Archive for the ‘Complementary Medicine’ Category
Acupuncture is a system of healing closely linked to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) where needles are inserted into specific points in the body to trigger a physiological response. The theory behind weight loss with acupuncture is that a course of treatment sessions will help suppress the appetite and increase the metabolism thereby stimulating the body to burn more calories while eating less.
Traditional African medicine in South Africa has made great strides in the past few years. Now that traditional African healers are accepted as informal health care workers, there is talk of consultations and medicines being paid for by medical aids in South Africa sometime in the future. With some 80% of South Africans utilising the services of traditional healers, traditional African medicine cannot be left out in the cold for much longer.
Homeopathy has become a popular system of complementary medicine in South Africa as the number of practicing homeopaths have increased in the past decade. The field of homeopathic medicine has seen significant growth due to the increase in the number of homeopathy graduates from two leading universities within South Africa. Unlike other complementary therapies, homeopathy has enjoyed the benefits of mainstream medical aid recognition which has contributed significantly to its popularity.
Complementary medicine in South Africa encompasses a wide range of therapies ranging from traditional practices that have only recently been regulated to widely accepted alternative therapies that are recognised by medical aids within the country. It is estimated that up to 70% of the South African population will consult with a complementary health practitioner before seeking conventional medical help and traditional African medicine is by far the most popular complementary therapy in South Africa.
