Holistic Health UK

Welcome to Holistic Health UK - the complementary healthcare service where we offer a wide range of complementary / holistic therapies and workshops at your premises or from our peaceful centre just north of Chester in Cheshire. Therapies provided include reflexology, bowen technique, aromatherapy, manual lymphatic massage, hopi ear candling, indian head massage, facials and sugaring.

This website is designed to give you an introduction to complementary / holistic therapies, details on the range of therapies we offer, a full price list, links to sites containing information and research into complementary therapies.

What are complementary / holistic therapies?

My interpretation of Complementary therapies describes a group of therapies which can work well alongside orthodox healthcare. Many of them based in massage are used to ease tension, reduce anxiety, promote good sleep and relieve the symptoms of many common ailments including musculoskeletal problems.

Complementary therapy / medicine has also been described as alternative medicine / therapy, non-conventional medicine and holistic medicine / therapy, with these terms being used inter-changeably and referring to

“…a broad range of health care practices that are not part of a country’s tradition and are not integrated into the dominant health care system…”   (WHO 2000).

However, the terms complementary and alternative are generally seen as quite different with complementary therapies / medicine described as those treatments used together with conventional medicine and alternative medicine/ therapies described as those modalities being used in place of conventional medicine (The United Kingdom Parliament (UKP) 2000; The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) 2002).

A definition of complementary medicine which encompasses both complementary and alternative medicine adopted by Cochrane Collaboration is

"Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a broad domain of healing resources that encompasses all health systems, modalities, and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given historical period. CAM includes all such practices and ideas self-defined by their users as preventing or treating illness or promoting health and well-being. Boundaries within CAM and between the CAM domain and that of the dominant system are not always sharp or fixed."

(Cited by Zollman & Vickers 1999, page 1)

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Who uses complementary therapy?

There is increasing demand and usage of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) by the general public, with recent surveys suggesting that approximately one in five people in the UK having tried at least one form of complementary therapy (Ernst & White 2000). It is shown that people in the UK who use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) do so in addition to orthodox approaches. Presently more women use complementary therapies than men, with treatments such as aromatherapy and massage being popular (Peters, Chaitow, Morrison & Harris 2002). Studies suggest that men are more likely to use complementary therapies for specific physical problems such as sports injuries or back pain (Peters et al 2002). Hopefully this is now changing as complementary therapies become more and more popular and mainstream. Following the House of Lords Select Committee Report (2000) there is increasing support for complementary therapies to become integrated within the conventional healthcare setting, thereby promoting the use of complementary therapies for everyone within a multi-disciplined environment.

What are the benefits?

A study in by Long, Huntley and Ernst (2001) suggested that the seven most common conditions likely to benefit from complementary therapies that included aromatherapy, bowen, reflexology, massage and reiki were stress and anxiety, headaches, migraine, back pain, respiratory problems, insomnia, cardiovascular problems and musculoskeletal problems.

More detailed accounts of the benefits of complementary therapy treatments can be found on the therapies page.

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What to look for in a complementary therapy practitioner

�       Fully qualified and experienced in chosen therapy

�       Registered member of an appropriate professional body

�       Fully insured

�       If possible come with personal recommendation

It is not always that easy to know whether a practitioner has had sufficient training, is a member of a professional association or insured. There are many schools offering different standards of tuition and a large number of therapy associations. It is important to find out as much as possible about the general principles of complementary therapies and the training required. A competent practitioner should be able to talk through the most relevant treatment for you in a holistic way. It is important that the practitioner can work in harmony with conventional medicine. A good practitioner will be able to communicate effectively, respect your views and have the ability to build a collaborative working relationship with a client which will promote trust, hope and be empowering .

Remember that a competent and honest practitioner will be forthcoming about their qualifications and training. They will also be honest about whether a therapy they offer is suitable and if not will recommend another therapy or therapist.

Our practitioners use an Holistic approach to their treatments guided by an understanding that many factors influence our health - physical, psychological, social and emotional.

All practitioners connected to Holistic Health UK are fully qualified, experienced and insured. If you wish to book a session or talk to someone free of charge about your needs, please call on 01244 851455. Alternatively, you may contact us by email on holistichealthuk@hotmail.com

Complementary therapy treatments make the perfect gift for that special person - treat them to a treatment of their choice by purchasing a gift voucher to the value of any treatment.

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References

Ernst E, White A. (2000). The BBC survey of complementary medicine use in the UK. Complementary Therapies in Medicine; 8:32-36.

Long, L., Huntley, A., Ernst, E. (2001). Which complementary and alternative therapies benefit which conditions? A survey of the opinions of 223 professional organizations. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 9, 3, 178-1.

Peters, D., Chaitow, L., Morrison, S., Harris, G. (2002). Integrating Complementary Therapies in Primary Care: A Practical Guide for Health Professionals. London: Harcourt Publishers.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) 2002). What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/

The United Kingdom Parliament (2000) Science and Technology - Sixth Report. http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199900/ldselect/ldsctech/123/12301.htm

World Health Organization (WHO). (2000). General Guidelines for Methodologies on Research and Evaluation of Traditional Medicine. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2000/WHO_EDM_TRM_2000.1.pdf

Zollman, C., Vickers, A. (1999). What is complementary medicine. BMJ. ;319:693-696 http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/319/7211/693

All information provided on this website is for reference purposes only. No claim is made to the accuracy of these statements nor is the information to be considered all inclusive. Information provided does not seek to diagnose disease, or replace medical advice. It is not intended to substitute professional advice given by a physician, pharmacist or other licensed health care provider.

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