Holistic Houston: The Houstonia Guide to Alternative Medicine – Houstonia Magazine

The next time youre out in public, sandwiched in a pack of peoplepicking up groceries, dropping off dry cleaning, getting your cars oil changedlook to your left and then to your right. Of the three of you, one of you has probably indulged in some form of reflexology or visited an herbalist.

This is likely because, according to a 2015 survey conducted by the National Institutes of Health, one in every three Americans has sought out cures for their conditionsfrom chronic to purely cosmeticthrough alternative medicine. This loosely defined range of homeopathic medical therapies is often regarded as unorthodox by Western physicians.

But that hasnt prevented millions of Americans from spending billionsyes, billionsof dollars every year on books, supplements and visits to what are often called complementary health practitioners that, with certain exceptions, are not covered by insurance.

Within, we take a closer look at Houstonians options for everything from acupuncture to cupping, speaking with practitioners and patients alike to find out what makes reflexology different from massage, why youd want to stick a candle in your ear, and how aromatherapyyes, aromatherapycan aid in the care of cancer patients. Hey, who are we to argue with results?

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Holistic Houston: The Houstonia Guide to Alternative Medicine - Houstonia Magazine