Alternative medicine can be a great choice for mothers because often times it can be performed at home or is cheaper than visiting a doctor. If you have a serious problem or need immediate care, however, be sure that you get the proper help from a medical professional.
While many of these alternative medicines seem super weird, they are all gaining traction in the United States. Here are our three alternative medicines recommended for mothers:
Aromatherapy
The use of essential oils, or aromatherapy, is a form of alternative medicine where the oils can be absorbed by the skin, inhaled, or rarely taken orally. The essential oils come from leaves, seeds, blossoms, roots, and plants concentrated into an extract. Each oil is used for a specific purpose. One might be used to help you sleep at night while another may treat an infection. Some research shows they are useful for reducing anxiety, depression, and pain, but further research is needed to fully understand their usage.
We recommend Aromatherapy for mothers because it is super easy to do! All you need is a diffuser (you can pick one up at your local health store) and some essential oils. Every morning you can drop some more oil into your diffuser and enjoy hours of health benefits.
Reflexology
Reflexology entails applying pressure to specific areas of the body, usually the hands, feet, and ears. Many believe that this practice works because certain points on the body are connected to various organs in the body. Applying pressure to these points will positively impact them. We have found reflexology to be the best type of alternative medicine for mothers because they can practice it on themselves, or make their husbands do it for them!
Chiropractic
This is one of the practices on our list that has been widely accepted in the western medical world. This practice focuses on repairing disorders in the nervous and musculoskeletal systems which may include pain in the neck, joint, hip, back, and head. The most common example of chiropractic practice is a spinal manipulation, or adjustment, in which the practitioner uses their hands to move a joint that has become hypomobile.
The basic premise is that, over time, joints can develop a difficulty moving because the surrounding tissue is injured. This can happen over time by using bad posture or all at once by tweaking a muscle, so make sure you work out safely and use the correct posture in your desk chair! If you do develop pain in the back and neck area, a chiropractor may be able to help you out by restoring the mobility to your joints and loosening the area. Most studies on chiropractic practice agree that it is effective in resolving pain as well as improving the overall physical state.
Chiropractic practice is great for mothers with newborn children. Carrying around a child all day can cause the exact pain on the back and neck that chiropractic practice is designed to relieve and remove.
Written by Emily Green for Working Mother and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.