More and more people across the city and county are adopting a holistic approach to healthcare. They are looking to combine conventional medicine with complementary therapies for a balanced approach to health management.

The trend towards complementary therapies has been recognised by the health insurance providers. From supplements to yoga, vitamins to reiki, an alternative look at health management is becoming increasingly popular.

This week, the Galway Independent provides an A to Z of some of the best-known alternative treatments on offer.

The website irishhealth.com has a comprehensive A to Z of alternative treatments which, if administered correctly, can boost body and soul.

Acupressure uses the pressure of fingers, thumbs or knuckles to work in much the same way as acupuncture, without the use of needles.

African Reflexology is a combination of reflexology and ancient African wisdom. By gently massaging the feet, the therapist can 'read' what is going on inside the body and thereby use the therapy as a diagnostic tool.

Biofeedback reflects back what is going on in our bodies regarding stress. The temperature of the skin is measured by placing small sensors on the surface of the body.

CranioSacral is a very subtle, non-invasive form of holistic healing. An American Osteopath, Dr William Sutherland saw that the little movements of the bones in the back of the skull had a large effect in keeping body and mind balanced and harmonised.

Dream Interpretation is based on the premise that the dreams we experience at night are very relevant to what goes on in our daily lives. Normally, this therapy is offered alongside other therapies in the holistic field. Otherwise, it's an already established part of counselling, psychology and psychotherapy.

Energy Healing is practised in many cultures and is known by various names. It has been suggested that illnesses can present themselves within the 'aura' (the life force or energy field around the body) before they manifest themselves physically.

Floatation is for relaxing and ridding all sorts of stresses and tensions. It promotes calmness, as one hour in the tank is equal to eight hours of sleep. It takes place in an enclosed tank, with a depth of approximately 18 inches of water containing 300lbs of Epsom salts, which enables you to float as if you were in the Dead Sea.

Gestalt Therapy has been around since the 60s. The therapy focuses in on the moment and how present emotions are felt, through breathing exercises they are then released. There is a lot of counselling involved with this therapy.

Homeopathy is based on the principle of taking the existing disease that has manifested itself within the body and introducing the most similar disease artificially, thereby activating the body's immune system into healing itself.

Hypnosis is defined as a deliberately induced state of mind in which the client becomes extremely aware, beyond the awareness of normal wakefulness. In this state the client focus of awareness is entirely upon the suggestions of the hypnotist. These suggestions, if accepted uncritically, go directly into the clients' subconscious mind and new thought patterns result. Hypnosis changes the thought patterns within the subconscious mind.

Iridology is used as a diagnostic tool. The general state of a person's health is determined through the patterns and colours within the iris of the eye.