Healing | Alternative Medicine Database

Aid Digestion with Yoga

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Yoga offers a multitude of benefits. In fact, consistently practicing yoga can help combat or manage a variety of ailments and complaints. Specifically, one may be surprised to learn how beneficial yoga can be to digestive health issues, such as bloating, cramping, gas, diarrhea, and constipation.

Yoga aids digestive health in a number of ways. Foremost, yoga increases blood flow to organs and extremities. While holding certain physical poses, blood flow is temporarily suspended to corresponding parts of the body. When the yoga practitioner releases the pose, blood floods the particular area, delivering an abundance of oxygen along with it. This is important because oxygen is paramount to healthy organ function. Yoga also encourages proper peristalsis, which is the series of muscle contractions that occur in the digestive tract to move food through the digestive system. Peristalsis can also refer to similar contractions that occur in the tubular organs. Lastly, yoga reminds us of the importance of taking deep and cleansing breaths. Yoga practitioners focus on the importance of prana, a Sanskrit word referring to breath and meaning “life force.” Through pranayama or the practice of breathing, yoga practitioners breathe deeply into the belly, transporting oxygen and its healing properties to the digestive tract.

Depending on which digestive problem you suffer from, you’ll want to practice a pose designed to help with your specific problem. For instance, inversions (classified as any posture in which the legs are elevated above the heart) ease constipation. Shoulder stands and head stands are examples of inversions. Standing postures, such as Warrior I,II,III or Trikonasana (triangle pose) help suppress acidity by lifting the diaphragm and expanding the esophagus and upper area of the stomach, reducing the reflux of gastric matter. Forward bends, such as Uttanasana (standing forward bend), should not be practiced when suffering from acidity, but they are helpful for other digestive ailments. These are only a few of the many yoga postures that will help ease the uncomfortable symptoms of poor digestive health.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Healing, Health Tips, Practices Tagged With: Postures, Practices, Uttanasana, Yoga

Relieve Back Pain With Yoga

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Yoga has many benefits for those dealing with chronic pain. In particular, those dealing with back pain may greatly benefit from practicing yoga. Though there are many beneficial yoga postures to relieve back pain, some postures can actually aggravate certain conditions. Therefore, those suffering from back pain should only practice yoga under the supervision of a certified instructor.

Back pain is caused by a variety of factors. Poor posture and injury or damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons, or discs are common contributing factors. Fortunately, Hatha yoga offers many asanas or physical postures designed to alleviate and prevent painful back problems when practiced regularly. In part, yoga practitioners seek to ease back pain and promote a healthy back by focusing on proper alignment of the body and building awareness of how the placement of each body part affects another. Increasing flexibility and building strength, especially in the core area, also help to relieve back pain.

When practicing yoga while experiencing back problems, it is important to proceed with caution. It’s better to be gentle at first and ease into each pose. A yoga instructor may suggest that those suffering from back pain modify certain poses or utilize props, such as a foam block, when necessary.

A basic asana for beginners is corpse pose, which allows any tension to leave the body while the practitioner lies flat on his or her back with arms at the sides and palms facing down. Another simple but beneficial pose is Uttanasana, which is a standing forward bend that gently stretches the hamstrings and creates space between the lower vertebrae. For more advanced yoga students, asanas like Warrior III or Bakasana (crow pose) are ideal for building core strength, and in turn, alleviating back pain. For those who feel like they have tried everything to ease painful back conditions, yoga may be an effective alternative.

Filed Under: Healing, Health Tips, Practices Tagged With: Asana (yoga), Hatha yoga, Yoga

An Introduction to Qigong

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There are many ways in which practicing qigong can improve health and well-being. Overall, qigong practitioners experience an improvement in cardiovascular, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive health. Practitioners report an improvement in their ability to take regular, deep breaths. They also report a decrease in certain types of back and neck pain, as well as lower blood pressure. Practicing qigong may lessen the risk of stroke and may help treat symptoms related to fibromyalgia. Qigong improves balance to reduce the risk of falling in older adults. Regular qigong practice may also reduce mental and physical stress by alleviating feelings of depression, anger, confusion, anxiety, and fatigue. All this is in addition to reports that practicing qigong provides a greater sense of vigor and stamina.

Generally speaking, practicing qigong for 15 minutes each day will allow individuals to tap into its healing effects. However, if the practitioner is experiencing a severe obstruction of the flow of qi (again, vital energy or life force), a more extensive practice of qigong may be needed to correct the qi flow. Regularly practicing qigong offers many possible benefits, from relieving tension to treating everything from ulcers to heart disease, diabetes, or cancer. Most believe that practicing qigong should be done as a complement to western medicine, not as a replacement.

While qigong (pronounced phonetically as chee gong) is similar to the popular practice of tai chi, there are some differences. Both practices originated in China thousands of years ago. Both practices involve gentle, fluid movement from one posture to the next in order to create a sense of well-being in the practitioner. However, qigong is generally considered a gentler practice than tai chi. More so, practitioners of qigong report feeling its healing effects more easily and directly than tai chi practitioners. Lastly, one of the goals of qigong is to be able to discipline the mind to direct qi (vital energy or life force) to any body part.
There are many ways in which practicing qigong can improve health and well-being. Overall, qigong practitioners experience an improvement in cardiovascular, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive health. Practitioners report an improvement in their ability to take regular, deep breaths. They also report a decrease in certain types of back and neck pain, as well as lower blood pressure. Practicing qigong may lessen the risk of stroke and may help treat symptoms related to fibromyalgia. Qigong improves balance to reduce the risk of falling in older adults. Regular qigong practice may also reduce mental and physical stress by alleviating feelings of depression, anger, confusion, anxiety, and fatigue. All this is in addition to reports that practicing qigong provides a greater sense of vigor and stamina.
Generally speaking, practicing qigong for 15 minutes each day will allow individuals to tap into its healing effects. However, if the practitioner is experiencing a severe obstruction of the flow of qi (again, vital energy or life force), a more extensive practice of qigong may be needed to correct the qi flow. Regularly practicing qigong offers many possible benefits, from relieving tension to treating everything from ulcers to heart disease, diabetes, or cancer. Most believe that practicing qigong should be done as a complement to western medicine, not as a replacement.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Healing, Health Tips, Practices Tagged With: Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Alternative, Health, Medicine, Qigong

Investigating the Mental Benefits of Yoga

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In the 21st century, many people are overwhelmed by the fast pace and demands that characterize the current era. Bosses, clients, and spouses have a variety of ways to keep tabs on each other, whether it be via cell phone, texts, email, or Facebook. Traffic and unemployment are on the rise, while our economy and the welfare of the environment are in decline. The ability to relax is quickly being replaced by feelings of stress and anxiety.

Yoga is an effective method to combat these ill feelings and promote mental well-being. Furthermore, there are several branches of yoga which are most effective at cultivating a healthy mind. For instance, Hatha yoga employs asanas or physical poses in order to promote mental focus. Jnana yoga is seen as yoga of the mind. With Raja yoga, one practices the art of natural meditation.

Yoga integrates a variety of techniques, namely exercise, breathing, and meditation to unify mind, body, and spirit. As mentioned above, practicing asanas requires focus on the task at hand. This intense focus helps to quiet the mind. Pranayama or the practice of proper breathing teaches students how to take slow, deep breaths. This aids in more effective delivery of healing oxygen to the brain and other organs. Also, breath tends to become short and shallow when the body feels stressed or anxious. Building awareness of prana, meaning breath or “life force,” allows the yoga practitioner to utilize effective breathing techniques more consistently, even when faced with stress or anxiety-inducing circumstances. Again, meditation is another technique employed by yoga practitioners in order to disengage from stressful thoughts.

Restorative poses, forward bends, and inversions are known to have calming effects. For example, downward dog and shoulder stands provide a temporary increase in blood pressure in the cranial region, activating the body’s soothing mechanisms. Asanas, such as side bends or twists, help to balance out excessive emotions. Whatever mental or emotional imbalances you are experiencing will most likely be alleviated with dedication to the practice of yoga.

Filed Under: Healing, Patient's Story, Practices Tagged With: Hatha yoga, Practices, Yoga

Facilitate a Healthy Pregnancy and Smooth Delivery Through Yoga

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Many women enjoy being pregnant, while other expecting mothers have a more difficult time. Whether you are already active or trying to increase your fitness level for the impending birth, yoga is a great method to promote well-being during pregnancy and the easiest delivery possible. Yoga also facilitates a smooth transition into the post-birth stage.

During pregnancy, yoga helps the expectant mother stay in shape and maintain prior energy levels. Yoga can help alleviate some of the aches and pains associated with pregnancy, as well as mollify moodiness. Yoga helps to stretch muscles and release tension. One of the most beneficial aspects of practicing yoga while pregnant is how it prepares the expectant mother for a smooth delivery. Learning how to breathe deeply and relax completely through the practice of yoga is similar to the breathing techniques taught in Lamaze classes. Also, yoga postures and gentle stretches help strengthen and massage reproductive organs, the pelvic area, and other pertinent parts of the body to facilitate childbirth.

Starting a postnatal yoga regimen approximately six weeks after childbirth tones abdominal muscles and other areas to get a new mother back into pre-pregnancy shape more quickly. Postnatal yoga can also help a new mother cope with the demands of motherhood and may lessen the occurrence or degree of postpartum depression. In addition to the benefits listed above, yoga also helps lower blood pressure, improve digestion, support proper circulation and respiratory health, as well as aid detoxification.

While many asanas or physical postures are beneficial for pregnant women, there are also some that should be avoided when pregnant. It is better to exercise caution when practicing certain asanas than over-stretch a particular area of the body. Pregnant women may want to avoid asanas that focus on abdominal stretching. Beginners to yoga or prenatal yoga should practice under the supervision of a certified instructor. While a small amount of precaution should be taken while practicing prenatal yoga, the benefits of practicing yoga while pregnant abound.

Filed Under: Healing, Health Tips, Practices Tagged With: Practices, Pregnancy, Teachers and Centers, Yoga

A Glimpse at Ginseng

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Ginseng has long been considered a sacred herb in nearly all of Asia. There are even reports of Chinese emergency physicians administering ginseng intravenously to help revive consciousness in patients. More recently, ginseng is gaining popularity in the United States as a safe and effective herbal remedy to treat a variety of ailments.

Ginseng exists in different varieties. There is Korean red ginseng, Chinese or Japanese white ginseng, and American ginseng. Though common varieties of ginseng are very affordable, wild varieties can be very expensive, reaching prices as high as $10,000 for a single root. Ginseng root is usually boiled into tea, but ginseng is also available as an extract in capsules, powders, etc.

Considered an “adaptogen,” ginseng is a substance that, simply put, helps the consumer adapt more readily to the surrounding environment. An adaptogen is a restorative ingredient that promotes well-being with little chance of side effects. Though ginseng is regarded as non-toxic, taking ginseng in extremely excessive amounts or for a prolonged period of time (greater than three months) can cause hypertension or insomnia. Therefore, consumers should consult a physician or licensed herbalist before starting a ginseng regimen.

As mentioned above, ginseng treats a number of complaints. Ginseng can help reduce stress and anxiety while encouraging mental alertness. This herbal remedy fights fatigue and promotes athletic endurance. Ginseng has many anti-aging benefits. Women will be happy to know that taking a ginseng supplement helps relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It also lowers cholesterol, aids digestion, and treats diabetes. Consumption of ginseng encourages a healthy immune system and nervous system. Ginseng has even been shown to arrest the growth of specific types of cancel cells. Whatever it is that ails you, it’s likely that ginseng is an herbal remedy that can help!

Filed Under: Healing, Health Tips, Herbal Food Supplements Tagged With: Alternative, Ginseng, Herbs

Acupuncture 101

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Simply put, acupuncture is a mode of healing in which the practitioner inserts thin needles into specific points on the body to promote better health and well-being. Though acupuncture is an ancient tradition that originated in China over 2,000 years ago, it only recently gained popularity in the United States in the 1970′s. Acupuncture techniques vary in China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. In the United States, the typical acupuncturist practices a technique that draws from all these influences.

Traditional Chinese acupuncture is based on the belief that the human body is comprised of pathways or meridians (among other things). This tradition also asserts that there is a flow of energy, essentially the body’s life force, called qi (pronounced chee) that travels throughout your body in this system of meridians. Chinese acupuncturists aim to balance or re-balance this flow of qi through the practice of placing acupuncture needles on specific points along the meridians.

Western-style, American acupuncture tends to utilize the practice in a slightly different way. Western-style acupuncture is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which – despite its name – is actually a modification of Chinese medicine and was introduced in the United States in the 1950′s. Here, practitioners aim to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue by placing hair-thin needles along the specific acupuncture points on the body. Western-style acupuncture also integrates herbal therapies in the practice.

Though the elementary principles of acupuncture can be summed up somewhat quickly, the benefits of acupuncture are endless. Acupuncture is being used by itself or in conjunction with more traditional styles of Western medicine to treat chronic pain, digestion problems, sleep disorders, insomnia, anxiety, addiction, and more. Acupuncture is also used to alleviate specific symptoms experienced by geriatric and cancer patients or those undergoing physical therapy.

As mentioned above, the benefits of acupuncture are nearly infinite. It seems that the only thing acupuncture doesn’t do is specifically promote weight loss. Stay tuned for more in-depth information on the specific ways in which acupuncture can be used to create balance and well-being in your life.

Filed Under: Healing, Health Tips Tagged With: Acupuncture, Alternative, Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine

Does the E Cigarette Offer a Healthier Alternative to Conventional Cigarettes?

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Some research estimates that there are 40 cancerous substances released when tobacco is burned. The evidence that smoking takes significant tolls on a person’s health has become undeniable. Today’s doctors know a lot about the dangers of smoking tobacco.

Even though everyone knows smoking is dangerous, more than 40 million adults in the United States continue to use cigarettes on a daily basis. It seems that no matter how much evidence there is in favor of quitting, some people just can’t seem to snuff out the habit for good.

In response to this reality, some companies have created alternatives to smoking. This allows smokers to get their nicotine fixes without inhaling a host of toxic substances. Many of the alternatives, however, have proven themselves almost as toxic as cigarettes. Smokeless products such as chewing tobacco, for instance, has been shown to cause oral cancer, tooth decay, heart disease, and other ailments.

E cigarette companies, however, have devised a way for smokers to get their fix without using tobacco at all. This may offer a healthier alternative to conventional cigarettes. E cigarettes consist of nicotine cartridges and an atomizer. When someone inhales on the mouthpiece, it causes the electronic cigarette to warm the nicotine, producing an vapor that can be inhaled.

This not only provides the nicotine rush that smokers crave, but also satisfies psychological factors associated with smoking. For instance, the vapor tastes like cigarette smoke. This provides a satisfaction that many smokers do not get from smokeless tobacco products. Many e cigarettes are also shaped like real cigarettes, so smokers get the enjoyment of satisfying their psychological craving with physical movements that they associate with smoking.

Abstaining from all tobacco use is always the healthiest choice. Those who can’t put down cigarettes for good, however, might find a healthier alternative in e cigarettes.

Filed Under: Healing Tagged With: Cigarette, Electronic cigarette

Acupuncture as an Effective Weapon in the Battle Against Cancer

Many integrative medical practitioners recognize the benefits of acupuncture in the battle against cancer. Such practitioners know that acupuncture is an effective adjunct tool to help manage pain, especially pain associated with cancer and typical cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation. Acupuncture can also be used to alleviate the nausea, insomnia, and general malaise caused by cancer and/or medical cancer treatments. Another reason for cancer patients to undergo acupuncture treatment is to reduce inflammation that may occur post-operatively or due to tissue damage. Furthermore, acupuncture also supports mental well-being in cancer patients.

Many people are currently living with cancer cells or pre-cancer cells in their bodies but do not know it. Some of these people will never get a cancer disease in their lifetime. This is because the body’s immune system typically defeats these dangerous cells before they are able to take over. However, factors, such as genetics, viral damage, age, and other influences may cause some people’s immune systems to fail at this task. Certain doctors, holistic healers, and other integrative medical practitioners firmly believe that acupuncture can help re-stimulate or re-engage the body’s immune system to naturally fight cancer cells.

Electroacupuncture, which sends weak electrical pulses through the body via the insertion of thin needles into specific acupuncture points on the skin, is one method of acupuncture that is utilized when treating cancer patients. Energetic acupuncture is another form of acupuncture used to treat cancer patients. Energetic acupuncture uses a combination of electricity and moxibustion (a conventional Chinese medicine technique in which the practitioner burns the Chinese herb, mugwort, to expedite healing) to help speed recovery and promote a sense of well-being. Whether the goal is to provide post-operative care, pain management, management of the uncomfortable side-effects caused by chemotherapy or radiation, a boost to the immune system, or mental and emotional support, acupuncture is an important weapon in a cancer-fighting arsenal.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Medicine, Healing Tagged With: Acupuncture, Alternative, Alternative medicine

Fighting Addiction With Acupuncture

Many people suffer from some form of addiction. Whether the addiction is chemical in nature or more of a behavioral problem, addictions to harmful substances or habits are prevalent in our current environment. The good news is that the variety of treatment options has increased in relatively recent years. One safe and effective option for the treatment of addiction is acupuncture.

Acupuncture has been used as an adjunct therapy to fight addiction for some time now. In the United States, the first clinic devoted to detoxification through acupuncture opened its doors in 1974. While the clinic started using acupuncture in combination with methadone treatment, the acupuncture proved to be so effective that, in some cases, the use of methadone was dropped completely. Due to such favorable outcomes, there has since been an increase in publicly funded acupuncture detoxification programs and clinics all over the United States.

Acupuncture can be used to treat chemical addictions, such as alcohol dependency or abuse of substances like heroin, cocaine, methadone, pain medications, marijuana, nicotine, or caffeine, among many others. Acupuncture can also be used to treat behavioral difficulties, such as gambling or sex addictions, as well as other compulsive habits. Acupuncture has been shown to aid in detoxification and curb cravings in addicts.

Acupuncturists treating addiction typically practice Auricular Ear acupuncture while utilizing the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) treatment protocol. This is a micro-meridian style of acupuncture, which charts the whole body onto the ear. The NADA guidelines utilize five points on the ear: Sympathetic point, Shenmen point, Kidney point, Liver point, and Lung Point. Tools, such as small needles or magnets, are used to stimulate these points in the ear to encourage certain physiological responses. An example of this is using the Lung point in the ear to strengthen the immune system and aid detoxification. Specific Auricular Ear acupuncture can be used in conjunction with entire-body acupuncture to relieve stress, pain, and addiction.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Medicine, Healing Tagged With: Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Alternative