinical studies to provide a scientific basis for Reflexology, this healing method has proven extremely beneficial to many people. It is quite unknown where this therapeutic system was actually developed, however, there is numerous evidence that shows reflexology was popular in ancient China and Egypt. Reflexology is based on pseudoscience. According to Chinese belief, reflexology can balance life force called Qi.
Hot Stone Massage
A hot stone massage is used to manage your physical pain and promote relaxation. In this technique, warm stones are placed on specific points on the body, generally on the naked skin. The heat from the stones loosens up tight muscles to release pain and relax your muscles. The stones used in hot stone massage are volcanic rocks that retain heat for a long time. Prior to the therapy session, the stones are heated between 130 and 145 degrees. These heated stones are placed along the spine, stomach, chest, face, palms, or feet and toes. The therapist may also massage your body with these hot stones in a circular movement, long strokes, tapping or kneading.
Hot stone massage has been found very beneficial to various conditions such as easing muscle pain, managing stress and anxiety, curing autoimmune diseases like fibromyalgia, decrease cancer symptoms, boost immunity etc.
Cupping Therapy
Cupping therapy is an alternative healing method where a therapist puts glass, plastic, brass, bronze, copper or bamboo cups on your naked skin to create suction. This method of healing is used to treat pain, inflammation and increase blood flow. The history of cupping therapy dates back to 1500 BC.
The suctions created by cups loosen muscles to relax your mind and body. This method of healing is very useful for increasing the performance of the circulatory and nervous system. Cupping therapy is highly beneficial in neck pain, back pain, high blood pressure, stiff muscle, fatigue, headaches, anxiety, even migraines, rheumatism, and cellulite. Cupping therapy also has a side effect, for instance, you may feel pain, swelling, dizziness, burns, nausea, skin pigmentation, etc.
Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy (also called cranial-sacral therapy, cranial osteopathy, cranial therapy, or CST) is an alternative healing method to improve the functions of the nervous system and ease pain, anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia, and general well-being and wellness. This therapeutic system was developed from cranial osteopathy, a healing method developed by William Garner Sutherland in 1930. The development of Craniosacral therapy is credited to John Upledger. Upledger developed Craniosacral therapy as an offshoot osteopathy in the cranial field in 1970.
Craniosacral therapy is related to the cranium, the part of the skull that encloses the brain. The craniosacral therapy practitioner lightly touches the patient’s spine, skull, and pelvic bones to stimulate the synarthrodial joints of the cranium. This therapeutic has been extremely beneficial for various physical, psychological and emotional problems. Even though there are no clinical studies, it is said that Craniosacral therapy is also helpful in cancer treatment. The patient might experience mild discomfort, however, this will be gone in less than 24 hours.
Thalassotherapy
The word Thalassotherapy is coined from two Greek words, “Thalassa” and “therapeia,” which literally mean sea and healing, respectively. Thalassotherapy is a relatively new healing method. It was developed in the 20th century, in France. This therapeutic system uses seawater, seaweed, mud, sand, in fact, everything from the sea, to treat various conditions. The general practice of Thalassotherapy is the Thalassotherapy center should not be more than 500 meters away from seashores and should not be in the 10 km radius of industry or factory.
Thalassotherapy uses coastal climate and seawater, seaweed, sea mud/san to cure various skin conditions and improve the immune system. This therapeutic system has even used to treat fibromyalgia. The minerals present in the sea substance are good to improve the circulatory system. This healing method has also been very beneficial in detoxification, stimulation of lymphatic system, balance acid-base in the body, improve oxygen supply to the cells etc.
Shiatsu
Shiatsu is a Japanese therapeutic technique that basically involves massaging the body with fingers, sometimes elbow. The aim of this massage technique is to activate various pressure points in the body to improve chi or positive energy. This therapeutic system is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine called Acupressure.
Gua Sha or Scraping
Gua Sha is a Traditional Chinese Medicine that looks very painful, yet has amazing health benefits. The common terms for Gua Sha in the English language are scraping, spooning, or coining, which involves scraping the skin with a spoon or similar tools. When the screen is scrapped, light bruises appear. The basic idea is to increase blood circulation that helps in healing pain and curing other diseases.
Acupuncture
The contribution of China in healing techniques or the therapeutic system is immense. Another popular, yet scary looking Traditional Chinese Medicine is acupuncture. Acupuncture involves inserting think needles on the upper layer of your skin. Acupuncture has been widely used to treat emotional, psychological and physical problems from stress, anxiety, depression to gastrointestinal problems, skin disorders, even fertility.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a therapeutic system where essential oils from various herbs and flowers are used to cure sleeping disorders, stress, anxiety, depression, and various mental and psychological disorders. The idea is to trigger neurotransmitters that control your behavior, emotion, and mood through the aroma in the essential oils.
Deep Tissue Massage
While many popular massage techniques are mostly aimed at promoting relaxation, the main aim of deep tissue massage is the cure conditions like sports injuries, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, or pain in the back, neck or other areas in the body, etc. Deep tissue massage involves applying slow strokes and pressure in the affected area to target the deep layer of tissue.