EDITOR'S NOTE: EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally published on May 26, 2005 in The Daily Journal, a Gannett paper based in Vineland, NJ.

 The field is commonly called "alternative medicine," but that may not be the best way to describe increasingly common practices such as acupuncture, hypnotism, and other types of nonprescription drug treatments.

The phrase seems to suggest that these forms of treatment should only be considered if prescription drugs or hospital stays don't do the trick.

However, more and more people are using these wholistic therapies, and some are practiced in the Vineland area.

Below are descriptions of each of the practices with details on the philosophy behind them to help you decide whether they can help you lead a healthier life:

Acupuncture
Sticking needles into the skin may not seem like the most appealing way to treat pain or relieve stress, but acupuncture is much more than needles.

According to Wayne Mesiano, licensed acupuncturist, it is a wholistic treatment that can restore balance and create a positive tension that allows healing to occur.

Mesiano, who practices acupuncture at Inner Peace Healing Arts in Vineland, estimates that there are between 12,000 and 15,000 practicing licensed acupuncturists in the country.

The purpose of the needles is to harmonize qi (pronounced "chi"), an energy in the body that shares a relationship with blood circulation, the immune system, endocrine system, nervous system, and other essential life systems operating within the body.

Acupuncture relies on a dry needle technique. Nothing is injected into the body and nothing is taken out. The needles do not pierce the nerves but rather special points on the body called meridians. These needles cause little or no pain.

According to Mesiano, 75 percent of illnesses are either stress-related or lifestyle-related. Because of this, in addition to the needle therapy, he also requires his patients to make lifestyle changes in order to feel better.

"Most people want to feel and get better," Mesiano said, "but most don't want to change, and therapies like acupuncture require changes in lifestyle."

Mesiano doesn't want people to believe that acupuncture is a complete alternative to prescription drugs. "If someone has dangerously high blood pressure and needs to take a drug to control the blood pressure, acupuncture can't be used in place of a medication," he said.

By the same token, acupuncture can be used to help ease the symptoms of withdrawal while coming off an addiction, but people shouldn't replace the cigarette or the pill with the needle.

Hypnosis
Hypnosis calls up old cartoon stereotypes from the 1950s or '60s, or black-and-white movies with a man swinging a pocket watch in front of someone's face.

However, hypnosis is used to treat pain, control stress and fight addictions or other medical problems.

Hypnosis does not take place while a person is asleep but rather during the alpha state (the state of mind just before you fall asleep or when you first wake up) that allows the hypnotist to more easily communicate with the subconscious mind.

Sharon Gage, certified hypnotist, has been practicing hypnosis to treat such problems in Vineland. She treats a variety of things, including pain, stress, weight management, habits, phobias and addictions.

"A lot of smokers seek hypnosis for help," she said.

"People think that hypnosis is magic and that it cures these problems," Gage said. "It's not a cure. It's a way to find the cause of the problems."

Usually, someone with an addiction is subconsciously holding onto something.

Once the client realizes this, he can make lifestyle changes in order to let go of these things.

"When people start smoking, they do it for an image or because it's in style," Gage said. "But later in life, they realize that smoking no longer fits into their lifestyle."

Those who suffer from pain may also be subconsciously holding onto something emotional. The pain might be a way to get attention or special treatment.

Gage said that hypnosis should never replace medicine, and she'll refuse her services to anyone who believes that hypnosis can be a treatment in place of medications.

Usually, she requires a referral from a physician so that she knows of any medical conditions the person may have before using hypnosis as a treatment.

Hypnosis therapy is not long-term. It usually only involves four to six sessions as well as listening to a tape on a regular basis.

Applied kinesiology
Our bodies can reveal a lot about our health. Kinesiology is the study of muscles, and applied kinesiology takes that knowledge and uses it to discover what minerals the body needs to feel better and stronger.

Tests are used that isolate the muscles (these tests may be done using any muscle in the body) and strengths and weaknesses reveal mineral deficiencies or allergies that can cause health problems. Applied kinesiology can also be used to test for dehydration.

Dee Singleton recently demonstrated applied kinesiology tests at the 2005 Health Fair held at the Vineland Senior Center on Sixth Street. She used basic muscle response tests and instructed senior citizens on what dietary changes needed to be made to ensure a healthier lifestyle. "It's most often used to treat allergies, and these allergies can lead to pain, cold symptoms, and other problems," Singleton said.

"There are five really important minerals that most people do not get enough of," Singleton said. "Magnesium, manganese, zinc, potassium, and sodium, and there are healthy ways to get these minerals."

Applied kinesiology also relies on the concept of qi and reveals how negative energy can weaken the body.

Massage Therapy
Massages don't just have to be used for pleasure or relieving stress. Massage therapy can be an effective way to boost the body's immune system naturally. It can stimulate the body, but it can also relax it at the same time, according to Manya Meyer, a local licensed therapist.

Meyer specializes in shoulder therapy, but she has had a wide variety of clients with different medical problems.

"Usually, repetitious activities can cause recurring pain," Meyer said. "Working in a garden all day or typing at a keyboard all day can cause muscle contraction."

Athletes in particular can benefit from massage therapy.

Before a game or practice, a massage will stimulate the body and enhance the player's performance, she said. After a rough game, a massage will relieve the pain caused by the stress that is put on the body.

Alternative medicine tips
If you do plan to seek out alternative medicine for treating pain, addiction, or other ailments, be sure to know the following things in advance.