Lesson 6: Alternative treatments: Non-traditional medicine.
Mind Body Therapies
Mind-Body Therapies are often therapies that the patient can control for themselves. Such things as deep abdominal breathing and meditation can relax painful muscles - and can be self-taught. Other treatments such as hypnosis may need an instructor to help get you started but can then be practiced at home.
Mind body therapies are aimed at reducing stress rather than at curing physical ailments. As Pellegrino suggests, humor and laughter can also accomplish this. Pet therapy - the taking on of responsibility for another small, living creature, reduces stress first by giving us something outside of ourselves to focus on, and also because of the rewards of love and loyalty that responsible pet ownership brings.
