Trending Alternative Treatments You Should Know About in 2024

Whether you are a medical professional or are just interested in healthcare, there are a number of alternative treatments that you should be aware of this year and beyond. These could help you combat any health issues you are experiencing when traditional options do not cut it, and can ensure that there is always another treatment left to try. Alternative treatments go through phases of popularity, and here are some options trending in 2024. 

1. Meditation 

Meditation and mindfulness have increased in popularity since the pandemic. Meditation can help those with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, as well as those who are experiencing temporary periods of stress and emotional strain. Not only this, but meditation can calm the mind, help people to make important decisions, and can lower your heart rate. You might also find that it can lower your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. It is simple to take up meditation, and you can do this alone with a guidebook or an app, or you can attend a meditation group where you can be with others who have a similar mindset to you. You do not even have to give up a lot of time for meditation since it can have its desired effect within minutes. This means that meditation can soon become a part of your daily routine and that you can try it out around your working life or familial commitments. 

2. Medical Cannabis

If you are looking for an emerging alternatice treatment, medical cannabis could be the answer. Although medical cannabis needs to be looked into further by experts, it might help reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety, as well as physical health issues such as chronic pain. Medical cannabis is legal in the UK and in the majority of states in the USA, although you might have to travel to find a suitable clinic for you. If you have decided to search for medical cannabis UK, you should first speak to the clinic in question about patient eligibility and any side effects of the treatment, as medical cannabis is not an appropriate option for everybody. Even if you are a suitable candidate, this does not mean that you will feel the positive effects, and you might have to pair this treatment with traditional options to reap the rewards. 

3. IV Hydration

IV hydration is often a great option for those who have lost a lot of fluids through vomiting or digestive issues. This IV treatment will put fluids and nutrients straight into a person’s body and can have a much quicker effect than trying to achieve this by drinking liquids. You might also find that IV therapy is an excellent choice if you want to boost your immune system or detox your body. This treatment does not always have to be recommended by a doctor and plenty of independent clinics offer this service for minor maladies or as a preventative measure that can boost health and wellbeing. 

4. Non-Hormonal Menopause Treatments

Muse can be miserable and can leave you with hair loss, dry skin, and mood swings, as well as hot flashes. To prevent the menopause from taking over, many patients have gone onto HRT, Hormone Replacement Therapy. However, HRT can have negative effects and can increase your risk of getting some types of cancer. For some people, this risk or the side effects might prevent them going onto HRT and instead look into alternatives, which can include specific vitamins and herbal remedies. Some people have found that lifestyle changes, such as exercise, change of diet and stress management can improve the symptoms of the menopause. In order to maintain clear mental health, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been found effective – it provides people with the space to discuss any problems they are having, and provides the tools they need to get by. These alternative treatments might be able to reduce the severity of symptoms and ensure that menopause do not bring on mental health issues or leave you unable to do the activities that you usually enjoy. 

You might be wary of alternative treatments because many of them need more research, and you should always weigh each treatment's pros and cons before investing in it. However, alternative treatments can provide you with a different way of looking after your health. This means that you should not write off alternative treatments straight away, but always speak to your doctor before trying alternative treatments or therapies, especially if you are already taking some medications. 

This is a guest blog entry.