Alternative Therapies in Health Medicine

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that as many as 62% of Americans use some form of alternative medicine. With Government funding, medical science is beginning to study the effectiveness of alternative and complementary treatments. Some of the therapies are showing positive results. Of the various categories of treatment “mind-body therapies” seems to have the greatest rate of success. Here are three types of alternative therapies that have documented valid scientific evidence behind them:

Acupuncture - Eastern philosophy says that acupuncture affects the flow of qi (pronounced chee), or energy through the energy meridians in our body. Western medical doctors explain that the needles interact with our nervous system by triggering the release of chemicals that affect our mood, perception of pain and immune response.

Medical research indicates acupuncture has been most successful with reducing pain due to knee arthritis, reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and in vitro fertilization.

Meditation - Meditation in its most standard form usually involves focusing on deep breathing and repeating a mantra. This process activates the relaxation response in our bodies which lowers blood pressure and improves hormone balance.

Alternative Cancer Therapies

Found this article in Parade Magazine and it gave good information about alternative cancer therapies. I summarized the major points.

More than 70% of cancer patients use complementary and alternative (CAM) medical therapies, according to a study in the journal Cancer. Alternative therapies may include acupuncture, meditation, supplements, hypnosis, homeopathy, prayer and religion.

Years ago alternative medicine was considered ineffective by the medical community and still today you will find some doctors who do not support that type of treatment. Most doctors though are willing to consider it. The American Cancer Society recently released its Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies. The book is to be used as a reference book and details hundreds of alternative therapies including evidence of effectiveness and side effects.

Historical evidence indicates that most patients who use natural remedies are not using them as a cure but for help in handling the side effects of radiation or chemotherapy. Common side effects are nausea, stress, and harm to the immune system.

The Cancer Society guide also covers many therapies for which there is no evidence such as shark cartilage, enzyme therapy and electro-magnetic therapy. Some alternative therapies can be dangerous, according to the guide, for instance chelation therapy, oxygen therapy, and hyperthermia.

How To Look 10 Years Younger

There is huge line of products out there promising to make us look younger. But you know there are so many natural ways to slow the aging process and most of them are very inexpensive. AOL Health did a great post on home remedies for anti-aging. They asked their readers for their own home grown remedies and here are some of their tips:

Stress Less

Stress can cause us to tense our facial muscles which causes wrinkles and can be hard on our entire body. Our bodies are not designed to be in the “fight” mode all the time. Learning how to get rid of those stressful feelings can go along way toward keeping your body young not to mention lower your blood pressure. Many people say meditation is the best way to de-stress but you can also do breathing exercises, take a relaxing bath, listen to soothing music, do yoga, or exercise. Just pick one that works for you and you will feel so much better and look younger too.

Keep Covered

Happiness is – What You Eat

You can actually eat your way to a happier disposition. Certain foods can make us feel good by boosting our energy or putting us in a better mood. I know your thinking chocolate, chocolate ice cream, chocolate cake, chocolate brownies. Need I go on? But no, chocolate is not on the list though you should see our related postDark Chocolate Is Good For You.

Here are five foods that can help lift your mood:

Cereal: Deficiencies in folic acid can make you feel depressed. Breakfast cereals contain folic acid, which boosts levels of serotonin, which regulates mood in your brain. If your still stuck on the chocolate thing – eat Cocoa Puffs!

Walnuts: Foods high in fat can increase endorphins, which can make you happy. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in walnuts. They’re also found in flaxseed and salmon. Again chocolate lovers – dip walnuts in dark chocolate and label the container “For medicinal purposes.”

Beans and grains: Carbohydrate-rich food contribute to higher levels of serotonin, which can lead to increased feelings of pleasure. Whole grain bread, brown rice,, potatoes and pasta are carbohydrate rich.

Hypnosis for Losing Weight

Hypnosis for weight loss and hypnosis for stress are one of the frequent reasons people consider hypnosis. Here is a brief explanation of what hypnosis is and some comments by therapists and clients (from an article that appeared in the health section of our paper):

“Hypnosis,” said Chris Penell of Spirit Quest Healing. “It’s about getting the subconscious to look at things differently.” Penell says hypnosis can treat smoking, weight control, phobias, procrastination, anxiety, self-forgiveness, guilt, anger issues and insomnia. “Most people, about 99 percent, even though they think they know what is bothering them, they really don’t,” Pennel said. “It’s actually some subconscious thought that is causing them to be stressed.”

Penell using a soothing voice and deep relaxation skills, takes clients back to the “seed” to get their subconscious to release a negative trigger and replace it with a positive one. “I use the color green,” Penell said. “We put a positive trigger of the color green in your subconscious, and when you feel stressed, you look at the color green and become more calm, relaxed, and think more clearly.”

Anxiety Cures

With the holidays sometimes comes anxiety and depression. Did you know that orange blossom is a very effective anti-depressant. Pamela Allerdyce author of Natural Remedies A to Z says “The gorgeous scent of these flowers (Citrus aurantium) is distilled into an essential oil which is one of the most effective antidepressants around. It has been documented as slowing down and calming the mind and it is very useful for people who tend to panic and for those who are prone to hyperventilation or are under a great deal of strain. It has even been used clinically to treat cardiac patients with great success.”

Add 4 to 6 drops to a warm bath to soothe and comfort the brain and the body.You can also just put a few drops on a hankerchief and inhale the scent or use an aromotherapy diffuser. I have found orange blossom essential oil in the health section of our local grocery store and it is not too expensive ( $4.00 to $5.00). Aromatherapists use orange blossom (neroli) oil to treat patients suffering from anxiety and insomnia because of its sedative properties. They also use it to treat broken veins and dry skin. It is particularly indicated for use in a facial steam or massage by people with dry, ageing or unduly fragile skin, particularly at the time of menopause.