Alternative Therapies H-I

Herbal Medicine
Also known as Herbalism based on the use of plants and plant extracts to treat physical and emotional conditions. The first generally accepted use of plants as healing agents was depicted in the cave paintings discovered in the Lascaux caves in France dating back to between 13,000 - 25,000 BC.

Medical Herbalists work holistically, offering patients custom-made medicine to support their own body’s healing powers.

Herbalism can be used to treat a whole range of conditions including eczema, psoriasis, anxiety, depression, insomnia, headaches, migraines, asthma, hay fever, painful joints and muscles.

Homeopathy
The use of minute doses of substances including plants, minerals and metals to treat the 'whole' person - physically, mentally and emotionally. It is based on the philosophy that like cures like and the properties of the substances used match the symptoms of the person receiving the treatment. In turn the person's immune system is said to be stimulated into helping the body to fight the illness. The most characteristic principle of homeopathy is that the potency of a remedy can be enhanced (and the side-effects diminished) by dilution, in a procedure known as potentization. In the UK homeopathic remedies are sold over the counter, there are many clinics and five homeopathic hospitals, funded by the National Health Service.

Hopi Ear Candling
The use of candles made of pure beeswax, honey extract, traditional herbs such as Sage, St. John's Wort, Chamomile and pure essentials oils to treat such conditions as earache, ear wax problems, snoring, sinusitis, sore throats, and blockages in the ear caused by colds, infections, swimming, diving and air travel. The candle is placed in the ear and as it burns, it creates a light suction effect which assists in drawing out wax, secretions and blockages. The warmth and herbs contained in the candle help to stimulate the lymphatic system around the ear and aid healing.

Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy, sometimes known as hydropathy, involves the use of water for soothing pains and treating diseases. It was used by the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans with Egyptian royalty bathing in water with essential oils and flowers, and the Romans using public communal baths. It has been long accepted that hot water springs can improve health by increasing circulation. Today, it is used to treat arthritis, burns, spasticity, ankylosing spondylitis, musculoskeletal disorders, spinal cord injuries, and stroke patients with paralysis. It is also used to treat orthopedic and neurological conditions in dogs and horses, and to improve fitness.

Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis is a method of accessing the subconscious mind where all our 'programmes' are stored. It can be used to eliminate unwanted habits and addictions such as smoking or nail-biting and replacing them with positive behaviours. It may be used to find and release deeply buried (repressed) negative childhood emotions and experiences which we may, as adults, have consciously forgotten but which are still lodged in the subconscious. These can now appear as unwanted and uncontrollable psychological problems such as phobias, panic attacks, tics, alcoholism, lack of self confidence and other problems.

Once the buried memory of a possibly long ago event is available to the conscious mind and the emotion surrounding it is released, a new awareness and understanding is experienced by the patient, who will now find that the problem has become more or totally manageable.

Indian Head Massage
Currently a very popular therapy used to treat stress and tension. Brought to the West by Narenda Metha, who, on moving to England, missed regular massage treatments and set about developing his own form of Indian Head Massage. He gradually refined the techniques and routines into a standardized form. He began teaching in London, but his work has rapidly spread worldwide.

It is a massage of the head, neck and facial areas with the main purpose of manipulating energy channels. The goal is to clear blocks in these energy channels that cause a build-up of negative energy - purported to cause common ailments including stress.

Whilst Indian head massage is normally carried out with the client seated on a chair, the most relaxing form for the client is to be lying on a massage couch. In this way, he or she can truly relax. It is not uncommon for clients to fall asleep during this massage.

Iridology
Also known as iridodiagnosis in which patterns, colors, and other characteristics of the iris are examined for information about a patient's systemic health. Practioners believe the eye acts as a "window" into the body's state of health and use iris charts, which divide the iris into zones believed to correspond to specific parts of the human body, to identify tissue changes and degenerative signs in the body. They believe these are reflected in signs and discolourations in the eyes. The right iris is said to show predominately right sided organs, and the left iris corresponds with the left side. It is not a method of treatment but rather a diagnostic tool.