ALLERGY\MEDICAL HELP: COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY
Many people with allergy and sensitivity find real benefit from various kinds of complementary therapy. This section describes the main types, and sets out arty areas of treatment where people with allergies and sensitivity may need to take extra care. This section looks in particular at:
• Acupuncture
• Homeopathy
• Reflexology
It also discusses other types of therapy, such as naturopathy and herbalism, plus healing, psychotherapy, growth and relaxation therapies.
Whatever type of complementary therapy you might try, it is important to go to a qualified and reputable practitioner. Check what training and qualifications practitioners have and get a personal reference from one of their clients if you can. Some less reputable practitioners make inflated claims about what they can achieve – multiple allergy and sensitivity can be difficult to sort out and can take time, even for the experienced; unless you have relatively straightforward problems, you should be wary of anyone who offers an instant, or one-answer solution.
Using complementary therapy may not remove the need for carrying out avoidance techniques – you may still have to take care with diet or other measures. Treat any therapy as another weapon in your armoury, not your only route to wellbeing.
If you are extremely sensitive to chemicals or foods, or have multiple sensitivity, you should take extra care with any therapy that involves using chemicals (even if natural, such as oils or herbs); that involves special diets, or taking herbal, plant or other remedies (such as homeopathy). See below for advice on individual therapies.
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