A comparison of the strategies of traditional physicians and holistic healers.
Posted on January 21, 2010
Filed Under Holistic Treatment, Natural Remedies | Leave a Comment
Using plant medicines to heal the body has been practiced for thousands of years, in every culture in the history of mankind. The discovery of penicillin marked a turning point in modern medical practice. Instead of having to down cups of a less than appetizing tea, containing several herbs, to cure a respiratory infection, this ‘magic bullet’ pill of Penicillin would do the trick. This seemed a much better, easier and more convenient way to deal with that illness. Thus, modern medicine gained in popularity and acceptance from the general public. The herbal medicines and holistic healers rapidly fell by the wayside. The pharmaceutical, chemical creations quickly shifted the so-called holistic healer into the medical past.
However, as with many ‘easy’ solutions, there comes a down side. Today, as pharmaceutical medications become more sophisticated, the unwanted side effects of the medication often become greater, sometimes causing another, seemingly unrelated ailment with which the health care practitioner, and patient must deal. The almost guaranteed yeast infection a woman develops after a round of antibiotics is a case in point.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the holistic healer’s methodology enjoyed a resurgence in popularity among people looking for natural health remedies which cured the ailment, but without the unwanted side effects.
Let’s take a look at the differences in approach between the traditional physician and the holistic practitioner. You decide what makes better sense. Read more
Seven natural, effective eczema treatments: these work!
Posted on January 21, 2010
Filed Under Alternative Remedies, Natural Remedies | Leave a Comment
If you suffer from eczema, you’ve probably spent a lot of time and money on doctor’s visits and expensive medications without results. Here we’ve got seven natural, old-time eczema treatments that don’t cost an arm and a leg and are quite effective.
1.1.Echinacea is an herb best known as a cold preventative, blood cleanser and immune system booster. However, a little known benefit of Echinacea is that even long-standing cases of eczema respond well to Echinacea tablets (available at health food stores) within several days.
2.Amaranth tea is another effective eczema treatment. Here’s the formula: you’ll need two teaspoons of amaranth seeds and, if available, 1 teaspoon of amaranth leaves. Bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting, add the amaranth seeds and simmer for five minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and add the leaves. Steep for 30 minutes. (If you can’t find the leaves, don’t worry – it’s not essential, but does increase the effectiveness.) When cool, use as a wash, twice daily.
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The Best Acne Home Remedies
Posted on December 8, 2009
Filed Under Beauty Treatments, Holistic Treatment | Leave a Comment
Everybody gets blackheads and pimples now and then. Blackheads occur when pores in the skin become clogged with dirt and oil. When the area becomes irritated, it turns into a pimple.
It can be easy to spend a lot of money on store-bought acne treatments, but these products are not always effective. They often leave the skin dry and inflamed. They frequently smell horrible and can even bleach the color out of hand towels! Your skin will be much happier if you avail yourself of some of the many well-known and popular acne home remedies instead.
The first thing to know about acne home remedies is that they begin with prevention.
The best prevention for acne is a healthy diet. A healthy diet leads to a healthy body and healthy skin, and can alleviate acne symptoms. So start by eating a diet low in sugar, and loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables. Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Foods rich in good fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids, are wonderful for the skin. So incorporate lots of fresh fish and nuts into your diet. Read more
You don’t have to live with chronic anxiety! Try these natural treatments for anxiety
Posted on July 20, 2009
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Anxiety is such a common problem today and it’s no wonder. Along with the benefits of the modern world, no one lives in the slow lane anymore. Our lives are characterized by rushing everywhere, being stressed out regularly and always pressed for time. Doctors report that chronic anxiety is one of the most common complaints they hear from their patients. Well, you don’t need to suffer like this. There’s plenty you can do to find relief, using natural – and free – techniques.
The symptoms of anxiety not only interfere with your daily life, but are debilitating in the sense that you become less productive and efficient in performing the tasks you need to do. This only fuels increased anxiety.
You should discuss your anxiety with your health practitioner, particularly when it’s chronic and/or acute. Your doctor may want to prescribe an anti-anxiety medication for temporary relief while you transition to methods to natural treatments for anxiety. Generally speaking, it’s not a good idea to take these medicines for the long term, as they can become addictive. There are exceptions, as in the case of what’s called ‘generalized anxiety disorder’, where the cause is psychologically based in deep seated traumas.
Your first step towards natural treatments for anxiety is an assessment of your diet. If you drink a lot of coffee or sodas which contain caffeine, you may be washing away valuable nutrients which help maintain healthy nerves and can even negatively affect your mood. Read more
What You Need to Know about Alternative Therapies
Posted on July 20, 2009
Filed Under Alternative Remedies, Natural Remedies | Leave a Comment
If there’s one thing about this country that frustrates me to no end, it’s health care. It has become so expensive to keep your body healthy. Not to mention all of the paper work, insurance forms and new medications that cost an arm and a leg – and I was only taking the medication to make my leg feel better. Not just that, but with all the side effects to some medications, you’ll lose your arm and leg, and a kidney too! Luckily, there’s so many alternative therapies available that you can get rid of all the headaches of traditional or Western medicine. After all, I want to feel better, not worse. Alternative therapies cover a wide range of conditions, treatments and methods. Some of these include herbal or natural medication, acupressure or acupuncture, and different natural diets and supplements. Additionally, alternative therapies can cover a variety of ailments and illnesses ranging from headaches to cancer.
Acupunture and acupressure are two of the most popular forms of alternative therapies. They are both cure-all sorts of treatments in the sense that either of them can be used to treat or cure a number of illnesses and pains and aches. How does it work? Well, the long and short of it is that by targeting specific points on the body, you can release or stimulate different neural activities for different zones of the body. For example, for constant lower back pain, an acupunturist might search for a specific pressure point where the subtle reflexes that occur from the acupunture will trigger neural relief for the lower back pain. As far as alternative therapies go, acupuncture is one of the most consistently satisfactory for the patients. Scientific studies of the past couple of years have indicated that this is a valid alternative to traditional medication in some cases. Read more
Try Yoga for Back Pain Relief
Posted on May 28, 2009
Filed Under Alternative Remedies, Yoga | Leave a Comment
I’ve experienced soreness and stiffness in my lower back for years. I’ve been to every kind of specialist there is, but am not satisfied with the various diagnoses I’ve received. Most of the doctors just wanted to put me on medication and send me away, but the last thing I want to do is become overly reliant on prescription pills. One doctor, however, did suggest that proper exercise might be the solution I was looking for, so I decided to do some research on the subject. I learned that many people did indeed have success with doing yoga for back pain relief, which is certainly encouraging news to someone in my situation.
But instead of jumping right into a new exercise routine, I had to try to figure out which poses and stretches would work best for me. The key to using yoga for back pain is being able to identify your problems so you can do exercises to strengthen those areas. I already knew that my issues were caused by years of playing sports, followed by years of sitting at a desk job for upwards of 8 hours per day. Plus, I have to admit that my mattress has seen better days. It sags in the middle and does not come close to providing enough support. Is it any wonder that I now have to turn to yoga for back pain relief?
Anyway, I obviously need exercises that will target my lower spine and the surrounding muscles. I checked a few different websites, and found lots of great programs that maximize the benefits of yoga for back pain. These exercise programs consist of simple stretches that can increase in intensity once you build up some strength and stamina. They’re easy enough for beginners to do on their own, so I don’t have to worry about messing anything up in that regard. In addition, I discovered many balance activities that are meant to help improve posture. Proper posture is also a critical element in eliminating minor spinal aches and pains, so I intend to incorporate these exercises into my routine as well. Read more
Growing Medicinal Herbs
Posted on May 28, 2009
Filed Under detoxification, Herbs, Natural Remedies | Leave a Comment
A lot of people try to grow vegetables at home because they think that it will make it easier for them to be gourmet cooks. Although this is true, growing tomatoes, cucumbers, or similar vegetables is not the best place to start. Believe it or not, you get a lot more bang for your buck with herbs plants. You can get fresh vegetables at the store that taste good, But you have to pay an arm and a leg to get fresh herbs. The fresh herbs plants you grow at home, however, will taste fresher, stronger, and better than anything you buy in the store, and will cost a lot less. Starting an herb garden is the best way to make sure you can cook healthy, delicious food at home.
Even if you don’t know how to grow plants, you can learn how to grow many herbs quite easily. Herbs like basil, thyme, spearmint, and sage are extremely easy to grow. They do well both indoor and out of doors, and do not require any special attention. In my opinion, the best way to grow herbs plants is to have them in a window box in your living room. That way, when you pass by them, you’ll remember to check on them. As long as you water them frequently enough to keep the soil moist, they should be growing fast enough for you to use in no time.
Of course, certain herbs plants require more attention than others. A lot of these plant herbs are attractive to many insects, so you have to watch out! For example, there are many types of bugs that will eat basil. If too many critters start chewing on your basil, it will start to damage the plant as a whole. This is why it might be a good idea to keep it inside. Read more
Natural cures for asthma? Eight remedies you should try
Posted on March 19, 2009
Filed Under General, Natural Remedies | Leave a Comment
Asthma is a widespread condition affecting millions of people and it’s on the rise. Whether environmental conditions, food additives or allergens contribute to the numbers, the fact remains that if you’ve got asthma, you want relief! Asthma is a condition which is characterized by a respiratory shutdown. Your airways are constricted to the point of being unable to breathe. There’s nothing worse than to find yourself struggling for breath with no help in sight.
There are a number of medications, including nasal sprays, that your doctor may prescribe to alleviate an asthma attack. If you have been diagnosed with asthma, ask your doctor about a common backlash effect that is a side effect of such medications. It’s well documented that such medications may initially bring relief, but eventually bring on acid reflux, another troublesome condition, which may, in the long run, make your asthma worse!
As for dietary considerations, discuss these with your physician as well. Starchy foods, food additives, preservatives and certain dairy products are best avoided in an asthmatic diet.
Although it’s debatable that asthma can be cured, there are a number of natural cures for asthma that have proven to be quite effective in significant numbers of asthma sufferers. Here are eight.
1.Apple cider vinegar is one of the best natural cures for asthma. Use 1 tablespoon, diluted in a cup of water. Drink this once or twice daily, with a meal, at bedtime, or both. A number of asthma sufferers find great relief in the first day of use. While providing relief from asthma, apple cider vinegar combats the acid reflux backlash effect and allergies.
2.While your lips may pucker, a tablespoon of lemon juice, taken an hour before meals can help your breathing problems.
3.Bromelain, which naturally occurs in tropical fruits such as pineapple, is a natural anti-inflammatory which helps to open constricted airways. If you haven’t got a source of fresh pineapple, go to your health food store. Bromelain tablets are natural cures for asthma which are highly effective in a segment of asthmatic patients. Read more
Seven natural remedies for arthritis that reduce pain and inflammation, while improving your overall health!
Posted on March 19, 2009
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Tens of millions of people in the U.S. suffer from arthritis. This disease comes in two basic categories. Osteoarthritis is a condition described as a simple wearing out of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition which affects the immune system.
Osteoarthritis is a good news, bad news condition. While it typically gets worse with time, it does not progress as rapidly or painfully as rheumatoid arthritis. Currently, there are no pharmaceutical treatments. All your doctor can do is prescribe a pain killer. On the other hand, there are medications available for rheumatoid arthritis that can slow progress of the disease, as well as pain killers to ease those painful joints.
In both cases, conventional medicine does not offer much, besides some relief of pain. However, you can make use of time-tested natural remedies for arthritis that can actually improve your condition and reduce the need for pain medications. It’s also easy to integrate these foods and herbs into your daily routine.
Bing cherries are a terrific anti-inflammatory. Fresh cherries in season work best, but canned cherries will still offer significant help.
Capsaicin creams are one of the most useful of the natural remedies for arthritis when used as a topical on the affected areas. During cold and damp weather, you’ll find substantial relief from pain and inflammation. The effect can be enhanced by wearing nylon gloves and socks, which help hold the heat.
Turmeric, taken in capsules or prepared in curry dishes is a marvelous addition to your natural remedies for arthritis, that is found to be as effective as cortisone in alleviating symptoms of both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Additional benefits include improvements in digestion, reduction of cholesterol and lowers blood sugar, a boon for diabetics.
Alfalfa is another inexpensive and time tested of the natural remedies for arthritis. The best form is the dried powdered leaves. You can buy this at health food stores in capsules. Alfalfa is packed with nutrients and is good for respiratory problems too.
Next in our lineup of natural remedies for arthritis is the Omega-3 fatty acids, a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, found in fish. Sardines, salmon, tuna and herring contain high quantities of the Omega-3′s. Alternatively, you can take gel caps from the health food store. As a bonus, taking this supplement reduces your risk of heart problems, reduces bad cholesterol while raising the good cholesterol. Read more
Hypnosis To Quit Smoking
Posted on March 3, 2009
Filed Under General, Holistic Treatment | Leave a Comment
I was raised in a pretty conservative family setting, so I was always a little bit suspicious of hypnotists. Nonetheless, I knew that my suspicion was mostly a superstition. People tend to be scared of things they don’t understand, and even pretty smart educated people are no different. When I was trying to stop smoking, I thought it might be an excellent time to try out hypnotism. Getting hypnosis to quit smoking would not cost a lot, I figured, and it would let me get rid of my addiction with very little work. If it didn’t work, I could always try something else. All in all, it seemed like I had nothing to lose.
The interesting thing about hypnosis to quit smoking – or any other addiction hypnosis for that matter – is that it works mostly because people believe in it. Being hypnotized does not stop your body from physically craving nicotine, and it doesn’t stop you from having positive associations with it. The key is that, when you are under hypnosis, you believe that you will is not your own. If the hypnotist tells you that you no longer like to smoke, you will unconsciously decided to play along rather than contradict what he is saying. It’s kind of a silly system my opinion, but it really does work.
The hypnotist explain all of this to me the first day. It was funny to me that going into my hypnosis to quit smoking, he would tell me that hypnosis was not real, but he explained that it helped put people at ease. People have so many superstitious beliefs about the power of hypnotism that sometimes he runs into tough cases who are sort of afraid to go under. By explaining how he does hypnosis to stop smoking, he is able to establish a more even, cooperative relationship with his patients. This makes them feel more comfortable with him, which in turn makes them better hypnotic subjects. Read more
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