Practices | Alternative Medicine Database

How indoor games can help the senior citizens?

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Hardly, one would see any home where no elderly people are living. Being old with time is natural of course and we all have to get old but the most important thing is that we should not only recognize that aging is natural but should also take into account the increased demands of a person that come with aging. That is, if we are living with elderly people whether they are our parents or grand parents then we must give privilege to their needs and must understand that our elders need our attention and support especially when they are restricted at homes because of their health issues.

To keep elders busy and to help them understand that we love them it is really vital that we spend our time with them and keep pampering our elders so that they do not feel lonely or abandoned. Sometimes, as a result of aging the senior citizens in our homes may suffer from memory losses. The memory losses could be of short term or sometimes may last for long periods. But in such situations, it is our responsibility to stay with our parents or grand parents and to look after them while being gentle and nice to them.

Not only we should be taking care of the medicines, food and dressing facilities of our senior citizens but we must be taking care of their recreational activities as well. We must not forget that being involved in recreational activities with our elders not only help us to get closer with them but it is really important for our elders as different recreational activities and games contribute towards polishing the mental skills of our elders. Recreational activities like chess, card games, number games , poker games using indoor poker tables etc are not only proven to promote intelligence among elderly people but also help to create more social situations for them, hence making them closer to their family and friends.

Filed Under: General, Practices Tagged With: Card game, Games, Health, Home Care, Old age, Senior citizen, Senior Health, United States

Intro to Yoga

When many people think of yoga, they envision human-pretzel-like poses and ancient yogis practicing in the depths of India. While these may be realistic perceptions, they do not offer a complete understanding of the discipline of yoga. Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India over 5,000 years ago. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root “yuj” and means “to unite.” Through yoga, practitioners seek to unite mind, body, and spirit as a step toward uniting individual consciousness with cosmic consciousness.

There are three vehicles through which yoga practitioners attempt to achieve this unification: exercise, breathing, and meditation. There are several different branches of yoga, each of which has a slightly different focus. For instance, Hatha yoga is the type of yoga most common in the West. This branch of yoga combines asanas or physical postures, pranayama or proper yoga breathing, and meditation to achieve harmony. (There are also several subsections of Hatha yoga, like Vinyasa or “flow” yoga, which aims to create heat within the body and encourage a peaceful mind by moving or flowing through a series of poses, the length and duration of which are dictated by the individual practitioner’s breath.) Another branch of yoga is Bhakti yoga or devotional yoga. This form is prevalent in India and teaches practitioners to see the divine in all things and practice love and acceptance. Hatha and Bhakti yoga are just two of the several branches of yoga practiced by millions all over the world.

There are many physical and psychological benefits to practicing yoga. Among them are increased flexibility and strength, better posture, deeper and more mindful breathing, lubrication of joints and ligaments, massaging of internal organs, detoxification, better concentration and mood, and less stress. Stay tuned for more specific information about some of the different branches of yoga and the related benefits of each.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Practices, Yoga Tagged With: Asana (yoga), Hatha yoga, Meditation, Religion and Spirituality

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 Tai Chi

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Tai chi is known by many names, such as “taiji” or “taijiquan”. In fact, “tai chi” itself is a shortened version of “tai chi chuan.” No matter what it’s called, tai chi is a gentle way to bring harmony to the mind and body.

What originated in China as a martial art is gaining popularity in the United States as a peaceful practice that offers an array of health benefits. As a self-paced and noncompetitive practice, tai chi is a safe way for older adults to heed the benefits of gentle stretching and exercise. Often referred to as “moving meditation,” tai chi takes the practitioner through a series of poses or postures, each one flowing to the next to ensure fluid, constant motion.

Breath also plays an important role in the practice of tai chi. Like some forms of yoga, each posture or movement is coordinated with each breath, creating a sense of inner peace and focus in each practitioner. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the goal of tai chi is to bring balance between the yin and yang forces that exist in each person in order to encourage an unfettered flow of qi or life force.

There are many forms of tai chi, like wu or yang. Some forms of tai chi require more exertion than others. However, there are over 100 possible postures in tai chi, so it’s easy to find a style of tai chi to suit each person’s needs. Because tai chi is low impact and focuses on proper technique instead of strictly building strength, many older adults are discovering how tai chi can benefit them. Furthermore, practicing tai chi doesn’t require specific equipment, so it’s inexpensive, and can be practiced in groups or outdoors. This increases the appeal for many.

Some of the health benefits to be gained by practicing tai chi include improved posture, balance, and coordination, as well as increased strength and flexibility. Tai chi also helps to reduce stiffness and pain, improve sleep patterns, and promote inner-peace and clarity. Therefore, regularly practicing tai chi leads to an overall sense of well-being.

Filed Under: Health Tips, Practices Tagged With: Health, Martial arts, Tai chi chuan

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 Better Way to Breathe

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It seems like a simple task to breathe correctly. In fact, breathing is the only bodily function that humans do both consciously and unconsciously. Therefore, it may be a surprise that many of us are breathing incorrectly!

Babies are born with an innate knowledge of proper breathing technique, which is to engage our abdominal muscles to support full belly breathing. Unfortunately, other factors that hinder our ability to maintain this healthy way of abdominal breathing eventually surface, causing us to shift our habit from abdominal breathing to chest breathing. Chest breathing can be described as taking shorter, shallower breaths, utilizing only the upper and middle portions of our lungs. When this happens, some oxygen is left in the bottom area of our lungs, and the appropriate amount of carbon dioxide is not expelled. When we take shallow breaths, the exchange of oxygen is not as efficient as it should be. This leads to unhealthy side effects, such as an increase in tension, sleep disorders, digestion problems, irritability, etc. A lack of needed oxygen reaching the cells may also be a contributing factor in cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

The benefits of taking slow, deep breaths abound. It is said that animals that breathe slower live longer. The breath is the foundation of many practices, like martial arts, yoga, and meditation. This is because breathing properly increases the amount of oxygen in the blood, and increased oxygen flowing to the tissues helps to relax muscle tension and ease circulation, among other benefits.

To breathe properly: sit up straight, maintain good posture (to do so, pull your shoulders back and down and imagine that you are putting your shoulders in your back pockets), and breathe through your nose. As you inhale, keep your shoulders down and back and envision your sternum pulling up and away from your navel. As you exhale, don’t let your chest sink. Rather, try to squeeze your shoulder blades together, like you are trying to hold a pencil vertically between them. Learning how to breathe properly and implement this technique consistently takes practice but could add years to your life!

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Health Tips, Herbal Treatment, Practices Tagged With: Breathing, Health, Lung, Oxygen