Alternative Medicine LifestyleAlternative Medicine Lifestyle

Natural Health and Wellness

natural remedies

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How Modality Can Help Decide On A Remedy

Autumn. Fall scene. Beautiful Autumnal park. Beauty nature sceneIn homeopathy, the name of a disease or a symptom is not sufficient for the selection of a matching remedy. To select a curative remedy, you need to detect the conditions which make you feel better or worse. A condition which makes you or a symptom better or worse is called a modality.

Modalities are one part of the complete symptom. The complete symptom is the detailed description of your complaint.

A modality can be as simple as fresh air or cold drinks. It could also be something very contradictive such as stomach pain which improves when drinking coffee or the aversion of company while being afraid of being alone.

Modalities let us distinguish one remedy from another.

There are hundreds of remedies which have caused a particular symptom in a proving. They differ in their modalities. Therefore modalities help you find the remedy which corresponds best to your symptom or condition.

Without modalities, it is nearly impossible to find the corresponding medicine.

So when searching for a remedy, you first need to find those that come up with the symptom you want to cure. From those preselected remedies, you select a remedy that is associated with the same modalities as your symptom.

Modality categories

• Time (of the day, week (e. g. worse at 4 p.m., in the evening, in the evening in bed, before midnight, at night, at midnight, after midnight, early in the morning, 3 a. m., 4 a.m., a.m., after sleeping, before breakfast, after breakfast etc.)
• Seasons and time of the moon (spring, summer, fall, winter, dampness, humidity, full moon, new moon, changing moon phases, wind, East wind, North wind, etc.)
• Weather and air, temperature (humidity, wind, draft, dampness, cold, getting cold, warmth, weather changes, wrapping up and warm packs, a hot bath, fresh air etc.)
• Physical touch and pressure
• Position/posture (standing, getting up from sitting, getting up from laying down, sitting down)
• Motion (moving the body, moving a limb, turning the suffering limb, getting up from bed, rising sitting down, lying, bending, stretching, walking, jogging etc.)
• Body activity (coughing, singing, talking, sneezing, after sleeping, while eating, drinking smoking etc.)
• Sensory (odors, touch, noise, bright light)
• Psychological (from excitement, overwork, insult, trauma, being alone, being among others, mental efforts, anger, fright, fear, sudden loss etc.)

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How Natural Remedies Can Help You

bigstockphoto_Vector_Reiki_Eps_22130465000 Year-Old Medical Secret Unearthed!

When you get sick, you go to the doctor. And the doctor will, of course, prescribe medicines. You will go and buy medicines. You take them, and hopefully, you get well.

This is how the health profession goes on nowadays – a cycle of diagnosis and prescription.

If anyone were to give you herbs for medicine, you would probably say that that person was a quack.

But nowadays, studies are being conducted to see if there are really is any merit to what is called natural medicine.

Natural medicine is the use of natural methods, herbal medicines, and traditional practices to heal ailments. Every culture has a form of natural medicine. In ancient cultures, village medicine men served as the doctors of the community, passing on medical knowledge to the apprentices that followed them.

Many categories of the healing methods fall under natural medicine. Among these are traditional medicine, complementary medicine, and alternative medicine.

Usually, natural medicine refers to medical practices that were in place before the advent of modern medicine.

This includes herbal medicine, or phytotherapy, which is prevalent in Chinese, Ayurvedic(or Indian), and Greek medicine.

Upon the advent of modern medicine, many professionals discarded the use of herbs in favor of man-made medicine. The fact that these treatments are based on the healing properties of some herbs was forgotten.

For example, opium, digitalis, quinine, and aspirin all have their roots in traditional medicine.

Natural medicine can be considered as a lost art. This does not mean that it has lost efficacy over time. In some cases, natural therapy is actually better than modern medicine. This leads some doctors to seriously consider and study the possible uses of natural medicine

Before we continue, it is important to stress that not all the natural remedies are legitimate. It would help to only try those remedies which have been thoroughly studied and are relatively risk free.

Take herbal medicine for example. There are many well-documented and studied herbal remedies available. However, only those that deal with minor ailments such as cough, colds, fever, skin rashes, and its ilk are likely to be recommended by health professionals. These remedies are sometimes superior to synthetic medicine. This is because herbal medicines are less likely to cause negative side effects.

Currently there are numerous organizations that study the effects and advocacy of natural medicine – among which is herbal medicine. Some governments and health agencies openly advocate the use of natural methods since they are inexpensive and relatively risk-free.

As their studies compile, more herbs and treatments are added to the list of accepted medicines. However, many herbs and treatments have been proven to be bogus medicine. This represents a challenge for both the user and the agencies because they have to ascertain that the treatments they either use or advocate are legitimate.

There exist today many alternative medical treatments that fall under natural medicine. However, not all of them have been proven to be effective. You could mention homeopathy, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and other alternative medical treatments. It would pay to consult the experts as to the legitimacy of these treatments.

Natural medicine should also be thought of as an accompanying medicine. Right now, the current collective medical thought suggests that natural medicine be used only to supplement accepted modern medical practices. In that case of minor ailments your expert we actually advise you to take natural therapies instead.

The practice of modern medicine revolves around diagnosing an illness and prescribing treatments for such. Natural medicine is helpful because it suggests that treatment be not necessarily given only when sick. Natural medicine strives to make each patient practice good health habits. These habits include good diet, healthy living, and the regular natural treatment.

It is this same line of thought that leads our parents to tell us to eat our vegetables. Yes, a healthy lifestyle and will do no harm to our well-being. And this is the foundation of natural medicine – may it be massage, herbal medicine, aromatherapy or others.

It is funny but true that science, in its quest for excellence, is studying the knowledge of sages past. This, surprisingly, leads us back to the remedies nature offers. The possibilities of finding remedies to everyday illnesses in natural medicine are encouraging. So staying tuned to studying these remedies is worthwhile until we can verify that these therapies are truly helpful to our health and our society.

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Natural Remedies For CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)

juice-exercise1-6It is perfectly normal to feel tired after doing some strenuous physical activity, such as chopping and gathering firewood or walking up a steep hill. Usually, after a short period of rest you should be well recovered. However, if you find yourself feeling tired for seemingly no reason at all and the feeling of exhaustion has been persisting for months, you may want to visit your doctor to enquire about chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS.

It is still unclear as to what causes chronic fatigue syndrome. Some theories suggest that it is due to a viral infection, mainly because the symptoms associated with CFS are very similar to those of common viral infections. For instance, headache, sore throat, muscle aches and joint pain are some common symptoms. Others symptoms include: brain fog, impaired concentration or memory, irritable bowel issues and feeling unrested after adequate periods of sleep.

So far, no medication has yet been developed that can cure CFS. Similar to viral infections that do not have a known cure either, current best practice to conquer chronic fatigue syndrome is to strengthen your immune system by regularly taking vitamins, exercising and resting as needed. The following are some helpful tips and home remedies that may help you boost your energy and feel more invigorated.

1. Eat more raw fruits and vegetables. The vitamins and minerals found in these healthy foods are excellent for strengthening the immune system and making you less susceptible to CFS. Drink at least 8 glasses of pure water a day to help flush out the toxins inside your body. You may want to supplement with Acidophilus or consume raw yogurt to keep your digestive system functioning properly.

2. Get regular exercise. Ideally, 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise each day is recommended. It is vital to keep your joints and muscles supple and your body strong to help protect against chronic fatigue syndrome. If you don’t have the time for this you may have to settle for a 15-20 minute workout 3 times a week.

Many people think they need to drive to a gym in order to get adequate exercise. This is not the case.

• How about incorporating a brisk walk into your day?
• Taking the stairs whenever possible?
• Jogging with the dog or mowing your lawn with more enthusiasm?

There are many ways you can add exercise into your day. Try doing lunges while you are brushing your teeth. Or perhaps doing triceps dips and abdominal crunches during commercials when watching TV? Get creative. Turn the music up and dance your way through your house cleaning routine!

3. Try natural supplements. Herbal medicines which have been found to contain immune system boosting qualities include Echinacea, Goldenseal and Ginseng root. Taking these supplements on a semi-regular basis is a great way to help protect yourself from CFS.

Herbal therapies are safe, natural and effective if you allow them time to work and follow directions. Some herbs such as Echinacea are not recommended to be taken more for more than 6 weeks to 8 weeks at a time, so be sure and check with your health practitioner. Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Devil’s Claw are successfully used by many individuals who suffer from joint pain as well.

Taking extra Vitamin C and Zinc can help boost your immune system. Taking Essential Fatty Acids, such as Omega 3, 6, and 9 oils, is not only great for your brain and cognitive function but also lubricates your joints from the inside out, making them even more useful if you are experiencing muscle pain and soreness.

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The Role Of Stress In Diabetes And Natural Remedies

meterStress happens to everyone. We all experience it. At one time or another, physical or mental circumstances which we perceive as a threat affect us. This triggers our fight or flight response, and a cascade of physical responses follow. Muscles tighten and engage to prepare for action. Hormones are released, among them adrenaline to lend us speed and strength, and cortisol which boosts blood pressure and blood sugar, for increased circulation and energy. Cortisol is what poses a serious thread for people with diabetes.

Stress and Blood Sugar

Ideally, diabetics keep their blood sugar levels fairly balanced. For a diabetic living in a state of chronic stress, this becomes improbable if not impossible. The stress response releases hormones which cue the body to release increased levels of glucose; the physical signals caused by the stress response indicate a need for quick energy–more sugar in the blood stream.

The stress response also has a behavioral effect on diabetes. People living with diabetes and chronic stress often experience greater difficulty making appropriate lifestyle choices. They may indulge in “comfort” foods (fat and sugar heavy foods), which further increases sugar in the blood stream. They will likely also take less time for physical activity or forget to monitor their blood sugar levels.

These factors make it especially important for diabetics to manage and mitigate their stress levels. A variety of natural therapies to assist with stress management and relief are available.

Many of them are low cost or no cost. The most significant investment required to benefit from them is time. The time is well worth the return on investment, good health and improved mental well-being.

Ways to Reduce Stress

A person may choose several approaches to stress management. They may choose to focus on mental exercises to calm and focus the mind. Others select physical activity as their preferred relaxation method. Many people choose to use a combination of mental and physical relaxation techniques to reduce their stress levels.

Assess Your Stress

A good way to begin the process is to evaluate your daily activities and discern where and when you experience stress.

When a fairly decent list is ready, check for the items over which you can exert some control. If you are constantly running late, setting your clock ahead by 15 or 20 minutes might allow you to stay on track and arrive on time or early.

Physical approaches to stress management include more than traditional exercise (calisthenics, weight training, running, etc.):

• Hobbies
• Crafts
• Singing Lessons
• Volunteering in a variety of settings

The key is to select and activity which allows you to be relaxed and moving at the same time.

Mental approaches to calming the mind and body include more than meditation:

Breathwork

As the fight or flight response confirms, the physical and mental state of a person more often than not aligns with their breathing patterns.

  • In the fight or flight response, breathing becomes accelerated to increase the volume of oxygen available to fight or flee.
  • Sleeppresents a different breathing pattern, a typically deep and slow one
  • A calm person presents yet another breath pattern, steady and even.

A variety of exercises are available to practice breath awareness and breath control. These exercises allow a person to shift the direction of their breath to align with their desired mental state. For the purposes of our discussion, this means shifting anxiety or negative emotion to a sense of calm and well-being.

  • The exercises practiced may be simple cyclical breaths of even inhales and exhales.
  • A person may choose to count breaths up to a certain number.
  •  Another option is to set a timer and do nothing but breathe for 5, 10 or 20 minute increments.

Progressive Relaxation Therapy

During progressive relaxation therapy, a person alternates engaging the muscles of a specific body part and relaxing them. They do this for each part of the body in increments as large or small as they like.

They could begin with wiggling and relaxing the toes or flexing and relaxing the whole foot and so on until every part of the body is addressed, including the face. Audio recordings are available to guide you through this process.

Change the Scenario: Mindset

Another way to say this would be change your mindset. Whenever a negative thought or fear comes to mind, reimagine it as a positive.

Visualization

If you are feeling anxious, visualize yourself in a place or setting you find calming and soothing. You may also paint a picture of a happy memory and spend time recalling it to re-experience the sense of happiness or well being it engenders.

Other forms of visualization are more abstract, such as imagining a warm soothing light enveloping the body and soothing away aches and pains while breathing deeply.

Optimize Wellbeing

Other activities focus primarily on using the mind to body connection to optimize your physical and mental well-being:

Activities which encourage a calm mind and sound body include Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates. These activities directly tie the movement of the body to the breath creating a sense of calm, easing anxiety and building physical fitness.

Summary

Implementing stress management activities in their daily lives is essential to the well being of diabetics. The importance of these types of lifestyle choices are magnified for them, because stress increases two of their greatest health challenges, blood pressure and glucose levels in the blood stream.

The range of stress management solutions available makes this a very approachable and necessary lifestyle choice to apply.

You can simply try each of these therapies with the guidance of your doctor or a wellness specialist to find the right tools for you.

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Best Herbal Teas For Anxiety

herbal teasAnxiety symptoms can leave a person debilitated and fearful of even leaving their home. The feeling itself can really have a major impact on overall wellbeing, especially for those who suffer at a chronic level and have to deal with anxiety on a regular basis. It can cause exhaustion, and negatively impact one’s qualify of life. Anxiety is also a major cause of depression and often those diagnosed with any type of anxiety condition also suffer from depression.

Conventional medicine typically uses prescription medication and psychotherapy to treat anxiety and anxiety based disorders. However, many natural complementary therapies can also be of great help. It is well worth the effort to explore these options in order to avoid becoming addicted to prescription drugs, and to enhance any other type of therapy being used for treatment.

There are a number of herbal teas and other plant botanical treatments that can leave you calm and help to alleviate the nervous feelings associated with anxiety and anxiety disorders.

Herbs have been used for centuries to alleviate numerous ailments and help with various medical conditions. They are natural options to addictive medications and can be used as a complementary therapy in treating anxiety disorders and isolated anxiety events.

Most herbal remedies come from the Far East, while others were developed in Europe and in the Pacific Islands.

The best ways to reduce anxiety with the use of botanicals are as follows:

• Passionflower. This herbal remedy has been found through research to work as well as the addicting benzodiazepines available by a prescription from your doctor in the treatment of anxiety. One well-designed study showed that passionflower reduced anxiety over a four-week period; the herbal remedy was just as effective as a popular anti-anxiety medication. It is believed useful in the treating agitation, irritability, depression, and withdrawal from opiates. It can be taken as a tea or through liquid extract drops.
• Lavender. A recent study showed that lavender relaxed people and controlled many of the symptoms as well as the prescription medication Ativan on patients who had generalized anxiety symptoms. It is non-sedating and is taken as an essential oil for inhalation or as a crushed supplement in a capsule form.
• Lemon Balm. Lemon balm is used in aromatherapy, in dropper liquid form, in a bath or taken as a dried herb. It has been shown to reduce anxiety after only a single dose.
• Ashwagandha. This is an herbal remedy given as a standardized supplement for the relief of anxiety symptoms. Several studies showed reductions in the stress hormone cortisol and a reduction of anxiety-related symptoms with Ashwagandha. It can be taken for a long period without any serious side effects. In one study, it compared favorably with Ativan.
• L Theanine. L-theanine is a water-soluble amino acid that is found in both black tea and green tea. It can be taken as a tea or as a regular capsule supplement. It is non-addictive and has no sedative side effects. It is believed to act directly on brain structures to lessen anxiety and stress-related symptoms.
• Kava. This root powder was originally used in religious ceremonies on many Pacific islands because it induces a calm that can facilitate a release of anxiety. Kava is not taken as a tea, but instead in capsule form for the reduction of anxiety.
Herbal remedies have some special properties not found in anxiety-relieving benzodiazepines. They are all natural supplements with many centuries of successful use. They are also non-addicting and are gentle on your system. Herbal tea is a safe and easy way to maintain feelings of calm on a daily basis.

Herbal teas and the practices described above can be used to help relieve symptoms of anxiety, without addiction or unwanted side effects. Talk with your doctor before trying them so you know they won’t mix badly with other medications you are taking.

For the most part, they have no side effects. However, it is important to realize that herbs can interfere with sedative medications, so caution should be taken, ask your doctor or an herbalist before starting use.