When you are battling an eating disorder, you find yourself looking for all of the possible options for treatment. While the standard conventional medical options include psychiatric treatment and instructional lessons with a nutritionist and dietitian, you may be hoping to take a more holistic approach to care. Alternative medicine offers several options that can work as complementary care to your conventional eating disorder treatments. A holistic approach to your eating disorder can help you to speed up your recovery and make it last. All you need to do is get to know the available options and give them a try. 

Chiropractic Care

When it comes to eating disorder treatment, going to the chiropractor like Dr. Paul Lyons may not be the first treatment option you think of. However, chiropractic care can help you to feel better and healthier as you recover from your eating disorder. 

The philosophy behind chiropractic care is that when the spine is not properly aligned, the rest of the body (including your mental and emotional state) suffer. This is because the nerves that transmit information between the brain and the rest of the body travel along the spine.

When the spine is out of alignment, the nerves are also affected and cannot function properly. Spinal manipulations at the chiropractor's office can free up your nerves to transmit information properly again. This can help your body and mind recover from the effects of your eating disorder, assisting in the overall healing process. 

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is another complementary treatment option for your eating disorder that you may not have previously considered. This treatment that falls under the realm of Chinese medicine focuses on the flow of energy throughout your body. 

When your body's energy is not flowing properly, it can cause a great number of problems including both physical and emotional difficulties. To fix energy flow problems, an acupuncturist will insert small needles into specific energy points to stimulate proper energy flow throughout the body. 

All you need to do is tell your acupuncturist what issues you are dealing with, both physical and mental, and they will identify the appropriate energy points to access and stimulate. If, for example, your eating disorder has caused inflammation in your pancreas or spleen (a common side effect of disordered eating), your acupuncturist will work with energy points that are associated with your digestive system (abdominal, hand, and foot acupuncture points). 

Yoga

Yoga is often considered to be strictly an exercise regimen. However, there is so much more to yoga than just another workout program. Yoga focuses upon the connection between the mind and body. 

Through a series of meditative breathing techniques paired with controlled stretches and strength exercises, yoga helps you to develop a healthy relationship with your body. As you notice how your body responds to various exercises and movements, you become more aware of your body and how everything you do affects your health and body. 

Taking up a regular yoga practice can help you to not only get over your eating disorder, but develop a healthy relationship with your body. 

By integrating alternative medicine treatments into your eating disorder recovery plan, you can create a holistic plan for dealing with your eating disorder. All you need to do is consider these complementary treatment options and choose the ones that are best for you and your situation.