Complementary and alternative medicine is the buzzword these days. At least forty percent of adults say that they have some form of alternative therapy to improve their health or address some health issues. Even a number of healthcare providers are embracing some concepts alternative medicine, often offering these with their traditional therapies. The well-received alternative therapies include chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage.
Proponents of chiropractic assert that the body has the inherent ability for healing itself, but vertebral subluxations, disrupt this power and several other processes in the body consequently leading to various health problems. External manual manipulation of the spine, other joints, and soft tissues is the main treatment technique used by chiropractic practitioners. The conditions commonly treated through chiropractic include lower back pain due to poor posture, headache, neck pain, and disorders affecting the extremities.
Massage is one of the widely accepted alternative therapies and it is increasingly being offered alongside standard treatments for a wide range of medical conditions. Studies reveal that massage can aid in pain reduction, as well as facilitate relaxation, stress and anxiety relief. It is also widely used to improve the quality of life of patients with terminal disorders. Proponents also assert that massage can help improve one’s flexibility and resilience to infections and injuries.
Acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of hair thin needles over points in the body with the intention of enhancing one’s health. Proponents of acupuncture assert that this alternative treatment can help reduce pain, queasiness, and treat sleeping disorders.
The World Wide Web makes it easier and more convenient to home in on accredited Portland chiropractic doctors, as well as massage and acupuncture practitioners. If you are looking for accredited Portland chiropractic practitioners, the American Chiropractic Association has a Find a Doc tool in their website which can be very helpful. To find professional Portland massage therapists, you can use the American Massage Therapy Associationâs website. The easiest way to find Portland acupuncture practitioners would be to use the member search function of the American Association of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicineâs website.
At the moment, complementary and alternative medicine is not covered by Medicare. There are private insurers that offer plans that pay for your treatment when you go to Portland acupuncture, chiropractic, or massage clinics but these are somewhat limited. With the growth of consumer interest for alternative treatment modalities, more and more private insurance companies and managed care organizations are beginning to offer expanded coverage for alternative therapies shown to be safe and effective. Prior to visiting any Portland massage, acupuncture, or chiropractic practitioner, inquire if their services are covered in your insurance plan. Still, it would still be prudent to discuss your plans to get alternative treatments with your physician.