Many of today’s healing practices started thousands of years ago. They have more of a modern twist. However, the general premise remains the same. Learning more about these ancient healing practices gives you additional options to stay healthy & fit and being well.
4 Ancient healing practices
1. Reflexology
2. Ayurveda
3. Acupuncture
4. Aromatherapy
1. Reflexology
Reflexology is an ancient technique in practice for thousands of years. It primary focuses on healing the body with the use of relaxation techniques. It is like massage, but far more precise.
Before a reflexology session, the practitioner knows about the patient’s chief health complaints. This allows them to determine which areas of the body need to the most help and focus. Once they know about a person’s health issues, they can apply pressure to the specific points on the body.
There are points associated with all the different organs and other body components. The pressure points that reflexologists use are on the feet, ears, and hands. They use charts to see where they need to apply pressure. Practitioners may only use their hands to perform this treatment. However, they can also assist their work with rubber bands, rubber balls, and sticks of wood.
This technique works best for issues, such as pain, anxiety, stress, and sleep problems. It can promote relaxation in a way like massage. Patients should receive sessions regularly to heal their bodies and to continue reaping any benefits that they have gained.
2. Ayurveda
This system of medicine is one of the oldest known, and it goes back more than 3,000 years. Originated in India, it is still one of the country’s primary health systems.
The general premise of this ancient healing practice is that health and wellness depend on the balance between your mind, body, and soul. The primary goal is not to treat diseases. However, it promotes good health to avoid the occurrences of diseases. However, there are some treatment modes to target specific health issues.
This balance can get disrupted in numerous ways, and when sufficiently disrupted, health maladies can occur. Things that can disrupt it include congenital disabilities or genetics, seasonal and climate changes, your emotions, injuries, and ageing.
The belief is that all people are made of five elements, including space, fire, earth, air, and water. These combine to form doshas. There are three doshas, including the vata, kapha, and pitta.
Practitioners customise treatment plans as per the needs of patients’ health issues. There are numerous options. For example, mimosa pudica was part of Ayurvedic practices, as well as many other natural herbs and plants. It also uses techniques, such as blood purification, medical oils, laxatives & enemas, and massage.
The primary goal of the treatment methods is to cleanse your body. This is done to remove any undigested food that might still be present in your body, increasing your risk of illness. The treatments restore balance and harmony.
3. Acupuncture
One of the most ancient healing practices, this technique stimulates very precise points on the body to restore optimal health. It is a part of the traditional Chinese medicine system.
Acupuncture can aid in pain management and multiple other health complaints. Common examples include headaches, stress, gastrointestinal issues, and high blood pressure. For the treatment, the practitioner takes very fine needles and strategically places them into specific areas of the body. The goal is to rebalance the patient’s energy.
The theory behind this practice is that everyone has qi and the extremes of it are yin and yang. Qi is essentially the life force in your body. When it is not imbalance, health issues start to occur. The life force flows through various bodily pathways referred to as meridians. If a blockage in a meridian occurs, the qi is not able to flow freely. Acupuncture is used to substantially alleviate the obstruction to restore the proper flow of Qi. On the body, there are 350 acupuncture points. All correspond to different meridians. So, based on your health complaints, the practitioner knows which points to target.
Acupuncture sessions are not painful. However, it is possible to experience abnormal sensations during the treatment. The needles are extremely fine, so they are typically not felt during insertion or as they remain in place. They may be stimulated by electricity or movement when they are in place, depending on the reason you are getting acupuncture.
4. Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy has traces of use back for more than 6,000 years. It utilizes essential oils to enhance the health of the body, spirit, and mind. Various oils have their own specific health benefits. The oils generally come from plants and herbs. The uses for aromatherapy are vast and include:
- Nausea
- Anxiety and stress
- Muscle aches and tension
- Pain
- Insomnia and fatigue
- Headaches
- Circulatory issues
- Discomforts associated with your menstrual period
Inhalation or administered topically on the skin are the most common ways of administration. For inhalation, when someone breathes in the scent of an oil, their olfactory system is stimulated. The molecules from the inhaled oil pass to various areas of the body. They are believed to impact the brain’s limbic system to help to reduce blood pressure, improve breathing, balance hormones, reduce heart rate, improve member, and reduce stress.
Topical application is another option. In this case, the oils are directly applied to the skin. They may be mixed with a carrier oil to prevent skin irritation. The skin then absorbs the oil. It may be recommended to apply the oil and then massage it into the skin to increase absorption and boost circulation.
It is essential that the right administration method is used to reap the most benefit. Due to the vast number of oils available, working with a qualified aromatherapy expert is best to ensure that you are using the right oils in the right ways.
All four of these ancient healing techniques are relatively safe. Just let your doctor know about them, and make sure that you are working with a qualified natural medicine practitioner.