Alternative Medicine

Aromatherapy

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:13:00 +0000

What is aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils from plants for healing purposes. The word aroma in aromatherapy is misleading because essential oils are not solely used as inhalants. They can also be massaged into the skin or even taken orally (although this is less common). Whether inhaled, absorbed, or ingested, essential oils are gaining new attention as an alternative treatment for infections, stress, and other health problems. (Note: essential oils should never be ingested without specific instruction from a trained and qualified specialist.)

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are concentrated extracts taken from the roots, leaves, or blossoms of plants. Each essential oil contains its own mix of active ingredients, and this mix determines the healing properties of the oil. Some oils promote physical healing -- for example, some are able to relieve swelling or fight fungal infections. Others are used for their emotional value -- they may enhance relaxation or make a room smell pleasant. The essential oil derived from orange blossom, for example, contains a large amount of ester, an active ingredient thought to induce a calming effect. This may explain the tradition of a bride carrying an orange blossom bouquet on her wedding day.

What is the history of aromatherapy?

Essential oils have been used for therapeutic purposes for nearly six thousand years. The ancient Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used essential oils in cosmetics, perfumes, and drugs. Essential oils were also commonly used for spiritual, therapeutic, hygienic, and ritualistic purposes.

More recently, René-Maurice Gattefossé, a French chemist, discovered the healing properties of lavender oil when he applied it to a burn on his hand after an explosion in his laboratory. Following this unexpected finding, he devoted his time to analyzing the chemical properties of essential oils and to recording their value in treating burns, skin infections, gangrene, and wounds in soldiers during World War I. In 1928, Gattefossé founded the science of aromatherapy. . In France, more than 1,500 trained physicians use essential oils as an alternative to antibiotics.

How does aromatherapy work?

Researchers are not entirely clear how aromatherapy works, but many experts speculate that our sense of smell plays a very important role. This sense is incredibly powerful -- according to some estimates, about 10,000 times stronger than any other sense. The "smell" receptors in your nose communicate with two structures that are embedded deep in your brain and serve as storehouses for emotions and memories. These structures are called the amygdala and hippocampus. When essential oil molecules are inhaled, they affect these parts of the brain directly. Researchers believe that stimulation of these structures influences our physical, emotional, and mental health. For example, lavender is believed to stimulate the activity of brain cells in the amygdala in the same way that certain sedative medications work.

In addition to stimulating certain brain structures through your sense of smell, essential oils can also influence mood through several other methods. Aromatherapy massage is a popular way of using essential oils because it works in several ways at the same time: it produces benefits from absorbing the oils into the skin, from inhaling the oil's vapors, and from the physical therapy of the massage process itself.

What happens during an aromatherapy session?

Professional aromatherapists, nurses, physical therapists, and massage therapists can provide topical or inhaled aromatherapy treatment. Only specially trained professionals can provide treatment that involves the ingestion of essential oils.

At a typical aromatherapy session, the practitioner will ask about your medical history and symptoms, as well as any preferences you may have for certain scents. Depending upon the condition of your health, the practitioner will instruct you to inhale essential oils either directly from a piece of cloth, or indirectly through steam inhalations, vaporizers, or sprays. The practitioner may also apply diluted essential oils to your skin during a massage. In most cases, the practitioner will instruct you on how to continue using aromatherapy at home. For example, many essential oils can be mixed with milk or cream and added to a bath.

What is aromatherapy good for?

Aromatherapy is used in a wide range of settings -- from health spas to hospitals -- to treat a variety of conditions. In general, aromatherapy appears to ease pain, enhance mood, and promote a sense of relaxation.

In a study that included more than 8,000 pregnant women in labor, essential oils (particularly rose, lavender, and frankincense) administered by qualified midwives, lessened feelings of anxiety and fear, promoted a sense of well-being, and reduced the need for pain medications during the delivery. Many women also report that peppermint oil relieves nausea and vomiting during labor.

Massage therapy with essential oils may also be of value (together with medications and/or therapy) for people with depression. The smells of the oils are believed to stimulate positive emotions through the limbic system (the area of the brain responsible for memories and emotions). However, the benefits of aromatherapy with massage appear to be related to the relaxation effects of the treatment as well as to an individual's belief that the treatment will be helpful.

Studies have found that chemical compounds in certain essential oils have antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Some evidence also suggests that citrus oils may enhance immune function and that peppermint oil may promote proper digestion. Fennel, aniseed, sage, and clary-sage have estrogen-like compounds which may make them effective in relieving symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome, menopause, and the menstrual cycle.

Other conditions for which aromatherapy may be helpful include:

* Alopecia areata (hair loss)
* Agitation, including, possibly, agitation related to dementia
* Anxiety
* Constipation (namely, abdominal massage using aromatherapy)
* Insomnia
* Pain: Studies have found that people with rheumatoid arthritis, cancer (specifically, topical chamomile), and headaches (specifically, topical peppermint) require fewer pain medications when they use aromatherapy.
* Pruritis (itching), a common side effect for those receiving hemodialysis
* Psoriasis

Should anyone avoid aromatherapy?

Women in the first trimester of pregnancy as well as people with severe asthma or a history of allergies should avoid all essential oils.

Pregnant women as well as people with a history of seizures should avoid hyssop oil.

People with high blood pressure should avoid stimulating essential oils such as rosemary and spike lavender.

Those with estrogen-dependent tumors (such as breast or ovarian cancer) should not use oils with estrogen-like compounds such as fennel, aniseed, sage, and clary-sage.

Caution should be exercised when considering use of aromatherapy in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Acupuncture

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:12:00 +0000

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a treatment based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a system of healing that dates back thousands of years. At the core of TCM is the notion that a type of life force, or energy, known as qi (pronounced "chee") flows through energy pathways (meridians) in the body. Each meridian corresponds to one organ, or group of organs, that governs particular bodily functions. Achieving the proper flow of qi is thought to create health and wellness. Qi maintains the dynamic balance of yin and yang, which are complementary opposites. According to TCM, everything in nature has both yin and yang. An imbalance of qi (too much, too little, or blocked flow) causes disease. To restore balance to the qi, an acupuncturist inserts needles at points along the meridians. These acupuncture points are places where the energy pathway is close to the surface of the skin.

What is the history of acupuncture?

The earliest recorded use of acupuncture dates from 200 BCE. Knowledge of acupuncture spread from China along Arab trade routes towards the West. However, up until the early 1970s, most Americans had never heard of acupuncture.

How does acupuncture work?

The effects of acupuncture are complex. How it works is not entirely clear. Research suggests that the needling process, and other techniques used in acupuncture, may produce a variety of effects in the body and the brain. One theory is that stimulated nerve fibers transmit signals to the spinal cord and brain activating the body’s central nervous system. The spinal cord and brain then release hormones responsible for making us feel less pain while improving overall health. In fact, a study using images of the brain confirmed that acupuncture increases our pain threshold, which may explain why it produces long-term pain relief. Acupuncture may also increase blood circulation and body temperature, affect white blood cell activity (responsible for our immune function), reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and regulate blood sugar levels.

What does an acupuncturist do?

In addition to asking questions, the acupuncturist may want to take your pulse at several points along the wrist and look at the shape, color, and coating of your tongue. The acupuncturist may also look at the color and texture of your skin, your posture, and other physical characteristics that offer clues to your health. You will lie down on a padded examining table, and the acupuncturist will insert the needles, twirling or gently jiggling each as it goes in. You may not feel the needles at all, or you may feel a twitch or a quick twinge of pain that disappears when the needle is completely inserted. Once the needles are all in place, you rest for 15 to 60 minutes. During this time, you'll probably feel relaxed and sleepy and may even doze off. At the end of the session, the acupuncturist quickly and painlessly removes the needles.

For certain conditions, acupuncture is more effective when the needles are heated using a technique known as "moxibustion." The acupuncturist lights a small bunch of the dried herb moxa (mugwort) and holds it above the needles. The herb, which burns slowly and gives off a little smoke and a pleasant, incense-like smell, never touches the body. Another variation is electrical acupuncture. This technique consists of hooking up electrical wires to the needles and running a weak current through them. In this procedure, you may feel a mild tingling, or nothing at all. Acupuncturists trained in Chinese herbal preparations may prescribe herbs along with acupuncture.

Are there different styles of acupuncture?

TCM-based acupuncture -- the most commonly practiced in the United States, it bases a diagnosis on eight principles of complementary opposites (yin/yang, internal/external, excess/deficiency, hot/cold).

French energetic acupuncture -- mostly used by MD acupuncturists, it emphasizes meridian patterns, in particular the yin-yang pairs of primary meridians.

Korean hand acupuncture -- based on the principle that the hands and feet have concentrations of qi, and that applying acupuncture needles to these areas is effective for the entire body.

Auricular acupuncture -- this technique is widely used in treating addiction disorders. It is based on the idea that the ear is a reflection of the body and that applying acupuncture needles to certain points on the ear affects corresponding organs.

Myofascially-based acupuncture -- often practiced by physical therapists, it involves feeling the meridian lines in search of tender points, then applying needles. Tender points indicate areas of abnormal energy flow.

Japanese styles of acupuncture -- sometimes referred to as "meridian therapy," it emphasizes needling technique and feeling meridians in diagnosis.

What is acupuncture good for?

Acupuncture is particularly effective for pain relief and for post-surgery and chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting., addiction (such as alcoholism), asthma, bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, facial tics, fibromyalgia, headaches, irregular periods, low back pain, menopausal symptoms, menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, sinusitis, spastic colon (often called irritable bowel syndrome), stroke rehabilitation, tendinitis, tennis elbow, and urinary problems such as incontinence. You can safely combine acupuncture with prescription drugs and other conventional treatments, but it is important for your -primary care physician to be aware of and monitor how your acupuncture treatment may be affecting your conventional therapies.

In addition to those listed above, they recommend acupuncture for sports injuries, sprains, strains, whiplash, neck pain, sciatica, nerve pain due to compression, overuse syndromes similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, pain resulting from spinal cord injuries, allergies, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), sore throat (called pharyngitis), high blood pressure, gastroesophageal reflux (felt as heartburn or indigestion), ulcers, chronic and recurrent bladder and kidney infections, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), infertility, endometriosis, memory problems, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, sensory disturbances, depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders.

Should anyone avoid acupuncture?

Some physicians and practitioners may avoid treatment during pregnancy. However, if you were seeing a practitioner prior to your pregnancy it is generally safe to continue receiving treatment from them during your pregnancy. You should inform your acupuncturist about any treatments or medications you are taking and all medical conditions you have. Acupuncture is not recommended during the menstrual cycle.

Ayurveda

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:11:00 +0000

What Is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda means, 'life-wisdom'. It is believed to be the oldest healing system extant, originating in India 5,000 to 10,000 years ago. The value of this ancient Ayurvedic system is twofold:

* To harmonize your health and life, and realize inner peace in a stress-filled world.
* To better envision and integrate your life purpose to help, in some small way, to bring more peace and joy into the world.

Ayurvedic all-natural therapies include herbs, balanced food suggestions, soothing, healing oils; and simple lifestyle adjustments that quickly restore health.

Ayurveda is a word from the ancient Sanskrit language of India. 'Ayur' means life, and 'Veda' means wisdom. So then Ayurveda reveals the wisdom of life - the whole of life - by unveiling the laws of nature that help keep a person healthy and in harmony with their Soul, their life purpose, families, community, planet, and universe.

What Can Ayurveda Do For Me?

The goal of Ayurveda is to bring health, peace and harmony to all areas of one's life so you can grow in inner peace and live your highest spiritual life visions. Many people think of 'Ayurvedic medicine', ie, merely an alternative medical system, but, as you can see, it is so much more than that.

Ayurveda cares for the person in a 'holistic' manner. Holistic means that all areas of your life are examined to see if they are in harmony. For example, if a person is having acid reflux, there are numerous possible causes; it may be due to the food you ate - or overate, or job stress, or not exercising enough for digestion to work properly. The Ayurvedic practitioner discusses all areas of your life with you, family, career, life-purpose (dharma), diet, exercise, spiritual life (as you define it) etc. In this way, you receive an integrated and well rounded life assessment.

What Makes Ayurveda Unique?

Ayurveda addresses:

* the root cause of a person's illness, stress, and lack of mental peace and inner joy
* healing, prevention, and longevity (age reversal)
* individual needs of each person, offering them personal, tailor-made therapies
* only natural therapies are offered, reducing the possibility of harmful side effects
* therapies are safe, inexpensive, effective, and fast-working

Why is Ayurveda So Effective?

Ayurveda removes the veil that hides the universal laws of natural health. By following nature's path, one lives in harmony, much like a surfer understanding the rules of the ocean, enjoys riding the waves. If you stray off the country path into the sticker bushes, you will receive discomfort. Similarly, if you stray off nature's path, you will find life becomes more difficult because you are fighting against the natural order of the universe.

Further, by addressing the root cause of a situation and resolving the issue, it remains resolved. Merely treating symptoms does not effectuate true healing.

Finally, Ayurvedic spirituality notes that your spiritual life (as you define it), life purpose (dharma), and your lifestyle and foods, are the most powerful healing tools, and they are free as well. When a person aligns themselves with their highest divine life goals, we say they are walking fully in tune with nature's laws.

Is Ayurveda Safe?

Yes. Ayurvedic therapies are all-natural, and organic products are more readily available. Therapies are nurturing because they resupply the body and mind with what is missing, rather than cutting or suppressing symptoms. Ayurvedic healing means balance, so nurturing what is missing, balances the system. Nurturing is a form of love, and love has no untoward side effects.

Ayurveda says the majority of physical illnesses are due to poor digestion and immunity. Improve these with a personal food plan, digestive cooking spices, and lifestyle (eg, sleep, exercise, socializing), and the digestion is improved.

Spiritual Ayurveda then says, the cause of most digestive disorders is stress. Stress is reduced, along with the above suggestions, by addressing your life-purpose (dharma), spiritual life, and inner visions.

What Are the Main Ayurvedic Therapies?

It has been found in life that different people learn better through different senses, so there are Ayurvedic therapies to nurture each of the 5 senses:

* herbs/foods (sense of taste)
* massage/exercise (touch)
* color therapy (sight)
* aromatherapy (smell)
* music/mantras (hearing)

Biofeedback

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:44:00 +0000

What is biofeedback?

Biofeedback is a technique in which people are trained to improve their health by learning to control certain internal bodily processes that normally occur involuntarily, such as heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and skin temperature. These activities can be measured with electrodes and displayed on a monitor viewable by both the patient and their health care provider. The monitor provides feedback to the participant about the internal workings of his or her body. This person can then be taught to use this information to gain control over these "involuntary" activities. Biofeedback is an effective therapy for many conditions, but it is primarily used to treat high blood pressure, tension headache, migraine headache, chronic pain, and urinary incontinence.

Are there different types of biofeedback?

The three most commonly used forms of biofeedback therapy are:

* Electromyography (EMG), which measures muscle tension
* Thermal biofeedback, which measures skin temperature
* Neurofeedback or electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brain wave activity

How does biofeedback work?

Scientists are not able to explain exactly how or why biofeedback works. However, there does seem to be at least one common thread: most people who benefit from biofeedback have conditions that are brought on or made worse by stress. For this reason, many scientists believe that relaxation is the key to successful biofeedback therapy. When a body is repeatedly stressed, internal processes like blood pressure become overactive. Guided by a biofeedback therapist, a person can learn to lower his or her blood pressure through relaxation techniques and mental exercises. When a person successfully relaxes and lowers their blood pressure, the feedback signals reflect this accomplishment. This acts as affirmation and encouragement for the person's continued efforts.

What happens during a biofeedback session?

In a normal biofeedback session, electrodes are attached to the skin. These electrodes then feed information to a small monitoring box that translates the physiologic responses into a tone that varies in pitch, a visual meter that varies in brightness, or a computer screen that varies the lines moving across a grid. The biofeedback therapist then leads the person in mental exercises. Through trial and error, people can soon learn to identify and control the mental activities that will bring about the desired physical changes.

What is biofeedback good for?

Various forms of biofeedback appear to be effective for a range of health problems. For example, biofeedback shows considerable promise for the treatment of urinary incontinence, which affects over 15 million Americans. Many people prefer biofeedback over medicine because of the lack of side effects. Based on findings in clinical studies, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research has recommended biofeedback therapy as a treatment for urinary incontinence. Biofeedback also appears to be helpful for people with fecal incontinence.

Research also suggests that thermal biofeedback may soothe the symptoms of Raynaud's disease (a condition that causes diminished blood flow to fingers, toes, nose or ears) while EMG biofeedback has been shown to reduce pain, morning stiffness, and the number of tender points in people with fibromyalgia. In addition, a review of scientific clinical studies found that biofeedback may help people with insomnia fall asleep.

Biofeedback can also be used effectively for certain ailments in children. For example, EEG neurofeedback (especially when combined with cognitive therapy) has been reported to improve behavior and intelligence scores in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Biofeedback combined with fiber may also help relieve abdominal pain in children. Thermal biofeedback helps alleviate migraine and chronic tension headaches among children and adolescents as well.

Biofeedback may also be useful for the following health problems:

* Anorexia nervosa
* Anxiety
* Asthma
* Autism
* Back pain
* Bed wetting
* Chronic pain
* Constipation
* Depression
* Diabetes
* Epilepsy and related seizure disorders
* Fecal incontinence
* Head injuries
* High blood pressure
* Learning disabilities
* Motion sickness
* Muscle spasms
* Sexual disorders, including pain with intercourse
* Spinal cord injuries

How many sessions will I need?

Each session generally lasts less than 1 hour. The number of sessions required depends on the condition being treated. Many people begin to see results within 8 - 10 sessions. Treatment of headache, incontinence, and Raynaud's disease (a condition that causes diminished blood flow to the fingers, toes, nose, or ears) requires at least 10 weekly sessions and then less frequent sessions as health improves. Conditions like high blood pressure, however, usually require 20 weekly biofeedback sessions before improvement can be seen. In addition to these sessions, you will also be taught mental exercises and relaxation techniques that can be done at home and must be practiced at least 5 - 10 minutes every day.

Are there any risks associated with biofeedback?

Biofeedback is considered a safe procedure. No negative side effects have been reported.

Homeopathy

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:44:00 +0000

What is homeopathy?

In the late 18th century, a German physician named Samuel Hahnemann came upon a passage claiming that the quinine-containing Peruvian bark (chinchona) cured malaria. Using himself as a subject, Hahnemann swallowed a dose of Peruvian bark. He began to feel feverish, drowsy, desperately thirsty, and agitated—all of which he recognized as symptoms of malaria. This caused Hahnemann to experiment further and form his theory that like cures like, or the Law of Similars. This law states that when a substance in large doses causes certain symptoms, in small doses it can cure these same symptoms. Some treatments in conventional medicine rely on this like-cures-like principle; vaccines, for instance, introduce small doses of an illness-causing agent to prevent disease.

Other important principles of homeopathy are dilution and succussion. Remedies are diluted and then "succussed," or shaken, in order to increase their potency. The process of successive dilution and succussion is called potentization.

How does homeopathy work?

Homeopathic remedies start with simple substances, such as herbs, minerals, or animal products. These substances are first crushed and dissolved in a specified amount of a substance—usually grain alcohol or lactose, mechanically shaken, then stored. This is the "mother tincture." Homeopaths further dilute tinctures with alcohol or lactose, either 1 part to 10 (written as "x") or 1 part to 100 (written as "c"), and then succuss these tinctures, yielding a 1x or 1c dilution. Homeopaths can even further dilute these tinctures two times (2x or 2c), three times (3x or 3c), and so forth. In clinical practice, any dilution may be used, but the most common are the 6x, 12x, and 30x and 6c, 12c, and 30c. The more diluted the substance, the more potent its healing powers are thought to be.

Rather than simply suppressing symptoms of a disease, homeopathic remedies act as catalysts that aid the body's inherent healing mechanisms. Moreover, homeopaths believe that any physical disease has a mental and emotional component. The homeopathic diagnosis is threefold, including physical symptoms (e.g., feverish), current emotional and psychological state (e.g., anxious, restless), and overall constitution of the individual (this includes more enduring qualities related to a person's creativity, initiative, persistence, concentration, physical sensitivities, stamina). The right remedy for a particular condition addresses all of these aspects and requires a highly individualized diagnosis.

Homeopathy is also used like other remedies, that is, according to symptoms. Health-food stores and some pharmacies sell homeopathic remedies for a variety of problems. Remedies are usually taken for no more than 2 or 3 days, though some people require only one or two doses before starting to feel better. If a remedy fails, it may be because it was the wrong substance for the set of symptoms.

What happens during a visit to the homeopath?

An initial visit to the homeopath can take from 1 to 1½ hours. Because homeopaths treat the person rather than the illness, the practitioner interviews the person at length, asking many questions and observing personality traits as well as unusual behavioral and physical symptoms. Determining the person's condition also includes a physical examination and possibly laboratory work.

What illnesses and conditions respond well?

Conditions that respond particularly well to homeopathic treatment include asthma, diarrhea, eczema and other types of skin rashes, depression, anxiety, hot flashes, chronic fatigue syndrome, and otitis media (ear infection).

Yoga

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Origins of Yoga

In order to understand what yoga is, one needs to understand where yoga comes from. Yoga tradition has a long history which goes back 5,000 years. Yoga is not a religion but a spiritual path and is the oldest spiritual tradition in the world. Hinduism and Buddhism are derived from yoga and developed later.

How do we know how old yoga is? In the 1920s, archaeologists in the Indus Valley of India discovered the remains of a hidden advanced civilization. These inhabitants were masters in the outer world and also the inner world of the self. Archeologists discovered statues and seals with motifs of people assuming yoga positions that were dated over 5,000 years ago. This indicates that yoga existed prior to the creation of these artifacts.

Rishis and other sages were yoga practitioners of ancient times who passed down their wisdom through generations in the lineage of yoga by means of an oral tradition. Practices included rituals, sacrifices to fire, and meditation for the purpose of spiritual unfolding. Passed down orally for hundreds of years, yogic tradition was not recorded until Patanjali in 200 BC. He codified the system of yoga in 196 succinct phrases or “sutras” that explained yoga. The Sutras of Patanjali offer moral principles for living life. A sutra means thread in Sanskrit, the original language of yoga; and Patanjali wove threads or sutras together in a tapestry of interconnected thought. Yoga, as described by Patanjali, gives one the means to stop the fluctuations of the mind. Living a life that follows the principles of The Sutras of Patanjali can lead to self-realization, the goal of yoga.

The Paths of Yoga

Yoga can be described in many different ways. Yoga originates from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which means to yoke, combine, or integrate. In yoga, one explores mental, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of self. Exploring these aspects, you end up seeing and resolving problems that you had not come to terms with or acknowledged previously. Yoga deals with each area at the same time; integrating mind, body, and spirit. Yogic practices such as asanas (yoga positions) and pranayama (yogic breathing) purify the body temple, and unblock emotional and physical blockages. The human body is seen in a different way as containing subtle energetic elements, and as more than being merely physical. Yoga is a system of living, a scientific method learned experientially by different yogis over thousands of years.

The system of yoga ultimately seeks to free a person from their patterns of conditioning so that an internal well-being is created, which is not conditional to outside circumstances.

The paths to realizing the self are many and there is not one right way. Regardless of the path that is correct for you, true progress seems to only come to those who make a consistent disciplined effort to follow a path rather than wavering in their focus. Think of yoga as a large tree with many branches. Some seekers are drawn to practice selfless service by helping others as their spiritual path, and this branch is called Karma Yoga. Jnana Yoga is a path of yoga wisdom with an emphasis on philosophy. Others are drawn to Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of devotion and love of the divine, or yoga of the heart. Hatha Yoga is the physical practice of yoga asanas (poses) and pranayama (yoga breathing). BKS Iyengar calls this path going from the known to the unknown. Practitioners start with the known aspects of the physical body muscles and bones and eventually become attuned to more subtle physical realms such as nerves and organs, which is a path of inner integrated awareness and fulfillment. All yoga is a spiritually inward directed path.

Yoga in Modern Times

Yoga asanas, part of hatha yoga, consist of yoga positions and sequences of positions that have been developed and refined over centuries to tone and bring awareness to each and every part of the body. Originally, asana meant “seat” and asanas were for the purpose of sitting comfortably for meditation. Ancient yogis are shown in statues as seated in Lotus Pose while meditating. Now asana has evolved to mean a yoga position, and the practice of asanas prepares the body for meditation by quieting the mind.

Yoga found in the modern world is focused on hatha yoga, which is a small branch of the larger tree. You can see yoga in the context of going back thousands of years in an unbroken stream of teachings from ancient India, with the past connected to the present. Yoga is for transformation of the self to unite with one’s divine essence. In doing any kind of modern yoga, you join a larger tradition.

Tai chi

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

What is tai chi?

Tai chi is a gentle exercise program that is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Derived from the martial arts, tai chi is composed of slow, deliberate movements, meditation, and deep breathing, which enhance physical health and emotional well-being.

As are many practices from the East, tai chi is based on spiritual and philosophical ideas that advocate a need for balance in the body, mind, and spirit. Central to tai chi is the idea that qi (pronounced "chee"), or life energy, flows throughout the body. Qi must be able to move freely for good health. The principle of yin/yang is important, too. Yin and yang are opposite and complementary forces in the universe, in the same way as light and dark are. Tai chi is meant to harmonize these pairs of opposites. Finally, tai chi imitates motion found in nature, such as the movements of animals, thereby uniting human beings with the natural world.

What is the history of tai chi?

Zhang Sanfeng, a martial artist who lived in China in the late 16th century, created the practice of tai chi. According to legend, Sanfeng had a dream about a snake and a crane engaged in battle; their graceful movements inspired his non-combative style of martial arts. This ancient form of movement has been practiced in China for centuries and is still a daily routine for tens of thousands of people there, especially the elderly.

How does tai chi work?

There are various perspectives on how tai chi works. Eastern philosophy holds that tai chi unblocks the flow of qi; when qi flows properly, the body, mind, and spirit are in balance and health is maintained. Others believe that tai chi works in the same way as other mind-body therapies, and there is ample evidence that paying attention to the connection between the mind and the body can relieve stress, combat disease, and enhance physical well-being.

Tai chi has three major components -- movement, meditation, and deep breathing.

* Movement -- All the major muscle groups and joints are needed for the slow, gentle movements in tai chi. Tai chi improves balance, agility, strength, flexibility, stamina, muscle tone, and coordination. This low-impact, weight-bearing exercise strengthens bones and can slow bone loss, thus preventing the development of osteoporosis.
* Meditation -- Research shows that meditation soothes the mind, enhances concentration, reduces anxiety, and lowers blood pressure and heart rate.
* Deep breathing -- Exhaling stale air and toxins from the lungs while inhaling a plentitude of fresh air increases lung capacity, stretches the muscles involved in breathing, and releases tension. It also enhances blood circulation to the brain, which boosts mental alertness. At the same time, the entire body is supplied with fresh oxygen and nutrients.

What does a tai chi session entail?

Tai chi sessions are usually group classes that last about an hour. Each session begins with a warm-up exercise. Then the instructor guides the class through a series of 20 - 100 tai chi movements that together comprise a "form." A form can take up to 20 minutes to complete. Each form has a nature-based name that describes its overall action -- such as "wave hands like clouds" or "grasp the bird's tail." At the same time, students are asked to focus on the point just below their navels, believed to be the center from which qi flows. The teacher encourages the class to perform all movements in a slow, meditative manner and to focus on deep breathing. At the end of the class, there is usually a wind-down exercise, relaxation, and meditation.

How many sessions will I need?

Classes are usually taught on a weekly basis. Many practitioners recommend practicing tai chi for about 15 - 20 minutes twice daily at home, since regular practice is essential for mastering the forms and achieving lasting results. Exercises can be modified depending on your mobility, history of injuries, chronic pain, joint swelling (if present), and medication that may affect balance.

What conditions respond well to tai chi?

Tai chi improves overall fitness, coordination, and agility. People who practice tai chi on a regular basis tend to have good posture, flexibility, and range of motion, are more mentally alert, and sleep more soundly at night.

Tai chi is both a preventive and complementary therapy for a wide range of conditions. Specifically, it is beneficial for chronic pain, gout, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, headaches, and sleep disorders. Tai chi is also beneficial for the immune system and the central nervous system, which makes it especially good for people with a chronic illness, anxiety, viral infections, depression, or any stress-related conditions. The deep breathing of tai chi regulates the respiratory system, helping to treat respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. It also stimulates the abdomen, which aids digestion and helps relieve constipation and gastrointestinal conditions. Many clinical studies indicate that elderly people who practice tai chi are much less prone to falls, a serious health risk to people in that age group.

Are there conditions that should not be treated with tai chi?

Tai chi is safe for everyone, regardless of age or athletic ability, and can be modified for most health problems. People with limited mobility -- even those in wheelchairs -- can learn and successfully use tai chi.

Reiki

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 13:59:00 +0000

Reiki Energy for Healing

What is Reiki?

Reiki energy healing, a laying of the hands technique for stress reduction and relaxation, is experiencing an increase in use as consumers increasingly seek out complementary medicine methods which support and address a more natural approach to their health issues and ailments. Reiki, as a holistic invisible, intangible subtle form of energy work, uses universal life force to promote harmony within all living things and heals the body, mind and spirit.

Reiki, pronounced ray-key, comes from two Japanese words. Rei means ‘Universal ‘or ‘The Wisdom coming from a higher knowledge’; and ki, means ‘universal life force energy’. Ki has the same meaning as ‘Chi’ or ‘Qi’; the Chinese term for energy as addressed in acupuncture or Qigong. Ki is also synonymous with Prana, the Sanskrit term for energy used in Yoga and Hinduism; as well as the reference to ‘Light’ found in Christian teachings. These different names are as numerous as the number of various cultures using Energy work to address imbalances of energy in all living things.

Reiki History

It is said that Reiki originated in Tibet approximately 2500 years ago; however, what is known is that it was ‘rediscovered’ in the mid nineteenth century by Dr. Mikao Usui. Dr. Usi was Japanese Christian monk who desired to recreate the healing miracles of both Buddha and Christ. His ten year search for answers involved the study of ancient Christian cultural texts, the teaching of Buddha’s methods of healing, and becoming a resident in a Zen Buddhist Monastery. During his time with the Buddhists, Dr. Usui was finally able to interpret the healing formulas written in Sanskrit but was unable to activate their energy to allow the process to work. To fully understand this forgotten healing art, he needed to complete a three week test consisting of isolation on a mountain where he would meditate, pray, and fast. On the 21st day, Dr. Usui visualized the Reiki symbols and attunements, and received guidance on how to activate the healing energy. He left the mountain knowing how to heal as Buddha and Jesus had healed.

Reiki continues to be passed from a Master Teacher to a student in levels, often referred to as ‘degrees’, attunements or initiations. The Usui Reiki system has three degrees where the 1st level is considered a complete course that prepares the practitioner to possess the ability to use Reiki for life. The 2nd level involves Mental and Distant Healing, while the 3rd degree is preparation to become a Reiki Master/Teacher.

The Many Forms of Reiki

The Traditional Usui Reiki is called Usui Reiki Ryoho, whereas many of the derivations of Reiki are often named for a philosophical way of life, a combination with another form of energy healing, a blending of Western Reiki with specific elements of other natural healing methods, or simply the name of an individual. There are at least fifty different kinds of healing being used today where the word ‘Reiki’ is a part of its name.

Examples of the more common variations include:

Reido Reiki

This method is a combination of various Japanese techniques and Western style Reiki where the emphasis is on meditation, having a regular Reiki practice and living life with sincerity. Unlike the Usui system, which has 3 levels of preparation, this approach has 7 levels.

Crystal Reiki

The combination of crystals with Reiki is based on the healing properties of specific crystals where the color of the crystal is matched to the color of the Chakra.

Angel Touch Reiki

The focus is on balancing the body, mind, and spirit through the combined use of Reiki and Angel Energy whereby the participant achieves a complete spiritual transformation.

Maori Reiki

This spiritually based method is named for the location where this Reiki healing originated – in the heart and soul of New Zealand. As a spiritual clan, the tribesmen developed many forms of hands-on spiritual healing. This method cleanses the body of spiritual and physical toxic wastes using the healing aspects of natural elements such as wood or stones.

Shamanic Reiki

Shamans or Medicine Men, usually associated with Native Americans, are also are part of South America’s health system as well as indigenous tribes throughout the world. This method incorporates Reiki’s healing power with the Shaman’s method of healing – be it Soul Retrieval, herbal remedies, or Astral flight/traveling thus achieving a more potent response from the recipient.

Dragon Reiki

Victor Glanckopf developed and founded this method where the attunements include the Dragon Breath and the use of the Blue Dragon symbol, which enables the use of the powerful healing Ray Symbol.

How Does Reiki Work?

Reiki balances energies and deletes blockages in the natural flow of Ki. The Reiki practitioner who has been attuned to channel the Universal Life Energy lays his/her hands on or near the body’s 7 major energy chakras which are located along the spinal column or midline of the body. This powerful positive Life Energy enters the body near a Chakra and goes wherever there is a need for re-vitalization. Once blockages are cleared, the natural flow of Ki is again open and healing of mind, body, and spirit begins.

How is Reiki Used?

Reiki can be used for a variety of situations where the body’s energy is in a state of imbalance whether it is spiritual, emotional, physical, mental, past, present or future. Since the energy used in Reiki comes from the Universe rather than from the practitioner, there is an abundance of energy that can be utilized to shorten the time for healing to occur. If you are in good health already, Reiki energy helps maintain your healthy state. If you experience a sense of imbalance in your body, mind or spirit, contact a local Reiki practitioner who may also be a Massage Therapist or a Bodyworker.

Naturopathy

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 15:14:00 +0000

Naturopathic medicine emphasizes the natural self-healing processes of the human body. Central principles include using healing approaches which derive from nature, encouraging self-responsibility for health, using therapies that promote the body’s ability to heal itself, and treatment which takes into account the whole person. A naturopathic physician typically combines several kinds of therapies, including diet, lifestyle changes, vitamins, minerals, and herbal (plant) medicines to prevent illness, treat disease, and promote well-being.

History

Naturopathy evolved as a commonly practiced comprehensive health system in the early 1900’s, and its origins are mainly from European herbal and water therapy traditions.

Greater focus on the importance of clinical evidence for naturopathic therapies and research in the field is resulting in a growing body of scientific evidence supporting approaches used by naturopathic physicians.

Principles central to the practice of naturopathic medicine include:

1. The healing power of nature. Recognize the body's inherent ability to heal itself, and the naturopathic physician's role in promoting and enhancing self-healing.
2. First do no harm. Emphasize the importance of minimizing harmful side effects of treatment. Whenever possible choose gentler, less strong, therapeutic options.
3. Find the cause. Awareness that suppressing symptoms alone may sometimes get in the way of discovering the cause of a disease.
4. Doctor as teacher. The role of the naturopathic physician is to educate and encourage individuals to take responsibility for their own health.
5. Treat the whole person. Naturopathic physicians strive to take into account all aspects of their patients’ health including emotional, social, and spiritual aspects.
6. Prevention. Emphasize the importance of disease prevention through the use of effective disease prevention techniques.

Diagnostic Methods

Naturopathic physicians perform a history and a physical exam, order lab tests, and record findings using a “SOAP” format, in very similar ways to that of conventional medicine ractitioners.Naturopathic physicians order many of the same lab tests as conventional practitioners, such as tests for anemia, thyroid disease, diabetes, etc, but in addition may also order some lab tests which are unfamiliar to conventional physicians, such as stool analysis for digestive disorders and salivary hormone panels. Radiology studies, such as mammograms, may be ordered, and Pap smears are commonly performed.

Treatment methods

Naturopathic physicians typically combine several kinds of treatments in their practice. The methods employed usually include: herbal (plant) medicine and the use of other dietary supplements such as vitamins and minerals, modifications of diet and other lifestyle changes, hydrotherapy (water therapy), naturopathic physical manipulation, and homeopathy. Those who also have received training in Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine or acupuncture may use these methods as well in some jurisdictions. Most naturopathic physicians have a small dispensary for herbs and other supplements in their office of products which they feel are of sufficiently high quality.

Hypnotherapy

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 15:14:00 +0000

What is hypnotherapy?

The term "hypnosis" is derived from the Greek word hypnos, meaning "sleep." Hypnotherapists typically use exercises that bring about deep relaxation and an altered state of consciousness, also known as a trance. Many people routinely experience a trance-like state while they are watching television or sitting at a red light. A person in a trance or deeply focused state is unusually responsive to an idea or image, but this does not mean that a hypnotist can control the person's mind and free will. On the contrary, hypnosis can actually teach people how to master their own states of awareness. By doing so they can affect their own bodily functions and psychological responses.

What is the history of hypnosis?

Throughout history, trance states have been used by shamans and ancient peoples in ritualistic activities. But hypnosis as we know it today was first associated with the work of an Austrian physician named Franz Anton Mesmer. In the 1700s, Mesmer used magnets and other hypnotic techniques (hence the word, mesmerized) to treat people, and while he achieved a number of dramatic "cures" for blindness, paralysis, headache, and joint pain, the medical community was not convinced. Mesmer was accused of fraud, and his techniques were called unscientific.

How does hypnosis work?

When something new happens to us, we remember it and learn a particular behavior in response to that circumstance. Memories stored in our brains hold the original physical and emotional reactions that occurred when the given memory was first formed. Each time similar events occur again, the physical and emotional reactions attached to the memory are repeated. These reactions may be inappropriate or unhealthy. In some forms of hypnotherapy, the trained therapist guides you to remember the event that led to the first reaction, separate the memory from the learned behavior, and reconstruct the event with new, healthier associations.

During hypnosis, a person's body relaxes while their thoughts become more focused and attentive. Like other relaxation techniques, hypnosis decreases blood pressure and heart rate, and alters certain types of brain wave activity. In this relaxed state, a person will feel very at ease physically yet fully awake mentally. In this state of deep concentration people are highly responsive to suggestion. If you are trying to quit smoking, for example, a therapist's suggestion may successfully convince you that in the future you will have a strong dislike for the taste of cigarettes.

There are several stages of hypnosis. The process begins with reframing the problem; becoming relaxed, then absorbed (deeply engaged in the words or images presented by a hypnotherapist); dissociating (letting go of critical thoughts); responding (complying whole-heartedly to a hypnotherapist's suggestions); returning to usual awareness; and reflecting on the experience.

What happens during a visit to the hypnotherapist?

During your first visit to a hypnotherapist, you will be asked about your medical history and what brought you to see them -- in other words, what condition it is that you would like to clear up. The specialist will then, likely, explain to you what hypnosis is and how it works. You will then be directed through relaxation techniques with a series of mental images and suggestions intended to change behaviors and alleviate symptoms. For example, people who suffer from panic attacks may be given the suggestion that, in the future, they will be able to relax at will. The hypnotherapist will also teach you the basics of self-hypnosis and give you an audiotape for home use. This enables you to recreate the feelings you experienced during the session and reinforce the learning on your own.

What illnesses or conditions respond well to hypnosis?

Hypnosis is used in a variety of settings -- from emergency rooms to dental offices to outpatient clinics -- to relieve conditions with an emotional or psychological component. Clinical studies suggest that hypnosis may improve immune function, increase relaxation, decrease stress, and ease feelings of anxiety.

Hypnotherapy is effective in reducing the fear and anxiety that accompany pain and uncomfortable medical or dental procedures. For example, when used during an operation, hypnosis may improve recovery time and decrease anxiety as well as pain following the surgery. Clinical trials on burn patients suggest that hypnosis decreases pain (enough to replace pain medication) and speeds healing. Generally, clinical studies indicate that using hypnosis can lessen your need for medication, improve your mental and physical condition before an operation, and reduce the time it takes to recover. Dentists also use hypnotherapy to control gagging and bleeding.

A hypnotherapist can teach you self-regulation skills. For instance, someone with arthritis may be told that they can turn down pain like the volume on a radio. Hypnotherapy can also be an effective tool for managing chronic illness. Self-hypnosis can enhance a sense of control, which is often eroded by chronic illness. Children may benefit the most from hypnosis, probably because they are most easily hypnotized.

Clinical studies on children in emergency treatment centers show that hypnotherapy reduces fear, anxiety, and discomfort and improves self-control and cooperation with medical personnel.

Other problems or conditions that respond well to hypnotherapy include:

* Inflammatory bowel diseases (namely, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis)
* Sleep disorders, including insomnia
* Addictions
* Warts
* Bedwetting
* Fibromyalgia
* Irritable bowel syndrome
* Phobias
* Labor and delivery
* Fractures
* Skin disorders [such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema (atopic dermatitis)]
* Migraine headaches
* Stress
* Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
* Cancer-related pain
* Weight loss
* Eating disorders, namely anorexia and bulimia
* Indigestion (dyspepsia)

Meditation

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 15:13:00 +0000

What is Meditation?

For centuries, people the world over have pursued the cultivation of consciousness, and meditation has stood at the forefront of tested and effective techniques. For as long as there has been an awareness of the "Monkey-Mind," our undisciplined, conflicted, distracted day to day consciousness, there has been a desire to find discipline of thought and peace of mind.

Essentially, meditation in the Western form is centered around diverting the focus of the mind onto a single topic. In this style, meditation is often seen as calming and relaxing the mind and can also be an aid to a religious practice. Western meditation implies concentration of thought on a specific goal.

The Eastern form, on the other hand, involves quieting of the mind, a cessation of thinking. Focusing the consciousness on the apparent emptiness of silence and non-thought, subtle aspects of the consciousness (and even the universe) become more apparent.

What is Meditation Like?

Eastern meditation has to do primarily with quieting the mind toward the achievement of enlightenment. Random thought and precise goals are eliminated from the consciousness and, while still awake, the mind is allowed to step above consciousness and beyond distraction to take in everything as a whole, without focus. This approach usually requires calm surroundings, various prescribed postures, working with the breath and, in some systems, chant.

On the other hand, western meditation is an active function where you remain alert and focus on a specific thought or goal. It functions to open the mind to different perspectives and levels of awareness, including many different sensations. Western meditation is less concerned with posture, though specialized breathing and chants can be used. Meditation is often achieved through focus on a visualized scene, object or idea, or on an external source such as a candle.

On the outside, both systems appear much the same, but the inner work is quite different. Some people prefer one approach over the other. Others may use both systems, as appropriate to the situation.

Definition of Meditation

Meditation may be defined as achieving a state of deep reflection within a mental state of strong focus. The word itself is derived from the Latin words "mederi" which literally means "to heal" and "meditari" which means "to think, exercise the mind". The Sanskrit derivation of the word, "medha", simply means "wisdom".

This is done in two different ways, depending on whether the meditator is using the eastern or western technique. Western requires a certain line of thinking, while eastern meditation discards thinking, toward a non-thought state that is essentially an awareness of inner silence. This is not an obvious thing to achieve, and can easily be mistaken for a sleep-like or a hypnotic state. Meditation is also not simply a state of calm.

Meditation is Very Safe

Meditation, as a self-guided process, is quite safe. Occasionally, breathing techniques in some forms of meditation are difficult for persons with respiratory difficulties, such as asthma, and some cardiac patients. If you suffer from respiratory or cardiac illness discuss your chosen form of meditation with your physician before beginning.

Benefits of Meditation

Meditation and Cancer

The calm and relief from stress that are part of a regular meditation practice are extremely important to cancer patients, helping to develop the positive attitude that assists healing. Meditation is taught and used in cancer centers the world over, and a growing body of research is confirming the experience of clinicians: meditation and healing work together. Meditation cannot heal cancer, but it brings peace of mind and emotional health, important elements in any cancer treatment strategy.

Meditation and HIV/AIDS

Meditation helps the mind and the body find greater calm and relaxation, and helps to obtain focus and quiet amidst our stressful and busy lives. This is an important part of health and healing for people with HIV and AIDS, where stress can play a powerful role in the function of the immune system. There is a great deal of stress involved in this illness, and meditation can help to calm feelings of being overwhelmed and helpless while gaining perspective. Studies have also shown that meditation improves immune function for HIV and other patients. While meditation cannot lengthen life for those with terminal diseases, it can make considerable improvement in the quality of life, an important factor for anyone.

Meditation and Cardiac Patients

In medical studies, meditation has been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Further study continues to measure the impact and benefit of meditation on the risk factors to cardiac problems, as well. These include high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, obesity (specifically abdominal obesity), and insulin resistance.

Meditation and Sports

Meditation and visualization have been used by athletes on a regular basis. Amateur competitors were using meditation and visualization techniques in training. Polish, Soviet and other athletes were trained in highly structured meditation systems that resulted in measurable improvements in athletic performance.

Meditation and Pain

While the causes of pain are physical, the experience of pain is entirely in the mind. Meditation techniques have been used with success to control both acute and chronic pain. In fact, meditation techniques are employed by soldiers around the world to manage the pain of battlefield wounds and to resist torture. Through meditation, the mind experience of pain can be controlled and even eliminated.

Meditation and Stress

We live in a stressful, fast-paced world. We are pressed to multitask, and accept information and emotions from a dizzying array of sources. Stress at home, at work, on our commute: we have become a culture addicted to stress, driven by coffee and other stimulants. Meditation is a key to managing stress, bringing peace into a noisy, conflicted mind. Through quieting the mind each day, you can gain perspective over stress. Meditation also improves creativity, sleep, and self-confidence, all useful states of mind from which to approach our busy lives. Many people, from Fortune-500 executives to students, from overwhelmed stay-at-home mothers to over-committed healthcare workers, rely on meditation to find sanity and peace.

Chinese Medicine

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:59:00 +0000

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete medical system that has been used to diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses for more than 2,000 years. TCM is based on a belief in yin and yang -- defined as opposing energies, such as earth and heaven, winter and summer, and happiness and sadness. When yin and yang are in balance, you feel relaxed and energized. Out of balance, however, yin and yang negatively affect your health.

Practitioners also believe that there is a life force or energy, known as qi (pronounced "chee"), in every body. For yin and yang to be balanced and for the body to be healthy, qi must be balanced and flowing freely. When there is too little or too much qi in one of the body's energy pathways (called meridians), or when the flow of qi is blocked, illness results.

The ultimate goal of TCM treatment is to balance the yina nd yang in our lives by promoting the natural flow of qi. In an interesting analogy, often used to explain its nature, qi is described as the wind in a sail -- we do not see the wind directly, but we are aware of its presence as it fills the sail.

What is the history of TCM?

The first writings about TCM date back to 200 B.C.E. Herbal medicine and acupuncture, including theory, practice, diagnosis, and treatment, were recorded in classical Chinese texts and refined over many centuries.

How does TCM work?

Disease (alterations in the normal flow of qi such that yin and yang are imbalanced) is thought to have three major causes: external or environmental factors, your internal emotions, and lifestyle factors such as diet. Through the use of its therapeutic modalities, TCM stimulates the body's own healing mechanisms. Practices used in TCM include:

* Acupuncture and acupressure
* Moxibustion (burning an herb near the skin)
* Herbal medicine
* Nutrition
* Chinese massage (called tui na)
* Exercise (such as tai chi and qi gong which combine movement with meditation)

In TCM, the body's internal organs are not thought of as individual structures, but as complex networks. According to TCM, there are five organ systems (kidney, heart, spleen, liver, and lung) through which qi flows via meridians. Despite their specific names, these five systems correspond to more than individual body parts. The kidney, for example, represents the entire urinary system along with the adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys. The heart, meanwhile, represents both the heart and the brain.

What is TCM good for?

Over the centuries, TCM has been used to treat countless conditions. Western scientists are still studying its effectiveness for various diseases. Some of the conditions for which TCM is known to be particularly helpful include:

* Obesity
* Diabetes and its complications, such as retinopathy (damage to the retina located in the back of the eye)
* High cholesterol
* Depression
* Arthritis
* Back pain
* Male and female fertility disorders
* Alzheimer's disease
* Parkinson's disease
* Digestive disorders (such as irritable bowel syndrome)
* Recurrent cystitis (inflammation of the bladder)
* Nausea and vomiting

TCM may also be an effective treatment for the following ailments:

* Allergies
* Cancer
* Stroke
* Sinusitis
* Addictions
* Pain (including childbirth and abdominal)
* Menopausal symptoms
* Osteoporosis
* Infections (respiratory, bladder, vaginal)
* Sleep disorders
* Stress
* Constipation
* Diabetic neuropathy
* Epilepsy

Reflexology

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:59:00 +0000

Hand Reflexology Chart

What is Reflexology?

Based on numerous studies, it has been determined that the definition of reflexology is that reflexology is a science that deals with the principal that there are reflex areas in the hands and feet which correspond to all glands, organs and parts of the body. By stimulating these reflexes properly, you can help many health problems in a natural, non invasive way! Reflexology possesses a unique method of using the thumbs and fingers on these reflex areas. It is a total holistic modality and approach to overall health. Reflexology is for everyone!

Reflexology helps maintain the body’s homeostasis, an inner balance that is essential for the body to function properly and effectively. When your stress levels are above what they should be, your homeostasis is thrown off causing you to not sleep, to over eat, to gain or lose excessive weight. Overtime, these factors lead to heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, auto immune disorders and many other problems and disorders of the body that are common today.

The Widespread Use of Reflexology

In just one reflexology session, you can feel the stress of your life melt away! This is just one of the many benefits that reflexology has to offer. Reflexology is a holistic energy-based modality that can help the body regain its natural state of homeostasis. The use of Reflexology for personal health care and relief of tension has increased in popularity in the last several decades. From athletes speeding the recovery process after injury, to Singers, Actors and famous Movies stars better remembering their lines, all while maintaining their health and beauty. World leaders also use reflexology in their daily health regimen to help them cope with the stress of running countries and governments. From the corporate world of Who’s Who to Princess and Kings of many countries, reflexology is helping keep the world turning.

Reflexology has come to be a household word for not only people in power but, your average everyday person. Countless renowned doctors across the globe are recommending reflexology to be used as alternative modality in helping rid patients of incurable symptoms from certain diseases. Reflexology has become the alternative adjunct to medical treatments across the U.S. and worldwide. From newborns to the elderly, men and women, no matter what part of the world you come from, the benefits of reflexology are universal, always positive and beneficial to the overall health of your body. It is used worldwide as a preventative measure that uses no drugs or surgery. Helping maintain oneself in optimum health is the fundamental basis for the widely accepted implementation of reflexology.

To define and differentiate this developed science. The word reflexology has become the widely known modality that is accepted worldwide for its amazing results. The word reflexology was coined through the combination of the word reflex, which are points of throughout the body which activate muscles, nerves and all organs. The suffix (ology) is the study, investigation or objective observation of any scientific modality related to a specific subject.

Reflexology Points

Dealing with the body from a reflexologist’s point of view is really quite simple. You work the zones of the foot by dividing it into the four guidelines. Then, using your thumb and fingers, work the specific reflexes of the body mapped out on the foot.

In addition to the anatomical location mapped out of the reflexes, there are five specific reflex points which are of extreme importance in reference to the body its glands and organs.

These pin point reflexes are:

* Pituitary Reflex
* Ovary/Testes Reflex
* Uterus/Prostate Reflex
* Ileocecal Valve Reflex
* Sigmoid Flexure Reflex

Reflexology emphasizes equally these specific reflexes that correspond to these areas of the body. The anatomical functions of the human body that these pin points reflex are vitally important.

The dysfunction of any of these specific glands or organs mentioned can have an adverse effect on the human body’s overall health.

A Reflexologist always works on these specific pin point reflexes as one of the most important parts of a Reflexology session.

Myotherapy

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:33:00 +0000

What is Myotherapy

Bonnie Prudden Myotherapy is a method of relaxing muscle spasm, improving circulation and alleviating pain. To defuse trigger points, pressure is applied to the muscle for several seconds by means of fingers, knuckles and elbows. The success of this method depends on the use of specific corrective exercise for the freed muscles. The method was developed by Bonnie Prudden in 1976.

Myotherapy is not only a viable way of treating chronic pain, but it is often the only technique short of continual medication to relieve the intense pain caused from muscle spasm. The Certified Bonnie Prudden Myotherapist locates and diffuses trigger points using gentle to medium pressure applied with the fingertips, knuckles, or elbows. Each muscle group is then stretched in order to return the muscle to a relaxed state and keep it that way. Additional corrective exercises are taught as homework to ensure and sustain recovery and freedom from pain.

Trigger Points

Chronic pain is generally caused from receptors in muscle fibers that are fired by Trigger Points. Trigger Points is a medical term defined as an irritable spot in the muscle. When these Trigger Points fire, pain follows. Your pain often has a distant source. For example, many headaches are caused by Trigger Points in the upper back and shoulders. Typically, spasm accompanies chronic pain, Myotherapy locates and defuses these Trigger Points.

Myotherapy does not cure disease; however, the related benefits of this pain relief therapy are so significant that most ailments are better managed during recovery.

Conditions That Respond to Myotherapy

* back pain
* knee pain
* sciatica
* neck pain
* shoulder pain
* whiplash and torticollis
* TMJD
* headaches (including migraine)
* menstrual cramps
* pregnancy associated pain
* carpal tunnel syndrome
* tennis elbow
* rotator cuff injuries
* fibromyalgia
* arthritis
* multiple sclerosis associated spasms
* lupus associated pain
* chronic fatigue syndrome
* irritable bowel
* shin splints
* post surgical pain

Myotherapy Benefits

* pain relief
* stress reduction
* sleep improvement
* increased energy and well being
* extended flexibility and greater mobility
* enhanced circulation
* increased range of motion
* improved circulation
* less susceptibility to strains and sprain
* increased endurance
* improved sleep

Holistic Health

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:33:00 +0000

Holistic Health is actually an approach to life. Rather than focusing on illness or specific parts of the body, this ancient approach to health considers the whole person and how he or she interacts with his or her environment. It emphasizes the connection of mind, body, and spirit. The goal is to achieve maximum well-being, where everything is functioning the very best that is possible. With Holistic Health people accept responsibility for their own level of well-being, and everyday choices are used to take charge of one's own health.

How Holistic Health Developed

Ancient healing traditions, as far back as 5,000 years ago in India and China, stressed living a healthy way of life in harmony with nature. Socrates (4th century BC) warned against treating only one part of the body "for the part can never be well unless the whole is well." Although the term holism was introduced by Jan Christiaan Smuts in 1926 as a way of viewing living things as "entities greater than and different from the sum of their parts,

Scientific medical advances had created a dramatic shift in the concept of health. Germs were identified as outside sources causing disease. Gaining health became a process of killing microscopic invaders with synthesized drugs. People believed that they could get away with unhealthy lifestyle choices, and modern medicine would "fix" them as problems developed.

However, for some conditions medical cures have proven more harmful than the disease. In addition, many chronic conditions do not respond to scientific medical treatments. In looking for other options, people are turning back to the holistic approach to health and healing. The Holistic Health lifestyle is regaining popularity each year, as the holistic principles offer practical options to meet the growing desire for enjoying a high level of vitality and well-being.

The Basic Principles of Holistic Health

Holistic Health is based on the law of nature that a whole is made up of interdependent parts. The earth is made up of systems, such as air, land, water, plants and animals. If life is to be sustained, they cannot be separated, for what is happening to one is also felt by all of the other systems. In the same way, an individual is a whole made up of interdependent parts, which are the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. When one part is not working at its best, it impacts all of the other parts of that person. Furthermore, this whole person, including all of the parts, is constantly interacting with everything in the surrounding environment. For example, when an individual is anxious about a history exam or a job interview, his or her nervousness may result in a physical reaction--such as a headache or a stomach ache. When people suppress anger at a parent or a boss over a long period of time, they often develop a serious illness--such as migraine headaches, emphysema, or even arthritis.

The principles of Holistic Health state that health is more than just not being sick. A common explanation is to view wellness as a continuum along a line. The line represents all possible degrees of health. The far left end of the line represents premature death. On the far right end is the highest possible level of wellness or maximum well-being. The center point of the line represents a lack of apparent disease. This places all levels of illness on the left half of the wellness continuum. The right half shows that even when no illness seems to be present, there is still a lot of room for improvement..

Key factors influencing an individual's state of health have not changed significantly over the past 20 years. Quality of medical care is only 10%. Heredity accounts for 18% and environment is 19%. Everyday lifestyle choices are 53%. The decisions people make about their life and habits are, therefore, by far the largest factor in determining their state of wellness.

The most obvious choices people make each day is what they "consume"--both physically and mentally. The cells in a person's body are constantly being replaced. New cells are built from what is available. Harmful substances or lack of needed building blocks in the body can result in imperfect cells, unable to do what is required to keep that person healthy. Similarly, on the non-physical level, a person's mental attitudes are "built" from what they see and hear.

The majority of illnesses and premature death can be traced back to lifestyle choices. There are the well-known dangers connected with drugs, alcohol, nicotine, and unprotected sexual activity. Less recognized is the impact of excesses in things like sugar, caffeine, and negative attitudes. Combined with deficiencies in exercise, nutritious foods, and self-esteem, these gradually accumulate harmful effects. With time they diminish the quality of the "environment" within that human being, and can set the stage for illness to take hold. Quality of life, now and in the future, is actually being determined by a multitude of seemingly unimportant choices made everyday.

How Holistic Health Is Practiced

While preventing illness is important, Holistic Health focuses on reaching higher levels of wellness. The right half of the wellness continuum invites people to constantly explore which everyday actions work for them and discovering what is appropriate to move them toward maximum well-being. People are motivated by how good it feels to have lots of energy and enthusiasm for life, knowing that what they are doing that day will allow them to continue to feel this great for years to come.

When disease and chronic conditions do occur, the Holistic Health principles can also be applied. The term is usually changed to holistic medicine, and additional factors are added. The healthcare professionals using the holistic approach work in partnership with their patients. They recommend treatments that support the body's natural healing system and consider the whole person and the whole situation.

A holistic approach to healing goes beyond just eliminating symptoms. For example, taking an aspirin for a headache would be like disconnecting the oil light on the dash of a car when it flashes. The irritation is eliminated, but the real problem still exists. In holistic medicine, a symptom is considered a message that something needs attention. So, the symptom is used as a guide to look below the surface for the root cause. Then what really needs attention can be addressed.

The Benefits of Holistic Health

Holistic Health supports reaching higher levels of wellness as well as preventing illness. People enjoy the vitality and well-being that results from their positive lifestyle changes, and are motivated to continue this process throughout their lives.

Herbal medicine

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:32:00 +0000

What is herbal medicine?

Herbal medicine, also called botanical medicine or phytomedicine, refers to the use of any plant's seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes. Long practiced outside of conventional medicine, herbalism is becoming more mainstream as up-to-date analysis and research show their value in the treatment and prevention of disease.

What is the history of herbal medicine?

Plants had been used for medicinal purposes long before recorded history. For example, ancient Chinese and Egyptian papyrus writings describe medicinal plant uses. Indigenous cultures (e.g., African and Native American) used herbs in their healing rituals, while others developed traditional medical systems (e.g., Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine) in which herbal therapies were used systematically. Scientists found that people in different parts of the globe tended to use the same or similar plants for the same purposes.

Recently, the World Health Organization estimated that 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some aspect of their primary healthcare.

How do herbs work?

For most herbs, the specific ingredient that causes a therapeutic effect is not known. Whole herbs contain many ingredients, and it is likely that they work together to produce the desired medicinal effect. Many factors affect how effective an herb will be. For example, the type of environment (climate, bugs, soil quality) in which a plant grew will affect its components, as will how and when it was harvested and processed.

How are herbs used?

Herbalists prefer using whole plants rather than extracting single components from them. Whole plant extracts have many components. These components work together to produce therapeutic effects and also to lessen the chances of side effects from any one component. Several herbs are often used together to enhance effectiveness and synergistic actions and to reduce toxicity. Herbalists must take many things into account when prescribing herbs. For example, the species and variety of the plant, the plant's habitat, how it was stored and processed, and whether or not there are contaminants.

What happens during a visit to an herbalist?

Herbalists aim to correct imbalances, resolve patterns of dysfunction, and treat the underlying cause of your complaint. Specific symptoms may also be treated if necessary.

A session with an herbalist typically lasts one hour. You may be physically examined and asked about your medical history and your general well-being (that is, how well you sleep, what you eat, if you have a good appetite, good digestion and elimination, how often you exercise, and what you do to relax). The herbalist might recommend one or more herbs, dietary changes, and lifestyle modifications.

What is herbal medicine good for?

Herbalists treat many conditions such as asthma, eczema, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue, and irritable bowel syndrome, among others. Herbal preparations are best taken under the guidance of a trained professional. Be sure to consult with your doctor or an herbalist before self-treating. Some common herbs and their uses are discussed below. Please see monographs on individual herbs for detailed descriptions of uses as well as risks, side effects, and potential interactions.

* Ginkgo ( Ginkgo biloba ), particularly a standardized extract known as EGb 761, appears to produce improvements in awareness, judgment, and social function in people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. In a year-long study of 309 people with Alzheimer's disease, those taking EGb 761 consistently improved while those on placebo worsened.
* Kava kava ( Piper methysticum ) has become popular as a treatment for anxiety, but recent reports have traced liver damage to enough people who have used kava that the U.S. FDA has issued a warning regarding its use and other countries, such as Germany and Canada, have taken kava off of the market.
* St. John's wort ( Hypericum perforatum ) is well known for its antidepressant effects, and an analysis of 27 studies involving more than 2,000 people confirmed that the herb is an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression.
* Valerian ( Valeriana officinalis ) has had a long tradition as a sleep-inducing agent, with the added benefit of producing no hangover feeling the next day.
* Echinacea preparations (from Echinacea purpurea and other Echinacea species) may bolster immunity. In a study of 160 volunteers with flu-like symptoms, echinacea extract reduced both the frequency and severity of cold symptoms.

Is there anything I should watch out for?

Used correctly, many herbs are considered safer than conventional medications, but because they are unregulated, herbal products are often mislabeled and may contain undeclared additives and adulterants. Some herbs are associated with allergic reactions or interact with conventional drugs. Self-prescribing herbal products will increase your risk, so it is important to consult your doctor and an herbalist before taking herbal medicines.

Some examples of adverse reactions from certain popular herbs are described below.

* St. John's wort causes sensitivity to the sun's ultraviolet rays, and may cause an allergic reaction, stomach upset, fatigue, and restlessness. Studies show that St. John's wort also interferes with the effectiveness of many drugs, including warfarin (a blood thinner), protease inhibitors for HIV, possibly birth control pills, and many other medications. In addition, St. John's wort must not be taken with anti-depressant medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public health advisory concerning many of these interactions.
* Kava kava and echinacea have both been linked to liver toxicity. Again, kava has been taken off the market in several countries because of the liver toxicity.
* Valerian may cause oversedation, and in some people it may even have the unexpected effect of overstimulating instead of sedating.
* Feverfew ( Tanacetum parthenium ) may cause agitation.
* Bleeding time may be altered with the use of garlic, ginkgo, feverfew, ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) and ginseng.

Who is using herbal medicine?

Nearly one-third of Americans use herbs and it is estimated that in 1998 alone $4 billion was spent on herbal products in this country. Unfortunately, a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated that nearly 70% of individuals taking herbal medicines (the majority of which were well educated and had a higher-than-average income) were reluctant to reveal their use of complementary and alternative medicine to their doctors. Because herbal medicines contain a combination of chemicals, each with a specific action, many are capable of eliciting complex physiological responses—some of which may create unwanted or unexpected results when combined with conventional drugs. Be sure to consult your doctor before trying any herbal products.

What is the future of herbal medicine?

Although a renaissance is occurring in herbal medicine in the United States, the FDA still classifies herbs as dietary supplements and forbids manufacturers to claim that their products are able to treat or prevent specific diseases. In some countries in Europe, however, herbs are classified as drugs and are regulated. The German Commission E, an expert medical panel, actively researches their safety and effectiveness.

Music Therapy

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:56:00 +0000

Music Therapy is an established healthcare profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages. Music therapy improves the quality of life for persons who are well and meets the needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses. Music therapy interventions can be designed to: promote wellness manage stress * alleviate pain * express feelings * enhance memory * improve communication * promote physical rehabilitation.

It is believed that music stimulates the pituitary gland, whose secretions affect the nervous system and the flow of blood. It is believed that for healing with music, it is necessary to vibrate the cells of the body, for it is through these vibrations that the diseased person's consciousness can be changed effectively to promote health. The right kind of music helps one relax and refresh. Even during the course of working, light music improves efficiency. Listening to music helps control negative aspects of our personalities like worry, bias and anger. In addition, it can help cure headache, abdominal pain and tension. Music therapy is one of the most effective ways of controlling emotions, blood pressure and restoring the functioning of the liver.

It is believed that classical Indian ragas can benefit a whole host of conditions ranging from insomnia, high and low blood pressure to schizophrenia and epilepsy.

What happens when we are listening to music?

Scientifically, many things are happening in our body while we are listening the music, while we are participating in a live music session with body movements, the music which we are listening/participating many parts of the brain functions in a coordinated pattern and helps to enjoy the music, if we are well versed in music. The mind has the tendency to relate or to identify things in a known pattern, accordingly come to a result/conclusion through our expressed behavior. Rather if we let the music flow into us without getting into the nuances or intricacies of the particular piece which has been provided for the therapeutic purposes it does wonder with the patients/clients/participants. Since these informantion and other pertaining to brain are available only through brain injured patients,

Does music have healing effect?

Healing effect on individuals with music is a known fact. It has centuries of claim behind it. But the quality of exposure the music with its specifications and other procedures plays a very vital role in speaking about its healing aspect.

Why instrumental music?

When classical music with its notes being played through a string instrument the impact is complete. The specific notes being presented in the classical flair the impact will be good on the individuals. The music with its notes when essayed in classical format the frequency and the wavelength it emanates in the atmosphere and its impact enormous on the listeners. It helps in the quality of neuro transmitters secreted in brain and the behavior of the individual.

Types of music therapy

One is active mode of music therapy.
The other one is passive mode of music therapy.

Active mode requires participation of the patients in the music therapy sessions, while the passive mode of music therapy requires mere involved listening.

The active mode of music therapy is useful in Pediatric areas and in few of the Neurological problems.

In the Pediatric areas, the active mode of music therapy helps for the hyper active child to reduce the over activity in a given period of time and enhance the quality of concentration in child. With regard to speech difficulties in children this active mode of music enhances the quality of fluency in speech.

Music training also enhances the Verbal Memory improvement in children.

Many of the behavior problems in children and developmental delays and other problematic behaviors also may be attended through active mode of music therapy.

Music Therapy in expressive behavior, imagination development in children, and projecting the ideas while participating etc., are all feasible in this active mode.

In the neurological areas the neurological aphasia; both the receptive and expressive aphasia may get the necessary stimulation, required to bring back the needed communication in patients. The lyrics in active music surely triggers the memory folders in the brains of patients and helps to revive the same.

Maximizing With Music Therapy

As we mentioned before, there is not a single music that is good for everyone. People have different tastes. It is important that you like the music being played.

The following are general guidelines to maximize the effectiveness of the music.

# To wash away stress, try taking a 20-minute "sound bath." Put some relaxing music on your stereo, then lie in a comfortable position on a couch or on the floor near the speakers. For a deeper experience, you can wear headphones to focus your attention and to avoid distraction.

# Choose music with a slow rhythm - slower than the natural heart beat which is about 72 beats per minute. Music that has repeating or cyclical pattern is found to be effective in most people.

# As the music plays, allow it to wash over you, rinsing off the stress from the day. Focus on your breathing, letting it deepen, slow and become regular. Concentrate on the silence between the notes in the music; this keeps you from analyzing the music and makes relaxation more complete.

# If you need a stimulation after a day of work, go for a faster music rather than slow calming music.

# When going gets tough, go for a music you are familiar with - such as a childhood favorite or favorite oldies. Familiarity often breeds calmness.

# Take walks with your favorite music playing on the walkman. Inhale and exhale in tune with the music. Let the music takes you. This is a great stress reliever by combining exercise (brisk walk), imagery and music.

# Listening to the sounds of nature, such as ocean waves or the calm of a deep forest, can reduce stress. Try taking a 15- to 20-minute walk if you're near the seashore or a quiet patch of woods.

Balneotherapy

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:56:00 +0000

Balneotherapy is the term given to the practice of healing using bath preparations. On the old continent it is well known that Balneotherapy was highly favored by the Romans, the Greeks and the Egyptians.

The natural minerals and medicinal properties in the Healing Botanical formula are absorbed via the skin. This composition, along with heat, promotes circulation, enhances the immune system, offers total muscle relaxation, pain and stress relief, reduces inflammation, improves range of motion, and detoxifies.

The process may include warm or cold water, and massage therapy is often used in conjunction with Balneotherapy. Mineral water is often used in spas for its theraputic properties and contains rich minerals such as silica, sulfur, radium and selenium which absorbed through the skin.

The word "Balneotherapy" is now applied to anything associated with spa treatment, including water therapy, spa baths, natural vapor baths and also some types of mud hot treatments. The main substances in mineral water are sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron which mix with acids to create chlorides, sulfates, carbonates and sulfides. Other elements include lithium, potassium, iodine, manganese and bromine.

The pine needle bath is very popular; it is done with adding the needles of pines and firs to hot water. The essential oils are absorbed by the skin and increase circulation. Physicians agree that thermal baths have many therapeutic properties.

There are several ways Balneotherapy works.

Bathing in hot springs progressively increases the body temperature, helping us to fight off bacteria and viruses. Hot spring bathing boosts hydrostatic pressure within the body, therefore heightening blood circulation and body cell oxygenation. The enhanced blood flow helps to eliminate toxins by increasing the flow of oxygen to the blood and so it can carry nutrients to vital tissues and organs. Bathing in hot springs increases the body's metabolism, and aids digestion.

Frequent bathing aids in normalizing the task of endocrine glands and the function of independent nervous system. When used topically, hot mineral water has been known to treat skin conditions such as with psoriasis, fungal infection and dermatitis. It is also used to heal wounds and other skin injuries.

Health conditions that can be treated with balneotherapy:

* Neuroparalysis
* Gout
* Chronic skin diseases
* Chronic gynecological diseases
* Chronic mild respiratory diseases
* Chronic rheumatoid arthritis
* Chronic gastrointestinal diseases
* Vibration disorder
* Psychosomatic disorders
* Stress-related disorders
* Metabolic diseases like obesity, gout and diabetes
* Functional recovery or central and peripheral
* Hypertension
* Sequelae of trauma
* Autonomic nervous system dysfunction
* Circulatory diseases like mild or moderate hypertension

Crystal Therapy

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:55:00 +0000

Philosophy

The theory behind crystal therapy is based on physical properties that some crystals display. (Quartz is the crystal therapists refer to when speaking of crystals in a general sense.) Quartz is composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2). Natural healers believe that the SiO2 in the crystal communicates with SiO2 in the human body. It is this common link that allows energy to transfer from the crystal into the body and promotes healing.

Certain crystals do possess vibrational energy that is known as the piezoelectric effect. This effect does allow crystals to expand with certain frequencies of energy.

The frequency of the vibrational energy released by the crystal is different for every color of gem. Based on this it is thought that different gemstones, with different vibratory rates, can be used to treat different ailments of the body, mind, spirit, et

The human body is made up of many individual parts. These parts have their own unique energy and vibratory rate as well. This energy is emitted to the area surrounding the body. There are 7 main energy centers in the body and these are known as the Chakras. Sickness, stress, impurities alter the natural frequency of the body causing some areas of the body to be unable to receive the necessary energy. The body will not be in harmony and sickness will be overwhelming

Crystals have pure and constant vibrations. Therefore, they are able to “fix" the imbalance in the human body.

It is believed that the energy given off by crystals is able to balance, clean, and re-energize the energy field of humans.

Chakra is the Sanskrit word for circular motion. A chakra is a spherical energy center that is forever in a fluctuating balance. The energy flowing through a chakra can be disrupted by physical, emotional, mental or spiritual blocks. The energy field of a chakra is affected by everything around us.

There are seven main chakras, and they are as follows:

1. coccyx (tail bone)

The coccyx chakra resonates with the energy of ontological knowledge, groundedness, presence and connection with elements around us. The healthy aura emitted by the coccyx is red in color. There are several gem stones, including red jasper, lapis lazuli, flame agate, ruby and azurite, whose energies resonate with the coccyx chakra.

2. sacrum

The sacrum chakra resonates with the energy of human emotions; sexuality; creativity and anger; fear; and intuitive knowledge regarding persons, places and things. The sacrum’s healthy aura is orange. The stones resonating with this chakra include opal, fire agate, rose quartz, carnelian and the actinolite in quartz.

3. solar plexus

The solar plexus chakra is the energy resonance for the power of human will, control and free will; accomplishment; and ego projections. Its healthy aura is yellow in color. Its gem stones of energy resonance are laguna agate, jasper, howlite, amber, morganite, heliodor and golden citrine.

4. heart

The heart chakra resonates with what it means to be human. Its healthy aura is a radiant green. Its gem stones of energy resonance are emerald, jade, ruby and plume agate.

5. throat

This chakra is the energy of speech and hearing; self-expression and communication in general; and human
stones are pearl, carnelian, turquoise, bloodstone, malachite and jasper.

6. brow

The brow chakra is the energy resonance of human inner sight, such as intuition, visions, dreams, charisma, emotional sensitivity and perception. Its healthy aura emits a deep sea blue. Gem stones resonating with the energy of the brow chakra include sapphire, sugilite, fluorite, azurite, lapis lazuli, opal, iolite, labradorite and celestite.

7. crown (top of the head)

This chakra resonates with the energy of wisdom, spiritual insight, aspirations and perception of truth. This chakra’s healthy aura is ultraviolet surrounding clear light. Gem stones resonating with the crown chakra include moldavite, lepidolite and danburite.

Ailments and conditions that
crystals can cure are numerous.

Acute pain-AIDS-allergies-bladder problems-cancer-circulatory problems-chronic pain-depression-diabeteseating disorders-esophageal problems-gallbladder problems-hypertension-hormonal problems-intestinal problems-kidney disorders-liver disorders-lymphatic problems-nervous system disorders-pancreatic problems-prostate problems-respiratory system problems-reproductive system problems-spinal disease-spleen problems-stomach problems

In addition to curing disease, crystals promote energy levels, induce relaxation and relieve stress.

Rolfing

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:58:00 +0000

Rolfing is a form of bodywork that loosens up and reorganizes the soft tissue of the body, including muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia, to bring relief from chronic pain.

Rolfing was developed by Dr. Ida B. Rolf, a biochemist who found she could achieve changes in posture and structure by manipulating the body's connective tissue. She called her work Structural Integration, but it was nicknamed "Rolfing" by clients and practitioners.

Rolfing is an original, scientifically validated system of body restructuring and movement education. It releases the body's segments-leg, torso,arms, etc.- from life-long patterns of tension and bracing, permitting gravity to realign them. By doing so, it balances the body. Rolfing® consists of a10-session series of deep connective tissue (myofascia) manipulation. Each session lasts approximately an hour. At the beginning of each session, the client's movement and posture are evaluated, and the specific gaols of the session are discussed. As the work progresses, new move- ment patterns are established while the benefits of the work start immediately.

Rolfing is based on the idea that fascia--the fibrous layers covering muscles--stiffens, shortens, and loses its elasticity after prolonged poor posture and mental and emotional stress.

Practitioners of Rolfing use their elbows, fingers, and knuckles to stretch and open fascia to correct the habitual patterns of misalignment in the head, shoulders, abdomen, pelvis, and legs. This is believed to help open up breathing, improve digestion, balance the nervous system, and improve physical and emotional health.

Conditions Treated

* Poor posture
* Muscle tension and pain, especially in the neck, upper back, and low back
* Other conditions caused by poor posture

What is a Typical Rolfing Treatment Like?
A typical course of treatment is 10 weekly, 1 hour sessions, with each session focusing on a certain area of the body. The practitioner begins by examining your posture, and take photographs so that you can see the before and after changes.

You will be asked to sit or lie on a massage table or floor mat, and the practitioner will begin the Rolfing movements. The practitioner usually asks you to breath in sync with the manipulations.Rolfers use their fingers, hands, and elbows to slowly work through deep layers of tissue to release tension

Benefits of Rolfing:

* If you consider Rolfing along with yoga will help in good health keeping and maintains harmony in your physical and emotional life.
* Rolfing treats the tightness and inflexibility of the connective tissues in the muscles so that your body can begin to live fully.
* Rolfing helps to treat the conditions of poor posture, muscle tension and pain, especially in the neck, upper back and lower back.
* It relieves the discomfort caused by carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain injury, trauma and aging.
* The other benefits of Rolfing are an enhanced sense of your body awareness and improved posture.
* Rolfing is more popular with athletes and entertainers such as ice skating stars, dancers, sports men, and singers.

Colon Hydrotherapy

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:57:00 +0000

Colon Hydrotherapy is safe, gentle infusion of warm filtered water into the rectum using no chemicals or drugs. This is a restorative, painless procedure which is highly effective and incredibly beneficial. The individual lies comfortably on a treatment table and inserts a small speculum into the rectum. The therapist then monitors the temperature of the water infused into and out of the large intestine, as well as the pressure within, by way of the inbuilt precision equipment. Colon hydrotherapy cleanses the entire colon of built up and aged waste; without causing stress to the individual. The machine features disposable components which eliminate any possible contamination, and is a purpose built closed system in which waste material is eliminated through the instrument to a drain line avoiding any offensive odor.

What are the benefits of colon hydrotherapy treatment?

Colon Hydrotherapy improves muscle tone and facilitates peristalsis movement in the bowel, which is so beneficial to the sluggish colon. This process provides relief from and prevents chronic constipation. It also helps to remove stagnant fecal matter, thus eliminating bacteria, toxins, gas, mucus, parasites, and cellular debris which allows the colon to perform its natural function of absorption more effectively.

It is an easy, non-chemical and effective way of preparing for diagnostic studies such as Colonoscopy and Barium Enema and also removes chemical residuals from these procedures. It is an extremely useful therapy in alcohol and drug detoxification because it enhances the elimination of toxins from the blood stream.

Despite daily eliminations, many people are not aware that they may have a bowel problem. Very often, the complete length of the colon is impacted with old, hardened fecal matter leading only a narrow channel for the small, softer faeces to pass through. Failure to regularly cleanse the colon is like having an entire garbage collection staff go on strike for months on end. If you suffer from any of the following symptoms of toxic build-up, then colon cleansing may benefit you:

Stress, Constipation, Protruding tender or rigid abdomen, Parasites, Bad breath and coated Tongue, Fatigue, Flatulence (gas), Body odor , Skin disorders, Menstrual problems or bloating, Food cravings, Hemorrhoids. If these problems have caused severe symptoms over a period of time, you should seek the advice of your health care physician.

Can Colon Hydrotherapy Wash Away the Good Bacteria with the Bad?

The helpful bacteria can live in an acid environment, whereas the harmful ones thrive in an alkaline environment. Most people, due to years of improper eating, lack of exercise and poor elimination have an alkaline colon. One of the benefits of Colon Hydrotherapy is that it will change the environment from alkaline to acid.

Can One Become Dependent on Colon Hydrotherapy?

No, actually the treatments help to tone the colon muscles so that they perform more effectively.

Does the Treatment Hurt?

This treatment does sound more uncomfortable than it is. It is not a painful treatment, that is for sure. There are no lingering effects either, after the hour, you will be back on your feet and feeling great.

Geriatrics

The population of senior citizens is increasing annually and many, due to lack of exercise, poor nutrition, lack of fiber (roughage) in their diet and dehydration, suffer from constipation. Colon Hydrotherapy gives effective relief of constipation and can be a positive aid in maintaining good health and vitality.

Anywhere between 5 and 40 pounds, yes 40 pounds, of waste material can accumulate within the walls of the colon. Proper colon therapy aids greatly in the elimination of unwanted and unsightly excess pounds, as well as that dull, irritable logy feeling that is so prevalent with such a burdened colon.

Colon Hydrotherapy is undoubtedly a very effective form of detox, relaxation and establishes a body-mind-spirit connection.

Iridology

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:57:00 +0000

Iridology has been practiced since history has been recorded. In ancient India, Egypt and China, doctors and priests were making health related diagnosis based on the condition of the irid.

Iridology is a safe, non-invasive diagnostic technique, it requires no needles, and no anesthetic or drugs. Yet it may provide a valuable guide to health

If everybody consulted a trained Iridologist and diagnostician many exploratory operations could be avoided. This would save, cost, time and suffering on the part of the patient.

Iridology is probably ahead of its time But in the future Iridology is set to establish itself as a mainstream diagnostic technique throughout the twenty-first century.

The irid reveals body constitution, inherent weaknesses, levels of health and transitions that take place in the body according to the way one lives.

There are thousands of individual irid fibers present. The combinations of various fiber characters make up infinite variety. Many primary health care doctors have used this form of analysis along with other diagnostic techniques to facilitate a more complete nderstanding of their patient's health care needs.

"The greatest feature and main advantage of Iridology over other forms of health screening is that changes appear in the irid before the physical symptom develops, and therefore preventive action may be taken to improve health and avoid those diseases which might otherwise follow.

Iridology does not reveal specific diseases because many diseases create similar changes in body tissues.

The irid reflects the condition of the tissues (eg. inflammation, acidity, toxicity, congested lymph, hardened arteries, etc.) Iridology is therefore not concerned with named diseases but with restoration and maintenance of health through building up the patient's immunity and life force"

Because there are many nerve endings in the eye, all linked to the body's organs, iridologists assert that examination of the eye, especially the irid, its colour and markings, can indicate problems in other parts of the body and reveal weaknesses and strengths in general health, such as a tendency towards a particular disease.

Iridology is not a restorative therapy; it doesn't cure and it doesn't pinpoint particular ailments Iridologyt identifies weaknesses or overactivity in the body so that future problems can be avoided. For example, if the pancreas is seen to be underactive, it could indicate a condition like diabetes. Iridology also recognises where toxins and inflammation could be, as well as certain chemical deficiencies. to determine your general state of health and constitution.

For example, the area immediately around the pupil relates to the stomach and the area around that represents the intestines. It is said that the pattern of the irid is like a genetic map of the body, showing inherited traits and pinpointing weaknesses. Changes in this pattern can reflect changes in the body.

Iridology is the science and practice that reveals inflammation, where located and in what stage it is manifesting. The irid reveals body constitution, inherent weaknesses, levels of health and transitions that take place in a person's body according to the way one lives. Iridology is the science of analyzing the delicate structures of the irid of the eye

Proclaimed throughout the ages as "windows of the soul", the eyes are now acknowledged as mirrors of the body and likened to miniature television screens recording the condition of the various organs and tissues throughout the body.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:56:00 +0000

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard care. Standard care is what medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy and allied health professionals, such as registered nurses and physical therapists, practice.

Alternative medicine means treatments that you use instead of standard ones. Complementary medicine means nonstandard treatments that you use along with standard ones. Examples of CAM therapies are acupuncture, chiropractic and herbal medicines.

The claims that CAM treatment providers make about their benefits can sound promising. However, researchers do not know how safe many CAM treatments are or how well they work. Studies are underway to determine the safety and usefulness of many CAM practices.

Try Any Treatment You Want!

* Acupressure and Acupuncture to release tension and reduce pain
* Alexander Technique to correct poor posture
* Ayervedic Medicine to rejuvenate mind, body, and spirit
* Behavior Health to alter negative tendencies
* Biofeedback to manage stress
* Chinese Herbal Medicine to treat various health ailments
* Chiropractic spinal manipulation to align the body
* Cranio-Sacral Therapy to improve nervous system functions
* Exercise Specialists (Personal Trainers) to reach optimal fitness
* Feldenkrais Method to improve body posture and movement
* Guided Imagery / Hypnotherapy to achieve personal goals
* Hellerwork to recondition body and mind
* Herbal Consultants to treat disease without medicine
* Holistic Physicians and Nurses to maintain overall healing and health
* Homeopathy to cure illness and disease
* Hypnotherapy to change self-defeating attitudes
* Massage Therapy to relax the body and relieve stress
* Meditation to achieve a total mind / body connection
* Myotherapy to relieve muscle tension
* Naprapathy to relax ligaments, muscles, and joints
* Naturopathic Medicine to allow the body to heal naturally
* Nutrition / Dietetics to maintain health with scientific menu planning
* Qi Gong to stimulate and balance the body’s energy
* Reflexology to improve organ function with hand / foot massage
* Reiki healing to balance energy and harmonize the body,mind, and spirit
* Rolfing to align the body with deep massage
* Shiatsu Oriental Massage to restore a balanced flow of energy

Alexander Technique

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 09:02:00 +0000

Alexander Technique Overview

The Alexander Technique is a method that teaches people how to sit, stand and go about their daily activities without unnecessary tension. Using a combination of verbal instructions and very gentle guidance with their hands, Alexander Technique teachers show their students how they can recognize and release restricting habits of posture and movement.

A Universal Technique

Alexander teachers help their students learn to do whatever they are already doing as easily and efficiently as possible. The Alexander Technique is concerned almost exclusively with process – with how a student performs an activity not what they do. There are no “Alexander exercises”, although the Technique will help students exercise more efficiently and with less risk of injury.

Alexander teachers work with students of all ages and backgrounds. Many are drawn to the Technique because of its reputation for helping people who are suffering from backaches, stiff necks and shoulders, carpal tunnel syndrome and the like. The Alexander Technique is also widely used by performers to improve the quality of their playing, singing, dancing and acting.

Alexander teachers are not doctors and do not diagnose diseases. The Alexander Technique cannot help with every type of pain. However, when pain is caused by harmful tension, Alexander lessons can be very effective in showing students how to release that tension, and the pain it causes. Releasing unnecessary tension also allows a performer’s talents to be fully and freely expressed.

F. Matthias Alexander

The Technique is based on the discoveries of F. Matthias Alexander (1869-1955).
Alexander’s fundamental discovery was that it is possible to improve the way we function by learning to direct our thoughts in accordance with the realities of our physical structure. Long before “mind-body” approaches became fashionable, and using very simple experimental procedures, Alexander came to understand that mind and body are really just two aspects of ourselves and that we can generate immediate and observable improvements in our physical functioning by changing our mental intentions.

Relearn Graceful Movement

The Technique assumes that students have within them the innate ability to move with grace and efficiency – the qualities they almost always had as small children. For a variety of reasons, this ability often becomes compromised as people grow older by harmful, unconscious, patterns of posture and movement. The fundamental purpose of Alexander Technique lessons is not to give students new things to do but rather to show them how they can learn to stop creating tension patterns that are getting in their way. This represents a fundamental difference between the Alexander Technique approach to fitness and that of most other methods.

chiropractic

noreply@blogger.com (bujju) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 08:58:00 +0000

Chiropractic is a holistic therapy which recognizes the overall health of the patient and the body’s innate ability to heal itself from physical, mental, and emotional stress and trauma. Chiropractic medicine is concerned with the relationship between the spinal column, afferent and efferent neurons, and the entire nervous system. Just to review, the human nervous system is comprised of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), the autonomic nervous system, and the peripheral nervous sytem (includes the somatic nervous system). All of the body’s tissues and organs are connected electically to the spinal column, or backbone, which is protected by twenty-four bones called vertebrae.

It is the belief of chiropractic that the misalignment of the spinal cord affects other portions of the body and creates pain, sometimes disease, and other musculoskeletal abnormalities. This firm belief is followed through in diagnosis and treatment; just ask the 15 million Americans who turn to chiropractic physicians ever year to heal physical injury such as lower back pain, neck pain, and certain internal disorders. Chiropractic medicine is an excellent alternative for those who want to avoid surgery for injuries such as loose discs in the neck, slight scoliosis, and out of place vertebrae.

According to chiropractic, pathological disease may be influenced by disturbances of the nervous system. The following factors can contribute to impaired health: genetic/hereditary factors, improper rest, lack of exercise, inadequate and improper nutrition, overindulgence, foods tainted by pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers and preservatives, improperly cooked and/or processed foods, contaminated water, air pollution, stress, bodily trauma, and bacteria and viruses. Almost any component of the nervous system may directly or indirectly cause reactions within any other component by means of reflex mediation. Correction of the spinal (manipulative) lesion is imperative for effective management of common functional disorders of motor structure and for pelvic discomfort.