Saturday, February 2, 2008

Blood Pressure and Medications

by: Ray Kelly

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, chances are you will be prescribed some kind of medication. However, you should be aware of the fact that drugs are not the only solution to the problem. For instance, changes in diet, exercise, and stress levels can also have an impact on blood pressure. Before we discuss specific types of medications, it is important to know what factors contribute to blood pressure levels:

Heart Rate

The heart rate affects the rate of blood flow through the blood vessels. As the heart rate rises, the blood pressure will also increase.

Blood Volume

This refers to the measure of blood in the body. As the level of blood volume increases, the blood pressure will also rise.

Cardiac Output

This is the rate at which the heart pumps blood. You can determine it by multiplying the heart rate by the stroke volume. Stroke volume depends on a number of things, including the overall strength of the heart muscles and the actual physical size of the vessel.

Resistance

This is the ease with which the blood moves through the vessels of the body. This can be affected by the smoothness of the vessel walls themselves.

Viscosity

This refers to the thickness of the blood, which can be affected by medication.

Medication Types

There are a number of different kinds of medication for high blood pressure. For instance, a Diuretic reduces the amount of water and sodium in the blood, reducing the pressure on the walls of blood vessels. Beta Blockers lower blood pressure by inhibiting the body’s fight/flight response. Ace Inhibitors reduce blood pressure by preventing the hormone Angiotensin from forming. Meanwhile, Angiotensin Antagonists block Angiotensin’s effects on the cells of the heart and blood vessels. Calcium Channel Blockers reduce the overall level of calcium in the heart, reducing blood pressure. Alpha Blockers lower blood pressure by limiting the nerve impulses sent to the blood vessels, while Alpha-Beta Blockers combine the effects of Alpha-Blockers and Beta-Blockers. Meanwhile, Nervous System Inhibitors relax blood vessels, as do Vasodilators.

Talk With Your Doctor

Be sure to consult with your family physician to determine which type of medication is right for you. It is essential that you receive the right drugs in order to get your blood pressure under control. High blood pressure can lead to a host of illnesses which can shorten your life. By effectively combining medication with exercise and a sensible diet, you should be able to reduce your blood pressure, ensuring a long, healthy life.

About The Author

Ray Kelly is the trainer that guided Adro Sarnelli to his series win on The Biggest Loser Australia. Check out his web sites at: http://www.free-online-health.com/australias-biggest-loser.htm or http://www.raykellyfitness.com.

Methods and Techniques of Medical Astrology

by: Dusko Savic

Medical astrology is the branch of astrology that deals with the possible and actual health and diseases of the client. Usually, people come to the astrologer in times of great life changes, such as

Should I change my job?

When will I come into my inheritance?

Should I marry him/her? etc

To the medical astrologer, however, people come in the progressed stages of the illness, often after some kind of surgery has already taken place, along with a rich history of dealing with doctors. The usual questions for the medical astrologer are:

Should I go for surgery?

Does it have to be a surgery?

When should the surgery take place?

Why don't we have children?

Do I have cancer?

Will my cancer come to pass this year? etc

If the events in the history of illness coincide with certain astrological transits and configurations, we can find the astrological reason for illness, give the prognosis for the course and duration of the illness, and decide upon a therapy needed and so on. The opposite situation often takes place as well: the client comes for the usual astrological session, but the astrologer sees in the horoscope a danger long before the illness has manifested and materialized.

A great deal of expectations is attached to the advice the medical astrologer gives. Will there be a surgery or not, to go for chemotherapy or not, for a radiology therapy or not...

"On Tuesday, I have a radiology therapy appointment, should I go?"

"The doctor recommended taking my bladder away to stop the cancer from spreading, should I do that or not?"

Medical astrology is the cruelest branch of astrology. If you cannot bear meeting with tough, terminal pathologies, if you do not want to take lethal responsibility for the consequences of you advice -- you better don't do it. If you are not a medical doctor by profession, you will have to prepare well and read literature, consult medical doctors, gather information from the Internet, take part in forums, groups, membership sites etc.

The problems of curing are drastically different to what astrologers usually do during the reading. In an ideal world, astrologers advise and clients change their behavior, in order to spend the surplus energy the planets and stars send them. Medical astrologer may be more concrete and suggest wearing certain crystals, colours, aromatherapy, flower remedies and so on. It is best that the professions of medical astrologer and medical doctor do not mix. Ideally, medical astrologer does not cure and the client is not the patient, unless the medical astrologer is medical doctor as well, or eventually, a qualified homeopath. Neither should medical astrologer be a healer: he or she should only give a highly qualified prognosis of malefic influences that have already manifested as a disease and will -- unless nothing is undertaken -- continue to manifest thus, probably with heavier consequences as the time progresses.

Medical astrologer reaches out for all astrological techniques and methods from which something can be deduced about the nature of illness. He or she must be, above all, a competent astrologer, must command a wide array of astrological techniques and use them for the benefit of the client and their health. Since he or she gives advice about healing, but cannot heal on his own, in an ideal world, he or she should be connected to doctors and healers, should know their natal charts and through synastry decide whom the patient should see next. However, for practical reasons, it is best that the client finds his or her own doctors and healers to go after visiting the astrologer, otherwise, in case something goes wrong (and with ill people it always will), the astrologer can be accused of having a deal with the health practitioner that he has sent the client to.

From the chart, it is possible to decide upon the kind of therapy, such as homeopathy, Bach flower remedies, vibropathy, massage, classical medicine, attending spas, aromatherapy, crystal healing, Su Jok, etc.

The Signs

Signs represent the twelve large systems in the body of man, starting with Aries which represents the head, all through the sign of Pisces, ruling the feet. The signs that contain the planets, either by birth or through progressed horoscopes, will stand out, or will most probably be the sources of illness. For each sign a special tissue salt exists; these are the building materials for human body, the substances through the combination of which tissues, organs, systems of organs, and finally the entire body are built. Using these salts on their own or by combining them in material or homeopathic doses, one's health can be much improved.

Quite similarly, for each sign a special type of food is best. Medical astrologer will be qualified to give advice about food, and this will also improve the client's health in numerous ways. Using the theory of doctrines, i.e. finding the similarities between the zodiac, body, and herbs, it is also possible to connect signs with herbs and prescribe them to help the patient.

Degrees of the Horoscope in Medical Astrology

Each sign has 30 degrees, and each of these 360 degrees is connected to one part of the body. The planet on that degree is a predisposition for an illness -- the degree tells us which part of the body is in question, while the planet will show what kind of disease it will be. In a similar manner, it is possible to connect the midpoints and the degrees.

The Planets, Asteroids, and the Uranian Planets in Medical Astrology

The planets are sources of energy in the horoscope, and each is unique. For instance, the energy of Mars is fire-like; he flames up the fires in the body (resulting in high temperature) and cleanses it thus. Neptune stands for bacteria that are known to the medicine, while Pluto is for the unknown bacteria, and so on. The asteroids, the large ones in particular, such as Ceres, Juno and others, behave in a similar way. In medical astrology, the Uranian planets can also be used. There are eight "Uranian" planets which have no astronomical data, but the influence of which can be felt quite strongly in the chart. Some of these planets have strong medical connotations, so using them can increase the credibility of medical astrology analysis up to 90% of success.

The Houses in Medical Astrology

Out of the twelve houses in the usual astrology, five are more significant that the others:

First house -- the physical body,

Sixth house -- diseases,

Eighth house -- support from others, sex, death, karma, terminal states, cancer,

Twelfth house -- isolation, hospitals and monasteries, psychic problems, auto-immunity.

However, every house has its own special meaning in medical astrology:

No. 1 -- face, consciousness, brain tumors, brain insults, etc

No. 2 -- blood, electrolytes, hormones, food intake, hypophysis, diabetes.

No. 3 -- the lungs, speech problems,

No. 4 -- producing food for others, mother, milk; genetics, inheritance,

No. 5 -- heart, infarction of myocardium,

No. 6 -- diseases, personal hygiene, meals, day to day habits,

No. 7 -- death through brain problems, balance of the body, spine,

No. 8 -- Expelling of the processed foods, hypophysis, adrenal cortex, kidneys,

No. 9 -- the upper part of brain, cerebral hemisphere, Jupiter rules over the left, Neptune rules over the right hemisphere;

No. 10 -- metabolism,

No. 11 -- circulation, hemorrhagia,

No. 12 -- autoimmune diseases, thymus, immunity in general, liver.

The ruler of the house is the main indicator of the events related to the house, while the planets in the house are not so important. For instance, to see what kinds of illnesses one can have, take a look at the sixth house and its ruler, its position, aspects and transits. Only after the ruler remained under pressure for a long time, we could be allowed to start predicting the existence of a disease.

Planetary Aspects

How will a planet express its energies primarily depends on its relations with other planets, which boils down to the angle that those two planets make with the centre of the circle. Each pair of planets brings its own kind of sickness, for instance, a combination of Sun and Saturn will slow down the metabolism, while the Sun and Mars make it easy for the person to burn his or her own energy -- such persons often go in for sports.

The angle of 150 degrees (inconjunction) is especially malefic. Whenever there is an exact inconjunction between two planets in the chart, the person will have to live through various troubles of medical nature. Malefic aspects from malefic planets to the Moon are the worst. Squares are extremely malefic, so Saturn squaring the Moon gives a predisposition towards cancer, although the same effect may be seen from malefic aspects from Neptune and/or Pluto to the Moon. Just as in other branches of astrology, malefic aspects produce action -- an illness of a kind. But, it always pays to see where the good aspects are, because they bring amelioration, often a complete cure -- sometimes through remedies, sometimes through persons that resemble the description of the aspect (for instance, a trine to Neptune -- healing through an apothecary etc.)

If there are no benefic aspects to the rulers of the 6th, 8th and/or 12th houses, then we should find persons whose planets create harmonious aspects. If that person is the doctor or a healer, healing will be successful.

Midpoints in Medical Astrology

Each planet is on the middle distance of another two planets, as if in a triple conjunction. For every midpoint there is a special medical delineation: the midpoint of Jupiter and Saturn denotes liver, while MA/SA (the midpoint for Mars and Saturn) denotes spasms, in more involved cases even death. Midpoints make each chart as unique as possible and you cannot do medical astrology well if you are not using them. For even greater precision, include the Uranian planets and their midpoints, especially in progressed charts.

Medical Aphorisms

Medical aphorisms are configurations typical for specific diseases and states. For instance, Mars on 29 Scorpio near the Ascendent will give a predisposition towards bronchitis, as will any squared malefic in Gemini, as will Saturn on the Ascendent in a mutable sign... and there may be more such combinations, for any given illness. The medical astrologer must be very well acquainted with such configurations and should be able to recognize them in the chart. However, the clients won't hold it against you if the middle of the session you look up at the manual -- they won't care if it helps them get cured!

In these modern times, it is possible to have astrology software compute medical configurations in the natal chart. To be more precise, without such a piece of software, it would be very difficult to do medical astrology, because there are hundreds of such configurations.

Diagnosing an Illness Based on the Natal Chart

Every chart contains dozens of potentially problematic configurations. It does not mean that that person must be ill just because such configurations exist in the chart, neither will it mean that the person will have all those illnesses at once, neither will it mean that all possibilities for illnesses in the chart must become reality. Configuration is a predisposition for illness, and it will manifest itself only when at least three predispositions are active at the same time. For instance, a square between the Moon and Saturn is the most frequent natal predisposition for cancer. The second predisposition may then come every seven years, since it takes seven years for the progressed Moon to make another malefic aspect to the natal Saturn. The third factor may come into play through a solar chart, in which there may be, say, an inconjunction between the Moon and Saturn. Or the third factor may come through a slow transit of Saturn, perhaps through its stationary point squaring the natal Moon. If there are four such factors at one and the same period of time, the client will feel as if surrounded by evil and wherever they turn to, the situation looks hopeless to them.

Only when we see such a concentration of approximately identical transits, may we want to warn the client about cancer or some other such grave illness. Since we can compute the transits and solar charts in advance, we can exactly tell the client when his or her troubles will begin, as well as when will they end.

Sometimes, an identical predisposition will appear from different configurations. If there is a square of Uranus to the Ascendent, but that same Ascendent is also squared by Pluto, the combination for surgery will appear twice. Now it only takes a transit of Mars to empower one of those configurations, or for Mars to be on the Uranus/Pluto midpoint in the solar return chart and the surgery seems unavoidable.

Diagnosing an Illness Based on Transits, Progressions, Solar and Synastry Charts

In natal astrology, in 90% of sessions we will need nothing more than the natal chart and the transits -- in one-on-one sessions there simply isn't time to dive into all the charts that can be useful. In medical astrology, however, it is a routine to use many other types of charts. There must be three independent confirmations for illness to appear, regardless in which chart do we see it. Looking for clues in the chart in case of medical astrology often is a detective-like work, until you find the constellation which was active when the symptoms first started. Once you connect real-life events with their possible astrological causes, you can predict how the illness will unfold, and with confidence.

Long transits of malefic planets produce all kinds of health problems, while the progressive horoscope produces the best long-term view of the client's life. In medical astrology, we always use solar charts, because there we see strong accents, which may not endure for long, but which sometimes leave the sequeale for the rest of the client's life.

It also matters whom do you live with. The persons the client lives with and exchanges his or her energy with them. Sometimes they heal just by being present, in other times they make the client only sicker. The country in which the client lives will also have its own horoscope and that can be taken into account too.

Auxiliary Methods in Medical Astrology

Arabian Parts are formed by adding two important points, from which another, the third point, is subtracted. There are about 500 Arabian Parts, and some of them are directly related to health. Pars Fortunae is the most well known Arabian Part, and it combines influences of the Sun, Moon and Ascendent.

Each particular house has its own set of Arabian Parts. For instance, the sixth house has the following two Arabian Parts, which are of interest in medical astrology:

Incurable diseases, bad fortune and vice (Asc + Mars - Saturn),

Curable diseases (Asc + Mars - Mercur),

The sixth house also contains the parts for servants, the prisoners of war, and the pars of the defeated, which have nothing to do with health.

The number of Arabian Parts per house varies: house No. 7 has 16 Arabian Parts, house No. 8 -- 5 Parts and so on.

Quite often, horary astrology will yield loads of info. Instead of natal charts and the charts that are derived from it, in horary astrology we erect the chart for the time of asking the question about the illness. Reading a horary chart is different to the reading of the natal and all other charts, so don't use this technique unless you know what you are doing. Nevertheless, it pays to learn horary astrology, because it often gives a direct glimpse into the real situation, the course of the illness, eventual surgeries and deaths etc.

The decumbiture chart is the chart for the beginning of an illness. We should make it only if we know for certain when the illness begun. Also has rules of its own.

Electional astrology tries to discover when an action should begin. In medical astrology, such charts could be studied to discover when the prescribed therapy should start, when is the time for doctor to visit the patient and so on.

The Role of Medical Astrology in Healing

Modern medicine knows a lot about the state of the patient in the moment of measurement, and knows also, in a statistical manner, whether the prognosis is good or bad. Nevertheless, it never deals with the future of the patient, and is almost always used when something bad has already happened. Medical astrology is the missing link between the recorded state of the patient, his or her current therapy and the future development of the illness. Since it is possible to make the astrological prognosis in advance, it becomes possible to do something in advance as well. Homeopathy and other energy healing systems are a natural continuation of medical astrology, because energy healing "spends" the unwanted but present energy that planets and stars send us via astral body. The biggest advantage of medical astrology is that it enables not only to predict which techniques and remedies can heal now, but when these techniques and remedies should be stopped, and some other healing modality be taken and applied instead.

About The Author

Dusko Savic is a mathematician, programmer, professional astrologer and long distance healer. His site http://www.how-to-avoid-hysterectomy.com/ is for women who want to avoid hysterectomy.

The Debate Between Modern Medicine And Herbal Remedies

by: Pascal E. Erdmann

Around the world people are continuously relying on the power of medicine. We all want to make sure our loved ones are healthy, and refuse to believe that modern medicine could actually harm them. For years, modern medicine has ruled Western culture. It has become part of our customs as we continuously acquire medicine on a daily basis. From a simple dose of aspirin to more intense treatments like chemotherapy and daily medical visits, we cannot help but feel drawn to such assistance. After all, medicine has the ability to heal, fix, and alleviate problems that afflict billions of people each year. So why not jump on the bandwagon and hand over your life to modern medicine?

It is a known fact that we live in a fast paced world where immediate results are craved. If we are sick, we want to have a prescription within hours and medicine to cure us in a day or so. Due to the fact that the safety of medicine has always been around for us, it becomes a common theme to rely on such safe treatments. Since we know that there are medicines out there, we want the situation to be alleviated as soon as possible.

While there are those who are against modern medicine, it is clear that this type of medical treatment has come a long way. With hundreds of medicines dedicated to incurable illnesses, it is a miracle for some. We now finally have the opportunity to feel better, and know that there are things being done to help the sick. But with opportunity, comes a bitter battle. Due to the fact that the media is one of the largest outlets for the world, advertising has taken over modern medicine and has turned it into a dangerous spectacle.

We all see the commercials for sleeping pills, testimonials for cancer drugs, the suggestions for dieting. We become drawn into these safe treatments, because we are in desperate need for a cure. Unfortunately, this desperation often turns into blindness. We immediately run to our local pharmacy and pick up these pills, without taking a glance at the label or the warnings. The media has allowed us to believe every word they say, and in return, trust the FDA, the doctors who prescribe such medications, and the advertisements. After all, who would actually want to lie to us? Why would any loyal physician and medical companies do such a thing?

Astonishingly, our trust is feeding into the lies and helping such modern medicine suppliers become prosperous. Thousands of people die each year, just because the medicine they were taking was not as safe as people claimed. There are always problems with certain prescriptions on the markets, but many of these companies do not want to say anything. They write it off, pretend to not know the truth, and ship it out, because soon they will have enough money to forget. Due to their selfishness, modern medicine has become quite faulty in some aspects. It has forced us to question what medicines we are taking, and what effects they could actually have on us. Just because they are FDA approved, does not mean that they are 100% safe.

Although modern medicine is one of the largest industries in the world, it is not the only option. Herbal remedies and traditional medicine are also rising steadily, as it is more focused on herbs, safe nutrients and minerals that will not have hazardous effects on the body. With the ability to extract such benefits from plants, it is surprising that the majority of people do not want to stick to such safe routes. Unfortunately while herbal medicine can cure painful ailments, it may not be as effective for serious illnesses. Nevertheless, it is an alternative that people should seek out, if the illness is not life threatening. For many, it is more affordable, nicer to the body, and actually reduces the amount of side effects.

Have you ever been sick from a cold? The majority of people rush to the doctor’s office, in hopes that they will get an anti-biotic or another type of cold medicine. Even if this is safe, it is unnecessary to immediately seek professional guidance. Surprisingly, natural remedies can cure your cold more effectively, if not make you feel better in a shorter amount of time. It also provides greater benefits for your body. One of the most popular natural products on the market today is Noni Juice. Derived from the Pacific Islands, this natural fruit has been causing quite a stir. It not only boosts the immune system, but it also allows you to alleviate joint pain, common cold symptoms, and dozens of other ailments. By taking a safe and natural product like Noni Juice, you will see many more benefits, rather than a plethora of side effects that just are not worth it.

Looking for a diet plan? Natural green tea not only boosts the immune system, but it speeds up metabolism and actually allows you to lose weight. Instead of finding a strong prescription drug that may help shed the pounds, it is recommended that you try something more natural. When consumers rush to their nearest drugstore just to pick up a fat shedding drug, they rarely realize how dangerous and life threatening it could be to their health.

Regardless of how many alternatives there are to modern medicine, the majority of consumers still seem to run towards modern medicine. In many cases, it is due to the fact that this is all they have ever known. When we grow up with modern medicine by our side, it is hard to see anything else that is effective. We want immediate results, and herbal remedies tend to have a negative stigma. It is hard to risk your life on an herbal supplement, when you know that you could just go to the hospital and get a treatment that is more popular. It truly comes down to the severity of the illness, and how much modern medicine has been drilled into your brain. Unfortunately, advertising and physicians make it known that modern medicine is the only way.

There is no correct answer to this debate. It is normal to want to feel safe, healthy, and informed. On the other hand, it is also important to not be blindsided by the greedy and uninformed side of modern medicine. In order to live a healthy and happy live, one has to pick what is best for them. While modern medicine may be popular, herbal supplements like Noni Juice may work more effectively. Nevertheless, the debate between modern and traditional medicine will continue to enter our households. Perhaps one day there will be a winner.

About The Author

Pascal Erdmann is the owner of Natures Products Ltd a manufacturer and distributor of natural remedies like Noni juice. Website at http://www.noninz.com.

Top Ten Tips to Naturally Cure Male Impotence! Forget the Medication and the Side-Effects!

by: Joe Barton

Did you know that men who suffer from impotence are generally more likely to suffer from depression?

In fact, impotence or erectile dysfunction can cause stress and anxiety at home, in relationships and even at work. Unfortunately, in America alone, male impotence affects almost 30 million men. Surveys say, men who suffer from impotence have reported the following: lower self-esteem, relationship turmoil, less motivated at work, embarrassment, feeling ashamed and poor self-image. Still unfortunately, the list could go on for those who suffer from this problem. Fortunately, there is GOOD news! You can be cured if you take the proper steps… Guaranteed!

Let's first understand the problem!

What is the Cause of Male Impotence?

For beginners, erectile dysfunction (impotence) is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection for a consistent period of time. Do not be alarmed if you or a loved one is occasionally unable to achieve an erection; this is quite normal. For an erection to occur, the male genital needs both an adequate inflow of blood and a slowing of blood outflow. Various disorders, diseases and causes can create a scenario for impotence but here is a general list for those who suffer from an erectile dysfunction.

Possible Causes for Male Impotence:

1. No exercise: Men who do little activity are prime candidates for impotence.

2. Over weight: Men who have a high Body Mass Index (BMI) are also likely to suffer from impotence. If you want to know your BMI, simply Google BMI and you can check your body fat.

3. Depression: Depression affects mind, body and sex life!

4. Stress: Any stress is bad stress and could possibly be your impotence problem.

5. Sickness: If your body is taken care of, you would be surprised of the outcomes!

6. Atherosclerosis: Plaque in the arteries caused from bad diet, obesity or genetics will create less blood flow to you know where!

7. Diabetes: Diabetics and overweight typically run hand-and-hand with impotent men.

8. Alcohol or drug abuse: Drugs such as antidepressants, sedatives, and antihypertensives have been known to contribute to impotence.

9. Stokes, prostate surgery or hormonal imbalance have also been known to be followed by impotence.

Impotence Treatments have Harsh Side-Effects

Various medical treatments increase blood flow to the genital region and will allow most men to have an erection. Obviously, these treatments are great for ending impotence for the time being. But wait! Numerous treatments have side-effects that can actually do more harm than good! Some of the side-effects related with drug treatments include: liver dysfunction, increased risk of stroke, enlargement of prostate, headaches, upset stomach, vision problems, low blood pressure, anxiety, shaking, rapid heart rate, and raise in blood pressure. Many of these side-effects can be scary if not deadly. No Thank You!

A Natural Cure for Impotence

Did you know that impotence is a health problem that can be cured naturally? In most cases, impotence is caused by a high-fat diet that can block the blood flow that causes erections. However, there are also other causes which we stated earlier. At Barton Publishing Inc., we are completely convinced that you can cure impotence naturally that we have a 100% risk-free guarantee on all our products. In fact, we would love to get you started today with Top Ten Tips to Naturally Cure Male Impotence!

Top Ten Tips to Naturally Cure Male Impotence.

1. Low-fat is Key! Lower your fat intake to less than 60 grams per day! Stay away from processed foods, fast food and desserts to reverse impotence.

2. Cholesterol is the Culprit! Cholesterol clogs arteries and allows less blood flow to… you know where! Stay away from animal and animal product foods.

3. Start exercising today! Take a 15 minute walk, clean the garage, or mow the lawn! Whatever your method, you need to slowly and gradually start exercising. If you start slow enough, you will eventually like it!

4. Meals! Start eating a well balanced breakfast as well as a well balanced lunch. Try to keep your dinners light.

5. Take a Multi-Vitamin! You will have more energy (hopefully to exercise more) and you will get your vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

6. Fruits and Veggies! Load up with FRESH fruits and vegetables at your grocery store and see how fiber cleans out your system! That is a good thing!

7. Vitamin A for A+! "Vitamin A deficiency has been the cause of impotence in some men," says Elson Haas, M.D., author of Staying Healthy with Nutrition.

8. Moderate Caffeine! Caffeine is a stimulant and can actually cause stress! Moderate the colas, coffee and chocolate.

9. Early Bird gets the worm! Rise early and keep a sleeping schedule with at least 8 hours of sleep.

10. Ginkgo for Go! The herb ginkgo, found in most health food stores, will improve blood flow and will reverse impotence. Give Ginkgo a few weeks to work its magic!

Finally, do not stop here! This is only a slice of what you should know about impotence and how you can naturally cure it.

This is just the beginning…

At Barton Publishing Inc., we wish you luck as you naturally treat impotence. It can be done… so please do not give up! In fact, we would love to help you avoid all the problems impotence brings and get your sex life back ASAP! That is why we offer a no-questions-asked, no-hassle, 100% guarantee on our natural remedy for curing impotence. We are that confident that our remedy will work for you! Please take a minute and check out our site and see what others are saying about us!

http://www.naturallystiff.com/ed1

About The Author

Joe Barton writes for Barton Publishing Inc., a natural health company specializing in educating people of natural remedies and safe, affordable cures. To discover how to naturally treat impotence...guaranteed!

http://www.naturallystiff.com/ed1

Arm Yourself with Info About Alternative Herbal Medicine

by: Samuel Oliver

Alternative herbal medicine

Alternative herbal medicine is one of the best ways to cure chronic or other disease, in many cases. The major benefit of herbal medicines is that it is 100% natural and does not have any side effects, if taken according to the advice of a competent doctor. Look for and use organic herbs when ever possible.

Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA) is the wonder medicine made from primrose, borage or currant seed oil that is extremely effective for treatment of alcohol addicts. Alcohol intake in huge amounts has the chances of slowing down your brain cells. This particular effect of alcohol can be checked by Valerian herb. Another effectual herbal medicine for people suffering from emotional or physical stress is Skullcap.

The alternative herbal remedies for stress, anxiety or depression are St. John’s wort, ashwagandha, valerian and hops ginseng, and Motherwort.

If one is suffering from any degree of sleeplessness, the most helpful herbal medicines are lemon balm, linden, chamomile and ginger tea. For quick relief from common ailments like the odd headache, you can go for eucalyptus or peppermint oil and lavender while for rapid pain relief or inflammation, one can take meadowsweet or willow bark instead of chemical painkillers.

Salicylic acid, the chief component of the pain – killer aspirin, is found in its salicin form in willow bark and meadowsweet. The salicin is reacted upon in the stomach and transformed to salicylic acid, which grants you instant relief from pain. Ginger, which reduces the prostaglandin levels in the body, is another useful pain reliever.

Thanks to the hectic modern style of present day living, most of us suffer from stress in different forms. Herbal medicine is a great way to counter this. Ginseng and Siberian ginseng are two of the most potent stress relievers. Herbal medicines like gingko biloba, ginseng, Siberian ginseng and gotu kola are also successful in curing partial memory loss. Hawthorn, ginseng, motherwort, valerian and pineapple are the wonder herbs that help in curing angina or irregular heartbeat.

Most herbal medicines are prepared from the major herbal ingredient along with other contents. At present, almost 80% of all the medicines have some herbal ingredients.

Although herbal medicines have been extremely successful in treating many diseases, prescription drugs still hold the fort when it comes to treating critical diseases. Thus, one should not consider alternative herbal medicine to be a competitor of prescription drugs, but as a new and effective form of medicine that works in tandem with prescription drugs to treat certain illnesses.

Another benefit of herbal medicines is that it is accessible to most everyone. Herbal treatment is not at all expensive and the herbs can even be grown in your backyard! In fact, prescription drugs are much more expensive and associated with a greater amount of risk.

Alternative medicine is cheap, effective and most importantly, natural and free from any side effects.

About The Author

Samuel Oliver has a passion for learning and sharing info about Herbs and Herbal Remedies http://www.HerbTips.com Herb Tips

Alternative Health Medicine: Find What You Need

by: Laurie J. Raphael

If you are interested in alternative health medicine you are not alone. This sector of the health care industry has taken off, and there is no reason to believe that things are going to die down anytime in the near future. More and more people are deciding that alternative health medicine is the way to go. After all, many see this as safer and also an overall better way of getting their illness under control. Of course, this has a lot to do with personal preference, but in the long run there are definitely some benefits that are offered by alternative health medicine.

Finding the alternative health medicine that you need is not quite as easy as getting your hands on more traditional medicines. But with that being said, you should be able to get what you want if you are willing to learn a bit about the alternative health medicine industry. To find alternative health medicine, you will probably want to start out with a doctor who practices this. By doing this you will be able to benefit in a couple of ways. First off, your doctor will be able to tell you what type of alternative health medicine you should be taking. In addition to that, they can also tell you where you can find alternative health medicine. They may even be able to give you what you need on the spot; within reason of course.

Alternative health medicine may not be as popular as more standard methods, but with that being said, more people are becoming aware of the benefits. If you are interested in what alternative health medicine has to offer, get in touch with a doctor who specializes in this area. You may be surprised at just how many alternative health medicine options are available to you.


About The Author

Laurie J. Raphael

Visit my Alternative Medicine website featuring Feng Shui life and Herbal Remedy Medicines, Chinese Herbal Medicine and much more: http://www.AlternativeMedicineBasics.com

Sign up for my Newsletter at: altmedbasics@getresponse.com

The Popularity Of Alternative Medicine

by: Laurie J. Raphael

If you have ever looked into alternative medicine in the past, you are probably well aware that it is becoming quite popular. Although alternative medicine is probably never going to overtake standard medicine, the number of people using this method is on the rise. As you can imagine, more and more people are looking into alternative medicine for a reason. For people who have tried standard medicine, with no success, alternative medicine is the next thing in line for them to try.

So what is alternative medicine? Generally speaking, this is anything that is not a standard medical practice. For instance, oncologists have a standard procedure that they follow when treating cancer patients. Of course, they may deviate from this a bit, but all in all they have a standard protocol that they follow through with. If you are not interested in trying these standard practices, alternative medicine is the next best thing for you. Believe it or not, there are many people who will only look into alternative medicine when they get sick; even if they have a very dangerous health problem. The fact of the matter is that they think alternative medicine gives them a much better chance of getting well; and they may be right.

You can see just how popular alternative medicine has become by simply going online, or checking out the books at a local store. There are new alternative health websites popping up each day, and several books have been published on this as of late. This alone shows you just how popular this trend has become.

All in all, if you are interested in alternative medicine you should be able to find the information that you need. The popularity of alternative health is on the rise, and there is no reason for you to not join in on this.

About The Author

Laurie J. Raphael

Visit my Alternative Medicine website featuring Feng Shui life and Herbal Remedy Medicines, Chinese Herbal Medicine and much more: http://www.AlternativeMedicineBasics.com

Sign up for my Newsletter at: altmedbasics@getresponse.com

Alternative Health Medicine Vs. Standard Medicine

by: Laurie J. Raphael

Is there any way to accurately compare alternative health medicine to standard medicine? This is a question that many people have on their minds. After all, if you are sick you may want to look into both ways of doing things. The only problem with this is that you need to know the pros and cons of both alternative health medicine and standard medicine. Compiling this information on your own can be a difficult task to say the least.

There is one main reason that many people look into alternative health medicine. Do you know what it is? In most cases, the reason for this is that standard medicine is not working for them. If you find yourself in this position, alternative health medicine is something to look into. After all, if it is going to help you to get better does it really matter how it happens?

Most people who avoid alternative health medicine do so because they are afraid of what it is all about. Remember, alternative health medicine is not nearly as popular as more traditional methods. For this reason, you get a lot of people who stay away from alternative health medicine because they are simply afraid of what it will bring.

If you are interested in learning more about alternative health and standard medicine, you should look into the pros and cons of each one. You may even want to see doctors who practice both types of medicine. This will give you the best chance to determine the pros and cons of each type of medicine.

Overall, both alternative health medicine and standard medicine have a lot to offer. There is no way of saying for sure which one is better for you. Only you can determine if alternative health medicine is better for you, or vice versa.

About The Author

Laurie J. Raphael

Visit my Alternative Medicine website featuring Feng Shui life and Herbal Remedy Medicines, Chinese Herbal Medicine and much more: http://www.AlternativeMedicineBasics.com

Sign up for my Newsletter at: altmedbasics@getresponse.com

Alternative Health Medicine: Can It Work For Me?

by: Laurie J. Raphael

Are you considering the use of alternative health medicine? Do you think that this may be the best treatment for your illness? If so, you are joining an ever growing group of people who feel that alternative health medicine is the way to go. Of course, you may or may not end up doing this, but in the end it is something that you should consider before you do anything else. After all, alternative health medicine does have its benefits. Until you at least consider this way of treating your problem, you will never know exactly what you could get out of it.

The main reason that people do not try alternative health medicine is because they are afraid that it will not work for them; and this may very well be the case. But these people must also remember that there is no guarantee when it comes to using more traditional methods of medicine. Just because alternative health medicine is not as popular as standard methods does not mean that it cannot work. In fact, there are thousands of patients who have turned to alternative health medicine, and in turn, have solved all of their problems.

So, can alternative health medicine work for me? That is a question that cannot be answered until you try things out. To give yourself the best chance of success with alternative health medicine, you will want to get in touch with a doctor that specializes in this way of doing things. This way, you will at least have some guidance along the way.

If you are tired of standard medicine that is not giving you the results you want, look into alternative health medicine. By trying alternative health medicine out, you may find that it is the perfect solution to all of your problems.

About The Author

Laurie J. Raphael

Visit my Alternative Medicine website featuring Feng Shui life and Herbal Remedy Medicines, Chinese Herbal Medicine and much more: http://www.AlternativeMedicineBasics.com

Sign up for my Newsletter at: altmedbasics@getresponse.com

What is Medical Malpractice?

by: Joe Devine

Medical malpractice is the very broad term given to a very wide variety of incidences where a doctor or someone with a medical license makes some sort of mistake that results in the injury or death of a patient. Such areas include birth injuries, missed or wrong diagnoses, or improper treatment. These are just three of many other areas of medical malpractice.

Birth injuries are basically any injury to a baby during birth that could have been prevented by action on the part of the doctor that was responsible for delivering the baby. For instance, if there are difficulties during the delivery and a doctor does not perform a c-section to get the baby oxygen, brain damage can occur. This is an example of birth injury that could have been prevented by quicker action or action in general by the doctor that was delivering the baby. Many birth injury situations involve unforeseeable complications that must be treated as best as possible when they occur. In other situations, a birth injury is preventable and may be the result of medical error, negligence, or malpractice. Birth injuries and birth traumas are often considered the same thing. Common causes of birth injuries include:

- Complications during pregnancy

- Improper dating

- Complications during childbirth

- Ob/Gyn errors such as mishandling of an instrument, improper delivery technique, Incorrect estimation of birth date, improper prenatal testing, failure to perform C-section in a timely manner, diagnostic errors, and failure to treat a condition

- Obstetrical mistakes such as failure to recognize fetal distress, failure to diagnose or treat infection, and failure to respond to complications in a timely manner

Missed or wrong diagnoses are pretty much exactly the way they sound. They involve a doctor misdiagnosing a disease or injury or a doctor not diagnosing something that is there. An example of misdiagnosing a disease would be diagnosing someone with Type 2 diabetes as having Type 1 diabetes. Quite frequently, these errors are quite dangerous as they frequently involve incorrect treatment. Doctors can also diagnosis something when a patient is in actuality healthy. The opposite of this situation is also true.

Improper treatment is also very similar to what it sounds like it is. It involves treating a disease or injury incorrectly. The incorrect treatment of a disease often results in the disease getting worse or a different disease developing. In order for incorrect treatment to be brought into play, a doctor must first diagnose the disease or injury correctly. Only then can improper treatment be brought up as an issue.

These are just three of the many areas of medical malpractice that personal injury lawyers see on a daily basis.


About The Author

Joe Devine

For more information on these situations or other areas of malpractice, contact the Madison Personal Injury of Habush, Habush, and Rottier, S.C.
http://madison-personalinjurylawyer.com/

Education Is Better Then Medication- Some Facts About Candida, Probiotics And The Gut

by: Hyacinth Allen

Educate rather than medicate! It is obvious that no one diet or treatment suits all in the fight against Candida Albicans. The crucial element that applies to everyone is a healthy Gastrointestinal Tract, and our genetic makeup determines in part precisely how that functions. There are broad generalizations that can be made.

Antibiotics destroy friendly and non friendly gut bacteria, when this happens the bad overgrows and mutate into moles which can penetrate the intestinal wall and then is set free to become a systemic infection affecting the whole body. Replacing friendly bacteria, the acidophilus types of intestinal bacterium is crucial to the health of the gastro intestinal tract. While this is very important all the time it is most important during the die off period, when the Candida can thrive again in the empty pockets of the intestines.

Eating raw vegetables is good because raw foods have enzymes present which assist in the digestion of the food. These enzymes are often destroyed by cooking. When we do not digest food completely we fail to get all the nutrients out of that food. Plant based digestive enzymes in the stomach work whether our body is acid or alkaline the pH Balance is not critical, so our bodies find it easier to digest vegetables, once they reach the stomach the digestive process begins. On the other hand, animal based protein, fish or meat, do not begin to work until the stomach content has a pH balance of around pH 3, which means that it needs acid to be digested. Plants such as Echinacea, and thyme and marigold can build the immune system they do not cause the side effects of antibiotics.

The Immune system is the body’s natural protection agent. Without it, the body would not be able to defend itself against invading bacteria, viruses, toxins and microbes. Building the immune system is an important part of keeping a healthy body that can repel attacks naturally. Unfortunately, the immune system works silently, we cannot see it working and it is only when factors such as stress or illness affect it that we realize that all is not well.

Homeostasis is a biological condition, which means the inherent tendency in an organism toward the maintenance of physiological and psychological equilibrium. When the body cannot maintain a homeostatic state, unpleasant symptoms occur, these symptoms are the bodies “panic button”, it is saying it is out of synchronization. The body will make sure that all essential functions receive the maximum support, this means the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys as vital organism will get the bulk of all available nutrients. Non-essential bodily functions, which include skin replenishment, muscle tone, skin tone, hair replacement, and keeping the joints healthy becomes secondary functions. Although they are not life threatening the effects of them not being carried out can be seen externally very quickly.

All drugs, including drugs considered safe to be bought without prescription such as aspirin, have negative side effects to the body, as they all deplete nutrients. The body can also be aggravated by exposure to environmental pollutants and stress makes it all worse.

Probiotics contain live bacteria and prebiotics are nutrients designed to promote beneficial bacteria in the gastro intestinal tract. The European union have invested over €15 million, which in dollars is nearer $20,000 in trying to find out whether they have a scientific basis. Michael Blaut, head of microbiology at the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Potsdam has pioneered a lot of this research. He maintains that we know little of the ecosystem in the human gut, other than the fact, it is normal for it to have 1.2 kilograms, 2.4 pounds of bacteria.

Molecular biologist Joël Doré working with the French agricultural research agency (INRA) has found that the faecal matter of adults is quite different. Though his work is unpublished at the moment, it suggests that whilst the gut is capable of supporting thousands of different types of bacteria most people only cultivate about a hundred, partly because we all cultivate bacteria in different ways. Before we are born, our guts are sterile but we accumulate bacteria whilst being born from the vaginal passage and faecal bacteria of our mothers. By the time we are two we have ingested our complement of bacteria and that does not change much as we age. The good news is that this seems to thwart the invasion of new bacteria such as salmonella in the gut. Probiotics cannot permanently affect the contents of the gut; if they are to have any effect at all they must be ingested daily. Preliminary studies show that they can be effective for some people with some types of inflammatory bowel diseases, but not necessarily against a Candida infection.

One Finnish medical study that was conducted studied the effects on pregnant women of a daily dose of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and later the babies were to these women were given a daily dose for the first six months of their lives. The results were quite conclusive; the babies were less prone to eczema, which is one of the symptoms of Candida. Dr. Erika Isolauri conducted the survey and whilst the reason why the children were protected is not understood she has hypothesized that the probiotic shifted inflammatory factors in the gut.

There are some dietary guidelines for cleansing the body of Candida:

Eat different foods and rotate the food groups daily.
Eat high fibre foods such as chickpeas to absorb the toxins
Drink at least two litres of pure water daily.
Snack on raw veggies.
Make certain that your foods do not form any form of mold, store them correctly in airtight tubs in the refrigerator and eat them before they get moldy.


About The Author

Article by: Hyacinth Allen (Ceci) Author of "The Silent Sufferer" (The Hidden Horror Of living with Candida) http://www.naturalcandidacure.com

Modern Medicine Versus Nature In Treating Cancer - Part 1

by: Tony Isaacs

In contrast to at least 6000 years of the practice of natural medicine, Western medicine treats the body as a collection of parts instead of as a synergistic organism. When it comes to treating broken bones and injured body parts, mainstream Western medicine is unequaled. When this same approach is used to treat illness and disease - fixing or repairing the parts where the symptoms of underlying illnesses manifest themselves, modern medicine fails miserably.

In the instance of cancer, instead of addressing the causes of cancer - toxins and a weakened immune system - we see instead treatments that either slash, burn or poison away the tumors and cancer cells, which further weakens an immune system cancer has already defeated and only worsens the conditions that led to cancer to begin with.

Even if initially successful at getting rid of existing cancer cells and tumors, the end result is a weakened body which may have major organ damage and which is more susceptible to the reappearance of the original cancer, as well as other forms of cancer and diseases.

For half a century or more, we have been told that a breakthrough or cure for cancer is just around the corner, yet the death rates for cancer remain virtually unchanged. Meanwhile, effective natural and alternative treatments which address and correct the actual causes of cancer continue to enjoy much greater success than the largely failed mainstream treatments - even as these natural alternatives suppressed and come under increasing attack by the medical establishment.

Profit plays a huge role in Western medicine and, because nature cannot be patented, there is no profit in conducting studies on natural remedies for cancer and illness. In fact, if studies were to prove the effectiveness of natural alternatives and those alternatives were to be approved for use in treating cancer and other illnesses, the result would be to admit cheaper, safer and more effective competition into a fiercely guarded market. Instead, such alternatives are heavily suppressed, discredited and passed off as "snake oil" and "voodoo medicine".

The cold, hard fact is that cancer and other degenerative and chronic illnesses are big business - to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars a year. When their only market place is our bodies, the vested interests of the trillion dollar world pharmaceutical empire, mainstream medicine and the institutions which depend on maintaining the status quo are not likely to allow such natural competition, even though the cost is millions of needless deaths and untold suffering.

A better plan for maintaining and increasing profit is to continue to bring new drugs into the market place which treat only symptoms and have serious side effects that lead to still more drugs in a never ending cycle so that by the time a male American reaches 65 years of age, he takes an average of 15 prescribed and over the counter medications every day - when it all started out with one or two conditions that could have been treated safely and effectively by natural means. A good model for profit, but a horrible one for humanity.

We now have over 15,000 patented and approved drugs, 95% of which have significant side effects. It is no accident that our doctors have been taught for generations, just as we have been, that the way to treat illness and disease is to prescribe approved medications – medications that are made by the single largest source by far of funding for medical education: the world pharmaceutical companies. What exactly has this mountain of medicine actually cured in the past half century? Certainly not cancer!

By far the most effective way to beat and avoid cancer is to remove the causes of cancer and to make your body as inhospitable to cancer and illness as possible. To understand what steps we should and can take, we should understand what we know about cancer:

We know that:

* The development of cancer indicates that our natural first line of defense, our immune system, has been defeated and that the presence of either toxins and pathogens, or some imbalance in our bodies have led to the development of cancer and enabled it to gain an upper hand.

* Cancer cannot develop without an impaired liver.

* Cancer cannot survive in an alkaline environment, nor can it survive in a highly oxygenated environment.

* Detoxing and cleansing our colons and liver helps restore balance, prepares our bodies to better be able utilize natural immune boosters and cancer fighters and paves the way to rebuilding our livers and immune systems.

* Cancer cells are diseased, impaired and/or beset by pathogens and have lost the ability to to be die naturally via cellular apoptosis and be replaced by healthy cells. These cancerous cells simply become abnormal and outlive the other cells in their normal cell life/replacement cycle and end up crowding out a territory over time.

* Iodine, vitamin D, and potassium are all vital to beat and ward off cancer.

* Fresh air, pure water and sunshine are also vital to maintain healthy bodies which can fight off and beat conditions like cancer.

* A natural diet of uncontaminated raw vegetables and raw fruits, with plenty of omega-3’s and balanced nutrition has been proven to be effective in numerous natural anti-cancer protocols.

* A great number of natural botanicals and supplements, such as those containing beta glucans and other long-chain polysacharrides, the oleander remedy I have written about, Colloidal Silver, Inositol (IP-6), the ABM mushroom, South Africa's "Cancer Bush" sutherlandia frutescans, cat's claw, pau d'arco, corialus versicolor mushroom, and many others have been proven to boost the immune system, destroy pathogens, protect our cells, and beat cancer.

* Sugar feeds cancer.

And so, when we go to an oncologist and are diagnosed with cancer what is the prescribed treatment? Does it incorporate ANY of the above elements? No, sadly it does not. Our doctor prescribes what he or she has been taught: cut out, radiate or poison the symptom and do nothing to address the underlying causes and natural imbalances that enabled led to the symptom.

As a result, the way is paved for the return of the cancer or the introduction of another cancer or serious condition. Even worse, the road to further illness is often made easier due to the damage to the immune system and major organs caused by the treatment of the symptom.

Nature, on the other hand, enables us to address virtually every area of knowledge and concern.

(And this concludes part 1 of Modern Medicine versus Nature in Treating Cancer. In part 2, we will take a look at what nature might have to offer to address all the characteristics we know about cancer – and to beat it and keep it at bay.)

Live long, live healthy, live happy!


About The Author

Tony Isaacs is a natural health researcher and author of books and articles about natural health including "Cancer's Natural Enemy" (http://www.rose-laurel.com). He manages "The Best Years in Life" website (http://www.tbyil.com) and is a featured author for Utopia Silver (http://tinyurl.com/2ynqk).

The Secret Weapon To Beat SARS Is In Your Head

by: David Leonhardt


Just when you thought you had all the fun you could possibly handle with Saddam Hussein, North Korea, Al Quaeda and the winter that just won't die, along comes SARS – severe-acute respiratory syndrome.

I recently fielded a call on this subject from one of my biggest fans: "You moron. What do you mean we can fight SARS with our heads? Can't you see? We are all going to die. Die. Die, I tell you."

"Please, mother. Don't panic. Panicking will only make it worse."

"What do you mean make it worse? How can it be any worse? People are dying all over the place. It's all over the news. Every day. This is just horrible."

"So far, out of six billion people on earth, only about a hundred have died. Most of those are on the other side of the planet. That's not good for them, but the risk for us is way smaller than it seems."

"Then why does it seem like it's everywhere? Why won't the TV people stop talking about it?"

"Well, the TV people have all sworn a secret oath. They are to maintain high professional standards, report the news as objectively as possible and do whatever is necessary to scare people to death. See? It's simple."

"I don't know ..."

"Sure, mother. Why do you think that if somebody walks into a McDonald's and blows away a table of nuns, it makes the headlines all over the country, but when 500 thousand people walk into McDonald's and order Big Macs that same day, there's not a peep out of the media."

"I don't know dear."

"Why do you think we always hear about airplanes crashing to the ground, but never about airplanes taking off safely? Three hours late, mind you, but safely nonetheless."

"Well ..."

"And why do you think that the media focus on the handful of politicians involved in bribery, corruption, sex, violence, nepotism, pick-pocketing, slander, lying, demagoguery and falsifying their resumes, when they could probably find a handful of upstanding, honest politicians?"

"OK, dear. Perhaps you are right. Perhaps the media is blowing this politician thing out of proportion. But what about SARS?"

"SARS is simple. We all fight disease best when we are less stressed. So everybody should take a vacation and relax on a Mexican beach. Then SARS would be defeated."

"But dear, do you really think six billion of us can fit onto a Mexican beach?"

"I suppose not. Which means we must take other measures to avoid stress. We can start by avoiding stressful situations, such as malicious colleagues, cantankerous in-laws and violent movies."

"OK, I'm taking notes."

"Make sure you get plenty of sleep."

"Why? Does SARS leave people alone while they sleep?"

"No, but well-rested people fight off diseases better than worn-down, tired people."

"OK, what else?"

"Keep fit. Eat nutritious meals and get plenty of exercise."

"But won't exercise just wear me down? Then I'll be a sitting duck for disease."

"Don't exercise THAT much. Just enough to keep fit. And pray.

"I can do that."

"And don't pick on people with slanted eyes. Believe it or not, people are keeping clear of anybody who looks Chinese. I know many people of Chinese ancestry who have never even been to China. I know people born in China who have not been there for years. Why avoid people based on their ancestry, when SARS began just a few months ago?"

"I make decisions based on ancestry all the time, dear."

"You do, mother?"

"Sure, why do you think I am your biggest fan?"

About The Author

David Leonhardt is the Happy Guy, author of "Climb your Stairway to Heaven: the 9 habits of maximum happiness". Sign up for your free "Daily Dose of Happiness" at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html, or visit the Self-actualization Resource Center at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/self-actualization-articles.html.
info@thehappyguy.com

Alternative Medicine Techniques

by: Rebecca Rengo

What are alternative medical techniques?

Alternative medical techniques most commonly are outside of conventional medical care (1). In other words, they promote wholistic healing for pain management. Wholistic healing involves treating the whole person, body, emotions, mind, relationships, and spirit (1). Alternative medical techniques include:

* Acupuncture
* Massage
* Reflexology
* Craniosacral therapy
* Mind/body techniques
* Guided imagery
* Acupressure
* Yoga
* Meditation
* Prayer
* Thermal treatments
* Chiropractic approach
* And others

More doctors are recommending alternative medical techniques to patients for chronic pain. Recent surveys in the United States demonstrated that alternative medical techniques were important for personal healthcare and maintaining well being (2). Also, there is evidence that one or more alternative medical techniques can help patients with: cancer, arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain, neck pain, Tourette syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and many more.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is “a system of complementary medicine in which fine needles are inserted in the skin at specific points along supposed lines of energy” (3). Acupuncture is a part of Chinese traditional medicine that has been around for at least 2,500 years (4). Today, millions of Americans are utilizing this approach for pain management, or as a combination with traditional medical treatments, when conventional medicine is not working for them.

In acupuncture, you should expect:

* One to several needles inserted at varying depths (4)
* Needles may be left in for 15 to 30 minutes (4)
* 2-4 treatments for one condition (2)

There are many conditions that can receive relieve from acupuncture. The top ten conditions treated are: back pain, joint pain or stiffness, neck pain, severe headache, recurrent pain, allergies, arthritis/gout/lupus/fibromyalgia, depression/anxiety, joint/bone injury, and sleepiness (2).

How effective is Acupuncture?

There are a multitude of studies that have confirmed the effectiveness of acupuncture on pain. One study examined the immediate effect of acupuncture stimulation on the most painful point in patients with low-back pain. It found that:
* low-back pain was given immediate relief (5).
* the amount of pain was reduced (5).

Another study examined the treatment of Tourette Syndrome using the acupuncture method. The research indicated:
* 97% of the acupuncture group was effectively treated (6).
* 82% were “cured” (6).

Massage & Chronic Pain

Massage can also be used to relieve pain for a variety of conditions and usage is increasing. Medical massage therapy is being offered in hospitals 30% more since 2004 because of its benefits for not only pain management, but also for depression and anxiety (7). The top three reasons hospitals offer massage are: stress relief (71%), pain management (67%), and relief for cancer patients (52%) (7).

There are several types of massages including:
* Deep tissue massage: focuses on the deeper muscles and soft tissue to relieve chronic pain and tension (8).
* Swedish massage: emphasizes that all strokes go towards the heart. It is comprised of five strokes that stimulate the blood in the soft tissues (8).
* Hot stone massage: involves the placement of heated stones to the body during massage (8).
* Lymphatic massage: aims to increase lymphatic circulation through the body's filtration system, so the body is detoxified and supporting our immune system (8).
* Thai massage: involves a choreographed set of techniques performed on a mat has been around for thousands of years in Thailand (8).
* Marma therapy massage: is a form of Ayurvedic massage developed in ancient India that aims to stimulate 107 “marmas,” which are vital, junction points between mind and matter (8).

How effective is massage?

There is an ample amount of research that indicates massage can be very beneficial in relieving pain. One study performed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine says that:
* Massage can reduce pain up to four years in arthritis patients (9).
* It can reduce the number of physician visits (9).

Furthermore, massage therapy could:
* Reduce pain, anxiety, and sleep disturbances caused by low-back pain (10).
* Increase range of motion in patients (10).
* Relieve nausea and pain in cancer patients (11).
* Reduce pain by 50% in cancer patients (12).
* Reduce the amount of pain medication needed for pain control (12).

What is reflexology?

Reflexology involves applying manual pressure on specific points of the feet (13). This technique has been used as a healing technique in China for thousands of years (8). The organs that can be affected and return to optimal functioning by reflexology include (8):
* Lungs
* Bladder
* Pituitary glands
* Kidneys
* Stomach
* Spleen

How effective is reflexology?

There is research that suggests the effectiveness of reflexology. One study examined the effects on multiple sclerosis patients and found that reflexology:
* Significantly improved paresthesia, urinary symptoms and spasticity (13).
* Improvement on muscle strength (13).
* Paresthesia improvement lasted for at least three months after the sessions (13).

Other studies show that reflexology:
* Reduces anxiety in cancer patients (14).
* Relieves nausea and vomiting from a variety of medical conditions (14).
* Decreases fatigue (14).
* Decreases diastolic blood pressure and triglyceride levels while improving life satisfaction (14).
* Decreases depression and perceived stress (14).
* Increases quality of sleep and serotonin levels (14).

What is craniosacral therapy?

John Upledger introduced this technique in the 1970s. This therapy involves “gently guiding and releasing tensions through very mild pressure on the different cranial bones near the sutures of the skull, where one bone lies next to another (8).” However, this therapy can be used all over the body, as well. Ironically, this therapy is performed with little applied pressure, usually less than the weight of a nickel (8).

How effective is craniosacral therapy?

Craniosacral therapy (CST) can also provide relief for a variety of medical conditions and types of pain. They include:
* Headaches and migraines (15)
* TMJ dysfunction (15)
* Back and neck pain (15)
* Chronic fatigue (15)
* Stress (15)
* Central nervous system disorders (15)
* Orthopedic problems (15)
* Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (16)

Furthermore, CST in combination with massage and other manual therapies can be an effective treatment for chronic pain conditions (17). CST may enhance the body's ability to naturally correct imbalances and dysfunctions that contribute to painful conditions (17). John Upledger, the founder of CST, says that in thousands of cases, CST has proven to enhance general health, reduce accumulated stress, strengthen central nervous system function and improve resistance to disease (18).

In addition, one case study measured functional improvements after a series of CST treatments. It found that:
* Pain scores decreased 52% from pretreatment to discharge (19).
* Disability scores decreased 93% from pretreatment to discharge (19).
* The pain and disability scores did not change greatly 5 weeks after discharge, suggesting a lasting effect of CST (19).

What other alternative medical techniques are effective?

* A form of acupressure, called shiatsu, can relief pain from Parkinson's Disease, fibromyalgia, musculoskeletal aches, irritable bowel syndrome, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis (20).
* Chiropractic therapy can help treat musculoskeletal conditions, including problems in the joints, bones, muscles and connective tissues (21).
* Guided imagery can improve functional status and sense of self-efficacy for managing pain and other symptoms of Fibromyalgia (22).
* Guided imagery can boost the immune system, alter blood pressure and decrease pain (23).

Other Information

One drawback to alternative medicine is that insurance companies may not cover some of these services. For example, one survey found that 60% of respondents reported that insurance companies did not reimburse their acupuncture services (2). So, discussing service coverage on alternative medical techniques with your insurance may be important. Many people see the benefits of some techniques to pay out-of-pocket.

An informed, educated patient can make the best decisions about which treatments to try and for how long. The training and experience of the provider is always important to verify and be comfortable with, as well. Being an empowered consumer is important when considering alternative or conventional medical techniques.

About The Author

Rebecca Rengo, shows you how to improve your health & decrease your pain. She is giving away FREE pain relief Secrets. To get access to these powerful and practical secrets that can help you transform your life – go to www.painreliefexplained.com now