Alternative and complementary therapies cover a wide range of treatments including meditation, herbal remedies and body-based therapies. Some of these therapies are offered on the NHS, but others are based on different kinds of well-being and healing. In this blog, we will explore what alternative therapy is and what it can offer for mental health.
What is the difference between alternative and complementary therapies?
Complementary therapy is a treatment that is used alongside other kinds of treatments. Alternative therapy is an approach that replaces the conventional treatments prescribed by your doctor.
There are some common misconceptions about alternative and complementary therapies and some people think that they do not work properly. This is not always correct, but lack of information can make it difficult to know which therapy might work for you.
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Why try alternative therapies?
You might decide to try an alternative therapy if the treatment you have received from your doctor hasn’t worked, your prescribed medication hasn’t suited you or methods like talking therapies haven’t helped. As 5 million people are said to have accessed mental health care in 2022 and 2023 through the NHS, you may also be on a waiting list for treatment, want to try other methods in the meantime or just want to explore more options.
Can alternative therapies treat your mental health?
Alternative therapies can be used to treat both mental and physical health issues. There has been more research undertaken on using alternative therapies for depression, anxiety and sleep problems but as with all kinds of therapy, different things will help different people.
There is a lack of clinical evidence for alternative therapies, so it is unlikely that your GP will prescribe them. However, there has been research that shows that alternative therapies can work via the placebo effect and this can help because we expect that we will feel better. This placebo effect can then have a positive effect on mental health.
