Any therapy that is typically excluded by conventional medicine, and that people use instead of conventional medicine, is known as “alternative medicine.”
It’s a catch-all term that includes hundreds of old and new practices ranging from acupuncture to homeopathy to yoga.
An alternative medicine practice that is used in conjunction with a conventional one is known as a “complementary” medicine. Example: using ginger syrup to prevent nausea during chemotherapy.
Together, complementary and alternative medicines are often referred to by the acronym CAM. However, they may also be referred to as “holistic therapies”.
Enter integrative medicine. As defined by the National Centers for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, integrative medicine “combines mainstream medical therapies and CAM therapies for which there is some high-quality scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness.”
In other words, integrative medicine “cherry picks” the very best, scientifically validated therapies from both conventional and CAM systems.
This direct link between Eastern techniques and Western therapies, taken separately, the practices can bring much relief and benefit. Yet when they are logically related and interwoven, the result is an unshakable foundation for a joy-filled life in recovery.
Certain people can benefit from utilizing complementary and alternative therapies throughout their lives and mental health recovery journey. These individuals include people who:
Approaches to mental wellness may be different from person to person. No one person’s experience with addiction or mental health issues is the same. So, treatment must not be the same for every individual. One of the goals of complementary therapies is to provide options for individuals in treatment so they can find what best works for them. Different therapies work for different people, and utilizing different complementary therapies allows individuals to find and utilize the therapies that may work best for them.
Most complementary therapies are safe and present no high risks for side effects. However, it’s always a good idea to consider every therapy before you try it. And, if you are experiencing side effects, speak with your provider to find out whether or not stopping a therapy may help. Before beginning any complementary approach at Agape Wellness, you’ll discuss your concerns and history with your healthcare team in order to determine whether or not you’re a good candidate for complementary therapies in order to keep you safe and allow you to feel comfortable moving forward with care.
Agape Wellness integrates the best of modern western scientific knowledge with ancient eastern techniques to address and acknowledge the whole person. This allows us to help heal the root cause of the problem, not just cover up the symptoms.
Our conventional and alternative methods jumpstart the human body’s innate healing mechanisms and require less invasive modes of intervention. This integrative philosophy delivers the best care possible and opens up the greatest selection of personalized recovery.
It is the mission of Agape Wellness to efficiently and effectively deliver all of these components, in one program, in a choice of locations, to deliver the evidenced-based family services that provide a successful long-term recovery.
Agape Treatment Center for substance abuse embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends, that serves regardless of circumstances. We provide individuals all over the country with the opportunity to achieve the gift of lasting sobriety.
