Alternative Medicine Featured Article

The Different Alternative Types Of Medicine

There are many alternative types of medicine these days.In this article I will briefly discuss a number of them. The use of a medicine alternative for those drugs that you take on a regular basis is something you should consider. Alternative medicines are fast becoming the gold standard in health care for those who are disenchanted with the results – or lack thereof– that conventional medicine has produced for them.

Most women would probably prefer to have the hot flushes of menopause than to experience any of these reactions on a regular basis. But, you don’t have to put up with either one when you use alternative medicine! By using a mixture of dong quai and black cohosh extract you will quickly and safely deal with all symptoms related to the change of life. Herbs have been used throughout history and today herbal medicine is growing even more in popularity.

Acupuncture today is much like it used to be. It still involves the use of very thin needles placed into the skin’s layers for relief from many types of pain. It is important to note that acupuncture is not often used alone, but as a complimentary treatment alongside other alternative medications and treatments.

Aromatherapy oils can be used in various different ways and it is just personal choice as to how they are used individually. Essential oils can bring peace, a sense of enlightenment and helps to purify mind and body quickly and naturally and heightens the sensation of connection with our higher selves.

Iridology itself is the study if the iris and how it relates to different parts of the body. It is used as a screening procedure for a host of potential problems. By linking issues with the eyes to particular body parts, practitioners of this science can help patients find problems before they present and they can even help prevent them.

Meditation has been around for many years. It is widely used today as a means to relieve stress and tension. Although many people think they are so busy they don’t have one minute for them to just think a single thought. However, it’s been proven that even ten to fifteen minutes of solid meditation can greatly relieve tension, irritability and stress, thus giving us more time because we are feeling more relaxed and less rushed.

Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key) is a Japanese kanji for universal life-force energy and is a holistic, light-touch, energy-based modality. It is known to be simple and yet able to produce measurable results. Reiki – the flow of energy through the body – re-establishes a normal flow of ki, which is your life-force energy. It is delivered through a series of hand positions either directly on or just above the body just inside the energy field. The practitioner channels (through their hands) a flow of energy into your body. Your body then takes the energy it needs.

Yoga is one of the oldest systems of self-development and its gentle approach can help even the most inflexible of bodies to gently yield and limber up. Benefits include a feeling of walking tall, improved posture, clarity of mind and increased confidence. The beauty of yoga is that it can be practice anywhere, at home, in the office, at a class, at the beach or even in the garden although some curious glances may be experienced.

Rolfing massage is a technique devised by Dr. Ida Rolf, in the 1950s. Her technique has evolved over the years to improve the structure and function of the connective tissue of the body. This procedure manipulates the connective tissue that connects muscles to the skeletal attachments. Rolfing massage is implemented to create balance everywhere in the body in relation to their center of gravity.

These are just a few of the alternative medicines and treatments available today. The following types of alternative medicines are also discussed in more detail on this site:

Reiki. Art therapy. Homeopathy. Light therapy. Reflexoligy. Natural healing.

Just follow the links to the various pages.

Don’t forget to download your free report about the benefits of music therapy

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September 22, 2007

Alternative Medicine -A Few Examples

Tip! With increasing research and new findings in medicine there is a universal rise in the Western nations of alternative medicine. In the Eastern part of the world, namely the Orient, some forms of alternative medicine has been practiced for many centuries.

Alternative medicines are considered to be new age products. Ancient oriental traditional medicine blended with rudiments of the scholastic medicine of our western world seem to have proven it’s own right. Just look how many people are searching for these alternative treatment methods. We’re going to take a look at a few of them here.

Acupuncture

The use of acupuncture dates back more than 2,000 years. This is a traditional medicine used in Japan, China, and other Eastern countries. The use of acupuncture is beneficial in that it stimulates areas of the body that have a direct correlation to internal organs. By placing fine needles into specific points, the body is encouraged to promote natural healing, improve function, and provide an overall boost to your system. When these needles are inserted, they go into Meridians, which are channels, somewhat like streams within the body. Just as there might be a boulder sitting in a stream blocking the flow of water, it can be the same for the channels of blood in your system. Acupuncture helps to remove these obstacles by providing stimulation, thus improving health.

Tip! There is really no one ultimate definition of alternative medicine. There are so many various methods and treatments that have been and continue to be investigated and promoted that it is hard to firmly define it.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback is a method used to help blood pressure, muscle tension, heart rate, brain activity, and other bodily functions. Basically, biofeedback is a painless system that is hooked up to your body and then through electrical signals received from tightening of your muscles, you would be able to receive those signals by a light telling you that you are tightening your muscles. This in turn trains you to be aware of when you are bringing on stress and to help you identify when you need to relax your body. Biofeedback is very successful and can be used for migraine headaches, chronic pain, high blood pressure, epilepsy, and much more, which can occur when you tense up.

Tip! Osteopathy: Was originally a form of alternative medicine based on manipulation of the joints. It is still used for chronic back pain.

Therapeutic Massage

You might be thinking, “what does getting a massage do for my health other than to make me feel good?” Actually, therapeutic massage has many benefits. For example, it can help alleviate pain, reduce stress, and promote good health. When a person gets a therapeutic massage, they are actually getting the benefit of function improvement with circulatory, muscular, skeletal, nervous systems, lymphatic, and can even help the body heal after an illness or injury. Depending on what the specific health issue is, there is a Swedish Massage, which is a more relaxing massage good for headaches, back stress, and muscle cramps, Pressure Point Therapy, helpful for some injuries as well as circulation problems, headache and muscle tension, insomnia, anxiety, and more.

Finally, Sports Massage focuses on muscle groups used for different sports. Licensed masseuse can help with the issues mentioned as well as allergies, arthritis, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, digestive disorders, myofascial pain, limited range of motion, sinusitis, and TMJ. The next time you tell someone you are going to get a massage, you can simply explain that it is for the benefit of your health.

Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet publisher. He runs the
website 1st-Self_Improvement.net
Terje is a Sociologist who enjoys contributing to the personal growth and happiness of others. He tries to accomplish this by writing about self help issues from his own experience and knowledge. For example, providing self help products and products for achieving financial independence.

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August 15, 2007

Alternative Medicine Using Herbal Remedies

Tip! The principle of holistic alternative medicine is that a pathogen, a virus or bacteria, for instance, is not the cause of illness, but rather that illness is the consequence of the body’s reaction to the pathogen. Naturopathic and holistic alternative medicine practitioners threat their patients with methods that alleviate the symptoms of the disease.

Alternative Medicine (also known as “complementary medicine” because people often use it alongside traditional Western medicine) is becoming more and more popular, as people have begun rejecting the idea that they need to take particular drugs or medications for the rest of their lives (particularly synthetic ones). Instead, the focus has turned to ancient remedies and those which have been passed from generation to generation.

One form of alternative medicine which is increasing in popularity involves the use of herbal remedies. As herbs are “natural” products, many people are more comfortable taking a herbal mixture rather than something prescribed by their doctor that comes in shiny white (and obviously synthetic) pills. Unfortunately, too many people have the idea that “natural” equals “safe” although we should all know better! Marijuana is natural; is it safe? Tobacco is natural; is it safe? In fact, most of the deadliest poisons known today come from nature!

Tip! Osteopathy: Was originally a form of alternative medicine based on manipulation of the joints. It is still used for chronic back pain.

Should this put you off using herbal remedies? No. But it should make you a little bit more wary about what you’re putting into your system. Fortunately, most herbal products that you can purchase from your pharmacy or health food store have been designed to comply with current regulations. Nevertheless, it’s important to be aware that some herbal products can have side effects (and shouldn’t be taken by people with particular conditions as a result) and some can be toxic in large quantities. Just because something is herbal doesn’t mean it isn’t “chemical” (all herbs are composed of different chemical constituents, some of which have been used and modified to create many of the medicines we’re prescribed by our doctors).

Before choosing a herbal remedy over your prescribed medication, it’s important to do your research, and it’s also a good idea to visit an alternative practitioner who has expertise in the area of herbal medicine. Most medicinal herbs have been studied extensively by scientists in recent years, so it’s often not difficult to find out whether or not a particular herb has been shown to be efficacious for a particular condition, or whether or not a particular herb has any detrimental or toxic side effects. It’s also very important to see your doctor if you plan to take any herbal medication if you’re already on prescription medication, as combining the two can sometimes be deadly.

Alternative medicine can be just as effective (sometimes even more so) than traditional medicine, but it’s still important to be aware that all medicines (whether synthetically or naturally derived) contain chemical compounds which possess certain physiological effects. The wrong amount of these chemicals, or the wrong combinations of these chemicals, can spell disaster. Always visit a qualified health practitioner (whether traditional or alternative) before taking any medication (especially if you’re already taking particular drugs), and remember to do your research.

Tip! A great deal of alternative medicine treatments come from ancient medicinal knowledge and insight. Many different types of remedies used by different cultures through the years, including the use of needles for pain relief, herbs for medicinal treatments, or even massage therapy, are considered a form of medicine by the respective users because they work to some degree.

Fiona Shearer-Hann has been interested in herbal remedies and alternative medicine for many years. She currently owns the website The Herbal Healing Guide and enjoys learning as much about herbs and other alternative medicines as she can.

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