The World Health Organization has estimated that about 3 billion
people rely on alternative medicine as their primary form of health
care.
The World Health Organization has estimated that about 3 billion people rely on alternative medicine as their primary form of health care.
And, along with that, there is the growing acceptance that health is more than just the absence of pain and disease – that health involves more than just the physical body.
During the past decade, one-third of American adults have used alternative therapy, guided by the principle that it treats the whole person rather than just a particular complaint. And more and more people are going for treatment when all forms of traditional medicine fail.
Ahnna Goossen, owner of Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic of Gilroy, said traditional Western treatment is relatively expensive, which is another reason why the industry is becoming more popular.
“Usually people come to me after they have tried everything else and nothing else is working,” she said.
The most frequently used alternative forms of therapy include acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal and massage therapies, relaxation techniques and Rolfing.
Rolfing structural integration was developed by Ida P. Rolf, Ph.D. who was influenced by the theories and practices of yoga, osteopathy and homeopathy because they aim at physically, mentally and emotionally evoking human potential.
Rolfing is a very unique form of body work unlike any spa treatment or massage.
“Its basis lies in an entirely different paradigm,” said Kathryn Waggonner, a certified Rolfer. “We don’t try to soothe the body with oils. Instead we are looking at the whole body, which maybe out of alignment and in whack.”
Rolfing can relieve the symptoms of a faulty structural pattern, not by treating the symptoms, but by systematically manipulating the connective tissues of the body to bring it into a more harmonious structure.
“In this way it is a holistic body treatment, using the body’s own healing ability to correct aches and pains,” Waggonner said.
According to Waggonner, Rolfing has been scientifically and medically validated to be effective at bringing structural change to the body.
“The idea is that bones are held in place by the body’s pervasive network of soft tissues: muscles, fascia, ligaments, and tendons,” she said.
Dr. Rolf saw that chronic shortening in the body’s soft tissues – due to strain, injury and faulty habits – creates compensatory adjustments throughout the body structure, including misalignment of bones and their joints.
“Our bodies are only balanced to the extent they are organized vertically with respect to gravity. Imbalances are exacerbated by the compressive effects of gravity,” Waggonner said.
Rolfing is a rigorous technique, which cannot be used on people with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or lupus.
“It takes a series of 10 sessions of Rolfing to take the body apart and put it back together,” said Waggonner. “It’s not for everyone. Your home life has to be stable because it is a very life changing experience.”
It takes skill and education to become a certified Rolfer from the Rolf Institute in Colorado. Students must go through physiology and anatomy courses.
“But first you have to get accepted because not everyone can do this,” Waggonner said. “You have to write several papers that show you can go through the training and understand what it is.”
Rolfing is very much established in other Bay Area communities such as Palo Alto, San Francisco, Berkeley and Santa Cruz.
“Until now, there has not been a Rolfer in the South County,” said Waggonner.
Scientific research, as well as public awareness, has established many alternative medical treatments are more effective, more economical, less invasive and less harmful than conventional medical treatments.
“I don’t know about acupuncture being less invasive, but with alternative therapy a lot of it is the perception of the consumer,” said Dr. Marni Friedman, a physician in Hollister. “Just like people that go into the doctor’s office expecting treatment to get better, they are expecting to feel better after a massage or having acupuncture treatments.”
Friedman practices conventional medicine, but takes a holistic view of her patients’ physical and mental health.
“I look at things and the factors in a person’s environment. I take into account their dietary choices, if there is any drug or alcohol use and what their stress level is and what their job is,” she said.
Treating patients conventionally is not always a full-proof formula, and as part of Friedman’s practice she has a nutritionist and a masseuse.
“She can do things with her hands that I can’t,” she said. “I don’t believe I have all the answers for my patients. Nor do I have the knowledge to use non-medical treatments.”
Experts agree the No. 1 complaint for therapeutic treatment is back pain.
Friedman said she has gone to the chiropractor, which brought her relief.
“Because of my training I don’t agree with their explanation, why it works, but it does,” she said.
Alternative therapy and herbs have been around for centuries, but with the recent changes in the law, Friedman said alternative medicines and herbs have just become more available to the public.
“I wouldn’t say there is any big social push for alternative medicine,” she said. “People have always been interested in potions, notions and lotions.”
Alternative therapy can sometimes treat problems that not good medical treatment.
Compared to a doctor’s sterile environment, people that go to an alternative clinic will find a warm and fuzzy environment.
“The treatments are not usually painful and these places smell nice and make you feel good,” said Friedman.
Goossen is licensed by the state of California and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology.
When Goossen first decided to become an acupuncturist, there were only 12 students in her class. Today there are 30 to 35 students.
Training to be a licensed acupuncturist is more intense than that of a massage therapist or chiropractor. Goossen received her bachelor’s of science degree in biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a master’s degree in traditional Chinese medicine from the Five Branches Institute in Santa Cruz.
“I had to have 3 years of pre-med,” Goossen said. “In addition, I studied an advanced traditional Chinese medicine clinical course with Dr. Ju-Yi Wang in China.”
Goossen said there are five main branches of traditional Chinese medicine: acupuncture, herbal formulas, massage, nutrition and QI Gong, a form of “qi exercise” to strengthen and circulate vital energy throughout the body.
Acupuncture is the insertion of tiny needles along the meridians, which is used to balance the energy and promote the body’s own natural ability to heal.
Goossen eases her patient’s fears with soft lighting, scented candles and relaxing music.
Michelle Mitt sprained a muscle running, and said, “I thought I would try acupuncture to help manage the pain.”
Goossen said her patients feel like they are floating after the session.
“The endorphins are released when needles are put in, that’s how you get that very relaxed state,” she said. “When you are treating the whole person you just don’t stick a needle in the pain.”
After a few sessions to reduce her stress, Mitt began to notice her allergies had improved.
“My whole body is better balanced,” she said. “The thing is, you may not think you are going in to prevent a cold, but it ends up that you do.”
Mitt said she usually comes for a session when she has been running on high vibrations.
“When it’s over I leave in a peaceful state,” she said.
Goossen takes each patient through a thorough consultation first.
“I was pretty apprehensive at first because I’m afraid of needles,” said Mitt. “But you don’t really feel anything, but calm. Music is playing, a heat lamp is on you and it’s very, very relaxing.”
And Mitt uses acupuncture therapy as part of preventative health care.
“It gets rid of any energy that does not serve you,” she said.
Goossen said more people are realizing it is helpful to treat the whole person and not just the one thing they may be complaining about. Also an herbalist, Goossen uses herbal formulas tailored to each individual patient to regulate and restore energy throughout the body.
“Herbs help clear the toxins in the body,” she said
Alternative therapy is primarily for pain management, Friedman said, and people are looking for medical treatment, but without having to take a pill.
“Herbs may have the same things as a pill, but because it seems more natural to them, they think they are doing something good for their body,” she said. “I think they are fooling themselves.”
And Friedman cautions that alternative therapy may be avoiding the real medical issue.
“People go for alternative treatments because they just feel better about it,” she said. “It’s less expensive and in some ways it’s more private. No one is going to call your herbalists to see what medical conditions you have.”
