What is Alternative Therapy?
Sometime people choose these therapies
instead of other therapies or medication
– in this case people call them
"alternative therapies”.
Complementary & Alternative therapies
can include:
- Herbal Therapies
- Massage (Swedish message, Shiatsu)
- Acupuncture
- Aromatherapy - inhaling the scents
of different oils or rubbing them
on the body
- Meditation
- Vitamins and other supplements
- Yoga
- Ayurvedic Medicine
- Homeopathy
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
- Colour Therapy
- Reflexology
- Guided Imagery
- Touch Therapy (Therapeutic Touch,
Reiki)
There are mixed opinions about using
complementary & alternative therapies.
But many people with HIV/AIDS find
them very helpful. Some complementary
therapies help people feel less stressed
out or deal with drug side effects.
Most complementary therapies are not
covered by health insurance. This
sometimes means that you have to find
a way to pay for these services yourself.
If you have money problems, you might
not be able to afford them.
Ask around about prices and what is
out there because, although some of
these can be very expensive, some
can be relatively cheap and affordable.
Before going to a complementary therapist
(CT), you should ask yourself these
questions:
- How much training has the CT had?
- Is the CT a member of a professional
association?
- How long has the CT been practicing?
- Does the CT have experience with
people who are HIV-positive?
- What have the results been like
for other HIV-positive people who
have seen the CT?
- How many sessions does the CT
recommend?
- What is the cost of each session?
Talk to your local AIDS serving organization
(ASO) about good local referrals in
your area. [Check out Getting
Help for ASO’s near you]
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