What are wellness therapies?

Overview

Wellness exists on a continuum that ranges from disease and disability to the optimal health that a person can realistically achieve. Wellness therapies are forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Complementary medicine is a combination of allopathic (conventional) and alternative techniques, whereas alternative medicine is a substitute for allopathic medicine. Wellness therapies differ from other forms of CAM in that they focus on a lifestyle that reduces the risk of illness. Other CAM therapies encompass the diagnosis of an illness determining the underlying cause of that illness and then prescribing a treatment regimen to cure or reduce the impact of a disease.

Wellness therapists assist their clients in periodically assessing their risk of illness. Following this assessment, behavior modifications are determined, which will lower the risk of illness. In essence, wellness therapy is proactive, preventive health care. Both allopathic and CAM practitioners incorporate wellness therapies in their practice.

Mechanism of Action

Wellness therapies are based on the principle of a healthy physical, mental,
emotional, and spiritual lifestyle. A healthy diet, too, is emphasized by wellness
therapy. Wellness therapists, for example, often educate their clients about the
dangers of refined and preserved foods, which include additives and are often high
in sugar, fat, and cholesterol. A wellness regimen may include a vegetarian
diet or a reduction in meat consumption, particularly red
meat. Dietary plans are developed for persons who are overweight. A regular
exercise program is a component of wellness medicine. Stress reduction is another
component. Various stress-reduction techniques are employed, including massage,
aromatherapy, meditation, and yoga. Allopathic physicians also
recommend vaccination for childhood diseases and influenza vaccination for the
population as a whole or for persons in high-risk subgroups.

Uses and Applications

Exercise. Evidence is accumulating that regular exercise, as
little as a brisk walk five days per week for thirty to forty-five minutes, can
increase the effectiveness of the body’s immune
system. This boost can increase the circulation of cells that
fight off viral and bacterial infections. Studies show that an increased level of
exercise can reduce the number of sick days by 25 to 50 percent.

Many health experts claim that inactivity is as great a health risk as smoking. Even slender men and women who do not exercise are at higher risk of death and disease. Other studies have shown that exercise reduces the risk of diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and breast cancer recurrence and mortality by approximately 50 percent; of stroke by 27 percent; of Alzheimer’s disease by about 40 percent; of colon cancer by more than 60 percent; and of depression (as effectively as the antidepressive medication Prozac).

Meditation. Meditation involves entering a state of
extreme relaxation and concentration. During meditation, the body is in a restful
state and the mind is freed of surface thoughts. Several major religions (such as
Buddhism and Daoism) embrace meditation; however, meditation does not necessarily
require a religious or spiritual component for practice. Many persons who meditate
regularly report that doing so improves their concentration and their ability to
deal with the stresses in their lives.

Naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic medicine embraces the concept
of whole medicine. The basic concept of naturopathy is that the body has an
innate ability to heal and maintain itself. The American Cancer Society describes
naturopathy as “A complete alternative care system that uses a wide range of
approaches such as nutrition, herbs, manipulation of the body, exercise, stress
reduction, and acupuncture.”

Nutritional therapies. A wide range of nutritional therapies are available in all developed nations. Most embrace the concept that a healthy diet is essential to attain and maintain good health. Nutritional therapy is often a component of conventional and allopathic medicine.

Stress reduction. All whole-medicine therapies embrace the
concept of stress
reduction.

Therapeutic massage. Therapeutic massage
involves holding, causing movement, and applying pressure to the body’s soft
tissue. The manipulations are performed to promote health and wellness by reducing
pain, muscle spasm, and stress. Adjunctive therapies, such as aromatherapy
or soothing music, often accompany therapeutic massage. Massage therapy has been
reported to improve circulation (both blood and lymphatic), reduce muscular pain,
reduce joint pain, increase range of motion, relieve stress, relieve tension
headaches, enhance postoperative recovery, and promote rehabilitation after an
injury.

Traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM) is a form of CAM that is commonly practiced in Asia.
TCM has advocates in the Western world and is increasing in popularity. TCM is a
holistic approach to health that attempts to bring the body, mind, and spirit into
harmony. It consists primarily of herbal medicine; however, it also embraces
acupuncture, nutritional therapy, and massage.

Scientific Evidence

Inasmuch as wellness therapies are based on the principles of a healthy lifestyle, the benefits are clear. Many scientific studies have documented the health hazards of an unhealthy lifestyle. These hazards include smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol to excess, a poor diet, and obesity.

Choosing a Practitioner

In the field of allopathic medicine, family practitioners, internists, and obstetrician-gynecologists are the most likely to incorporate wellness therapies into their practices. However, other medical specialists may incorporate wellness therapies pertinent to their specialties. For example, an orthopedic surgeon may recommend an exercise program or a course of physical therapy. CAM practitioners, such as whole-medicine practitioners and naturopaths, often advocate wellness therapies.

The training of practitioners who incorporate wellness therapies ranges from graduate or postgraduate education to no formal training. Persons who want to use wellness therapies should ascertain the credentials of any practitioner, regardless of professional degree. It is appropriate to ask what professional degrees the practitioner holds, where the training occurred, and which professional organizations he or she belongs to.

Safety Issues

Wellness therapies can become harmful only if done to excess. For example, exercise to the point of exhaustion could result in a heart attack or other medical condition.

Bibliography

Carlson, Jodi. Complementary Therapies and Wellness. New York: Prentice Hall, 2002. Provides practical information about complementary care and wellness.

Ditcheck, Stuart, et al. Healthy Child, Whole Child: Integrating the Best of Conventional and Alternative Medicine to Keep Your Kids Healthy. New York: Harper Paperbacks, 2009. A thorough guide for parents who are interested in complementary methods of prevention and healing and who are looking for a reliable text directed at pediatricians unfamiliar with alternative treatments.

Murcott, Tony. The Whole Story: Alternative Medicine on Trial? New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. Collects updated evidence on the placebo effect, the randomized-controlled trial, personalized genetic medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, osteopathy, and more.