Complementary Therapies to Boost Your Overall Health

Complementary medicine, sometimes called integrative medicine, seeks to find a balance between the best achievements of traditional “Western” medicine and the time-tested, provable natural treatments.

When you remain open-minded enough to consider the forms of complementary medicine that have proven to work, you can boost your wellness efforts. Dr. Daniel Rieders of Peninsula Integrative Cardiology in San Ramon, California explains which treatments to consider and when.

What is complementary medicine?

Complementary medicine, sometimes called complementary alternative medicine, represents the best natural health treatments. Along with traditional Western medicine, you can often get optimal results when including complementary or integrative medicine.

Some of these treatments include the following:

• Diet/nutrition
• Yoga
• Spiritual/emotional support
• Meditation
• Energy healing

Other complementary treatments may help you, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, and biofeedback. Chosen on a case-by-case basis, it takes your input and Dr. Rieders’ expertise to recommend complementary treatments.

Some benefits of complementary medicine

Complementary medicine has many potential benefits for boosting your health. Some of the benefits that people have gained from using alternative or complementary medicine include the following:

• Pain relief
• Reduced nausea
• Reduced anxiety and stress
• Improved wound healing
• Improved flexibility and circulation
• Improved mood
• Promotes feelings of relaxation and calm

While complementary medicine works best with traditional Western medicine, sometimes you may gain enough benefits from complementary medicine alone that we can decrease your reliance on medications.

Some of the conditions that benefit from complementary medicine

You might think complementary medicine only works on mental health issues, but this negates the reality that complementary treatments work. Some of the conditions that complementary medicine can help include the following:

• Asthma
• Chronic pain
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Joint pain and arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Depression
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Autoimmune disorders

The connection between mind and body (and also spirit) is undeniable if we look into it. We don’t always know why something works, but the fact that it does is proven.

Long-term benefits

Using complementary medicine doesn’t just help in the short term; it also has many long-term benefits. Some of these long-term benefits include the following:

• Improved appetite
• Enhanced cognitive functioning
• More energy
• Improved sleep quality
• Reduced pain levels
• Peace of mind

Complementary medicine can bring your entire body into harmony, making you more resistant to illness and helping you feel well, no matter your health challenges. It’s all about getting your life into balance.

If you’re curious about how complementary medicine can help boost your health, contact Dr. Daniel Rieders at Peninsula Integrative Medicine today or request an appointment online.