According to the National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), there is a continual rise in the number of Americans using complementary therapies. But what does that include exactly? And how can they be incorporated into your workplace for better health overall? If you’ve ever taken a dietary supplement then you’ve used CAM, as well as the use of herbal medicines such as echinacea or fish oils to protect your heart health. CAM also induces the mind and body practice that focus on the interaction of your feelings, and how they affect your overall health. Meditation and yoga are two such practices, which promote wellness and good health. Both of these modalities promote good posture and breathing techniques, as well as being a great way of maintaining good stress levels. Acupuncture follows the same pattern when it comes to the benefits, and although it is used less frequently than some other therapies, studies show that there are tremendous benefits for a number of illnesses and imbalances within the body.
CAM also included manipulative and body-based practices, such as spinal manipulation (chiropractic) and massage. If you’ve taken a Pilates class at your local gym you will have experienced this kind of therapy, which is used to promote physical, emotional, spiritual and mental wellbeing. In older people, Tai Chi is a great option – it can improve your posture and balance which is ideal for preventing injury with falls. But how can this all help in the workplace? The above suggestions are by no means exhaustive when it comes to CAM therapies, but chair massage is something that more and more companies are looking to add to their companies. While it may seem like just an office perk, it can actually boost morale and productivity as well. Massage therapy has been used in a number of cultures for centuries, and involves pressing, rubbing and manipulating the muscles and soft tissues of the body. Naturally, this isn’t the easiest thing to initiate in the office, but massage chairs take out the awkwardness and improve the condition of peoples’ posture. Massage has been shown to offer a number of benefits, from injury reduction to lowering stress. Many local corporate massage therapists are also willing to visit workplaces and do massage sessions with the employees. It’s boosts the morale of the staff and increases the productivity, highlighting the importance of complementary therapies.
Workplace wellness schemes are cropping up in companies more and more now, and with alternative therapies increasing in popularity it’s no surprise that employers are looking to find alternative options to help increase good health among staff. Not only does it help keep staff happy and suffering less from stress in the workplace, but it also saves companies money. If the staff are suffering less from stress-related illnesses and injuries from bad posture, they will be less likely to take time off work – employers are therefore saving money in absences. Supplements can also help to promote good health, such as taking vitamin C regularly to promote a strong immune system and omega-3 oils to keep your joints healthy. If you’re prone to back injuries and pain, or suffer from high stress levels that are exacerbated through your job, you should speak to your GP who can offer advice on remedies and therapies that can help you resolve your condition. It’s advised that you don’t take any supplements or begin new therapies without checking that it is safe with your GP first.
