10 Alternative Medicine Techniques for Improving Mental Health
Discover a world of innovative approaches to mental health improvement beyond traditional methods. This article explores ten alternative medicine techniques, from earthing to psychedelic-assisted therapy, offering fresh perspectives on managing psychological well-being. Drawing on insights from experts in the field, these unconventional practices promise to expand the toolkit for those seeking to enhance their mental health.
- Earthing: Reconnect with Nature's Healing Rhythms
- Mindful Coloring Calms Busy Minds
- TMS: Jumpstarting Dimmed Brain Areas
- Remedial Hypnosis Addresses Subconscious Responses
- Guided Breathwork Empowers Mental Health Management
- Aromatherapy Supports Emotional Regulation
- Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Disrupts Thought Loops
- Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Rebuilds Body-Mind Connection
- Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Opens Healing Layers
- Imaginal Exposure Therapy Builds Anxiety Management
Earthing: Reconnect with Nature's Healing Rhythms
One technique I've seen quietly shift mental health--especially for those dealing with persistent anxiety--is earthing, or grounding. It's simple: direct physical contact with the Earth, like walking barefoot on grass or sitting on the ground with no barrier in between. At first, it might seem too basic to be effective, but I've seen its impact over and over--both in my patients and in my own life.
I first came across earthing while exploring natural, non-pharmaceutical ways to regulate the nervous system. As someone who blends conventional psychiatry with ancient wisdom and future-forward technologies, I'm always searching for tools that help people get back in sync with their biology. And that's what earthing does. It reconnects us with the natural electrical rhythms of the Earth--rhythms we evolved alongside but have largely disconnected from in modern life.
The science behind it suggests that this physical connection helps the body reduce inflammation, lower stress hormone levels, and shift into a calmer, parasympathetic state. But more than that, it brings people back to something essential. Patients often describe feeling more settled, more present, more "in their body." One person put it perfectly: "It's like my mind finally stopped racing, and my body remembered how to breathe."
I believe this practice works so well because it helps people become aligned with their original design--the way our systems were meant to function before screens, shoes, and constant stimulation pulled us off course. Grounding brings people back into contact with the rhythms of nature and, in doing so, brings them back into rhythm with themselves.
For patients facing anxiety, sometimes the most powerful interventions aren't high-tech or complex--they're rooted in reconnection. And earthing is just that: a quiet, accessible way to realign the body, mind, and spirit with something steady, ancient, and healing.
Mindful Coloring Calms Busy Minds
I've found mindful coloring to be a surprisingly effective alternative technique. Many of my patients, especially those struggling with anxiety or intrusive thoughts, say it helps calm their busy minds.
They say that this simple, tactile activity helps ground them in the present moment without feeling overwhelming. One patient described it as "a way to quiet the noise without having to fight it." It doesn't fix everything, but it makes their brain quieter for a while.
You don't need to be good at art; just grab some colored pencils and a coloring book (or print free pages online). Try it for 5-10 minutes when you feel overwhelmed. Sometimes small things like this can make a big difference!
TMS: Jumpstarting Dimmed Brain Areas
TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) has been a game-changer. Imagine gently 'jumpstarting' the brain areas dimmed by depression—that's TMS. It's non-invasive, requires no sedation or side effects from medication, and patients stay fully awake during sessions. I've had patients tell me they finally feel like themselves again—reconnecting with family, returning to work, and even rediscovering hobbies they'd abandoned. Over 75% of the patients we have treated see significant improvement, and many achieve full remission. TMS is FDA-approved and has revolutionized care for those who thought they'd exhausted their options.
Remedial Hypnosis Addresses Subconscious Responses
The alternative approach that has been particularly effective in improving mental health for my clients is remedial hypnosis.
Unlike traditional hypnotherapy, remedial hypnosis is a conscious, talking therapy that communicates directly with the subconscious mind -- without inducing a trance. It's especially helpful for clients dealing with anxiety, trauma, emotional eating, and intrusive thought patterns, because we're not just talking about the issue -- we're addressing the underlying subconscious responses driving it. It has a very wide application, from pain management to addictions, phobias to Tourette's.
Many of my clients come to me after trying CBT, talk therapy, or traditional hypnotherapy with limited success. What they often say after remedial hypnosis is, "It just feels like the fear, the trauma or the compulsion is gone." Not suppressed or lessened -- gone.
Because the subconscious mind wants us to be safe and happy, once we update the outdated beliefs or emotional associations it's working from, lasting change often follows in just a few sessions.
Guided Breathwork Empowers Mental Health Management
One alternative technique I've seen work incredibly well for mental health is **guided breathwork**--specifically, practices like conscious connected breathing or box breathing. I've introduced it to clients who were dealing with anxiety, burnout, and even PTSD symptoms, and the shift has been amazing to witness.
I remember one client who came in constantly on edge, overwhelmed by racing thoughts. We started with just 5 minutes of slow, structured breathwork at the beginning of each session. Within a few weeks, she reported sleeping better, fewer panic episodes, and even felt more in control during stressful moments at work. She eventually made it part of her daily routine.
I think breathwork works because it's simple, accessible, and it reconnects you to your body. It pulls you out of that spinning mind space and into the present. I've seen people go from feeling stuck to feeling empowered--and all through something they can do on their own, anytime, anywhere.
Please let me know if you will feature my submission because I would love to read the final article.
I hope this was useful and thank you for the opportunity.
Aromatherapy Supports Emotional Regulation
As a counseling psychologist with two decades of clinical experience, I have observed the adjunctive benefits of aromatherapy in supporting emotional regulation, stress reduction, and mental well-being. Research indicates that certain essential oils, such as lavender, which has demonstrated anxiolytic effects comparable to mild sedatives (Koulivand et al., 2013), and bergamot, shown to reduce cortisol levels and improve mood (Hongratanaworakit, 2016), can modulate the limbic system via olfactory pathways, promoting relaxation and alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression.
For acute anxiety episodes, I recommend using lavender through direct inhalation via a personal inhaler (2-3 deep breaths of a 15% dilution) or diffusion (5-7 drops in water for 30-minute intervals). By using diaphragmatic breathing (breathing in lavender for four counts, holding it for seven counts, and breathing out for eight counts), I've noticed combined effects that improve relaxation and help activate the body's calming system.
Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Disrupts Thought Loops
Hi,
I'm Dr. Sam Zand, a psychiatrist and founder of Anywhere Clinic, where we combine traditional mental health care with innovative, evidence-based approaches like psychedelic medicine. I appreciate your interest in alternative modalities--this is an area where we're seeing profound impact.
One technique that has been especially effective is ketamine-assisted therapy, used in a structured, therapeutic setting. For patients struggling with depression, PTSD, or treatment-resistant anxiety, ketamine helps disrupt rigid thought loops and creates space for new neural pathways to form. When integrated with talk therapy, it can accelerate breakthroughs and deepen self-awareness in ways many traditional treatments haven't. I'd be happy to share more if this fits your story.
Warmly,
Dr. Sam Zand
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Rebuilds Body-Mind Connection
Until they are integrated into the narrative of one's life, traumatic experiences create fragmented memories that often lead to a disconnect between mind, body, and emotions.
In my practice, I've found trauma-sensitive yoga to be a profoundly effective way for clients to reconnect with their bodies in healthy, meaningful ways.
Unlike much modern yoga, trauma-sensitive yoga isn't focused on stretching or strengthening. It's designed to help individuals become aware of physical sensations and rebuild a sense of choice and agency through gentle, invitational movements.
Many trauma survivors feel numb or disconnected from certain areas of their bodies—sometimes even afraid of what they can or can't feel. With patient, compassionate guidance, they begin to safely notice what's happening within, often for the first time.
This new awareness can stir emotions and occasionally bring forgotten memories to the surface. While these responses are best processed with a counselor, the practice itself often brings a sense of relief, grounding, and healing.
Because invitational language is used throughout, participants are never told what to do—only gently offered options. This empowers them to make their own choices, a vital part of restoring the agency that trauma may have taken from them.
Surprisingly, this practice is also beneficial for individuals without a trauma background. It calms the nervous system, supports emotional regulation, and fosters present-moment awareness through mindful movement and breath.
In my faith-based groups, I weave together gentle movement with soothing music, nature sounds, Scripture, and prayer to create a peaceful, immersive experience.
Whether for trauma recovery or simple soul care, trauma-sensitive yoga has become a deeply healing part of the work I do.
It's a practice that invites people back home to themselves—body, mind, and spirit.
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Opens Healing Layers
Hi Alternative Medicine.io,
I appreciate the thoughtful question. Here's my take on it:
"One approach I've seen really change lives is psychedelic-assisted therapy. It's not a magic fix, and it's definitely not for everyone--but when it's done with intention, in a supportive setting, it can open up layers of healing that talk therapy alone doesn't always reach. At SPAN, we focus on the safety side of things--making sure people and communities have access to grounded, unbiased information. I've worked with people who came out of these experiences with a sense of clarity or self-compassion they hadn't felt in years. The key is preparation, support, and integration--and knowing how to navigate it with care."
And here's my bio if you'd like to include it:
As the co-founder and COO of SPAN Base--a nonprofit dedicated to psychedelic safety, crisis response training, and public education--I bring a unique perspective at the intersection of mental health, public safety, and psychedelic care. Our mission is to empower communities, first responders, and individuals with the tools and training they need to navigate altered states with compassion and harm reduction at the forefront.
With a background in psychology, crisis response, and instructional design, I offer insights grounded in research and real-world application. More about our work can be found here: www.spanbase.org.
Dr. Breanna Reeser, DBH
Co-Founder & COO, SPAN Base
www.spanbase.org
Imaginal Exposure Therapy Builds Anxiety Management
One technique that is highly effective for my therapy clients when dealing with anxiety is imaginal exposure therapy. I have clients think of something anxiety-provoking in a safe, confidential space (e.g., the therapy room), and imagine what they would do, how they would feel in that situation, and discuss the feared predictions they have. While doing this, clients become activated, walk through their responses to the fear, and challenge the accuracy of their thoughts slowly and gradually. As a result, practicing imaginal exposure therapy helps clients build confidence in managing their anxiety by developing more helpful thoughts and coping skills.
