There is an ever-increasing variety of natural therapies available today, some complementary to orthodox medicine and some alternative; those most appropriate to sleeplessness are described in the next chapter. What they have in common is the principle that we all have our own powers of self-healing. They aim to remove blockages to health and self-healing by restoring harmony and balance, rather than zapping symptoms with drugs which can actually deplete the patient’s life force. While their methods vary, they work on the basis that body, mind and emotions are a single, interdependent unit, and that for a healthy system, all three need to be attended to.
As well as curing or relieving medical problems, natural therapies can help you to relax, and can relieve pain and anxiety. Many practitioners are also good counsellors who will provide emotional support to deal with the causes of your insomnia, or with withdrawal from tranquillizers or sleeping pills.
By contrast with conventional medicine, practitioners of natural medicines treat the person rather than the disease, which can involve a multiplicity of approaches, even within the same disciplines. They take into account the patient’s personality and lifestyle, recognizing that people vary in their responses to the same treatment. (To be fair to doctors, an increasing number nowadays also aim to treat patients in this holistic way.)
Another difference with conventional medicine is the speed at which treatments work. We have become used to a course of antibiotics, for instance, taking effect very speedily (and there are certainly emergency occasions when antibiotics are very useful). But antibiotics work by suppressing symptoms; natural medicines treat the mind and body which have become sufficiently depleted for bacteria or viruses to flourish, and symptoms are regarded as the body’s efforts to defend itself.
This means that restoring health to the whole person can take time. In addition, cure often involves what’s known as a healing crisis, when symptoms temporarily worsen as the body starts fighting back. So don’t be disappointed if results aren’t instant; give whatever therapy you choose at least a couple of months to see how it’s affecting you. A good practitioner will be happy to discuss your progress with you after the first few visits, and may then be able to give you an idea of how long treatment will take.
As far as insomnia is concerned, however, since natural treatments can be very relaxing, this is often one of the first symptoms to go.
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Anti-Depressants/Sleeping Aid