|
|
|
|
|
|
Alternative Medicine and Holistic Health |
|
|
|
Alter Your Perceptions
This article first appeared in The Sept. 2004 issue of The ZoneNet newsletter No matter how fast we run, many of us are haunted by the urge to look back. Perhaps it is to see if anybody is following or to congratulate ourselves on how far we have come. Or maybe it is to see what we have left behind. As fast as Western medicine is moving, many people are looking to the Far East for answers. We just jump into the old medicinal time machine and travel back in time as far as ten thousand years to rediscover holistic alternatives to our modern health problems From the herbal remedies of ancient India to Chinese medicine, this rejuvenation is turning us back into students of our bodies. This is called complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM for short. It has been estimated that about 50% of the people in the United States have tried some sort of alternative medicine. The list of what is considered CAM is constantly in flux, as some therapies prove themselves safe and effective and become adopted into the family of conventional medical practices. People sometimes use the terms complementary medicine and alternative medicines interchangeably, which is not correct. Modern medicine is usually used in conjunction with conventional medicine, although it could also be used by itself. It is primarily about helping the body heal itself using natural means such as magnets, herbs, acupuncture, essential oils, nutrition and so forth. Alternative medicine goes against the usual format of modern medicine and is used in place of more conventional practices. There is a specific duality in the field of medicine between "normal medicine"
and "irregular medicine." Many of us might agree that this duality does
not have to exist, and yet it does. As much as the exploration of Western medicine
continues to thrive, CAM is also blooming out into our mass consciousness. The
American people spent about forty-five billion on CAM in 1997 alone. Obviously,
people are finally beginning to seek out alternative ways of maintaining a state
of wellness. When antioxidant megavitamin therapy and prayer specifically for health reasons are featured in the definition of CAM, that number rises to sixty-two percent. CAM use has spread throughout all demographics but certain people are more likely to use CAM than others. Females, for instance, use CAM to a much larger degree than males. In addition, persons with higher levels of education, people who have been hospitalized in the past year and former smokers are more likely to use CAM. People use CAM for a broad range of health conditions. According to research studies, Americans are most likely to use CAM for neck, head, back or joint pains. They often use them for colds, anxiety, depression or sleeping problems. There are several reasons why people decide to turn to CAM. The majority of Americans use CAM with the belief that it will improve their health when used in tandem with modern medical treatments. Some individuals try CAM after modern medical treatments have failed them. And of course some people simply cannot afford modern medical treatments and turn to CAM as a more realistic solution. Ryan Joseph is a writer/researcher. For additional information visit http://www.anti-aging-vitamins.com/
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally - Cholesterol Through The Mouth If you have high cholesterol, you should educate yourself about the natural options that are available to you, to help lower your cholesterol, before diving head first into taking prescription medications?which are generally loaded with side effects, some of which can be dangerous and even fatal.There are various options available to you, to help lower your cholesterol naturally and reduce or eliminate your risk of heart disease. The Writer As Activist Almost two years ago, before the release of my first book, "Short of a Picnic," I began writing nonfiction Internet essays that, like the book itself, deal with mental health. I say "deal" with mental health instead of "dealt" with mental health because these essays, five or six of them altogether, continue to be read. Snoring: A Common Sleep Disorder Sleep consumes as much as one-third or more of the average human's life. Even if people hope for restful sleep, many types of sleep disorder reduce the quality and quantity of sleep. Aromatherapy - a World of Frangrance The ancient Egyptians used aromatherapy thousands of years ago. Aromatherapy, a word that derives from 'aroma' meaning fragrance or smell and 'therapy' meaning treatment is based on an ancient principle that the spirit and the body should be in harmony. Medical Alert Jewelry: A Life Saving Fashion Statement No one really wants to be labeled as "different." And certainly, no one wants to create that label and apply it to him or herself. The 5 Hidden Dangers In Toothpaste A Must Read if You Have Children!Would you allow your family to brush their teeth with engine degreaser or rat poison? The fact is, they probably are and you don't even know it.Dental hygiene products that you and your children use every day may contain toxins that have been linked to cancer, blindness, and even death. Types of Hair Loss Treatment Currently Available The hair loss treatments outlined here cannot provide definitive cures for all hair loss conditions, but they do represent regimes that many sufferers have found useful. In other words, they are examples of potential solutions that many patients have chosen after honestly assessing the causes of their hair loss together with their expectations. Holistic Medicine Holistic Medicine involves natural treatment options like holistic nutrition, herbology, environmental medicine, energy work, mind-body medicine, anatomy, and many other holistic medicine practices.Holistic medicine allows an individual to be treated naturally and establishes a positive balance between body, mind and spirit. Watch Out for Alternative Medicine Charlatans! Forget those CrystalsAs an integrative medical practitioner, I keep an open mind to new modalities of evaluating illness and treating disease. My interest and pursuit of complementary or alternative medical therapies has led me to selectively incorporate some of what I have come across. My Search for Happiness in the First Year of Sobriety DAY 1: HOUR BY HOURHappiness in sobriety? Could this really be possible? Yes, I know I need to quit drinking if I want to continue to live. Survival during sobriety maybe, but happiness seems almost out of the question. Aromatherapy - Part II: Mind and Emotions The Sense of Smell forms the greater part of our Sense of Taste (note how your sense of taste and smell is affected when you have a head cold or blocked up nose. The sense of smell is also affected by pollution, smoking, trauma to the nose itself and a mucous forming diet). Ginger for Upset Stomach The common ginger root used in cooking has been found to alleviate nausea, indigestion, and motion sickness.For motion sickness ginger is more effective than the common Dramamine, says the British medical journal Lancet. Various Types of Herbal Medicine: Used for Thousands of Years to Successfully Treat Diseases Interest in medicinal herbs is on the rise again and the interest is primarily from the pharmaceutical industry, which is always looking for 'new drugs' and more effective substances to treat diseases, for which there may be no or very few drugs available.Considering the very long traditional use of herbal medicines and the large body of evidence of their effectiveness, why is it that we are not generally encouraged to use traditional herbal medicine, instead of synthetic, incomplete copies of herbs, called drugs, considering the millions of dollars being spent looking for these seemingly elusive substances?Herbs are considered treasures when it comes to ancient cultures and herbalists, and many so-called weeds are worth their weight in gold. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Infertility Although health and healing are the common goals of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and allopathic medicine, their ideas on the etiology of disease, disease itself and the process used to regain health are decidedly different. The allopathic physician learns that disease must be cured by prescribing medicine, which kills bacteria or renders a virus ineffective; at times surgical intervention is a necessity. Snoring - A Small Change Can Make A Big Difference We all know how annoying snoring can be, both for the snorer and the partner. The effects and seriousness of snoring are becoming more apparent with snoring being linked to conditions like high blood pressure and coronary disease. CPT Codes; What are you Getting Billed for? All of us visit some sort of medical office from time to time and some of us make the visit a routine. No matter how many times we go in for a checkup or treatment we usually end up paying a relatively inexpensive co-pay for the services rendered to us. Arthritis and Aromatherapy Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints and is characterized by pain, stiffness, swelling, decreased range of movement and at a more serious stage deformity. Aromatherapy is a holistic approach to health and wellness by means of aromatic, plant derived scents. Why DO the Japanese Have the Longest Lifespan? Part 2: Live the Lifestyle Why do the Japanese have the longest lifespan? Last month you learned to eat the things Japanese people eat, and now you will learn how to live like they live. Fast, long, and lively best describes a usual day in Japan. Aromatherapy for the Mind, Body, and Spirit - Sandalwood Essential Oil For over 4000 years, the Sandalwood tree has played a significant part in Eastern culture as a material for art and artifacts, a medicine, and a divine aroma. Sandalwood products are obtained from the sandalwood tree (Santalum album), which is a member of the Santalaceae family native to southern tropical Asia. Will This Years Flu Paralyze The US And Canada? According to the Associated Press on August 26th, the US and Canada may have to close schools, restrict travel and ration scarce medications if a powerful new flu strain spurs a worldwide outbreak, according to the federal planners for the next pandemic. It will take months to brew a new vaccine that works against the kind of super flu that causes a pandemic, although government preparations include research to speed the production.
|
| home | Iridology | "Mind Machines" | "Alternative Health" site map | Iridology Site Map | "Alternative Botox" |
| © 2000 - 2010 |
