Energy Healing is defined loosely as a set of products, practices, and theories that are believed or perceived to have the healing effects.
Unlike medicine,an alternative product or practice does not originate from using scientific methods, but is based on a belief in energies.
Healing is used together with functional medical treatment, in a belief that it improves the effect of treatments.
Alternative medicine consists of a wide range of health care practices, products, and therapies. Healing that is not based on the scientific method, comes under the category of Alternative medicine or Complementary healing. Healing practices are diverse in their foundations and methodologies. Healing practices may be classified by their cultural origins or by the types of beliefs upon which they are based.
Methods may incorporate or be based on traditional medicinal practices of a particular culture, folk knowledge, supernatural energies, new age spirituality. Different cultures have their own unique traditional or belief based practices developed recently or over thousands of years, and specific practices or entire systems of practices.
Naturopathic medicine is based on a belief that the body heals itself using a supernatural vital energy that guides bodily processes. Homeopathy ascertains that a substance that causes the symptoms of a disease in healthy people cures similar symptoms in sick people.
Alternative medical systems are based on traditional medicine practices, such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Ayurveda in India, or practices of other cultures around the world. Some useful applications of traditional medicines have been researched and accepted within ordinary medicine.
Common practices in Chinese medicine include herbal medicine, acupuncture (insertion of needles in the body at specified points), massage (Tui na), exercise (qigong), Reiki (energy healing) and dietary therapy.
Ayurveda believes in the existence of three elemental substances, the doshas (called Vata, Pitta and Kapha), and states that a balance of the doshas results in health, while imbalance results in disease.
Biofield energy is intended to influence energy fields that, it is purported, surround and penetrate the body.
Bioelectro magnetic therapy uses verifiable electromagnetic fields, such as pulsed fields, alternating-current, or direct-current fields.
Reiki is a Japanese form of alternative medicine called energy healing. Reiki practitioners use a technique called palm healing or hands-on healing through which universal energy is transferred through the palms of the practitioner to the patient in order to encourage emotional or physical healing.
Herbal therapy uses substances found in nature such as herbs, foods, non-vitamin supplements and mega vitamins, animal and fungal products, and minerals, including use of these products in traditional medical practices that may also incorporate other methods.
Christian faith healing is a divine or spiritual intervention in healing.
Complementary therapies are often used in palliative care or by practitioners to manage chronic pain in patients. Integrative medicine is considered more acceptable in the interdisciplinary approach used in palliative care.
If the patient desired complementary therapies, and as long as such treatments provided additional support and did not endanger the patient, they are acceptable. The non-pharmacologic interventions of complementary medicine can employ mind-body interventions designed to reduce pain and concomitant mood disturbance and increase quality of life.
International Association Of Healing Practitioners, gives space to practitioners of all alternative or complimentary healing, to be recognized under one organization. Becoming a member can ensure your credibility, as well as protect your beliefs, and advertise your services under one roof.
In addition to that, there is a vast library of information, which can be accessed, downloaded to widen one’s knowledge.