United States | Alternative Medicine Database

Staying Positive in a Changing Economy

We’re living in a whole new social and economic landscape these days. Many of our expectations about life and what our society has to offer us were upended when our economy was rocked by the stocked market crash of 2008 and the long and wearying recession that followed it.

Is it over? Are we there yet? Is the recovery really on its way? It depends on who you ask. Corporate earnings are up, yet the news reports of ongoing unemployment are daunting. We’re living in a time of change and transformation in our society and it’s having a major impact on careers and how we live our lives.

How can we deal effectively with the kind of unprecedented changes we are now being asked—forced—to deal with? Staying positive and healthy in the face of daunting economic news is one of the biggest challenges facing many of us today. In the midst of a major economic downturn, however, it’s critical that we remain positive and strong, in order to deal with the many changes coming our way.

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How do we stay strong? Practice gratitude. In the book, ‘The Prosperity Plan,’ author and self-help coach Laura Fortgang advises anyone struggling with financial issues to practice a meditation of gratitude. Fortgang advises waking up every morning and making a list of at least three things to be grateful for in our lives—no matter what. This simple practice can be life changing, as looking at the events in our lives from a positive standpoint of gratitude can transform our attitudes and feelings about what is happening. This action in itself can manifest change in our lives, our health and our careers.

Filed Under: Healing, Health Tips Tagged With: Gross domestic product, Recession, United States

Turn Back the Clock

Wouldn’t it be great if we could find some fountain of youth to reverse the aging process? Since the beginning of time, people have been looking for some way to live longer and feel better. Believe it or not, the secret may have been right at our fingertips the whole time.

Research shows one of the most important things that you can do to extend your life expectancy is physical activity. There is no substitute for exercise and keeping your body and mind engaged. The United States Department of Health recommends at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week. This could be walking or jogging, working out in a gym or just working in the garden. Only your imagination will limit how you get your exercise.

The experts at meijicollege.org say the health benefits of exercise are numerous:

stronger heart and lungs
increased blood circulation throughout the body
improved mood
keeps weight off
boosts energy levels.

Physical activity alone will not guarantee that you beat the average life expectancy of Americans which is now 78 years old, but it is a good start. A healthy diet that is low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables is an important component as well. As you age, you should also consider natural supplements that have been shown to help counter the effects of aging. Glucosamine Sulfate will help with joint pain and arthritis. Anti-oxidants will help prevent cancer and sustain organ function. Green tea extract and grape seed extract are excellent sources of anti-oxidants which will help you take on Father Time.

Filed Under: General, Health Tips Tagged With: Father Time, Life expectancy, United States

Acupuncture and Anesthesia

Following the Chinese Civil War the Chinese Communist Party stressed science and held in ridicule many traditional Chinese beliefs in medicine as nothing more than superstition. Acupuncture fell into the group of irrational, backward beliefs. Later, Mao Zedong reversed the official position of the government emphasizing the need to elevate traditional Chinese forms of pharmacology and medicine.
It wasn’t until President Richard Nixon visited China that acupuncture began to be noticed in the United States. The delegation was taken to see an operation where the surgery on the patient was being performed without anesthesia. Instead he was awake and undergoing acupuncture to block the pain during the procedure. However, it was later found that this was a sham as the patient used for this demonstration had a very high tolerance to pain and in addition to being heavily indoctrinated prior to the operation he was also receiving morphine through a surreptitiously hidden intravenous drip line.
James Reston, a New York Times reporter and part of the delegation that visited China with Nixon, suffered an emergency appendectomy (under regular anesthesia). For his post operative pain he received acupuncture, and believed it to have reduced the pain he should have been experiencing. He wrote about it in the New York Times. As a consequence, by 1973 acupuncture became a deductible medical expense in the United States.
The BBC produced documentary in 2006 called Alternative Medicine. In it they filmed the operation of a patient undergoing open heart surgery while under anesthesia produced by acupuncture. Later is came to light that the patient had actually been given several weak anesthetics which together had a more powerful effect than regular anesthesia.
The scientific community has now dropped the idea that acupuncture is a reasonable alternative to anesthesia. In fact, the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal reported in 1995 that acupuncture had fallen out of favor and that medical practitioners now only consider acupuncture as a pain reducer and not an anesthetic.

Filed Under: Acupuncture Tagged With: United States

Herbal Remedies for Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are ongoing disorders in the United States that continue to be treated by psychologists and psychiatrists alike in a variety of ways. There is some debate as to whether counseling therapy or drugs are the most effective manner for treating or curing these problems. For the most part drugs are seen as means of treating the symptoms but not curing the root cause.
In the world of alternative medicine herbal remedies are generally preferred over drugs. First of all they offer a solution that does not grow out of pharmaceutically based drugs which quite often have side effects that hurt rather than ameliorate the symptoms people are suffering with. Though the herbal remedies like their pharmaceutical cousins don’t claim to cure anxiety or depression, they do assist in alleviating the symptoms which can so drastically affect those afflicted with these disorders.
In place of the medications like the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as flouxetine (commonly known as Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), herbal alternative are available. There are over the counter herbs like Valerian Root or Winter Cherry and Passionflower that help lessen the effects of anxiety and depression.
A very popular alternative for years now continues to be St. John’s Wort for those suffering from mild forms of anxiety and depression. Passionflower has a calming effect which in concentrations of 200 mg is quite effective in treating anxiety. Finally Valerian Root, a supplement taken to help prevent insomnia also has possible beneficial effects for those dealing with anxiety, though there is little scientific study to completely support this.
Though these herbal remedies have little to no side effects common with many of the stronger pharmaceutical options, they still offer significant benefits. Some herbs, however, can interact adversely with prescription drugs, so consulting with a doctor before taking them is always advisable.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Herbal Treatment Tagged With: Herbalism, St John's wort, United States

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

Secrets to a Speedy Rehabilitation

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Chances are that at some point during your lifetime you will require physical rehabilitation. If you suffer from an injury or have surgery, your doctor will expect you to follow a program of exercise and physical therapy to help you recover. Here are some steps to take to make sure your therapy will be successful.

Before you leave the hospital, be sure that you can perform the recommended exercises. If your thinking may be fuzzy due to medication, ask a family member to be present when the therapist explains your exercise routine. She can write down directions and explanations for later reference.

Have a family member ‘spot’ you as you exercise. She can help keep you steady, safe, and make sure you are correctly performing the exercise.

If your rehabilitation requires you to go to a special therapy facility, make sure that the facility is covered by your insurance. Check out the reputation of the institution that you are considering. Visit it in person if at all possible. Make sure the facility is within easy commuting distance from your home, that it is well maintained, is clean, and that the staff is cheerful and pleasant . Check out the staff credentials making sure that they are fully licensed. You could even ask for a referral of previous patients and get their opinion about the facilities.

If you do not develop a good rapport with your therapist, do not hesitate to ask your doctor if there is someone else that you could go to for your therapy. You need someone who is friendly and supportive and who will keep you motivated through the entire recovery process.

An injury or lengthy illness can cause a wide influx of emotions. Feelings of depression can limit your willingness to stick with your therapy. If this is your case, consult your doctor for the name of someone who could give you counseling.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine Tagged With: Clinics, Health, Occupational therapy, Physical exercise, Physical therapy, Physician, Professions, United States

Alternative medicine: Alkalinity and Acidity

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Many people argue over what the exact optimal balance of alkalinity to acidity a body should maintain. But what they do not argue about is that to function properly the body needs to be somewhere in the range of 6.5 to 7.5 to achieve the proper balance of acid and alkaline in the body to function properly.

The importance of this cannot be understated but to understand this you first have to understand what an acid and an alkaline is. If already do then bear with me. Every substance is measures on the pH scale which runs from 0 to 14. Water happens to fall smack dab in the middle of his spectrum at 7.0 and represents neutrality, neither alkaline nor acidic, a liquid Switzerland if you will. The more alkaline the substance the higher the number while the more acidic the substance the lower the number.

Currently in the United States diets are heavily acidic. In fact, there is an overwhelming imbalance in the bodies of most Americans tilted towards acidity. Our bodies are completely not neutral due to our diet. That is because our diets heavily consist of meat, fish poultry, eggs, grains and soft drinks which are all heavily acidic. These foods are acid forming because they contain high levels of sulfur, minerals, iron and phosphorus. None of these things are bad but in the quantity at which we are ingesting them into are bodies it is producing negative results. What can combat this? The consumption of fruit and vegetables but currently that is at an all-time low in the United States. The way to keep your body balanced is to eat a variety of health food that maintain the balance between alkalinity and acidity within the body to help maintain our optimal level of 6.5 to 7.5

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine Tagged With: Acid, Alkali, Alkalinity, PH, Soft drink, Switzerland, United States, Wine tasting descriptors

Alternative Medicine and Massage

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Although there is not that much contemporary research in how massage influences the body and mind the practice is referenced in various ancient texts from China, Japan, Egypt and Greece. It has been practiced and alluded to for hundreds of years. And at one point in time was so highly regarded that in ancient Greece Hippocrates called the art of medicine the art of rubbing.

Massage came back into favor during the renaissance when but was somewhat lost again soon after. It was not introduced into the United States until two scientists who were studying in Sweden brought it to attention in the 1850’s. It was in favor until the 1930’s when medicine thought it too primitive. However regained favor among athletes in the 1970’s. Since then massage has become mainstream. It is the quintessential relaxation break. A time to indulge and treat oneself.

Alternative medicine has always touted massage as a remedy to body aches and ailments. When athletes started using the technique again in the 1970’s it became popular again. This field soon became known as sports massage. There are different forms of massage for different ailments. Swedish massage is the original massage and the basis of sports massage. Both use long strokes, deep circular movements, kneading and sometimes tapping to alleviate pain in the patient. Deep tissue massage, which as the name suggests uses deep massage strokes into the skin to relieve tension spots and pain. This technique tries to remove all the muscle knots in our own body so it can alleviate pain. But all techniques have the same purpose to put the body in a state of calm and to ease tension.

Regardless of which massage technique you use for yourself the benefits of massage, although not measured, cannot be ignored. Millions of people every year rely on the serenity and pain relief administered by professional masseurs.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine Tagged With: Egypt, Greece, Health, Japan, Massage, Pain, Sweden, United States

Celebrities and Alternative Medicine

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Celebrities were some of the first people to introduce eastern medicine and holistic medicine into the Western vernacular. Celebrities trying unorthodox methods is nothing new in 1980 Steve McQueen went to Mexico to try alternative therapies such as the use of apricot pits and coffee enemas as a last resort to deal with his lung cancer.

Currently there are many celebrities spouting out medical advice. Tom Cruise famously called psychiatry a pseudo-science and came out against Ritalin and anti-depressants.

Suzanne Somers just wrote her 18th book entitled Knockout which claims to be interview doctors who are curing cancer with alternative therapies. Having had a scare with breast cancer in 2000 she announced in 2007 that she was cancer free. Somers says her experience woke her up to the establishment’s inability to consider alternative therapies viable options for some patients. She states that while chemotherapy is helpful for certain cancers it does not typically help in prevalent cancers such as breast and lung and claims chemotherapy can be more harmful than helpful. However, she maintains that her therapies are not for everyone and all must make that decision themselves.

Jenny McCarthy, former playboy model and TV host, has written two books on autism after her son Evan was diagnosed with the disease at the age of two. She believes that her song got autism due to vaccines. She states that the sudden spike in autism coincided with the tripling of the United States children vaccine schedule rising from 10 in 1983 to 36 in 2007. She believes that because kids are injected with some many vaccinations, which she claims are toxins, at such an early age there has to be a correlation. She says that since the start of her child’s autism she has worked only to educate other about the condition. She states that what helped her child was a gluten-free diet, vitamins and supplements and detoxification from metal.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine Tagged With: Alternative medicine, Cancer, Health, Jenny McCarthy, Steve McQueen, Suzanne Somers, Tom Cruise, United States

Alternative Medicine and Acupuncture

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Acupuncture as a medical procedure dates back to the second century and is one of the oldest documented medical practices to date. Like a variety of eastern medicines, acupuncture became popular towards the end of the 20th century and has steadily increased in popularity and acceptance into the medical community as time goes on. Acupuncture is an important contribution to the rise in popularity of holistic medicine. Holistic medicine is a medical practice that seeks to treat the individual as a whole, taking into consideration their physical, mental, spiritual and emotional well being instead of simply treating the acute, visible illness.

As one of the most popular alternative medicines, acupuncture works towards this end by promoting a healing process that connects various physical and mental maladies with various pressure, or meridian points, on the body. Acupuncture increases blood flow to the troubled areas by puncturing the skin with a specially designed stainless steel needle. According to traditional Chinese acupuncture lore, the act of pricking and leaving the needle in the pressure point allows the blood (or more specifically the life-force called qi) to move freely in the body, bringing blood and sustenance to the trouble area. Each pressure point connects directly to a specific organ such as the liver, stomach or heart, etc…

Acupuncture, noted for its longevity and consistency, has been one of the first alternative medicines to be used by traditional western medical professionals. Both the World Health Organization and the United States Institute of Health have issued official statements stating that acupuncture has been effectively used in the treatment of neurological conditions and the pain relief. Specifically acupuncture is used to alleviate after-surgery nausea and lower back pain. The relative acceptance of acupuncture has led to scores of people who have never used alternative medicines or heard of holistic medicine to undergo acupuncture procedures with amazing results.

As acupuncture becomes more popular as an alternative medicine more and more doctors are turning to this ancient Chinese practice to address some of the most basic physical and neurological symptoms such as chronic pain and headaches.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine Tagged With: Acupuncture, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Alternative, Alternative medicine, Health, Medicine, United States, World Health Organization