Biofeedback as an Alternative Medicine
March 30, 2009 by admin
Filed under Alternative Health
Biofeedback is a form of alternative medicine that measures a person’s bodily functions such as; heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and muscle tension at the moment. It is believed that this form of alternative medicine helps the person to be aware and conscious of what their body is doing, allowing them to control it.
Most people have used this form of therapy in their lives at one point or another. Using a thermometer to see a temperature of the body is a form of biofeedback. The person sees their temp has risen and they take steps to lower, thus biofeedback used to make a person act accordingly to the feedback.
People with ADHD or anxiety have been known to use this method to help teach them how to relax. When a person sees that their levels are elevated they gain more knowledge about their body and mind, this is an invaluable benefit to those who struggle with disorders like anxiety. Biofeedback has also been used in treatment for strokes, headaches/migraines, high/low blood pressure, and epilepsy. There are many modalities used in biofeedback which include:
An electromyograph is used in biofeedback by using electrodes that measure muscle tension. A person uses the readings to understand how their muscles react and learn how to control the tension. This form has been used to relieve tension, headaches, incontinence, and muscle pain.
Electrodermograph therapy uses sensors to measure a person’s sweat gland activity. It measures electrical resistance through the skin, and the most common use is that of a polygraph. This form of biofeedback as an alternative medicine has help to heal those with phobias, anxiety, stuttering.
A feedback thermometer is used to measure a person’s temperature. Many people do not realize that temperature plays a big role in the body. For instance, low temperature is a reaction to stress. When the reading shows an abnormally low temperature it tells the person to try relaxation techniques. This form of biofeedback has proven to help circulatory and stress related diseases such as anxiety or vasoconstriction.
In order to get the most from biofeedback, many practitioners also suggest that person learn certain relaxing techniques. It is highly recommended that those who want to try biofeedback as a form of alternative medicine should speak with their healthcare professional in order to get the full benefit of this method.