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Reflexology is the application of pressure, stretch and movement to the feet and hands to effect corresponding parts of the body. Reflexologists view the feet and hands as a mirror image of the body, by applying technique a reflexologist can break up patterns of stress in other parts of the body.

There are many theories but in our approach we look at the nervous system as the explanation of reflexology's working, Pressure applied to the feet generates a signal through the peripheral nervous system. From there it enters the central nervous system where it is processed in various parts of the brain.

It is then relayed to the internal organs to allocate the necessary adjustments in fuel and oxygen, Finally a response is fashioned that is sent onto the motor system.

This message is feed forward to adjust the body's tone or overall tension level. If applied properly the tone will reset itself to a lower operating tempo. A lower operating tempo means a lessening of stress and less wear and tear on the body's systems.

We apply techniques to the feet and hands. There is a school of thought that also applies it to the ear arguing it is also reflexology. The techniques, however, are modified from auricular therapy, an acupuncture technique.

It could be argued that all bodywork is reflexive therefore reflexology. We find that the extremities have a powerful influence because of locomotion. While we acknowledge that repeated patterns exist throughout the body we find our most effective focus to be the feet and hands.

In general terms the benefits of reflexology have to do with the reduction of stress. Because the feet and hands help set the tension level for the rest of the body they are an easy way to interrupt the stress signal and reset homeostasis, the body's equilibrium.

Whether reflexology can benefit certain conditions and diseases in still under investigation. Further scientific study need to be done in order to come to some definite benefits of reflexology in regard to illness and disease.

Reflexology is a complement to standard medical care, It should not be construed as medical advice. It should not be a replacement to medical help, Please use it wisely, We care about your safety.

Colonic Hydrotherapy is an internal bath to help cleanse the colon (large intestine) of poisons, gas, accumulated fecal matter and the mucus deposits. Sterilised equipment is used to flush filtered water through the colon to help expel waste products and compacted deposits.

The colon is the last five feet or so of intestible tube, approximately five feet in length. Food waste enters into the colon from the small intestines in a fluid state and water, minerals and vitamins are then reabsorbed and toxins and other waste materials eliminated through the rectum, therefore if the colon is not functioning correctly, many disorders can result, including constipation, diverticulitis, haemorrhoids, colitis and even bowel cancer.

In 1912, the Royal Society of Medicine published a report stating that toxicity in the intestines can be a contributing cause to sleep disorders, mental and physical depression, skin problems, breast cancer, bladder infections, headaches, as well as digestive disorders. The report concluded by saying: "To no other single cause is it possible to attribute one tenth as many various and widely diverse disorders."

Filtered water maintained at a carefully regulated temperature is slowly introduced using specialised, sterilised equipment into the rectum. The patients' modesty is maintained at all times and you would usually be given a special gown to wear. The therapist will work progressively around the structure of the colon allowing water to flow in and then release, thereby expelling accumulated toxins and impactions.

The whole process takes about 30 minutes and herbal preparations are sometimes used for specific conditions with regular implants of lactobacillus acidophilus given to assure normalisation of the bowel flora.

Craniosacral therapy is a subtle and profound healing form which assists the body's natural capacity for self-repair.

In a typical craniosacral session, you will usually lie (or sometimes sit) fully-clothed on a treatment couch. The therapist will make contact by placing their hands lightly on your body and tuning in to what is happening by ‘listening’ with their hands. Contact is made carefully so that you will feel at ease with what is happening.

The first thing you will probably notice is a sense of deep relaxation, which will generally last throughout the session. With subsequent treatments this release of tension often extends into everyday life.

The work can address physical aches and pains, acute and chronic disease, emotional or psychological disturbances, or simply help to develop well-being, health and vitality.
Craniosacral therapy is so gentle that it is suitable for babies, children, and the elderly, as well as adults and people in fragile or acutely painful conditions.

Treatment can aid almost any condition, raising vitality and improving the body's capacity for self-repair, Some of the conditions successfully worked with are:

Sometimes the benefits are not immediately noticeable but become obvious on returning to a familiar environment. The work can involve resolution of past events and is often profoundly relaxing, deeply moving and exhilarating.

Craniosacral therapy developed from the work of an American osteopath, Dr William Sutherland in the early 1900s. He discovered intrinsic movements of the bones in the head and his further research revealed different rhythms in the body. As a result of detailed clinical observation it has become clear that these movements, which can be measured with delicate scientific instruments, are a direct expression of health and offer a way of working with the physical as well as the more subtle aspects of life.

Further observation showed that these movements are also inextricably linked with mental and emotional health. Restriction of movement corresponds to a reduction of the natural capacity to self-heal. Using the hands to feel these movements allows craniosacral therapists to facilitate change in areas of restriction. A limitation or absence of the movements implies a reduction in the expression of health which may result in, for example, numbness, a sense of something missing or disease.

Craniosacral therapy has developed from clinical experience, which shows that health is something active and not just an absence of disease. It is the expression of life, responsible for the organisation of the millions of things that are constantly happening in the body.

Craniosacral therapy supports health in the body. It helps increase physical vitality and well-being not only effecting structural change but also having much wider implications, emotionally and spiritually. The resulting increased sense of well-being can help with many aspects of life life from strengthening the immune system to improving interpersonal relationships.

Magnotherapy is the application of a magnetic field to a living body. Magnotherapy is not new, it has been used for hundreds of years to help relieve pain and accelerate the natural healing process. In recent times magnotherapy has become more popular for two reasons, first the quest for complementary remedies as a natural therapy, and secondly the advancement of magnet technology

The truth is nobody really knows. A magnetic field can be generated in the form of a pulsed electro-magnetic field or a static field. Professionals favour pulsed electro-magnetic field and equipment, a technology that does appear to provide superior results when compared to static magnetic field. This type of equipment is used in hospitals and by physiotherapists.

The downside is that electro-magnetic fields require a supply of electricity and are therefore more suitable for controlled clinical use, not for personal, kennel or stable use. To overcome this problem some products use a battery as a source of power to develop a pulse field, but these tend to be inconvenient as they are heavy and awkward, certainly quite a sizeable battery would be required to produce the same depth of magnetic field as the more expensive transformer products.

A static magnetic field can be generated from various magnetic material, from flexible magnetised sheet (as used for fridge magnets ) through to complex rare earth magnets. There are a number of suppliers of this type of magnotherapy product due to an increase in public awareness of the benefits that magnotherapy can provide. However, an unfortunate trend used in the marketing of many of these products is the use of scientific gobbledygook in an attempt to describe how magnotherapy works and provides credibility to the product.

It can only be assumed that the authors of some of these ‘scientific explanations' enjoy an enviable imagination! One only has to read the marketing material of a number of different suppliers to become thoroughly confused: Indeed many of the theories are-scientifically impossible and no evidence is available to support them.

It is unfortunate that legislation covering the advertising and claims for complementary products has been a long time coming and even now it has been introduced (June 1999) it is restricted to products that are intended for human use and not for animal use. It the same legislation were applied to animal products pet owners would enjoy the benefit of being better informed as to the capabilities of a product.

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Complementary Therapy (Alternative Therapy)
Is as the name suggests a form of therapy or medicine that "complements" conventional treatments, it is variously known as Complementary Therapy, Alternative Therapy, or Holistic Therapy. (Examples of further terminology are described below)
Practitioners are consequently referred to as complementary therapists, alternative therapists, healers, complementary medicine providers, holistic therapists etc.

There is evidence that many of these alternative therapies have been in use for centuries, recent years have seen (particularly in the Western World) a rise in the popularity of these Complementary Therapies. Millions of people now subscribe to Complementary Health and use alternative & complementary therapies worldwide, and demand for these therapies is still growing.
About half of GPs, in the UK, now provide some kind of access to this form of therapy. Although Britain came late to complementary therapies. It is estimated by practitioners that demand for these therapies has increased by up to 30% in the last ten years.
It is currently estimated that 3 in 10 local health authorities in Britain now offer some form of alternative therapy to patients and that as many as one third of people in the United Kingdom have tried at least one form of alternative therapy, usually for the treatment of various problems such as backache, arthritis, or headaches migraine.

Much has been written on the subject of Complementary Therapies and Health (we have a wide range of articles elsewhere on our website) and a great deal of information and opinion is available on the internet.

Complementary Therapy is also referred to as Alternative Therapy, Holistic medicine is a narrower term. We have included a few definitions of Complementary Therapy showing how this "non conventional" form of healing is variuosly referred to.

Complementary Therapy
Complementary therapies offer a variety of "complementary" treatments, outside the scope of conventional medical practice, and are often used alongside standard treatments -- e.g. nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, massage, acupuncture, energy work, etc.

Complementary Medicine
The term complementary medicine is used by conventional medical practitioners to refer to non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical techniques which are used in conjunction with medical treatments such as drugs and surgery. The term implies that conventional medicine is used as a primary tool and the non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical alternative techniques are used as a supplement when needed.

Alternative Therapy
A variety of treatments, outside the scope of conventional medical practice, and used instead of standard treatments -- e.g. nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, massage, acupuncture, energy work, etc.

Alternative Medicine
A broad category of alternative treatment systems (e.g. chiropractic, herbal medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, and spiritual devotions) or culturally based healing

Integrative medicine
An increasing desire for wellness, in response to today’s stressful lifestyle, has led to the rising demand for Complementary Therapy and Alternative therapies. It is true that many people are becoming disenchanted with conventional medicine use of drugs and the approach to healing. On the other hand, Complementary therapies tend to be "holistic", where an individual's health is considered as a whole, and treatment is not just focused on the symptoms. Complementary therapy employs "natural" methods to aid the healing powers of the body to return to a state of health. Treatment is holistic; that is it takes into account every aspect of a patient and not just on the health symptoms that he or she is experiencing.

It is highly recommended that you use a qualified practitioner who is a member of a regulatory body. By law, chiropractic and osteopathy practitioners must be registered with the appropriate professional bodies

In the United Kingdom, there is an organisation that monitors *CAM therapists known as British Register of Complementary Practitioners. On their site, they say "The British Register of Complementary Practitioners (BRCP) is a professional register of practitioners who have proved their competence to practice by either completing an approved course or through an assessment made by the Registration Panel. They also agree to observe a Code of Ethics and Practice and have full practitioner insurance." This helps monitor the quality of CAM in the UK and reduces the risk of quackery.

Our guide to Complementary Therapy in the UK was set up to provide information about Complementary Therapy and we provide a comprehensive list of Alternative Therapy Providers in all areas of the UK.
Currently we list Therapists and Alternative Medicine Providers in the following areas :-

Alternative Therapists in Bedfordshire,
Bedford, Luton, Dunstable,
Leighton Buzzard, Biggleswade,
Sandy

Alternative Therapists in Berkshire,
Reading, Bracknell, Maidenhead,
Newbury, Windsor, Wokingham,
Slough

Alternative Therapists in Buckinghamshire,
Aylesbury, Milton Keynes,
Amersham, Buckingham,
High Wycombe,

Alternative Therapists in Cambridgeshire,
Cambridge, Wisbech,
Ely, March,
Whittlesey , Chatteris,
Linton

Complementary Therapists in Cheshire,
Chester, Stockport,
Runcorn, Macclesfield,
Sale & Altrincham ,
Crewe, Warrington

Complementary Therapies in Cleveland,
Hartlepool, Stockton on Tees,
Middlesborough

Complementary Therapists in Cornwall,
Bodmin, Truro,
Camborne, Falmouth,
Penzance, Newquay

Alternative Therapy in Cumbria,
Carlisle, Whitehaven,
Workington, Penrith,
Keswick

Alternative Therapies in Derbyshire,
Derby, Buxton,
Chesterfield, Ashbourne

Alternative Therapies in Devon,
Exeter, Plymouth,
Torquay, Barnstaple,
Exmouth, Sidmouth,
Newton Abbot

Alternative Therapies in Dorset,
Dorchester, Poole,
Weymouth, Sherborne,
Shaftesbury, Bournemouth

Alternative Therapies in Co. Durham,
Durham, Darlington

Alternative Therapies in Essex,
Colchester, Chelmsford,
Southend, Harlow,
Romford

Complementary Therapies in Gloucestershire,
Gloucester, Cheltenham,
Bristol, Cirencester,
Stroud,

Complementary Therapies in Hampshire,
Portsmouth, Southampton,
Aldershot, Winchester,
Basingstoke

Complementary Therapies in Herefordshire,
Hereford, Ross-on-Wye,
Leominster, Ledbury,
Bromyard  

Alternative Therapists in Hertfordshire,
Hertford, Watford,
St. Albans, Stevenage,
Hemel-Hempstead, Hatfield,
Bishops Stortford 

Alternative Therapists in Huntingdonshire,
Huntingdon, St. Ives,
St. Neots 

Alternative Therapists in Kent,
Maidstone, Margate,
Folkestone, Chatham,
Canterbury

Alternative Therapists in Lancashire,
Lancaster, Preston,
Bolton, Wigan,
Oldham, Blackpool

Complementary Therapists in Leicestershire,
Leicester, Loughborough,
Melton Mowbray, Hinckley,
Market Harborough

ComplementaryTherapists in Lincolnshire,
Lincoln, Grimsby,
Scunthorpe, Boston,
Grantham, Stamford

Complementary Therapies in (Gtr.) London,
Central London, North London,
South London, East London,
West London

Complementary Therapists in (Gr.) Manchester,
Manchester

Alternative Therapys in Merseyside,
Liverpool, Bootle,
Southport, Wirral

Alternative Therapy in Middlesex,
Harrow, Enfield,
Staines, Ealing,
Potters Bar

Alternative Therapies in Norfolk,
Norwich, Thetford,
Kings Lynn, Gt Yarmouth,
Dereham

Alternative Therapies in Northamptonshire,
Northampton, Peterborough,
Corby, Kettering,
Wellingborough

Alternative Therapies in Northumberland,
Alnwick, Morpeth,
Hexham, Berwick-upon-Tweed

Alternative Therapies in Nottinghamshire,
Nottingham, Mansfield,
Worksop, Newark

Complementary Therapies in Oxfordshire,
Oxford, Banbury,
Witney, Bicester,
Henley-on-Thames,
Thame

Complementary Therapies in Rutland,
Oakham, Uppingham.
Cottesmore  

Alternative Therapists inShropshire,
Shrewsbury, Telford,
Oswestry, Bridgnorth,
Market Drayton, Ludlow

Alternative Therapists in Somerset,
Bath, Taunton,
Yeovil, Bridgwater,
Weston-s-Mare

Alternative Therapists in Staffordshire,
Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent,
Cannock, Lichfield

AlternativeTherapists inSuffolk,
Ipswich,
Bury St. Edmunds,
Lowestoft, Felixstowe,
Sudbury, Haverhill

Complementary Therapists inSurrey,
Guildford, Croydon,
Woking, Sutton,
Kingston-on-Thames,
Wimbledon

Complementary Therapies in Sussex,
Brighton, Chichester,
Worthing, Crawley,
Hastings, Eastbourne,
Bognor Regis

Complementary Therapies in Tyne & Wear,
Newcastle, Gateshead,
Sunderland, North Shields,
South Shields

Alternative Therapy in Warwickshire,
Warwick, Nuneaton,
Rugby,
Stratford-upon-Avon

Complementary Therapies in West Midlands,
Birmingham, Coventry,
Wolverhampton,
Dudley, West Bromwich,
Solihull

Alternative Therapies in Wiltshire,
Trowbridge, Salisbury,
Swindon, Chippenham,
Marlborough, Warminster

Alternative Therapies in Worcestershire,
Worcester, Kidderminster,
Malvern, Evesham

Alternative Therapies in East Yorkshire,
Hull, Beverley,
Bridlington

Alternative Therapies in North Yorkshire,
York, Northallerton,
Scarborough, Whitby,
Harrogate

Complementary Therapies in South Yorkshire,
Sheffield, Doncaster,
Barnsley, Rotherham

Complementary Therapies in West Yorkshire,
Leeds, Bradford,
Wakefield, Halifax,
Huddersfield