Consider the Alernatives

In fact, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a newly created division of the National Institute of Health, reports that nearly two-thirds of Americans over 50 currently use complementary or alternative medicine practices along with conventional medicine provided by their doctors. More and more traditional physicians are researching things like herbs, acupuncture and stress-reduction methods and incorporating them into their practices.

Complementary and alternative methods are gaining popularity throughout the Gulfshore as well. William Brock, a naturopath who has been in Naples for more than 20 years, says patients are interested in alternatives to costly surgery and medications. "Most patients really want to build their health, rather than just relieve symptoms," he says.

Here are some of the practices offered in Southwest Florida. We’ve listed one practitioner for each, but you will likely find more as you explore what’s available. (The NCCAM suggests patients inform their physicians about any treatments they are using to avoid complications when used in conjunction with medication or therapies.)

Traditional Chinese Medicine
Dating back to 200 B.C., TCM is founded on the belief that a person cannot achieve optimal health if the yin and yang of the body are imbalanced. When the two forces do not coexist harmoniously, the flow of vital energy known as "qi" is impeded from regulating a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental and physical well-being. The main therapies of TCM include acupuncture, herbs as catalogued by the Chinese Materia Medica (a reference of natural products) and massage.
Where to Find It: Bee Lan Lim
(239) 390-0065; 9138 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs.

Ayurveda
From the two Sanskrit words ayus (life) and veda (knowledge), Indians have preserved Ayurveda as their traditional system of medicine for centuries. Practitioners believe diseases arise when a person is out of harmony with the universe.

To maintain equilibrium, Ayurveda relies on three dosha—vata, pitta and kapha—which define a person’s mind and body type. Each dosha is constantly reformed by food, activity and bodily processes. Therefore, diet, exercise, meditation and yoga geared toward a specific dosha are the fundamental therapies.
Where to Find It: Joyful Yoga
(239) 947-9845; Bernwood Center, 24821 Tamiami Trail S., Bonita Springs; and15250 Tamiami Trail S., Fort Myers.

Homeopathy
Homeopathy is unconventional in its approach to diagnosing, classifying and treating medical conditions. Treatments, referred to as remedies, are chosen to stimulate the body’s natural defense mechanisms and come from plants, minerals or animals. These remedies would actually create, in a healthy person, the symptoms of the same illness if they were given in larger doses, known in homeopathy as "like cures like."
Where to Find It: Dr. Edwin Schwarz (239) 285-1828; Naples.

Naturopathy
Practitioners of naturopathy believe the body has the power to heal itself, and therapies rely entirely on natural remedies like sunlight, air and water supplemented with herbs, diet, massage and other modalities. The optimal treatments are those that are the most natural with the least amount of side effects. Much emphasis is placed on prevention and treating the cause of the illness rather than treating the symptoms.
Where to Find It: A Balanced Life-Energy Healing Center (239) 594-7575;
5600 Tamiami Trail N., Naples.

Meditation
Meditation involves consciously obstructing random thoughts from interfering with the body and mind’s ability to totally relax. Meditation is believed to affect how the autonomic nervous system regulates the "fight or flight" response of its functions, such as heartbeat, breathing, sweating and digestion.

Mindfulness meditation stays focused in the present moment by concentrating on the flow of breathing. Transcendental meditation, the trademarked technique introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1958, utilizes mantras to quiet the mind yet maintain relaxed alertness.
Where to Find It: Health and Harmony Center (239) 433-5995; 15951 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers.

Yoga
Unlike the mainstream, fitness-based yoga practiced in most exercise facilities, yoga was originally developed to help people reach spiritual enlightenment. Yoga combines breathing exercises, physical postures and meditation to calm the nervous system and balance the body, mind and spirit. Restorative yoga specifically seeks to heal the body and involves the use of physical support to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
Where to Find It: Bala Vinyasa Yoga (239) 598-1938; 6326 Trail Blvd. N., Naples.

Biology-Based Practices
Substances used for treatments that are found in nature are considered by complementary and alternative medicine as biology-based practices, whether they are ingested, inhaled or massaged. Some examples include aromatherapy, the application of essential oils or the consumption of a specific vegetable.
Where to Find It: Perlmutter Health Center (239) 649-7400; Commons Medical Center, 800 Goodlette-Frank Road N., Naples.

Shiatsu Massage
The objective to almost all of the 80 types of massage therapy is to relax the soft tissues and increase delivery of blood and oxygen to the massaged areas in order to decrease pain. Shiatsu massage works to release the flow of qi by applying finger pressure to specific parts of the body.
Where to Find It: Absolute Health Therapeutic Massage (239) 261-8033;
1250 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 208, Naples.

Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves painlessly penetrating the skin with hair-thin metallic needles on certain points of the body which are then manipulated by the hands or electrical stimulation in order to unblock qi. The National Institutes of Health say acupuncture may be affective for addiction, smoking cessation, asthma, fibromyalgia, headaches, nausea, stroke rehabilitation and tennis elbow.
Where to Find It: Alternative Approach Holistic Clinic (239) 775-0212; 2887 Tamiami Trail E., Naples.

Reiki
Reiki translates to "universal life energy" with "ki," the Japanese vital energy. The practitioner uses his or her hands to transmit ki either on or near the patient in order to reduce negative energies and heal the pathways for ki.
Where to Find It: The Other Side of the Sun (239) 248-6079; 1044 Castello Drive, Unit 102D, Naples.

QiGong
A component of traditional Chinese medicine, qigong combines movement, mediation and controlled breathing. It is associated with martial arts and meditation routines, and it is regularly practiced as a health-maintenance exercise that promotes diaphragmatic breathing, which wards off stress and promotes relaxation.
Where to Find It: Ho Jun Kim, A.P., Qigong healer (239) 287-9247; 850 Central Ave., Naples.