Alternative medicine is becoming more popular these days, but this method of healing has been around long before Western Medicine.   

Alternative Medicine is also known as "holistic" or "Complementary" Medicine.   Here are a few different approaches:

1. Manipulative full body treatments:

These therapies focus on the relationship between structures and systems of the body and how they are related.  Systems are effected by a manipulation to the body:

• Chiropractic: The brain, spinal cord and nerves connect to all structures and systems of the body.
• Reflexology: Pressure to feet, hands and ears connect to zones of the body.
• Massage: Relaxes muscles, creates better circulation and better energy.

2. Botanical based modalities:  Use of natural occurring materials that affect the body:

• Homeopathic practitioners: Use plants and minerals for healing.

3. Mind-body therapies: Emotional and mental factors influence the physical body:

• Hypnotherapy: Use of guided meditation, concentration and heightened awareness.  Exploration of events or memories that may not be conscious.
• Meditation and Mindfulness: Breath work and Incantations

4. Energy Therapies: Bio-fields of energy around the body and in the body:

• Acupuncture: Balancing the Chi through meridians in the body by inserting needles into meridians affecting energy and body balance.
• Reiki: Practitioner places hands above the body to influence energy.
• Magnetic Therapy: There are many methods out there and one that is used for depression is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).  This therapy has a magnet against the head and sends signals to the brain.  
• Amino Neuro Frequency Therapy: These are wearable discs that enable your neurons to use the energy in each disk to help elevate areas of the body that may be damaged and not putting out the frequency needed to thrive.  The discs then help with neural ossillation and help the body learn to function at a higher frequency.  

Western Medicine treats symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation or surgery.  

There are a lot of types of medical doctors out there (hundreds).  Other than general doctors, medical doctors have specialties and/or part of the body or system that they focus on.  Often the term "ologist" is used.  This is root word that means "any science of knowledge".

Blood work is examined frequently to find out what levels body parts are functioning and then in most cases drugs are recommended to stabilize any levels that are not normal.  Western Medicine relies heavily on diagnostic equipment such as x-rays, MRIs etc. and moves forward with treatments from there.  

The advantage of Western Medicine is that it works fast.  Surgery and drugs can make changes quickly.  It is a "quick fix".  There is nothing wrong with having surgery for an appendix, gallbladder etc. The problem is that these fixes don't normally find the cause of what is going on.  It focuses on the symptom which happens because of the cause.  

There are many times when people are on high blood pressure medication for life when a change of diet and lifestyle would have taken levels to normal.  Hip and knee replacements when changing habits or finding out what is inflaming the area could have prevented the surgery.  

Since Western Medicine is fast acting, a lot of people will resort to these measures instead of allowing the body to heal by natural means.  Healing naturally takes more time, more work and more dedication.  

There is a place for all of these therapies and approaches.  Western Medicine helps with emergency care.  We need it.  Alternative Medicine helps the body get what it needs to heal.  The problem is most people use Western Medicine to save time and use it because insurance may cover some procedures.   Relying on invasive methods can, in the long run, put a strain on the rest of the body and lead to other problems later on.  

In my opinion, doing preventative care first and then invasive methods second should be the way we take charge of our health.  Unfortunately, most people do the opposite.  Of course, it is your life, your health and your decision.  I hope this helps for making any decision for care of your body.  

Obviously as a chiropractor in San Francisco, I would recommend Alternative Medicine unless it is an emergency situation.  Lets get you started treating your body to prevent invasive measures.  Contact our San Francisco Chiropractic office today and get started on the road to real health!

References: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-hypnotherapy

https://www.news-medical.net/health/Alternative-and-Western-Medicine.aspx

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/acupuncture/about/pac-20392763

https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/reiki-overview#:~:text=Reiki%20therapy%20is%20based%20on,that%20promotes%20balance%20and%20healing.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/about/pac-20384625

https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/western-medicine