Can Alternative Medicine Change Your Life? by guest blogger Cassie

If you suffer from any type of chronic pain, you may have considered trying alternative medicine. But, if you’re like many people who suffer from chronic conditions, you probably have some questions about its effectiveness, especially if you’ve never tried it. How could alternative medicine possibly make a difference where traditional medicine has failed you? Can alternative medicine really change your life?
 
The short answer, yes. Alternative medicine can change lives. But only if you approach it like any other treatment and do your due diligence in finding the best care out there. Here are a few things to consider when seeking care from alternative medicine so that you can experience life-changing results:
 
Research
Depending on the type of condition you want to treat, there may be a variety of different treatment options from which you can choose. You could start by doing online research for alternative therapies that have been effective for your condition.
 
Documentaries are also a great source of information on alternative medicine. Here is a small sample of the many documentaries available that explore various aspects of alternative medicine.
 

• “The Critical Eye: Alternative Medicine” - Discovery Science
• “The Science of Acupuncture” - BBC
• “Almost Sunrise” - independent film
• “9,000 Needles” - independent film

 
Some of these documentaries are only available in certain regions, though. If you have trouble accessing the video to stream a particular documentary, you could try using a proxy software service to bypass the regional content filter and get access to the video you want to see.
 
You could also try asking friends and family about their experiences. You might be surprised how many people you know who have tried acupuncture or some other form of alternative medicine to treat various conditions.
 
Find a Provider
Just as with any medical provider, it’s important to find someone with whom you feel comfortable and share a certain rapport. Again, this is an area where recommendations from trusted friends and family can be really valuable.
 
As you’re researching providers, read the information on their websites and try to understand their approaches. Check out reviews left by other patients, or talk with your insurance company. While most insurance providers don’t cover services like acupuncture, many will have a list of preferred providers and include discounts at those locations.
 
After you’ve narrowed your list, it’s a good idea to call the providers you’re interested in working with to discuss any concerns you might have. It will give you a feel for which providers will be the best fit.
 
Give it a Chance
While alternative medicines like acupuncture can achieve some amazing results for people with chronic conditions, they aren’t a miracle cure. You can’t expect to achieve complete and perfect healing from a single treatment. 
 
To get the maximum benefits, you need to work with your provider and follow your treatment plan, including any out-of-office recommendations, such as stretches or dietary changes.
 
If you have a condition and traditional medicine isn’t providing you with any relief, an alternative treatment might prove to be the perfect solution. At the very least, you can consider the treatment choices available in your area and consider your options. Alternative medicine may very well have the answers you’ve been looking for all along.

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About the Author: Cassie is a freelance wellness writer and alternative medicine advocate. Through her writing, she encourages people to search out all possible paths to healing, which include both traditional and non-traditional medicines