complementary medicine

I remember when I first discovered aromatherapy several years ago. I was fascinated by essential oils and excited to try using them. Looking back
I realize I should have done a bit more research before diving into aromatherapy. I offer you the advice I wish I’d had when I was an aromatherapy novice:

1. Buy One or Two Aromatherapy Books
Choose just one or two books to start your aromatherapy library. Select books that are general resources
which will give you some basic information and help you discover the areas in which you have the most interest. Two of my favorites Are Colleen K Dodt’s The Essential Oils Book
and Joy Bowles’ The A-to-Z of Essential Oils.

2. Join Aromatherapy Discussion Forums
Forums are great resources for aromatherapy newbies. Read past discussions
ask questions
and learn from others. The Yahoo Group Aromatherapy for Everyone is a friendly place for beginners
and members range from novices to experts.

3. Do Some Research on the Internet
While it’s nice to have an aromatherapy book or two at your fingertips
there are some excellent resources on the internet
too. Be a critical reader
though
and consider your source. Information offered by a manufacturer or affiliate seller may not be as trustworthy as information offered by a more objective source. Aromatherapy websites I refer to over and over include AromaWeb and Wavelengths Natural Health Aromatherapy.

4. Choose Five or Ten Essential Oils to Start
Though you may be tempted to buy more
try to begin with just five or ten different essential oils. Essential oils can be quite expensive
so you may want to experiment with a few at first and then invest in more if you decide to pursue aromatherapy further.

5. Make Sure to Buy 100%
Pure
Unadulterated Essential Oils
When you buy essential oils
choose a well-known and reputable manufacturer. Synthetic
fragrance
and perfume oils are not essential oils – they contain man-made chemicals and have no aromatherapeutic value.

6. Buy at Least One Carrier Oil
For nearly all topical aromatherapy applications
you will need to dilute essential oils into a carrier oil. Good all-purpose carrier oils include sweet almond oil
sunflower oil
and grapeseed oil. Buy cosmetic grade carrier oils
and use only a few drops of essential oil(s) per ounce of carrier oil.

7. Store Your Oils Properly
Essential oils should be stored only in dark glass containers. Since essential oils are volatile
keep the lids tightly closed. Essential oils and carrier oils should be stored away from heat and light. Carrier oils will go rancid eventually
so it’s best to buy smaller quantities.

8. Learn How to Do a Patch Test
Essential oils can cause adverse reactions
due to allergy or due to sensitization over time. A patch test helps to determine whether you might react to a particular essential oil. Learn how to perform a skin patch test on yourself with each new oil you want to use topically.

9. Don’t Use Aromatherapy with Children or Pets
Until you are thoroughly familiar with essential oils and associated safety issues
don’t use them on children or pets
or while pregnant or breastfeeding. Cats
in particular
may be adversely affected by essential oils. Make sure essential oils are kept out of reach of children.

10. Don’t Ingest Essential Oils
Though you will read conflicting information about taking essential oils internally
you should avoid doing this. Some essential oils that are fairly safe to use topically may be quite toxic if taken internally. In addition
some essential oils may interact with prescription or over the counter drugs.

As you experiment with and learn more about aromatherapy
you will become more confident using essential oils. There is so much to explore
so be safe and have fun!

A growing number of people have become interested in alternative medicine to treat illnesses. Alternative medicine as a practice has created a significant amount of controversy both inside and outside the traditional medical field. Alternative medicine refers to a treatment or substance that is unproven under the application or accepted scientific standards. The most common types of alternative medicine include herbs
supplements
therapies and activities that are outside traditional medical practice. Some of these raise questions about their safety and effectiveness.

Acupuncture
massage
meditation
herbal tea
and plant extracts are popular among devotees of alternative medicine
but many traditional doctors believe these treatments are ineffective or even dangerous. Alternative medicine has become increasingly popular as more people face the aches
pains
and illnesses that accompany aging. In some cases
individuals have not obtained a cure with traditional medical approaches and turn to other options to treat their illness. In still other cases
people feel very strongly that natural methods of treatment are better than traditional medicine
so they look for answers from alternative practitioners instead of the family doctor.

There are risks associated with alternative medicine. Some of the risks arise through the use of untested
ineffective
and even unsafe substances. The manufacturers of these substances sometimes exaggerate the claims of their effectiveness. They may misrepresent the science related to the material to convince consumers to buy the product
even if its use can endanger a person’s health.

Some herbal remedies are advertised as being able to improve memory
raise metabolism
or cure cancer and heart disease. In reality
the remedies may cause harm if taken at high doses. Another risk is that someone with a serious disease like cancer will not receive traditional and proven treatments
preferring to use alternative methods that may not be effective. In these cases
people are risking their lives. Sometimes
patients may be using alternative treatments
but not telling their doctors about them. This can lead to dangerous drug interactions. If a traditional doctor is unaware of the substance a patient is taking
medications that produce harmful interactions may be unknowingly prescribed.

It is possible to recognize potentially risky alternative treatment. If a treatment sounds too good to be true
it probably is. While this is a clich้
it is often very true in situations involving alternative medicines. Be careful of products labeled ‘miraculous’ or ‘ancient remedy.’ If you are thinking about treatments such as acupuncture or reflexology
check the qualifications of the practitioner before being treated. Ask about the training received
and research the treatment to determine if it has been scientifically tested and found to be effective.

It’s a good idea to ask your doctor about an alternative treatment you are considering. Trained medical professionals have the experience and education to help you make safe decisions about your health.

Home remedies and homeopathic medicine have begun popular over the years as an alternative to prescription drugs. Many people are not aware that there are also home remedies available to lower your blood pressure. What is nice about a home remedy is the lower cost and eliminating the unfavorable side effects of prescribed medicines. Another advantage of home remedies is that while it may be used to alleviate one symptom
it often has other health benefits. Many home remedies can be found in your local supermarket and health food store.

If you suffer from high blood pressure
here are a few home remedies. These remedies will not only lower your blood pressure but are good for your general health too.

Below are a few home remedies to help lower your blood pressure

ท Potassium and Magnesium. Foods high in these minerals are bananas
molasses
soy and bananas. Some fruits such as watermelon and grapes are also a good source. Not only will these foods lower your blood pressure but are beneficial to your overall health too.
ท Garlic has many beneficial properties that improve overall health
including lowering your blood pressure. Consumption of garlic will also reduce blot clot occurrences in individuals. It is believed by some researches that garlic will also lower the triglyceride levels.

Therefore
you are probably wondering what a triglyceride is. A triglyceride is a glyceride that occurs naturally in tissues and consists of three fatty acids that are bound together in a single molecule. They are an important energy source forming much of the fat stored in the body.

You can research on how to lower your blood pressure using home remedies in many ways. The internet has a wealth of information dedicated to home remedies and homeopathic medicine to lower your blood pressure. Bookstores and libraries also offer an abundance of information. With a little research
you can find alternatives to prescription drugs for lowering your blood pressure.

As with any alternative health remedies
consult with your physician before discontinuing any prescribed medicines. Abruptly taking your prescription medicine could have serious and long-term effects on your health.

Have you heard the term “wellness?” It has two contexts
one in alternative medicine and one in Western medicine.

In the alternative medicine world
wellness means taking care of yourself so you don't get sick. Let's find ways to avoid cancer
heart disease
mental illness. We can do this through changing our diet
exercising more
and changing our energy fields.

In Western medicine
we wait until we get one of these diseases
then we rush heroically to “beat the disease.” In Western medicine
the term wellness means “early detection” of disease. If you walk into a “Wellness Center” in a hospital
you'll see mammogram screening rooms
MRI machines and other tools to scan for the existence of disease.

Is that wellness? To me
it's not. Wellness is about staying well
it is about avoiding disease in the first place. When a person is told “You have cancer
” it is a major blow to their psyches
and their lives. Why go through that if you don't have to? Why not do whatever you can to avoid that terrible day?

Western medicine treats the “pre-detection” part of life as a kind of random soup of nothingness. You can't really do anything about any of these diseases
you just get them or you don't. No rhyme or reason to it
it just hits you
and then you deal with it.

Genetics is a big factor in the Western medical model. If you get cancer
ah
well
it was in your genes that you'd get it. You see
your great grandfather had cancer
so it was inevitable that you'd get it too.

Huh? Unfortunately
Western medicine can't explain why siblings get or don't get diseases supposedly passed on from their parents. One sister dies of cancer at a young age (because of genetics) and the other sister lives to be 100 (genetics).

For my part
I'm going to take the best care of myself possible
and not play a silly waiting game for disease.

The major difference between alternative medicine
or what I'll call holistic health
and Western medicine
is in approach.
A Western doctor
or MD
sees his duty as searching out disease
diagnosing it
and treating it. If he does that correctly and effectively
he's done his job. Most often
this means the doctor prescribing a pharmaceutical drug or a surgical procedure to remedy the situation. The patients is passive in all of this.
A holistic health practitioner sees her duty as an educator and a facilitator. She feels that the body can heal itself
and it doesn't necessarily need outside influences (drugs
surgery) to heal from an illness or to prevent an illness. In holistic health
the patient is an active participant.
This is the best and the worst thing about holistic health! The patient is actively involved in the healing process. Everything you know about your body says that this is the right approach. It makes so much sense. That's the good part. The bad thing about this is that it is HARD WORK for the patient. In most cases
the patient must make changes to their lifestyle. Change your diet
do more exercise
stop using sugar
do these stretches
stop negative thoughts
meditate twice a day
etc.
Making lifestyle changes is immensely difficult. The only time it's easy is when you are faced with a life-threatening disease. When you find out you have lung cancer
it's pretty easy to quit smoking. However
it's far too late by that time. Lifestyle changes need to come before the illness becomes manifest.
Let's examine one of the big differences between holistic health and Western medicine: holism versus reductionism.
Holistic versus Reductionist
This is a major shift in perspective. Taking a holistic perspective means that you cannot understand a single problem with a single part of the human body without looking at the whole person. We use the short-hand “mind
body
spirit” to refer to the whole person.
This is not how a Western doctor is taught to see a patient. He sees the patient as the disease. “This is an epileptic
” it is not a whole person who has epilepsy. He feels that he can administer a drug or perform a surgery that will cure a person's liver without making any difference to the rest of the person. Of course
this is never possible
so when the inevitable “complications” arise
the Western doctor deals with those one at a time
often causing additional problems for the person
whether in body
mind or spirit.
Even those three parts of the person are treated by separate people in Western society. The body is the domain of the medical doctor. The mind is the domain of the psychiatrist. Spirit is left to the priest
rabbi or pastor. There is no overlap in roles
except for referrals from one to the other. In our bodies
of course
there is tremendous overlap. A loss of connection to God or the universe will cause no end of mental and physical problems. Mental stress causes many physical diseases
as we well know. Who can coordinate between these in the Western system? No one. Problems falling “through the cracks” between mind
body and spirit is a common failure of Western medicine.
A holistic practitioner understands the interconnections between mind
body and spirit. They work on the connections
and
although the practitioner may not be an expert in all three
they focus on the overlaps rather than ignoring them.
In my opinion
a holistic approach is better in almost every case for almost every person. Understanding the linkages between mind
body and spirit is essential to understanding how to stay well and how to heal. Western medicine can play a part within the scope of holistic health by offering emergency solutions to problems that arise quickly and need to be fixed immediately.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Alternative medicine means different things to different people. Alternative medicine encompasses many different approaches from massage to Chinese medicine and yoga. Alternative medicine means practices or medicines that are used instead of the usual
or standard
ways of treating diseases or illness. Examples of complementary and alternative medicine are meditation
yoga
and dietary supplements like vitamins and herbs. Alternative medicine means that it is different to the dominant health care system and potentially can replace it.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is the oldest continuously practiced medical system in the world and is used by one third of the world's population as a primary health care system. Health is defined as a state of physical well being
mental alertness
socially adjusted
and spiritually developed. Health care is not about drugs and the cost of drugs.


CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE

Conventional medicine is continuing to lose market share. More and more people want options beyond what many consider to be essentially a high-tech slash
burn and poison medicine. Conventional medicine is used to describe the services that treat the symptoms of a disease or illness with prescribed medications and surgeries. Conventional medicine treats the ailing part of the body but may not address the underlying causes of the illness or disease.

Traditional practitioners don't express hopefulness when their medicine fails as they treat diseases first and then people secondly. On the other hand alternative practitioners
often encourage patients to be hopeful even when the situation is hopeless as they aim to treat the mind
body and soul of their patient.

Medicine is directly related to the biomedicine and health sciences. The term 'Medicine' today refers to the fields of surgery
clinical medicine and the medical research. Medical mistakes appear to be increasing
and if they are not
then at the very least
the publicizing of them is increasing. It makes people wary.

HERBAL

Herbal medicine is a booming industry in the United States. The American market for herbal remedies has doubled the last couple of years. Herbs may be harmful if taken for the wrong conditions
used in excessive amounts
combined with prescription drugs or alcohol
or used by persons who don't know what they are doing. Just because an herbal remedy is natural
does not mean it is safe!

ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture needles are usually inserted to a depth of about a quarter of an inch into the skin. The therapist gently twists or twirls them for up to 10 minutes
leaving them in five to 20 minutes longer; or stimulates them with a weak electrical current; or heats them with a burning herb such as mugwort (see moxibustion). Acupuncture was used as an illustration of medical irrationality before James Reston's fortuitous appendicitis brought it to the United States. From the impact of the LaLeche League on the advisability of breast-feeding to current studies of botanical medicines such as ginger
echinacea and ginkgo biloba
folk and alternative medicines have continuously influenced medical research and practice.

Acupressure was originated in China thousands of years ago
and evidence has been found that acupressure was practiced in the stone age!

Acupressure has been used to reduce post-operative nausea and vomiting in children.

Acupressure also reduces nausea in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Acupressure can be done anywhere without special equipment.

You can treat yourself safely with acupressure
as long as you follow the guidelines of a professional acupressure practitioner.

Correctly performed
acupressure increases circulation
reduces tension and pain and enables the body to relax.

Acupressure strengthens the immune system and promotes wellness.

Acupressure should be applied slowly and gently. Applying it too quickly or vigorously can do some damage
especially in the abdominal area.

Special care and caution is needed in the case of a pregnant woman or in treating a person with burns
infections and recent injuries.

Acupressure is more effective than physical therapy for the majority of patients with low back pain.

Ear acupressure can be used to reduce stress and anxiety.

Acupressure is used to reduce fear and anxiety in trauma victims and in pre-operative care.

Acupressure can be used to treat all these conditions:

Tension Headaches
Migraine Headaches
Jaw Pain
Toothache
Earache
Neck and Shoulder Pain
Wrist
Hand
Arm pain
Backache
Hip
Knee
Ankle and Foot pain
Colds
Flu
Sore throat
Sinus Infection
Loss of Voice
Allergies
Anxiety Attacks and Nervousness
Depression
Insomnia
Fainting
Hiccoughs
Improve Memory and Concentration
Angina
Heart Palpitations and High Blood Pressure
Constipation
Diarrhea
Heartburn and Stomachache
PMS and Painful Periods
Hot Flashes
Pregnancy Discomfort
Morning Sickness
Bed-wetting
Incontinence
Urinary retention
Nose bleeding
Itching
Asthma
Decreased Libido
Hangover

Here are a couple acupressure tips you can try:

For headaches and muscle or joint pain
press the fleshy part of your hand between your thumb and index finger. Hold for this for one minute
then repeat on the other hand.

For low-back pain
lie on your back
with your feet elevated on a sofa or chair. Place two tennis balls under your lower back on either side of your spine. (I got cheap tennis balls in the dog toy department.) Stay in this position for one minute or sooner if it becomes uncomfortable.

For knee pain
put a tennis ball on a pillow
then place your leg over it so the ball is pushing into the crease behind your knee. Find the sensitive spot just below your kneecap and slightly to the outside of the shinbone. Press into it gently with your fingertips for about one minute.

You can learn to do acupressure at home to supplement professional treatment. This is especially useful when you are stricken with illness or pain and you can't get to the doctor soon. For more information see my website http://natural-pain-relief-solutions.com.

Do you know what it takes to unite your body
mind
and soul? If you did
do you realize that you would be able to achieve the balance that nearly everyone wishes they had in their lives? Do you know what you need to do for yourself in order to bring about this balance?

Part of uniting these three elements of your person is knowing what makes you passionate. Knowing what makes you passionate will help you get in touch with your soul
to feel creative energy
to feel truly alive. Spiritual or creative passion can help you to achieve those feelings. Whether it’s through faith
music
or some other type of artistic expression
you must find what will awaken your soul in order to strike balance in your life. Here are some tips to guide you:

• What are your goals for the future? What would you like to ultimately achieve in your life? Is it spiritual enlightenment? Is it social status? Or is it merely to be the best person you can be
and make a contribution to society? What is important
though
is the process by which you attain your ultimate goal. That is what will generate your passion.
• Try to focus on the positive
and do not dwell on the negative. Recall you accomplishments and good deeds. Doing this will help keep you positive
and keep your spirit up. If you constantly remind yourself of your mistakes
you will find it harder to succeed down the road
and your mind
body
and soul will work against you.
• You’ve heard of finding your “happy place” right? This form of meditation helps you take your mind and spirit to a comfortable place that fills you with happiness. This is an ideal thing to do when you are in the middle of a stressful day at work or with the kids; it provides the perfect opportunity to regroup.
• Spark a change. Plan a vacation
even if it is just for a weekend. Nothing does the body
mind
and soul better than a little change of scenery. Go where you will be happy
and be able to let loose and have some fun. Try it on your own. It might sound scary
but you will be surprised at how relaxed and refreshed you will be after a weekend all to yourself!
• Try some daily affirmations. Pick three things that you can say out loud in the mirror that will help you stay centered
positive
and focused. Saying something often enough has the power to make it true for you. Remember not to dwell on the negative
focus on the positive. Three basic affirmations that you can work from include:
o “I am safe and secure.”
o “The Universe gives me everything that I need.”
o “My income will continue to increase.”

At some time or another
we’ve all experienced the effects of sunburn – be it a light burn or a more heavy burn.

Although the sting of regret of inadequate protection (from UV exposure) can be an excellent incentive to plan more carefully on ‘future’ occasions
it’s of little help in soothing the immediate physical sting (i.e. pain) accompanying sunburn.

However if you ‘have’ found yourself having spent a little too much time in the sun
-- here are 4 natural home remedies to help ease the pain of sunburn
and assist in the body’s healing process:

1. Cool Milk Compresses: - The fat and lactic acids in milk are known to have soothing qualities for sunburned skin. Soak a soft cloth or cotton gauze in cool whole milk
and dab carefully onto the burned skin. Do this for around 20 minutes
and follow by rinsing off with cool water. (Due to the importance of the milk’s fat content
it’s important that whole milk be used in this treatment).

2. Cool
sugarless tea: - The tannin in tea is the active ingredient here
which helps to soothe and relieve some of the discomfort of sunburned skin. After brewing a big pot of tea
and allowing it to cool completely
slosh the affected areas with a soft sponge or washcloth. As with the vinegar (4)
you could also fill a spray bottle
and spray the tea directly on the skin. And don’t throw away the used (cool) teabags. These are especially good for sensitive areas around the eyes – simply place the teabags over your eyes if they feel hot and tired. (If you have ‘St. John’s Wort’
consider using this as it contains cooling properties
which can help tone down some of the heat in your skin
as well as soothing the nerve endings damaged by the sunburn).

3. Aloe Vera: - Aloe Vera is commonly used to treat sunburn. As well as providing soothing relief
it may also assist in the healing process. Apply to the affected areas as needed. Although the gel extracted directly from an aloe Vera plant works best
if you don’t have ready access to one
you may use an ‘over the counter’ Aloe Vera Cream that contains the gel. For this to be effective
just ensure that the cream contains a high concentration of Aloe Vera than it does water or other solutions.

4. Water: - When exposed to the sun
your body loses water and essential body salts. Dehydration occurs when your body loses too much fluid
and begins to reabsorb fluid from the blood and other body tissues. To prevent the consequences of dehydration
increase your fluid intake to ensure you adequately re-hydrate your body for optimum recovery and health.

Sunburn should of course be avoided where possible -- particularly as it’s adverse affects not only include damage to the skin
but also the increased risk of skin cancer. Prevention and protection should always be considered the best treatment for sunburn
and will assist in ensuring your optimum long-term health!

DISCLAIMER: These are home remedy tips only
and should not replace your regular health care provider. If in doubt at any time in relation to your sunburn
please seek the appropriate health care assistance.