The Search Engine Efficiency Explosion

Talk about super-charging your web-surfing powers! Here’s the latest technology for you: instant web search results.

Image representing Google as depicted in Crunc...

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What does that mean? It’s simple. Get on Google, specifically, and you might notice something pretty nifty — when you type in something in the search engine box, the browser automatically pulls in your results without hitting ‘enter.’ That’s what ‘instant web search results’ mean.

Before, you type in whatever you want, and then you have to hit ‘enter’ or ‘search’ or something like that. Then you wait for it to load up. Surfing on the internet has just gotten a bit more efficient with some quick thinking from the browser and engine. You can type anything you want, and it immediately pulls in information for you. Not too shabby, right?

This is just another example of the Search Engine Efficiency Explosion. It’s getting easier and easier to find the content you need online. All it took was one click. Now you don’t even need to ‘click.’ Just simply ‘type.’

Who knows what’ll come next — maybe installed receptors in your brain linked through Bluetooth technology to immediately command a search engine to look up information. That simply means you can think something, and your computer will pull it for you! That would be pretty cool….

In this day and age when technology has become so darn science fiction, it’s definitely possible. Who knows. For now, though, we can stand to live with the super-fast feel of the Google instant web search. That’s power in your fingertips.

Filed Under: Alternative Treatment, General Tagged With: , ,

A Study Looks at Echinacea as a Treatment for Colds and Flus

Many alternative medical treatments for the common cold include the use of echinacea. It is commonly believed that by consuming large amounts of ecinacea it will increase the body’s immune system and help fight off colds and flus. However, a recent study may show that no matter how much echinacea a person consume it will not help fight any common cold or flu.

A study found in the Annals of Internal Medicine revealed that echinacea may have no effect on the common cold or fly. The study that was published involved 719 patients who were all between the ages of 12 and 80. All of the study participants showed early signs of having the cold or flu. The study involved allowing one group to receive no medical treatment, another group was to receive an echinacea only treatment and the third group contained people who had echinacea or a placebo pill. Those that were given echinacea were given 10.2 grams the first day and 5.1 grams over the next four days. This is the equivalency of what is found in most echinacea cold remedies.

The results of the conducted study showed that those that received an echinacea based treatment only had a cold for seven to ten hours less than those that did not receive any echinacea treatment.

The results of the study showed that while echinacea may not prevent colds it can shorten the lifespan of a cold or flu by a few hours. Since the study showed the echinacea to be neither effective or ineffective many alternative medicine providers are still recommending it to their patients.

Filed Under: Alternative Treatment, Cure Tagged With: , ,

Alternative Medicine News: Guggul Could Prevent Prostrate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a concern amongst many male patients. While there has been no known cure for cancer there are many natural supplements that have claimed to be a natural defense against certain types of cancer. The most recent study that has been conducted in regards to cancer and natural supplements is that of guggul and prostrate cancer.

Guggul is a known herbal remedy that comes from the mukul myrrh tree. The herbal supplement guggul has long been used in traditional Indian medicine. It was only recently that modern medicine has really started to look at what guggul can offer the modern medical world. The study that was performed looked at guggul as a way to prevent certain types of cancers.

The study involved introducing guggul to certain types of cancer cells. When the guggul was introduced to the human cancer cells for prostrate cancer it showed that the guggul prohibited the growth of the cancer cells. Scientists believed this happened because the guggul increased a chemical known as apoptosis. Apoptosis is term used for the death of certain cells that does not allow the cells to release the substances that cause cancer. It also is used when the cancer is present and prevents it from spreading to other surrounding cells.

While the study was not enough to allow researchers to call guggul a cancer cure, it was enough to promote other researchers and scientists to look into the benefits of adding guggul to those that might show early signs of prostrate cancers. In the next few years there will be much talk about what guggul can do for cancer.

Filed Under: Alternative Treatment, Health Tagged With: , ,

A Warning For Parents Who Combine Alternative and Conventional Medicine to Treat Asthma

When it comes to treating asthma in their children, parents are starting to turn to alternative medicine at alarming rates. In a recent study of over 2,000 families with children who have asthma it showed that over 15% of the families used some type of alternative treatment for asthma. Of those 15%, 5% of those people also used conventional medicine along with the alternative medicine treatments for asthma. These results have raised some concerns in the medical community.

A number of recent research studies have shown that those that use alternative medicine to treat asthma may be preventing themselves from being able to use conventional medicine. Many alternative medicine treatments such as supplements and herbal remedies actually can cause a medical reaction within the body. This reaction will cause the conventional medicine to not work or could provide harmful side effects.

Not only was there a risk for harmful drug interactions the study also showed that those who combined conventional treatments like inhalers with herbal or supplement treatments were twice as likely to not have control over their asthma as they grew older. It is believed that the combination of the two treatments could cause some instability in the body that causes the child to have no control over their asthma.

With these findings it has caused many conventional and alternative medical practitioners to warn parents about the potential side effects of using alternative medicine and conventional medicine to treat asthma. Many alternative medical practitioners are recommending that parents who wish to treat asthma through an alternative medical approach, try alternative forms that are less dangerous such as acupuncture or chiropractic procedures. These procedures when done correctly posed less of a risk to children with asthma than supplements and herbal medicine. These treatments also allowed the child to obtain some type of control over their asthma symptoms.

Filed Under: Alternative Treatment, Health Tagged With: , ,

How to Check That Your Supplements are Safe

Many people use supplements as a way to add to their daily health routine. Supplements can help a person receive the proper amount of vitamins and nutrients that they are not receiving naturally. Supplements can also help boost immune systems and help prevent diseases and illnesses. However, not all supplements out there are safe. Since there is no regulatory body that oversees supplements almost anyone can sell a pill and claim it can help you prevent certain illnesses. This is why it is important to make sure that the supplements you are taking are safe to consume. Here is a look at some factors you should consider before taking a supplement.

Research. It is important that you do your own research when it comes to supplements. Just because the manufacturer claims the supplement will cure all does not make it true. Try to look for alternative medicine or conventional medical journals where experts in the field study the results of the supplement.

Certified Products. While there is no regulatory body for supplements there are certain companies that will certify specific supplements to make sure that they fit certain quality standards. Try to find products that contain a certification mark from the United States Pharmacopei, NSF International or United States Products Alliance. Any product that contains these certifications have a specific quality and are safe to consume.

Check Drug Interactions. Many supplements can interact with prescription drugs that you are taking. If you are going to take a supplement make sure that you check if it will interact with your prescription drugs before taking it. While some interactions can be harmless, other interactions can be serious and result in loss of consciousness. Your doctor or alternative medicine provider can help you determine if the supplements you are taking can interact with your prescription drugs.

Filed Under: Alternative Treatment, Natural Medicine Tagged With: , ,

A Look at the Statistics of Alternative Medicine

Recently a survey was conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, The Center for Disease Control and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. This survey included adults who were 18 years of age or older. Within the survey they asked about how often these people engaged in alternative medical practices, what practices they engaged in and other questions regarding alternative medicine.

Here is a look at some of the results that the survey showed.

Of the large amount of participants in the survey over 75% of the survey takers have used some form of complementary or alternative medicine in their lifetime. Of the 75% of those people 63% used the alternative form within the past year.

When survey takers were instructed to leave out prayer as a form of alternative medicine the numbers fell dramatically. The figures fell from 75% to 50% used it in their lifetime, with 36% having used a form within the past year.

46% of the survey takers believed that prayer was a form of alternative medicine and engaged in it regularly to help heal their physical pain.

Of the survey takers 55% of the survey takers used alternative medicine with conventional medicine that was prescribed by a health care provider.

Only 15% of the survey takers went to a licensed health care provider for their alternative medicine needs. This is a significant number because it shows that many people who use alternative medicine will do so on their own and not through the care of a trained professional.

All of the survey takers believed that they used alternative medicine to deal with some type of physical pain that was reoccurring.

The most common form of alternative medicine in the United States included prayer, herbalism, breathing meditation, yoga, meditations, chiropractors and acupuncture.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Treatment Tagged With: , , ,

Types of Acupuncture Treatment

The traditional form of acupuncture uses a dozen needles that are placed in precise points throughout the body. It is believed that these needles help start the flow of the qi in the body and allows the body to fight against disease or pain. While the traditional form of acupuncture uses needles there are actually a half dozen different type of acupuncture treatments that can be done on a patient. Here is a look at the various types of acupuncture treatments that are available to acupuncture patients.

Moxibustion. Moxibustion is a form of acupuncture. It involves the acupuncturist taking the acupuncture needles and heating them up. The heating process is done with dried herb sticks that are used to heat the tips and points of the acupuncture needles. The needles are then placed at the various points in the patients body to help restore the flow of life energy of the patient.

Cupping. Cupping is derived from acupuncture. It does not involve the use of needles but it does use the qi and flow of energy. During a treatment that uses cupping small glass cups are placed on the body. These glass cups have a suction quality to them. It is believed that the suction quality will spark a qi that has become stagnant or to help circulate the blood. Cupping is commonly used for sports injuries.

Electrostimulation. Electrosimulation uses the same type of treatments as traditional acupuncture therapy does. However, when the acupuncture needles are placed on the various parts of the body there is an electrical current that is placed into the needles. It is believed that this electrical current can stimulate the flow of qi or life energy.

Laser Acupuncture. Laser acupuncture has been come increasing popular. It involves the same principles as traditional acupuncture but instead of using acupuncture needles there is a non-needle energy stimulation that works like a needle. This is ideal for those that are uncomfortable with the idea of placing needles into their body.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Treatment Tagged With: ,

Seek Asian Medicine in Canada

These days, Canada is a hub for Asian holistic and alternative medicine practices, as the Asian population in Canada is booming. In fact, Chinese Canadians – that is to say Canadian residents of Chinese descent – make up the second-biggest minority group in the country. With this large Asian population, comes the benefit of alternative medicine and the thousands of years of history behind alternative medicine practices. Therefore, those who seek good health and well-being no longer have to travel thousands of miles to receive the benefits of alternative medicine. Some of the most beneficial alternative medicine practices are the use of herbal medicine, acupuncture, and yoga, to name just a few.

Herbal medicines are concocted from plants or extracts from plants and are usually made from sources like roots, leaves, flowers, berries, and tree bark. These ingredients can be used to make tea, essential oils, ointments, and tablets to cure or prevent a broad spectrum of ailments.

Basically, acupuncture is a healing technique in which the acupuncturist inserts small needles into certain points on the body to aid better health and increase well-being. In the tradition of Chinese acupuncture, there is a belief that the body is made up of meridians through which qi (the life force of the body) flows to all parts of the body. Acupuncture practitioners place needles on specific locations along said meridians to help balance the qi flow.

Meanwhile, yoga is an age-old practice that began in India more than 5,000 years ago. “Yoga” comes from a Sanskrit root word that means “to unite.” Those who practice yoga aim to unite body, mind, and spirit through breathing, meditation, and exercise. Furthermore, yoga practitioners see yoga as a vehicle in which individual consciousness is united with universal or cosmic consciousness. Canada 411 is a great online resource to help you find the holistic and alternative medicine center that will best suit your needs.

Filed Under: Alternative Treatment, Natural Medicine Tagged With: , , , ,

What Happens During Acupuncture Treatments

To the outsider acupuncture can appear a bit odd. There are hundreds of needles being placed into the body and it can often appear as if there is no rhyme or reason for the needles being placed where they are. However, that is not the case at all. If you are considering trying acupuncture as a form of alternative medical treatment then here is a look at what you can expect to happen during your acupuncture therapy treatments.

Before you have your initial acupuncture therapy treatment you will have a pre-treatment interview with the acupuncturist. This will allow you to go over with the acupuncturist any previous health conditions and concerns you might have. The acupuncturist will also do a complete exam and check your qi, or life energy as well as observe any physical signs of illness or disease you might have.

After the pre-treatment interview the next visit to the acupuncturist’s office will be for the actual treatment. During the actual treatment the acupuncturist will use somewhere between six and twelve needles. The needles will be placed at exact points throughout the body. These points have been determined to be where your body’s life energy is lacking and needs to be reawakened. There is a common misconception that the number of needles that are used during treatment equals how intense the treatment is. That is not the case. The placement of the needles determines the intensity of the treatment, not the needles.

Many people believe that acupuncture treatments are painful because they see the needles and assume there is pain involved. However, acupuncture treatments come with little to no pain at all. In fact, many people who undergo acupuncture therapy treatment describe the treatment procedures as relaxing and calming. While there might be an occasional sting or prick feeling when the needle is inserted, there should be no pain, numbness or discomfort when experiencing an acupuncture treatment. If there is any pain, numbness or discomfort you should notify your acupuncturists immediately or seek another acupuncturist.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Treatment Tagged With: , , ,

The Pre-Examination Visit to the Acupuncturist

A visit to the acupuncturist isn’t like a traditional visit to the doctor’s office. Due to the alternative medicine aspect of acupuncture you will likely experience a few things that seem out of the ordinary. Here is a look at what to expect when you head to an acupuncturist’s office and set up an appointment.

The first thing that will happen when you are heading to an acupuncture medical visit is that pre-screening visit. This is a visit with the acupuncturist where you will complete an extensive health history questionnaire. These questions can range from your daily habits to previous medical conditions. After you have completed the questionnaire the acupuncturist will come in to interview you directly. They will likely ask questions regarding your current state of health, lifestyle, sleeping cycle, diet, emotions and other concerns you may have. The acupuncturist will also examine you from head to toe. They will note your skin and eye color as well as other physical conditions you might be showing such as discolored tongue and hair color.

During the pre-examination stage the acupuncturist will examine three pressure points on each wrist. It is believed that these pressure points can tell the acupuncturist everything that they need to know about your median zones and where the flow of the qi might be off. The flow of qi, or life energy, is what acupuncture is based off of. It is believed that when the flow of qi is off it is what causes diseases and pain. In order to determine what course of acupuncture treatment you will benefit from an acupuncturist must determine where the qi is off and how to balance out the flow of the qi in your body.

After the pre-examination the acupuncturist will give you a diagnosis and go over treatment with you. Generally the treatment does not begin at the pre-examination visit. However, some acupuncturists might be able to perform the first procedure that day.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Treatment Tagged With: , , , ,
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