The Other Approach - Alternative Methods of Healing

While traditional forms of healing are the major focus of treating ailing dogs, there are alternatives. Some practitioners, including veterinarians, are looking for effective but alternative ways to treat dogs. The scope for expansion in this area of research and discovery is immense. The ability to combine the knowledge of the traditional and the alternative is a positive goal. Below is part 2 of a look at Alternative Methods of Healing.

Magnets

Like Crystal therapy, the use of magnets may seem questionable to some people. The application is very simple. A person adds magnets to a dog’s collar or places them in his or her bedding. The belief is the magnets are both calming and soothing substances. Practitioners also claim magnets help decrease pain and speed up the healing process.

Massage

Of the many forms of alternative treatment massage can be the most fun and practical. It is an excellent way to establish a good relationship with your pet. It is therapeutic petting. Massage is also the specific manipulation of your pet’s ligaments, muscles and joints to help increase range and fluidity of movement. Massage can promote the healing process by decreasing pain and increasing the flow of both the lymph and the blood systems.

McTimoney Chiropractic

This is a variation or adaptation of chiropractics to suit the treatment of small animals. This is spinal and joint and pelvis manipulation. It is very gentle, very careful and very species specific.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy has long been a tool of mainstream medical doctors. Like Hydrotherapy, it is now gaining increased acceptability among vets. Physiotherapists work with a doctor to help decreases pain, strengthen muscles and loosen joints. Massage is one tool of a physiotherapist in restoring your dog to health.

Reiki

This practice is a form of therapeutic non-touch. It utilizes the energy forces of both the patient and the practitioner to rebalance the Chi. The concept behind the practice of Reiki is to focus on specific body points - the chakras. The Reiki practitioner uses his or her hands to send and raise healing energy to course through the body. The Reiki person is simply a conduit for the energy forces. In carrying out the work, the practitioner’s hands flow above the dog’s body. The hands may move in circles or remain still. There is no physical touching to produce the result. The purpose of Reiki is to help a dog heal emotionally, relieve any pain and promote physical healing.

Shiatsu

Shiatsu bases its approach to the healing arts on ancient Eastern or Asian medical concepts of body-mind healing, although it is a modern Japanese invention. The treatment consists of the application of finger pressure at specific points. The intent is to use the energy to help the body heal.

TTouch

This form of alternative healing is the invention of Linda-Tellington Jones. It has as its basis the Feldenkras method, although it does include or combine elements of other forms of massage and exercise. The TTouch helps to ease pain. It also may speed up the rehabilitation process.


Article provided by Jim Flarity of Oh My Dog Supplies