What are natural therapies?

Naturopathy is an umbrella term that covers many different therapeutic disciplines or approaches. These disciplines are referred to as natural therapies and include:

• Nutrition
• Acupuncture
• Homoeopathy
• Osteopathy
• Traditional Chinese medicine
• Remedial therapy such as massage and kinesiology

Practitioners who practice as natural therapists may specialise in one area, for example they may be a herbalist or a homeopath. A natural therapist who uses a number of these approaches is referred to as a naturopath.

Complementary medicine

This term is used to suggest that any of the disciplines of healthcare, including Western medicine, can be used together for the management of health complaints. This term has become more popular than ‘alternative medicine’ which suggests that natural therapies are an alternative to mainstream western medicine. Natural therapies are often referred to as complementary medicine, and ideally all forms of healthcare may be used together and complement each other.

Complementary medicine use is popular in Australia. The National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) reported that two in three Australians had used complementary medicines in the twelve months to August 2010. According to the Cost Effectiveness of Complementary Medicines report¹ published in August 2010, the Australian population spend over $3.5 billion each year on complementary medicines and therapies. This report states that Australians most commonly use these therapies to assist in the management of chronic disease and to improve their health and wellbeing.

This report was part of the Institute’s efforts to integrate complementary medicines into routine healthcare. Four out of the five complementary medicines assessed were found to be cost effective as alternative or adjunctive treatments for national health priority health conditions. Cost effectiveness of medical interventions, whether mainstream or complementary, is a critical issue for consumers, practitioners and governments, once safety and efficacy has been established.

The complementary medicine interventions chosen were those that had a reasonable amount of evidence to support their safety and efficacy. These chosen interventions included:

• Omega-3 fish oils for secondary prevention of heart disease
• Acupuncture for chronic low back pain
• St John’s wort for mild to moderate depression
• An herbal combination (sold as Phytodolor) for osteoarthritis

Naturopathy

Naturopathy is concerned with treating the whole person and the underlying cause rather than just dealing with the symptoms. This is why natural therapies are often called holistic medicine. The patient is viewed from independent physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and cultural aspects. To treat holistically requires that the individual patient’s patterns of thought, behaviour, work and culture are taken into consideration in assessing how these factors may have contributed to the health complaint. They are also considered in recommending treatment, which is ideally tailored to meet the individual's specific needs and circumstances.

Naturopathy regards health as a positive state of physical and mental wellness. Rather than disease being diagnosed at the end stage, illness is detected at the earliest stage by looking for risk factors, examining the diet for deficiencies/inadequacies and looking for changes in the functioning of the body.

Definitions of the different disciplines of natural therapy

Herbal medicine

The use of medicines exclusively made from plants and prescribed for the treatment of complaints. This is the oldest, and still the most widely used, system of medicine in the world. In Australia, the most common types of herbal medicine are Western herbal medicine (based on European herbal medicine traditions), Chinese, Ayurvedic (Indian) and Aboriginal.

Evidence on the efficacy of herbal medicine continues to accumulate including clinical trials to support the use of herbs in evidence based medicine. For example the herb Valerian, has been shown to improve the quality of sleep in postmenopausal women experiencing insomnia.²

Homeopathy

Based on the principle that ‘like cures like’; i.e. a substance which can produce a certain set of symptoms in a healthy person, will cause similar symptoms to disappear in a sick person, when given in a highly diluted (homeopathic) form. Homeopathy prescribing is highly specific to an individual’s symptom picture, which makes it difficult to comply with the restraints of clinical trial settings. A recent pilot study showed that there was no significant difference in the treatment of acute otitis media (middle ear infection) between individualized homeopathic treatment and conventional treatment.³

Nutrition

Dietary advice to provide essential nutrients for health maintenance and illness prevention. It may involve, identifying potential food intolerances related to health problems and the use of nutritional supplements. See the Jean Hailes page on Nutrition for more information.

Acupuncture

The stimulation of acupuncture needles inserted in specific points located on acupuncture channels to regulate the energy (Qi), which is transported around the body through these channels.

A recent review of 24 trials involving 5807 women showed that acupuncture improves pregnancy rate and live birth rate among women undergoing IVF.⁴

In 2011, a research collaboration including Jean Hailes began a clinical trial of the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating hot flushes in menopausal women.

Remedial therapy

The use of therapeutic massage for the treatment of muscle tension, tendon and ligament injuries. Massage techniques may include relaxation, sports massage, deep tissue, shiatsu, trigger point techniques and aromatherapy (using essential oils).

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

The use of Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture and Chinese remedial therapy.

A review of the scientific literature shows that research into TCM is extensive, particularly in Asia, and includes some clinical trials of an acceptable standard.

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture are regulated professions in Victoria, and national registration and accreditation comes into effect for the rest of Australia from 1 July 2012. There will be mandatory registration standards that practitioners must meet.

Osteopathy and chiropractic

Manipulative therapies based on the science of human mechanics. Often used for the treatment of spinal pain, but there is a strong belief that the structure of the spine greatly influences health. Chiropractic places chief importance on the integrity of the spine. The osteopath also emphasises the role that the soft tissue has on skeletal framework and general health of the body.

Alexander Technique

Alexander technique is a practical method that enables change in habits that have been caused by everyday misuse of the body. It involves a ‘re-education of the mind and body’ rather than a series of exercises or treatments.

A clinical trial demonstrated that of six lessons of Alexander technique followed by an exercise prescription effective for chronic or recurrent lower back pain and was also a cost effective treatment.⁵

How to find a natural therapist

Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA)
www.anta.com.au

Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS)
www.atms.com.au

National Herbalists Association of Australia
www.nhaa.org.au

Further resources

References

• www.nicm.edu.au/images/stories/research/docs/cost_effectiveness_cm_ae_2010.pdf
• Taavoni S et al. - ‘Effect of Valerian on sleep quality in postmenopausal women: a randomized placebo-controlled trial’. Menopause 2011 18(9): 951-5
• Sinha MN et al. - ‘Randomized controlled pilot study to compare Homeopathy and Conventional therapy in Acute Otitis Media’. Homeopathy 2012 101(1):5-12
• Zheng CH et al. - ‘Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a systemic review and meta-analysis’. Fertil Steril, 2012 Jan 11 [Epub]
• Hollinghurst S et al. - ‘Randomised controlled trial of Alexander technique lessons, exercise, and massage (ATEAM) for chronic and recurrent back pain: economic evaluation’. BMJ 2008 Dec 11;337:a2656

Jean Hailes webpages

Complementary therapies used to treat menopause symptoms

Complementary medicines used to treat early menopause

Complementary therapies used to treat endometriosis

Complementary therapies used for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Nutrition

Trial of acupuncture for hot flushes (Acupause)

External websites

National Institute of Complementary Medicine

Chinese Medicine Registration Board of Victoria

The Australian Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique

Books

Alternative healing: What you should know
By Sarah Heinzman

Content updated 9 February 2012