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Alternative Medicine and Definitions
Quick Jump Links:
Homeopathy -
Naturopathic Medicine
- Chinese Medicine Wheel
- Biofeedback
- Celebrities
A
variety of therapeutic or preventive health care practices, such as homeopathy,
naturopathy, chiropractic, herbal medicine, and 100’s more which do not
follow generally accepted Conventional medical methods. That may not even have a
scientific explanation for their effectiveness, yet amazingly...they work!
I chose this
colorful and eccentric “Chakra Chick” art for this
page, because I’m humored by the way that Holistic Earth derived medicine
(which has worked for millennia!) still
has an aura of “JuJu", "Witch Potion", "VooDoo”...you name it! Everything except,
simply effective and natural.
"But My Doctor Says,
It's A Whole Lot Of Hoo-Hah"...
Open your mind so that you can listen to something truly
"reasonable" for
a change, regarding how we take care of our health. The prescription drugs are BIG BUSINESS,
and are not always the answer. Hear me clearly now on this...there is NO ONE
CURE (conventional or alternative) for our poor health. Anyone telling you that
there IS may be selling you a lie and a “Snake Oil” remedy! It (poor health,
illness, dis-ease) is most always a COMBINATION of wrongs (in our nutrition or
lifestyle) which need to be treated with a combination of rights. What we eat and drink
affects us to be sure! But there is
a whole network that makes up the Human body. It
is THOSE fibers that are more powerful than we could EVER give them credit
for...
So what is? ...
Homeopathy
Homeopathy, from the Greek words homoios (similar) and pathos (suffering).
Developed by
Samuel Hahnemann and used successfully for over 200 years, homeopathy is an art
and a science in a system of medicine that attempts to stimulate the body to
recover itself by administering substances that cause similar symptoms in a
healthy person.
This holistic approach is
based on the principle that "like cures like". The homeopath uses minute amounts
of diluted substances to treat a wide range of medical conditions. The patient's
personality as well as his symptoms is assessed by the homeopathic doctor before
prescribing a homeopathic remedy. I’ve found it amazingly accurate!
Aromatherapy
This is commonly
associated with “Complementary and Alternative Medicine” (CAM), is the use of
volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils (EOs), and other
aromatic compounds from plants to affect someone's mood or health. The word was
coined in the 1920s by French chemist René Maurice Gattefossé, who devoted his
life to researching the healing properties of essential oils after a lucky
accident in his perfume laboratory. In the accident, he lit his arm on fire and
thrust it into the nearest cold liquid, which happened to be a vat of lavender
oil. Much to his amazement, the burn quickly healed without a scar. Pretty
amazing.
Hypnotherapy
The
application of hypnosis as a form of treatment, usually for relieving pain or
conditions related to one's state of mind. Practitioners believe that when a
client enters, or believes he has entered, a state of trance, the patient is
more receptive to suggestion and other therapy. The most common use of
hypnotherapy is to remedy maladies like obesity, addiction, pain, ego, anxiety,
stress, amnesia, and phobias,
Kinesoliology
This
complementary therapy is concerned with rebalancing the energy system of the
body.
It uses
muscle testing to identify the problem areas: light pressure is applied to a
muscle and the response is monitored. Once the stresses are identified, gentle
techniques are used to bring the body back into harmony with itself. Common
forms of treatment include the use of magnets, homeopathic remedies, flower
essences, or even a particular thought. Most people find it a relaxing and
enjoyable experience, although maybe a little mystified as to how such unusual
treatment can leave them feeling so much better!
Naturopathic
Medicine
a school
of medical philosophy and practice that seeks to improve health and treat
disease chiefly by assisting the body's innate capacity to recover from illness
and injury. Naturopathic practice may include a broad array of different
modalities, including manual therapy, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, herbalism,
acupuncture, counseling, environmental medicine, aromatherapy, whole foods, and
so on. Practitioners tend to emphasise an holistic approach to patient care.
Naturopathy has its origins in the United States, but is today practised in many
countries around the world in one form or another, where it is subject to
different standards of regulation and levels of acceptance. Naturopathic
practitioners do not use invasive surgery, x-rays or most synthetic drugs,
preferring "natural" remedies, i.e. relatively unprocessed or whole medications,
such as herbs and foods.
Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of
Doctors
of osteopathic medicine (D.O.'s) are complete physicians. That means they are
fully trained and licensed to prescribe medication and to perform surgery. D.O.'s
and allopathic physicians (M.D.'s) are the only two types of complete
physicians. D.O.'s practice in all branches of medicine and surgery, from
psychiatry to obstetrics; from geriatrics to emergency medicine.
The
training of D.O.'s parallel that of M.D.'s with one important addition.
Osteopathic physicians are trained to focus special attention on the
musculoskeletal system, which reflects and influences the condition of all other
body symptoms. They know that the body's structure plays a critical role in its
ability to function. By using their eyes and hands they can identify structural
problems and to support the body's natural tendency toward health and
self-healing.
Also known as "TCM"
Acupuncture
A
procedure used in or adapted from Chinese medical practice in which specific
body areas are pierced with fine needles for therapeutic purposes or to relieve
pain or produce regional anesthesia.
Acupuncture is
used more widely on animals today, than ever before!
Acupressure/Reflexology
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) technique based on the same ideas as
acupuncture. Acupressure involves placing physical pressure by fingers, hand,
elbow, or with the aid of various devices on different acupuncture points on the
surface of the body. I used to treat a friend with reflexology for severe
vomiting during her menstrual cycle. She couldn’t explain it, but she was
perfectly fine for working another hour with out getting sick, after only a 3
minute session.
Simply Put, How Can A 3,000
year Old Medicine Be Wrong?!
The Chinese
look at the physical, emotional and spiritual make-up of the body as a
"Mini-Universe"...makes sense! All things work
together and in unison. No one part/element is treated solo. Unlike
"Conventional" medicine which gives a drug for this
and a drug for that and then another drug to treat the side effects of the first
two drugs (you know that's TRUE!).
This Chinese
"Medicine/Element" Wheel will give you a brief Idea of what I mean...
Our Bodies Are Amazing and
Designed for Self-Healing
Electrical
The body
functions off of electrical impulses, called Neurons. So if you hear about some
kind of therapy involving magnets or even Acupuncture (a very fine needle),
Alternative Healing and treatment should begin to make complete logical sense to
you. What else should make extreme sense to you now is how we are affected each
and every moment of our lives from Electro-Magnetic Fields like radio frequency
waves, cell phones, electric blankets, a blow dryer, 7 hours in front of a
computer, television, microwaves, etc. They all put out an impulse which does
NOT compliment our own body’s signal. In fact...they’re in direct conflict.
These things (which we cannot avoid!) are quite often obstructing our very own
neurons in “firing” (sending nerve impulse messages) improperly!
Neuron "firing". Certainly looks electrical to me!
Bio-Feedback (power of the mind)
Biofeedback involves the use of sensitive electronic instruments that
measure, record and feed back information about certain physiological processes
in the form of auditory or visual displays. This allows a person to become aware
of and gain a measure of control over functions which are usually outside of
voluntary control. I’ll give you a true personal example...
“I went
to the Biola University Campus in Southern California
for the Panic Attacks I was experiencing, back in the 1980’s. It was there that
I experienced the power of the Human mind working synergistically with the body,
in that one session. I was told to position my hands, palms facing each other
but not touching, and relaxed in my lap. I was simply told, “Lower your heart
rate”. Not knowing what to expect and very skeptical about it all, I took note
that my current BPM was 96. I closed my eyes and began to just concentrate on
the thought of slowing down my own heart beats. I began to feel increasing
warmth generating in the space between my hands. Within 7 minutes the man
conducting the session exclaimed, ‘I don’t believe it! You just lowered your
heart rate to 76 BPM and lowered your temperature, too!’. So it was and still is
true about bio-feedback.
Biofeedback training involves three major steps:
1. Developing an awareness of body states.
2. Learning voluntary control over these states.
3. Incorporating these new skills into everyday life.
Jane Seymour pioneers natural flu remedies…
By John Morgan, Spotlight Health, with medical
adviser Stephen A. Shoop, M.D.
Jane Seymour may live in an era of high-tech
health care, but her secret to staying well is actually more similar to pioneer
treatments her character on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman prescribed.
 
Jane Seymour opts for treatments favored by her
sister, who is a homeopathic doctor, and her old TV character. 
"Homeopathy is based on
treating like with like," says Seymour, whose sister is a homeopathic doctor.
"It's a little akin to the concept of vaccination. Homeopathic treatments allow
the body to learn how to fight whatever illness it is you have."
With flu season abating but
far from over, a lot of people are still getting sick. Seymour has several tips
for weathering the remaining cold and flu season.
"The flu is a truly
miserable experience," says Seymour, who has gotten flu shots in the past but
did not get one this year. "I have to be really careful not to get colds or flu,
because for me they develop into serious respiratory illnesses because I had
walking pneumonia before."
Seymour says staying healthy
starts with listening to your body and "building your immune system year round,
not just during cold and flu season."
"When I start to get the flu
I can feel myself getting really chilly," Seymour notes. "And then the fever
follows so I will immediately take a homeopathic remedy that matches my
symptoms. While shooting Doctor Quinn I would self medicate using a homeopathic
kit my sister gave me, and I never missed a day the entire time."
Recently both Seymour and
one of her six children started to come down with a cold but both avoided
getting sick.
"I didn't know if it was the flu or a cold,"
Seymour says. "So since he
didn't have a fever, I chose to treat it as a cold. I gave him a homeopathic
remedy and seemed to be doing quite well by the following day and didn't miss
any school."
Mike
Utley, a 6’ 6” 315
pound football player was paralyzed from the neck down when he fractured his
neck (C-6 & 7) in a 1991 game against the L.A. Rams. Utley was told that he
would be quadriplegic.
Click on this link to see how Bio-feedback changed Mike’s
life!
Halle Berry was diagnosed with diabetes at the
age of 22, she sought treatment from a holistic MD who helped her control the
disease without insulin injections.
"What caused Gwyneth's spots"
By Michelle Roberts
BBC News Online health staff
Gwyneth Paltrow caused a stir at a
New York film premiere this week in a low cut top revealing a back covered
in large circular bruises.
At first glance they looked like large love bites, but in fact they were caused
by a form of alternative therapy.
Gwyneth had cupping, a kind of acupuncture. It involves placing heated cups over
the skin to encourage blood flow and ease stress, aches and pains.
What is cupping?
Cupping has been practised for thousands of years for the treatment of disease
and pain.
It is a form of acupuncture that focuses on the movement of blood, energy -
called qi - and body fluids, such as lymph - which circulates around the body's
tissues.
Oriental medicine states pain is due to stagnation of these systems. This
stagnation can be a result of injury or stress.
Cupping is believed to stimulate flow of blood, lymph and Qi to the affected
area. Its uses include relieving pain in the muscles, especially back pain from
stiffness or injury, and clearing congestion in the chest, which can occur with
colds and flu.
Click here for the full story
In an interview with Oprah, Gwyneth
had this to say:
“It feels amazing and it’s very
relaxing, and it feels terrific,” Paltrow told Winfrey. “It’s just one of
the alternative medicines that I do instead of taking antibiotics.”
Gwyneth Paltrow, a longtime advocate of the benefits of acupuncture and
Oriental medicine, once said that having acupuncture had guided her to a
“new level” in life, helping her to find love with her husband and giving
her the strength to cope with the death of her father.
“I have been a big fan of Chinese medicine for a long time because it
works,” Paltrow said.
Additional Types Of
Healing Therapies
A word to the wise
about “Natural” Treatments...more is NOT necessarily better! I ask you to
consider a consultation with a qualified Holistic professional of your choice.
Click here to search for a Holistic practitioner in
your area of the USA or Canada:
Acupuncture Referral Service
Holistic/Homeopathic Doctor Search
Holistic Veterinarian Search
My Favorite Page for
"Beginners"!
I am constantly trying
new things, every day of this website. Whether it be adding
clay to my drinking water,
putting "X" on a mole,
or buying yet another new Holistic product. "Why"? So that I can share
with you!
QUESTIONS?
Email Tina
or
Toll Free
1-888-213-8593
8am to 7pm MST Daily
BUILD A "HEALTHY" IMMUNE SYSTEM,
AND DETOXIFY YOUR BODY DAILY!
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Disclaimer...
You
should always consult with a healthcare professional before taking any dietary,
nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement. All information contained on this
web site is for informational purposes only. The United States Food and Drug
Administration has not evaluated the statements made on this web site.
Therefore, the information provided on this web site is not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease and should not be used
as a substitute for your own Health Care Provider's advice.
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