4 • THE CAMBERWELL CITIZEN • ISSUE #8
BALANCED APPROACH Complementary therapies are becoming increasingly popular as Australians seek a more holistic approach to health and wellness.
Photo: Jessica Dewar Yoga
Australians are living longer and busier lives than ever before and many of us are trying complementary therapies to improve our quality of life. Complementary therapies include a wide range of health and wellness practices outside of the conventional medicine space such as acupuncture, yoga, remedial massage, and herbal medicine. These therapies have become increasingly popular, with about two thirds of Australians having used complementary and alternative therapies, according to a 2018 NCBI study. “People are becoming more and more aware that happiness, connection or self-discovery cannot be bought,” said Jessica Dewar, of Jessica Dewar Yoga in Camberwell. “You can’t have an operation and think that everything is fixed. You can’t take medication and think that all of your troubles are going to go away.” Ms Dewar said complementary therapies like yoga were helping people with physical and mental issues, instead of relying entirely on conventional medicine. Complementary therapies are known by a variety of names like holistic therapies, traditional medicine and alternative therapies, however complementary and alternative therapies have an important difference. Alternative therapies are used instead of conventional medicine or treatments, while complementary therapies are used alongside conventional medicine. Ms Dewar said it was important for complementary therapies to work with other allied health professionals to achieve the best outcome. “It’s all about working together with physiotherapists, psychologists, GPs, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals, so that we’re a team assisting somebody on different levels,” she said.
CITIZEN
Here are some examples of complementary therapies and how they are used:
REMEDIAL MASSAGE While there are various types of massages, remedial massage focuses on treating muscles that are damaged, knotted, tense or immobile. “Remedial massage targets and relieves blockages in both the circulatory and lymph systems that cause inflammation and pain,” said Jenny Zhang, of Camberwell Wellbeing Centre. “Increasingly, for health-conscious people, remedial massage therapy can provide an effective alternative to over-reliance on drug treatments.” The benefits of remedial massage include stimulating blood supply, making joints more mobile, and helping to repair damaged tissues.
Jenny Zhang of Camberwell Wellbeing Centre
