Practices provide alternatives to traditional medicine

Psychology senior Heather Horstman said she practices aromatherapy and herbal medicine. She said she has been healthy all winter while her friends have suffered from colds and headaches.

Horstman carries a bottle of Relaxing Aromatherapy oil around in her backpack and uses it when she gets a headache. She rubs the oil on her temples and breathes deeply.

"There's a reason why these types of medicine have been around for centuries," Horstman said. "What side effects can you have from rubbing your temples and smelling something sweet?"

Judy Leineweber, exercise and sports sciences sophomore, said she has considered acupuncture to treat a separated rib.

"My mom wants me to try it, and I'm thinking of having it done," Leineweber said.

Adrienne Arino, secondary education senior, said she has used massage therapy and acupuncture to relieve tension headaches.

"It's really helped," she said. "Every experience I've had (with alternative medicine) has been good."

At the University of Arizona's Campus Health Center, students can get treatment for sore muscles with acupuncture, massage, meditation, Yoga, and Tai Chi.

Campus Health educators, through surveys conducted in April 1997 and April 1998, found that 50 percent of UA students think Campus Health should offer alternative medicine, said Health Educator Holly Avey.

"Traditional medicine treats the symptom, not the cause of illness," said M.J. Wygocki, president of ExSell Marketing. "This is the ancient wisdom that is slowly coming back into our beliefs."

ExSell Marketing handles public relations for Greenspring Wellness Center, 5655 E. River Road, and IntegraMed, 3402 E. Broadway Blvd. - two alternative medicine centers in Tucson.

Greenspring Wellness Center and IntegraMed both focus on the mind and body connection, Wygocki said. When holistic medicine is used there are no side effects, since the herbs used are composed of the same chemicals as the human body.

"It's not just our food intake and lifestyle that contributes to our condition. There's a spiritual and emotional component to disease," Wygocki said.

Some UA students have doubts about the physical benefits of alternative medicine.

"It might help psychologically, but I don't think it helps people physically," said Pam Rad, biochemistry junior. "I have friends who have had chiropractic work done and they said it helped temporarily, but it didn't resolve the problem."

"I'm not all hyped up on alternative medicine," said Melvin Nez, computer engineering sophomore. "I take Tylenol when I get sick."

A class series at Campus Health titled "Complementary Health," beginning March 3, will examine different methods of alternative medicine, including chiropractic care and osteopathic manipulation, acupuncture and other forms of Chinese medicine, spirituality, healing and health, and aromatherapy.

"(The program was) developed to provide opportunities for people to know more about alternative medicine or complementary health care," Avey said.