Summary 5-42

Unusual Therapies To Treat Diseases

It wasn't that long ago that leeches were used to treat all manner of ailments and wounds. Can't get rid of that cough? Take some heroin. Is the baby crying? Give her some morphine. Scratched your knee? Rub some mercury on it.

But despite the effectiveness of modern medicine, people still turn to alternative medicines. 38% of U.S. adults ages 18 and over used complementary and alternative medicines, according to a National Health Interview Survey. About 12 percent of children used some form of alternative medicine. Many of the cures of common illnesses can be found in most kitchens.

The unusual cures for diseases can be a more natural, cost effective, and interesting way to solve health problems. Some of them are even used and endorsed by medical professionals instead of, or with, actual medical treatments.

10) Puppy Therapy Puppies and dogs have the ability to make any person feel happy. For centuries, humans have been domesticating dogs for this very reason. Dogs have been used for therapy purposes for many years. They are brought to places like hospitals, senior centers, and to people's homes to help alleviate stress and pain. Dogs are also used as therapeutic tools to help people living with disabilities. Playing with dogs has been proven to release the positive hormones while lowering the stress hormone, according to a study by the American Society of Animal Studies.

Universities around North American have started implementing puppy therapy f or their students. Puppies are brought to school campuses during exam and mid-term time so that students can come and play with them. They are useful and safe tools in helping the students de-stress and feel better.

9) Reiki Therapy Reiki is an energy based healing technique that originates from Japan. It is used to relieve stress and anxiety. The technique is based on the principle that by allowing " life force energy" to flow through the body, ailments can be relieved. Reiki is used by people who want an alternative treatment to modern medicine to cure body pains and problems. It is based on the principle that when the body is in pain, it is because the body has low energy flow. When the body feels good, it's because energy flow is high.

It is a spiritual treatment that many people have found to be highly effective in resolving a wide variety of problems. Some health professionals question the effectiveness of Reiki, because it is difficult to gauge how the body's energy changes and how energy can cure ailments.

8) Pencil Therapy Millions of people rely on pain medications to help them deal with headaches, surgeries, and other ailments. Before the time of painkillers and anesthesia, people would have to redirect their pain elsewhere. A pencil can be a useful tool to relieve tension. According to the National Headache Foundation, 90% of headaches are tension headaches. Tension headaches can be easy and naturally relieved by biting down on a pencil. You don't have to forcefully bite on the pencil for it to be effective. Clenching your teeth too forcefully can cause tooth damage. All you have to do is place a pencil horizontally through your mouth and relax the mouth muscles. This unusual remedy can also be used to relieve anxiety and stress. Biting is a natural instinct of people to deal with pain. It is a method that has been used throughout history, either by biting on cloth or wood, to help people displace their attention while undergoing painful procedures.

7) Vodka Therapy We use rubbing alcohol to treat a lot of things. It disinfects cuts and can kill bacteria that causes sore throats. Vodka can be used the same way. The clear alcohol can be used to cure a variety of other ailments. Ask any Eastern European doctor, and they will tell you that vodka can be used to cure anything from stomach flu to anxiety. Absurd as it may seem, using vodka to treat and cure ailments is backed up by doctors around the world. It can also be used to disinfect cuts, just like any rubbing alcohol. Vodka acts as a drying antiseptic, which can be used to treat foot odor, fungi, and even acne.

Some of the most controversial vodka therapies are not widely endorsed by medical professionals. Drinking a shot of vodka can help disinfect the throat and stomach from bacteria and illness. It can be problematic because people may misinterpret vodka therapy as a route to alcoholism.