Alternative remedies to conventional psychiatry threatments

Native, Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine
Every continent around the world has some traditional healing practices passed from generation to generations. Native traditional healing in its various forms like Shamanism and Herbalism have been used and tested for thousands of years and are the basis of many other healing therapies. 
There is evidence of Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine methods in old text books of at least 5.000 year ago, which usually involve the use of medicinal herbs, healing touch and acupressure and/or acupuncture. Usually a strong and immediate response is perceived by the patient.
Acupressure an acupuncture for example, are very effective in bringing balance for a large range of complains: physical, mental and emotional issues. 
It works by If applied more frequently in acute states (like several times per day), helps reducing the body exit an acute phase of inflammation. The person regains balance and control much quicker, avoiding the dramas and traumas of weeks of hospitalisation, the side effects of drugs and the numbness.

 
Holistic approaches and remedies 
There is a vast choice of therapies that have developed over the years under various names, however at the basis of these, there is our capacity to heal ourselves and heal others, considering the extraordinary power of the body to heal and regenerating, given the right time and conditions.
Some of the holistic therapies might seem subtle to some people, however when used properly they have tremendous and powerful effects: from pure essential oils, Bach Flowers, Homeopathy, massage (specially Osteopathy, cranio-sacral, reflexology, Shiatsu), EFT (emotional Freedom Technique), Hypnosis, Energy healing (Reiki, Bioenergy, Crystals) and Oriental approaches, many results can be experiences with no side effects when proper guidelines are followed.

Holistic, Functional, Integrative, Energy Medicine: these are the real way forward to positively help a person that is calling for help. Considering each individual in his or her uniqueness, not just a body with a mental illness label is the key to resolve key issues from the roots.


Nutrition
What we eat and put in our body plays an important role in our overall wellbeing.
The food industry only cares about selling products. So even food labelled "healthy" often only mask items full of sugar, GMOs and refined products with no nutritional value, even if they seem to taste good. Your health is your responsibility and being responsible in what we consume is a good starting point. Eliminating processed foods and stimulants like alcohol, caffeinated drinks, or limiting these if at first is difficult to eliminate completely, is essential to regain real control of our health and life.

Eating right and well is paramount; fresh and natural ingredients are what the body needs and recognises the easiest. 
Ever heard about the gut-brain axis? kellybroganmd.com/5-rules-for-eating-away-your-depression/
There are lots of studies and research that testify about the influence of nutrition to our health. 
The book “The Wheat Belly” talks about consumption of wheat increases inflammation in the body and the likely aggravation/manifestation of schizophrenia symptoms (chapter 4: “Bread is my Crack”).
Nutrition supplementation can provide an effective help, especially Omega 3, B Vitamins and magnesium, just to name a few. However what we need to remember is that we are all individuals with different needs: always seek for appropriate advice, pls. 
GPs and many other MDs are not trained in nutrition generally, unless they consider it relevant. Luckily more and more a waking up to the limitation of conventional medicine and do their further studies.


Abstaining from drugs & alcohol 
Some people avoid any medical advice while suffering mental difficulties and self-medicate using alcohol and or illegal drugs. Good if it works for them, although it generally it's only an immediate relief that cannot work for long without causing addictions, debt and more severe problems within the self and close relationships. It is well known about the toxic effects of either alcohol and any drug (prescribed or recreational alike) on the long term.


Crisis Houses 
Soteria style crisis houses have been experimented for many decades in Europe and the States. These seem to be a safer and gentle space for people that are struggling with crisis symptoms, helping them regain stability rather than being forcibly treated and detained against own will in a psychiatric ward.


The Open Dialogue
RD Laing is often considered the originator of the open dialogue approach, following the Philadelphia Association experiment held at Kingsley Hall in the 60s
It looks like the ability of the Doctor to almost swap places with his patients was the chance for the patient to finding themselves.
Open Dialogue has been used successfully in Western Lapland, Finland for quite some time, allowing people to be treated at home, with little or no medication and the support of close friends and family, as the patient prefer.
We don’t seem to know the actual efficacy, nor there is enough evidence, being not broadly available outside of Finland. What is certain is that talking might be of help more than being focefully


Changing lifestyle/habits are the essential steps to get us out of any rattrap.From loosing weight, follow healthier eating diets, practicing regular physical activity, habit changes may surely require some very difficult work, understand ourselves better, seek for useful help, etc. Takes lots of motivation but we can do it!