What holistic/complementary therapy would you recommend, and why?

[Eckhart]

Have you had any experience of acupuncture/shiatsu/reiki/other therapies? What issues did they work/not work for? I'm trying to work out what to go for myself, but there's so many and it's so expensive, especially given that many of them take several sessions to have an effect.

Any suggestions?

I'm having accupuncture during ivf and I love it, it's so relaxing and I don't even really believe in it.
Get a simply health scheme membership and you can get loads of sessions for all this sort of thing, you might be able to get it through work but you can sign up yourself

Thanks Parkandride. Is there something to 'believe in' with acupuncture? I've always wondered about it.

Reflexology. Who doesn't feel better after a nice foot rub?

Beyond the relaxation aspect of a lot of these therapies they are unlikely to have any other effect.

Accupuncture for long term pain. Did wonders, also made me feel more balanced emotionally (even though I didn't feel particularly unbalanced before - I just felt calmer and emit stronger somehow).

What makes you say that, FemiLANgul? I thought some of them had quite a lot of theory behind them?

@insanepizza did you have to have loads of sessions or just one? Do you have to go back? Glad to hear it helped.

Medical herbalism can be beneficial. It’s often confused with homeopathy but herbal formulas contain actual compounds and active ingredients. Herbalists registered with the proper associations must have completed an equivalent to a degree level of study and are eligible for indemnity insurance. Many practitioners aren’t woo at all.

It’s particulalry useful for conditions for which convential medicine has little to offer. Things like eczema, IBS, insomnia etc.

@Eckhart I had one introductory session followed by a further four - twice per week. Now go for a top up every three months.

It involved cupping, needles and scraping (cupping or needles not both at the same time).

Acupuncture helps a lot with my pain from RA. My doctor recommended it.

Reflexology helped me too, just made me a lot more relaxed

Does sport massage count? It's helped my family with all sorts of stresses and aches and pains.

Bowen Therapy. Gentle, non-invasive, stay fully clothed and lie down & rest.

I had Plantaar Fasciitis for 3 years and tried absolutely everything to the point where the NHS gave up on me.

2x1 hour sessions of Bowen and it went....that was 4 years ago and so far I have been ok.

Also used for ICSI/IVF.

www.therapy-directory.org.uk/articles/bowen-therapy.html

I have reflexology for arthritis (in my knees/back). It really helps

Ancientruin That's amazing!

I think a lot of people in real life and on here use complementary therapies but won't admit it.

I believe in trying everything as long as not obviously/known to be harmful.

I was raised by parents and grandparents who very much believed in trying natural/home remedies before going to the gp surgery unless of course it was something severe/life threatening.

So as well as "traditional/modern" items in our first aid cabinet there'd also be essential oils, aloe gel, certain herbs, arnica cream etc

I have a long and complicated medical history which includes the allergy trifecta (asthma, eczema, hay fever) plus several other allergies, especially relating to sensitive skin, ibs, endo, sinus issues, migraine etc

Even now I'd rather try something more natural first before taking even painkillers.

The ones I've found especially helpful are:

Aromatherapy/essential oils - for relaxation, pain, sinus and allergy issues, skin issues

Homeopathy (much maligned on mn) - for tonsillitis, migraine and ibs

For first aid burns, scalds, cuts and grazes aloe gel (I always keep in a tube of Holland and Barrett's www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-aloe-vera-gel-60033725) and I mix with a few drops lavender oil and calendula oil.

Apply to the affected area after gentle cleaning twice a day and the wound will be soothed and healed quickly leaving no scarring. If the wound is in a difficult place get some micropore type dressings and put the gel mix on the padded part and place on the wound.

My Dd has a disability which makes her prone to trips and falls and so she's incurred some AWFUL grazes and cuts and I've used this on her. She and I have recommended to many friends who've been amazed at the results.

I wish I'd known myself years ago (mum failed to tell me!) as this mix is also very effective at preventing stretch marks. It also improves them slightly but works better for prevention.

Also works great on sunburn but as it doesn't "dry out" can be not so practical for all over application, but works great if eg you've only burnt nose or shoulders as you just leave them bare and when practical pop some of this on.

My mum has had great results from acupuncture for her arthritis and quite a few people I know love reflexology for a variety of conditions but particularly plantar fasciitis.

Homeopathy for tummy bugs. I don’t believe in it. But it’s worked a few times for me.
Herbalist prescribed mix for mild depression.

Thanks Graphista, that's lots of useful information. I'm interested because of migraines, primarily. I was considering shiatsu, which I think is like acupuncture. D'you know anything about that?

I've never tried homeopathy, I'll give it a look.

Oh yes, herbs too

Golden Seal for oral ulcers...magic!

I think from memory there are cold herbs and warm ones?

After losing my baby at 21 weeks I suffered from awful hormonal headaches - or maybe stress/trauma related. Pain relief didn’t touch it, even prescribed by the GP.

Reflexology was amazing, solved it immediately and I think it helped get my cycles back to normal quickly too. Also great for my mental state at what was a very tough time.

Also really rate acupuncture, made me feel totally blissed out and helped with hip pain too.

I’ve had acupuncture for hip bursitis but I had quite a reaction that I didn’t continue with it.
I didn’t do it for long enough to see if it worked but my ovaries felt like they were in pain the following days and I had dragging pains down my legs so I stopped.

Had reiki. That released so much emotion the following day. I was quite shocked.

I've tried a lot of stuff over the years for my severe migraines. Visiting a chiropractor regularly is the only thing that's worked. My migraines are due to poor posture though, causing whiplash type position in my neck. I only found this out after having an xray at the chiropractor.

Hmm I've always been interested in trying acupuncture for stress relief. I've been getting terrible headaches at the back of my head/neck, which seem to come on when I'm upset, which recently, has been a lot.

I might look into reflexology too.

Thanks for this thread OP 👍

I don't generally do massage and similar as I have ocd and don't like being touched by strangers. Although at one point a friend who's an aromatherapy masseuse did help me out, I was having a lot of trouble with constipation and she did a digestive massage which really helped (and not too much which I find is often the problem with modern constipation remedies) and i too was blindsided by an emotional response. It was a stressful time in my life and I agreed with her it was likely connected, I was literally "holding it all in"

Modern medicine takes a pretty useless "troubleshooting" approach rather than a more sensible holistic one.

Same applies to migraine - you need to identify the cause. In my case hormonal (what modern medical practitioners can't get their head around is it related to ovulation for me not menstruation) usually, but occasionally if I overdo the rich food/drink I'll get a different kind of migraine. It's not a hangover as I get it even if alcohol not included in that and I don't get hangovers. Different treatments for each.

@mumofoneortwo I get those headaches too. I've found the best thing for immediate relief is heat patches placed at back of neck but very slightly to the left? Don't know if that would help you.

I trust alternative medicine more than western medicine.

@Graphista
May I ask what sort of heat patches you use?
Wondering if a hot water bottle would work.