Herbal Treatments ? Do Not Presume A Natural Approach Is Always Safe

June 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Herbs: basil, scallion

Image via Wikipedia

Supporters of herbal treatment point out that filling the body with medications and chemicals is never a good thing. However, this does not mean that herbal treatments will always be effective. Using natural herbs and mixing them together in the right proportions can provide relief that antibiotics may fail to provide. However, use of chemicals and controlled regulation of the pharmaceutical industry means that one can of pop a pill without any worries of complications.

On the other hand, herbs are natural substances and will decay over a time. It is not possible to assess the allergic reactions of specific herbs for specific individuals. Dosage is also important. Over dose of antibiotics is always going to cause problems. Excessive dosage of herbal treatments may not lead to complications immediately. However, it is not recommended either.

A lot depends on the skills of the individual offering herbal treatment. From the source of the herbs to the manner in which the medications are prepared-everything matters a lot. Finally, proper analysis of the symptoms and diagnosis of the illness is important. A trial and error approach with the body is never a safe move.

There is also a possibility that the herbal treatments may interfere with the existing medications and chemical treatment. The best option is to opt for one before trying the other. Seeking conventional medical treatment and herbal treatment simultaneously can be very dangerous.

It is important to log on to the internet and know more about the various herbal treatments before proceeding. No treatment, no matter how good it is, can provide immediate and magical relief. Such treatments are dangerous and are best avoided.

 

 

Filed Under: Herbal product, Natural Medicine Tagged With: , ,

The Surprising Benefits of Acupuncture

May 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

To most people the very idea of acupuncture is daunting to say the least. Having needles stuck in multiple locations on your skin seems more like a horror film than a reasonable therapy. Doubters should be encouraged to look past the initial impression and see what types of treatments you can pursue with acupuncture.

Acupuncture is being used to treat a variety of ailments with the growing popularity of alternative medicine. New doctors and acupuncture therapists are using age-old techniques to solve modern problems. Acupuncture is useful for treating everything from allergies to menstrual pain and even problems like glaucoma. Acupuncture works with the meridians throughout the body that correspond with your organs and get rid of the toxic buildup that causes problems with your health.

While acupuncture is not to be used in place of more traditional medicine, it can be used to offset symptoms of serious disease and help ease pain. Proponents of acupuncture are quick to recommend these treatments because of the whole body benefits like relaxation and general wellbeing. Acupuncture is also beneficial because it lacks side effects like those you can suffer when taking prescription pills.

With all the advancements and availability of acupuncture it’s worth a look to see if this ancient therapy can help to ease your pain or offset unwanted symptoms. Information regarding acupuncture is widely available and you can talk to a therapist about your questions and concerns before embarking on treatment options. Success stories are numerous, so take a chance on acupuncture to help yourself feel better.

Filed Under: Natural Medicine Tagged With: , ,

Can Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake Determine Ones Risk for Age Related Macular Degeneration

March 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

There is a lot of talk lately about the rising amount of benefits that adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet can have. Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to reductions in cancer, losing weight, healthy hearts and even in helping reduce the effects of aging such as wrinkles and cellulite. However, omega-3 fatty acids have recently been linked to the ability to reduce a person’s chance of developing certain vision problems.

A study conducted by scientists and published in the Ophthalmology journal looked at the result that omega-3 fatty acids might have on people’s vision. This study involved 2,319 people who were between the ages of 65 and 85. It asked them about their normal intake of foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. This includes nuts, fish and shellfish.

The results of this study showed that of the patients that were surveyed 68 of them were less likely to eat foods that were high in omega-3 fatty acids. These 68 patients also had advanced signs of age related macular degeneration. The scientists that ran the study concluded that those that had a diet without omega-3 fatty acids were more likely to develop age related macular degeneration.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to reducing age related macular degeneration because they are a type of acid that is known to cause inflammation. It is also believed to reduce the amount of damage that is caused by free radicals. Both free radicals and inflammation are known causes of age related macular degeneration.

Filed Under: Health, Natural Medicine Tagged With: , ,

How to Check That Your Supplements are Safe

February 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

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: , ,

Seek Asian Medicine in Canada

February 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

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: , , , ,

Does Acupuncture Offer Benefits for Infertility?

January 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Dealing with infertility can be a stressful and emotionally draining experience for the parties struggling with it. There are multiple infertility treatments available to deal with infertility and many people have experienced success with them. However, some health care providers suggest using acupuncture to help deal with infertility.

Acupuncture generally is not used to manage infertility by itself but as a complementary therapy to other infertility therapies. Practitioners suggest that the acupuncture sessions help regulate the systems of the body and may normalize the blood flow to the reproductive organs and the hormonal systems. Others suggest that acupuncture may help calm and relax the woman as she undergoes the infertility treatments. Studies have shown that women who undergo acupuncture while undergoing in vitro fertilization procedures are more successful as achieving pregnancy and may have a lower risk of miscarriage. Acupuncture is not a guarantee for success but may improve your odds in some cases.

Some health care providers may also use Chinese herbs along with acupuncture in their treatment of infertility. These herbs may help increase levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, polycystic ovarian syndrome and repeated pregnancy loss. Chinese herbs and acupuncture may also assist men who are dealing with male infertility caused by sperm-DNA-fragmentation. If you are undergoing acupuncture and using Chinese herbs while undergoing infertility treatments, you need to let your physician know. Some of the herbs may interfere with some of the medications that your doctor gives you and may decrease the likelihood of success.

If you decide to incorporate acupuncture into your infertility therapies, you should look for a licensed acupuncturist and one who has specializes in infertility and treating pregnant women. Some physicians may be trained in administering acupuncture but others may have specific practitioners that they work with regularly. Insurance may cover the cost of acupuncture treatments as well.

Filed Under: Natural Medicine Tagged With:

Acupuncture and Weight Loss

January 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

With the start of the New Year, many people have made resolutions about losing weight. There are plenty of advertisements for weight loss programs and diet plans as well as expensive bariatric surgeries. One tool to assist in your weight loss quest that you may not have considered is acupuncture. This practice is thought to improve the flow of the body’s energy; disruption of this energy may contribute to weight problems and obesity.

The rationale for acupuncture in promoting weight loss involves the flow of energy to the hypothalamus which is the regulatory center of the brain. The hypothalamus helps the body maintain body temperature, thirst, circadian rhythms and hunger so regulating the energy flow to this part of the brain can improve its function. Acupuncture may also impact hormones that influence obesity like leptin. Leptin regulates metabolism and fat storage.

Acupuncture has not been fully proven to work alone in improving weight loss but it may work with other weight loss strategies by boosting metabolism, decreasing appetite, improving digestion and regulating obesity hormones. Acupuncture may also help relieve some anxiety and stress which can adversely affect your weight loss efforts. You still have to eat a healthy diet with modest food portions and regular exercise in order to get any benefit from the acupuncture.

As a rule, it is best to discuss any weight loss plans with your primary care physician beforehand to make sure there are no health restrictions. When incorporating acupuncture into your weight loss regimen, you should also look for a licensed practitioner to perform the procedure. You need to follow your acupuncturist’s recommendations about the number of therapy sessions; typically a complete treatment includes 10-12 sessions over several weeks.

Combining acupuncture with a healthy diet plan and exercise may allow you to rid yourself of those excess pounds.

Filed Under: Natural Medicine Tagged With:

Can Acupuncture Benefit Patients with Cancer?

January 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Acupuncture has been practiced in China and other nations for thousands of years and has been used in the United States for around 200 years.  The FDA approved the acupuncture needle as a medical device in 1996; acupuncture has been typically used to manage a variety of illnesses and ailments like headaches, back pain and high blood pressure. However, cancer patients and their health care providers are now incorporating acupuncture into their management of this disease.

In people with cancer, acupuncture can be used to manage pain and to treat nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. The acupuncture sessions generally are not used alone but in conjunction with other conventional therapies to manage these symptoms. The FDA has also approved this therapy in the treatment of cancer-related conditions. People need to be aware that acupuncture is not used to treat the cancer itself but only the symptoms associated with the cancer and its treatment.

Several prominent cancer centers in the country offer acupuncture such as the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America also offer acupuncture and many community cancer centers are finding ways to incorporate acupuncture into their cancer therapy regimens.

A cancer patient should not start acupuncture without speaking with the physicians in charge of their cancer treatment. It is also important to involve acupuncturists who have been trained or have experience in treating cancer patients because the acupoints for symptoms associated with cancer may be different than those associated with other conditions.  Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center offers a class on the Internet for certification in cancer care for practitioners who are interested in specializing.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Natural Medicine Tagged With: , , , ,

Green Tea

January 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Green Tea has been used all over the globe for centuries for its many health benefits and has increasingly become more popular in the US as physical health has reached a higher level of import. Tea has been used in TCM for centuries, originating in China over 4000 years ago. It has been used as a beverage and/or a method of medication in most of Asia. It is completely non-toxic and is safe to use during pregnancy or nursing. There are many varieties of green tea, depending on where they are grown and produced.
Green Tea has been proven to have a higher count of flavonoids than most fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids are a phytochemical that has antioxidative and anticarcinogenic functions. It is also high in other vitamins such as Vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, potassium, manganese and fluoride, which are important for a balance of health within the body.
As a slightly overlooked natural remedy, this article’s purpose is to list some of the many benefits of this amazing extract.
Drinking Green Tea or using the extract has been known to:
Decrease the growth of tumors, such as breast cancer.
Prevent cardiovascular diseases, arthritis and strokes.
Lower Glucose levels and blood pressure.
Help maintain good kidney health.
Have a fat burning effect.
Improve bone density.
Decrease the risk of dental cavities.
Protect brain cells from dying in cases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.
Eliminate indigestion.
Prevent fatigue.
Improve urinary function.
Among these health benefits, many scientific studies have been made to test its usefulness in the treatment or alleviation of cancer and the side effects produced by it. Conclusive evidence has yet to be made; however, the current results are promising. However, with the benefits listed, it certainly has enough of an advantage to be called a Superfood.

Filed Under: Natural Medicine Tagged With:

Meditation Keeps Mind, Body, Spirit in Sync

December 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Meditation On… To Follow The Light… !!! :)))
Image by Denis Collette…!!! via Flickr

An array of meditation techniques have been practiced throughout the world since ancient times. The practice and art of meditation began as mostly religious traditions as ways to synchronize the mind, body and spirit. These practices are recognized today for their benefits to total body wellness.

The effects of meditation on a person’s whole self – the mind, body and spirit – help provide a calming, healing balance. When someone meditates, he or she usually finds a peaceful, quiet place, assumes particular and comfortable bodily positioning and begins to focus his or her attention on something specific. The point of focus may be a number of different things, including but not limited to breathing, chanting or a specific material item.

Throughout the meditation process, the person remains calm, relaxed and open, allowing energy to flow freely and letting go of negativity and distractions. The meditator should remain non-judgmental while his or her free-flowing energy works to rejuvenate and synchronize the whole self.

The healing concept of meditation is that when someone practices these techniques to calm him or herself and become completely relaxed and peaceful, he or she is allowing the mind, body and spirit to be synchronized and rejuvenated. Meditation is used to maintain total body wellness, keeping balance and harmony among the physical, mental and spiritual levels of a person.

Meditation may provide many healing benefits for a person. It is believed practicing meditation techniques helps reduce stress or anxieties, relieve pain and curb bouts of depression for many people. Many people also believe meditation can help a person cope with physical or emotional problems because its healing rejuvenation encompasses mind, body and spirit. The idea is that when someone’s whole self is in sync, his or her mind, body and spirit work in harmony to repair or improve whatever may be wrong.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Acupuncture, Health, Natural Medicine
«Older Posts