Karen’s Free Health and Fitness Tips

Alternative medicines come in many forms and Ayurvedic is one of them. Many people have not heard of this healing medium as it only came to the fore in 1980 although the practice of Ayurvedic healing is said to be over 5000 years old.

Ayurvedic means life and knowledge. This ancient alternative healing system has been practiced in India for many years although there is now a tendency towards western style medicine in the main cities. But most of the population live in rural areas where it is estimated that 70% still use this form of healing.

The basics of Ayurvedic are broke down into three main categories and those are diet, herbs, and yoga. Certain authorities have warned that some of the herbs used could be poisonous, and there are a host of people saying that this form of alternative medicine is a rip off, and that if anyone should want to go down this route of alternative medicine is that they should double check what they are taking. Not being a scientist or a botanist I feel as though I do not have that sort of expertise to comment any further about the herbs used.

I have at least two friends who have been on anti-depressants for years and the fact that they are still on them, makes me think that there must be an alternative medication for depression. There is, but the drugs companies are keeping very quiet about it and they are laughing all the way to the bank.

One thing I did notice about my friends is that they put on an awful lot of weight and one of them has become so fat that she has had several falls and fractures and has led a miserable life as a result.

Before looking at alternative medicine for depression, let me just add that weight gain is not a given. It will vary from individual to individual and indeed in some cases, there is weight loss. In any case, these SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) interfere with your appetite. Add to that all the other side effects which range from rashes, tremors, dizziness, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, urinary tract infections, disturbed dreams and excessive sweating. These are listed for anti-depressants such as Fluoxetine and Tofranil. It is unlikely that one patient could suffer from all of these side effects but one or two of them would convince you that in fixing one ailment, you are messing up your body and mind. With alternative depression medications, the side effects are minimal or non-existent.

Tinnitus is an auditory condition often associated with the persistent use of portable audio devices such as the Ipod. While this piece of information seems to be hilarious and may likewise sound improbable to many, related medical literature suggests that tinnitus can in fact be triggered by the constant exposure to extremely loud noises and deafening sounds.

Sadly, no drugs have yet been developed to cure tinnitus and what remains as a doable solution is the immediate treatment of disorders that may be causing the manifest of this condition; rather than undergoing related surgery or electrical therapy-just to get rid of the irritating and ringing, background noise. Incidentally, the prescribed mode of treatment matches with the holistic methods adhered to in the practice of herbalism and homeopathy. Herbal remedies concocted for the treatment of auditory damage and other hearing disorders have been formulated using the extracts of potent herbs and/or homeopathic ingredients.

The therapeutic extracts available in the leaves of the Gingko Biloba support the treatment of degenerative conditions, including tinnitus. Likewise a known cognitive enhancer and circulatory system stimulant, the active compounds contained in its extracts stimulate the increased flow of oxygenated blood towards the different organs of the body. This consequently improves circulation and resolves auditory conditions such as tinnitus which may have been triggered by poor blood circulation. Today, the Gingko Biloba is increasingly prescribed by physicians and herbalists as an alternative medicine for tinnitus and other circulatory ailments.

Find Alternative Medicine Colleges in the United States and Canada. If you are drawn to complementary and alternative medicine, you are not alone. Alternative medicine colleges are growing in demand as “36 percent of U.S. adults aged 18 years and over use some form of complementary and alternative medicine.” [1] Alternative and complementary medicine therapies that are most commonly sought after include acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine, and nutritional [2] therapies. These professions are frequently taught to students in a number of alternative medicine colleges.

Before registering in the wide expand of alternative medicine colleges, you should first determine which alternative medicine practice you would like to enter. For example, if you interested in chiropractic, be sure that the selection of alternative medicine colleges in which you choose to enroll offer this course of study. Some alternative medicine colleges provide training in a diverse range of health therapies including education in pathology-specific treatments, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Studies offered through alternative medicine colleges in this area may include diverse curriculums in botanical or herbal medicine, supplements and vitamins, hydrotherapy, mind-body therapies, Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, homeopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture and other massage therapies.

You can almost rest assured that if medical science has treatments for any human problem, there will also be alternative medicine choices. People have suffered with all of the same maladies over the centuries that we suffer from today. They didn’t have a handy corner pharmacy, so they went to nature and their own inventiveness looking for cures. They developed techniques that would relieve human pain and found natural herbs that would relieve make them feel better.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, has been a human problem for centuries, and medical science learned to measure human blood pressure about a century and a half ago.

Acupuncture and acupressure have both been used very successfully to lower blood pressure readings. When needles are inserted into the wrist, forearm, or leg, or when pressure is applied, opioid chemicals in the brain that reduce responses in the cardiovascular system are released. This causes a decrease in heart activity and the need for oxygen, which can lower blood pressure.

Garlic, onions, carrots, and celery are known to reduce blood pressure. Garlic is the best known of the group, and garlic pills and capsules can be purchased at health food stores that are just as effective at reducing blood pressure as eating fresh garlic.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine or CAM are diagnostic or therapeutic techniques that are outside the mainstream of Western medicine. Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine while complementary medicine is used along with conventional medicine though some of the treatments methods are the same. Although most people utilize mainstream medicine for diagnosis and basic information, many are now turning to alternatives for what they believe to be total body health-enhancing measures.

CAM is very popular with people who are terminally ill and has also been used on animals. There have also been sufficient instances of “inexplicable” extension of life and other significant health benefits for people who have pursued these options that the Western health systems are now seriously starting to further assess these systems. Alternative medicine is a fairly broad term which covers many different methods of treatment such as acupuncture, homeopathy, Chinese herbal medicine, Ayurvedic and more.

Over the years, there has been an explosion of interest in learning more about alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Indeed, there are several different complementary and alternative medicine approaches. As such, we will provide you with information in regards to some natural substances that may be helpful for rheumatoid arthritis. However, keep in mind that what may work for one person may not work for another. In addition, it’s extremely important that you consult your physician before taking any herbal or dietary supplements.

Now, without further adieu, let’s delve into alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in regards to natural substances.

Become acquainted with the fish in the sea. Fish oil has shown favorable effects to help partially relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Fish oil harbors omega-3 fatty acids that have inflammation-fighting actions. However, it’s important to note that positive results can take three months to become evident. On the other hand, fish oil is often recommended by leading experts as one of the natural substances that may help rheumatoid arthritis sufferers and, as such, we have listed it as a consideration for alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, fish oil harbors many other powerful health enhancing benefits.

Alternative medicine for fibroids has been used by herbalists for many hundreds of years and like alternative treatments for all manner of conditions, is enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Until recently, doctors were all too quick to perform a hysterectomy to get rid of fibroids but it in now realized that this is very rarely the best treatment and can have side effects which are as bad as, if not worse, that the fibroids themselves.

Other surgical treatments for fibroids are rarely successful. Removing the individual fibroids is all well and good if you can stop new ones growing. Unfortunately, once doctors have performed the surgery, women are very rarely given any advice which will help them prevent regrowth.

Alternative medicine for fibroids usually consists of herbal preparations which can be taken which are widely believed to be beneficial for shrinking fibroids. With some medical conditions, it would not necessarily be advisable to try alternative treatment methods as delaying conventional medicine could prove dangerous. As fibroids are very rarely life-threatening, once you have received a diagnosis, trying alternative treatments is most certainly worthwhile as it has been proven that fibroids respond very well to natural treatments.

We live in a busy world, when almost everyone loves to take things within their reach. We live in a world where fast food, remote control, TV, automobiles, gasoline, and electricity are a prerequisite. Modernization has its own conveniences, but it has its own downfalls. It makes us become busy all the time with all the details, so that we don’t have the time to study new things. Take, for instance, the practice of medicine nowadays. A patient comes in, and, after examination and history-taking he is being bombarded with a handful of pills to take with illegible prescription handwriting. The same thing happens to the second patient, then the third patient, and so on. Modern medicine is so monotonous that doctors appear too busy to research on alternative ways on how to promote good health and well-being.

Few of us medical practitioners realize the importance of alternative medicine, and how it opens venues for future research and for the formulation of custom protocols for the individual patient. We think of alternative medicine as “quack” treatments, but do we ever pause to study and examine it in detail so that we can learn from it and apply it to our practice?

Is acid reflux keeping you awake at nights? Is the discomfort and pain of acid reflux and heartburn causing you to feel depressed and anxious because you cannot sleep properly?
Have you sought alternative medicine for acid reflux in Texas or any other state for that matter? Well, there was a time when alternative medicine was considered nothing more than quackery or just completely foolish.

Alternative medicine for acid reflux in Texas was frequently dismissed as nothing more than simply a joke. It was just unheard of that someone would seek an alternative to modern medicine. Well, it is important to note that things have changed drastically. Alternative medicine is now extremely popular, especially in the last ten to fifteen years.

People are embracing many different alternative medicines and it is starting to become more common for regular doctors to refer patients to alternative practitioners such as acupuncturists and aroma therapists along with their own particular treatments. Many people suffering from acid reflux are very serious about finding a cure for their condition. Alternative medicine for acid reflux in Texas and other states is a way sufferers look to solve their problem.