There is an upwards trend in the number of people turning towards alternative medicine and treatments for holistic healing options. Although conventional medicine is not necessarily seeing a dip, people are open to alternative options that seek to treat the underlying cause rather than just curing the symptoms with drugs. And Johannesburg is not getting left behind. There are a number of alternative healing offices opening up across the city, offering residents spiritual, mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. Here are some of the alternative healing options found across Johannesburg.
Alternative Medicine
1. Acupuncture
This 5 000-year-old Chinese art of healing is based on balance in terms of yin or yang and, for the body to function in harmony, the balance must be maintained. It is believed that the life force, known as ‘Chi’ or ‘Qi’, circulates the body rhythmically along pathways (meridians) to maintain the yin and yang but, if the flow is interrupted or blocked, there is a stagnation of Qi and health is affected. The Chinese have mapped out 14 meridians which link all acupuncture points – small windows into the energy system – together and the Qi can be manipulated via these acupuncture points. Activation of acupuncture points can be performed by needles, finger pressure, heat or suction cups to relive pain and improve bodily function.
Acupuncture been used to treat:
• Neck and back pain
• Headaches and migraines
• Shingles and neuralgia
• Rheumatic and arthritic conditions
• Sports injuries
• Neurological problems
• Spastic colon
• Infertility, painful periods
• Allergies
2. Homeopathy
Based on the mantra that ‘like cures like’, this 200-year-old system of natural medicinal therapy restores health by stimulating the body’s own mechanisms of defence and repair. The remedies, created using minute traces of flora, fauna or minerals diluted in water or alcohol, are completely harmless and can be used over long periods of time without any adverse effects. Homeopathy was first developed by German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, who wanted to find an alternative treatment not associated with the toxic side effects of conventional medicine. This is a holistic treatment that considers the body, mind and spirit of the individual rather than merely treating the symptoms.
Read more: The benefits of Homeopathy
3. Vibrational medicine
Homeopathic medicine has since evolved into vibrational medicine which is a therapy using energies – or vibrational frequencies – to help restore or maintain the wellbeing of an individual. Homeopathic medicine essentially soaks a physical substance which is eventually removed and all that remains is the vibration of the original which stimulates the body towards healing. This means that vibrational medicine is electromagnetic by nature. Vibrational medicine is a more efficient way of making this same electromagnetic medicine available. Encompassing scientific and spiritual principles, vibrational medicine is based on the understanding that everything, including our physical bodies, are an interconnected field of energy all vibrating at different speeds. Vibrational medicines are available in easy to use mouth sprays or skin sprays.
4. Iridology
This is effectively the study of the iris which, through changes in pigment and structure, indicates abnormal conditions of tissue in the human body. This iris is considered one of the most complicated tissue structures of the body and a trained iridologist can identify markings which reveal the reflex condition of various organs and systems of the body. These markings represent a detailed picture of the integrity of the body, its constitutional strength, areas of congestion or toxic accumulations and inherent strengths and weaknesses. The iris can indicate a problem in its earliest inception, long before disease symptoms are present, allowing for a health programme tailored to the specific needs of the patient which can prevent the manifestation of disease. It is a simple, painless, economical and non-invasive way of looking into the body.
5. Naturopathy
This is an integrated system of primary health care based on the principles of naturopathic philosophy which allows for the treatment of a range of disorders and imbalances naturally, without drugs. It incorporates several fundamental components of health such as biochemistry and biomechanics, looking at all the facets of illness to restore balance to body and mind. Taking the person as a whole into consideration, naturopathy respects the healing power of nature while empowering the individual to take responsibility for their own health process. Naturopathic treatments originally used food, herbs, air, sun, and water as healing agents and the same principles still apply, with some innovations. Some methods include:
• Medical nutrition – using supplementation with nutraceuticals, diet and fasting.
• Botanical and homeopathic remedies.
• Iridology as a diagnostic tool.
• Physical medicine – ultrasound, exercise, hydrotherapy, body and colon cleanse, detoxifications, massage, manipulations, magnets, acupressure, acupuncture, reflexology and aromatherapy.
• Counselling.
About Eugenie Rowson – Founder of The Remedy Shoppe – “My passion for healing and homeopathy has grown organically out of the rich rewards of self-homeopathy which I have used for our family’s every imaginable ailment over the past twenty years. During this time, I studied and qualified as a Homoeopath in the UK with the British Institute of Homoeopathy under some of the world’s finest doctors and tutors of homeopathy.”
Eugenie Rowson’s highly regarded Vibrational Medicine offers an extensive range of unique mouth spray remedies which is available online at The Remedy Shoppe or through their adjoined private practice and retail outlet in Douglasdale, Johannesburg. You can also shop online at www.theremedyshoppe.co.za for world-wide delivery. For more information on homeopathy to Vibrational Medicine, contact +2776 410 8262 or visit www.eugenierowson.com.
