When Did Alternative Healing Begin?

Alternatives for healing found in Eastern Medicine such as hypnosis, yoga, meditation, ayurveda, touch therapy, acupuncture and massage therapy treatments have been around for millenniums... (thousands of years) and have aided in recovery from illnesses, and provided treatments or cures.

In fact, up until the advent of modern medicine in very recent times, (the last 150 years or so) knowledge of herbal remedies was not an "alternative" form of healing.  It was the only form of healing known to Man.

Sponsored Links

Meditation techniques are mentioned in the Indian tantras (scriptures) over 5000 years ago.  Probably the most famous meditation guru was Buddha (circa 500 B.C.)   Meditation soon spread to other Asian countries, each of which soon adopted different forms and methods of practicing mediation.  Buddhist and Hindu meditation practices are still very much in use, today.

Acupuncture, too, is thousands of years old.  It is believed that it originated in China.  It, has evolved over the milleniums into one of the healing arts.

Reiki is another one of the alternatives for healing that is a well respected, ancient art of hands-on-healing. 

Yoga is the art of learning proper breathing, exercise, diet and relaxation through meditation.  It is an ancient art which is still practiced, today because of its mind and body health benefits.

Hypnosis was developed by an Austrian doctor about 200 years ago in his efforts to assist his patients with their diseases and maladies. 

Hypnosis techniques are used by professionals to treat both mental and physical disorders with progressive relaxation techniques for stress reduction. 

It is also used to treat addictions such as helping people to quit smoking.

Emotional Freedom Technique (E.F.T) is a relatively new addition to the many forms of alternatives for healing which many people find to be beneficial.

When Did Alternative Medicine Begin?

Genesis 1:29

"Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, that has fruit that yields seed; it shall be to you for food. 

And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that moves on the earth, which within there is life, I have given every green herb for food; and it was so.”

Healing Arts

Healers:

Long before the world had doctors, tribes had shamans (healers) who applied their knowledge of herbs and the fruits of the land to members of their tribe who were ill.