Treating Psoriasis with an Alternative Approach

Treating Psoriasis with an Alternative Approach

by Geologix

An autoimmune disorder, psoriasis is not infectious or contagious and there is no known cure for the disease. However, there are steps psoriasis sufferers can take to reduce the level of itching and outbreaks. While medicated creams and other prescription treatments are available, some prefer an alternative approach to their condition or want to combine a Western medical approach with alternative treatment. It's always important to consult a physician first when considering alternative treatments to psoriasis.

According to naturopathic doctors, the inflammation of the skin, red irruptions, scales, and flakes associated with psoriasis are clear evidence of toxins in the system. An alternative treatment for psoriasis, detoxification helps to remove harmful toxins and poisons from the liver and body. You should consult a naturopathic doctor for a detox diet program designed to clean the liver. He or she will be able to advise you on the safest and most effective way to detoxify. Again, it's important to consult with your physician if you are taking any conventional medicine before going on a detox diet.

As always, it's important to adhere to a healthy and balanced diet. Avoid foods and drinks that might aggravate your disease. Spicy foods, red meat, shellfish and tropical fruit should be avoided, as well as beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee or strong tea. Herbal tea, however, is recommended for psoriasis.

There are a variety of herbal supplements that are effective for liver detoxification. Herbal supplements help to enhance the immune system and can help to prevent the reoccurrence of psoriasis. Peony Red, Moutan, Lithospermum, Mellettia, Salvia, Carthamus, Sophora (root), Gardenia, Isatis Root, and Smilax are some of the herbs used in psoriasis tablets.

Another option for detox is the hydra detox system. Patients soak their feet in this machine filled with water. The machine helps to remove the harmful toxins through the pores of the feet. A new age method for detoxification of psoriasis, the hydra detox system can be included as part of your overall treatment plan.

Like most other diseases, psoriasis is worsened by stress. Stress increases the toxins in a body, resulting in negative effects on your health and skin. Some alternative methods for alleviating stress include meditation, yoga, and sleeping well. Managing and relieving stress helps to rebalance our systems to a healthier and stronger state.

Acupuncture is another alternative method that may be effective in controlling your psoriasis. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, most pain conditions and disease are caused by an imbalance or blockage of energy circulating through the body. Acupuncture is used to restore the proper flow of energy and the body toward balance. In an acupuncture treatment, thin sterile needles are inserted at specific points on the body. These points are selected according to the patient's problem.

Some patients with psoriasis have reported that acupuncture helped their disease while others reported no effect. Those who see an improvement in their condition say it takes many treatments.

Those who take the Ayurvedic medicine approach seek the knowledge which has been practiced for more than 5,000 years in India. Prevention is the key to this form of treatment. It encourages attention to balance in one's life through diet, herbs, lifestyle, and "right thinking." Managing disease and restoring health involve assessing the whole person to understand the nature of the imbalance. For psoriasis, a specific treatment regimen might involve topical application of sesame and mustard oil; fasting and other dietary guidelines; elimination of stress; and regular physical exercise.

If you decide to seek medical care for your psoriasis from an alternative medicine practitioner, here are some questions to ask before beginning treatment:

- Are you licensed to use this treatment?
- Do you have experience and success treating psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis?
- How many patients have you successfully treated?
- What is the length and cost of the treatment?
- What are reasonable expectations for improvement based on your experience treating patients with similar conditions?
- What are the risks or possible side effects?
- Are your professional references available?
- How long have you been administering this treatment?
About the Author

Geologix manufactures products using a proprietary formula featuring 34 natural minerals contained in the ancient sea water from the famous Michigan Basin -- a concentration of minerals higher than that found in any known body of water in the world. Mineral Essentials focuses on spa, skin care, and massage products to moisturize and provide anti-aging protection for great skin. Mineral Essentials, and Acheaway

Psoriasis, which means "to itch" in the Greek, is a chronic condition that consists of red lesions that develop into scales and patches over the skin. These red lesions cause itching and discomfort. Intensity of the condition range from massive outbreaks to a mild outbreak with just a few patches. Here, we see a review of articles about psoriasis, acne, and how Traditional Chinese Medicine can help us achieving a healthy skin.

Acne, psoriasis, eczema, diet, digestion and traditional Chinese medicine

Author: Richard Heft

The following is an excerpt from Hot and Cold Health by R. G. Heft (Acupuncture Physician FL 1992- 2002) based on traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines and the questioning and counseling of 10,000+ Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on the theory, observation that everything is an ongoing balance of opposites, many of which we control through diet, exercise, sex, thought, etc.

The skin is the body's largest organ. It has several functions.

(1) Acts as a protective cover, shield, barrier between the body and the external environment (heat, cold, dryness, dampness, wind)

(2) Has pores, openings allowing the body to release excessive heat, energy (in the form of perspiration) and or retain heat, energy.

(3) Sebaceous glands located throughout the body in the dermis (layer of skin below epidermis, outer layer of skin) secrete sebum an oily liquid that moistens the skin and hair. It also helps the body retain heat. Acne (raised, red lesions, pustules, blackheads, etc.) is an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands affecting primarily the face and shoulders

The skin is made from food, nutrients. There are only two kinds of foods, nutrients: building and cleansing. Building nutrients, foods (protein, fat, meat, eggs, cheese, beans, etc.) build and fuel. Cleansing nutrients, foods (water, minerals, fruit, vegetables, grains, etc.) reduce, cleanse, cool and moisten. Long-term low protein, low fat (milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, beans, etc.) and high carbohydrate (bread, pasta, salads, tropical fruits, juices, smoothies, etc.) diets tend to cool, weaken and dilute digestion, reducing nutrient absorption, decreasing and thinning the blood (blood deficiency). Blood deficiency, in the extreme, tends to weaken, sag, thin, dry, crack and or bleed the skin producing partial facial flushing, red spots, splotches, acne, cracked skin, bleeding, pustules, eczema, exposed capillaries, blue veins and or translucent skin.

Too many building foods, protein and fat, especially animal (red meat, pork, chicken, eggs, cheese, fried foods, oil, etc.), in addition to alcohol, sugar tends to cause raised, red, hard painful, oily pimples, pus, boils and or dry flaky skin; warts, moles, psoriasis, tumors, etc. All excess sugar is turned into fat. Protein and fat build, thicken, fuel and heat. Too much tends to thicken, overbuild and overheat the blood, which in turn, overbuilds, overheats the skin.

The middle diet, meal plan adjusted accordingly is recommended. Try to eat simply and do not overeat. For deficiency, increase protein, fat (eggs, turkey, chicken, etc.), spices, cooked foods, (soups, vegetables), and a small amount of fruit (avoid tropical), for balance. For the overbuilt, eat less animal (red meat, pork, veal, chicken, etc.) and more beans, nuts, seeds, rice, vegetables, fruit (apples, pineapple, etc.). Space and or skip meals, especially dinner. Experience hunger and quench with water.

The beauty, health of the skin, starts in the inside via simple diet. From the outside, you can use good quality soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, etc. I highly recommend Aubrey Organics and Zia Cosmetics. Calendula oil is great for burns helps prevent scarring.

Eczema (cold, damp)

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory condition of the skin that produces blister like formations that weep, release fluid before forming a crust, scale and or flake. Itching may also occur. Poor diet is a major cause.

The body digests, transforms food, nutrients into blood, into structure (skin) into function, into health or disease. There are only two kinds of nutrients, foods: building and cleansing. Building nutrients (protein and fat) build and fuel. Cleansing nutrients (water, sugar, minerals, etc.) reduce, cleanse, cool and moisten. The correct amount of building and cleansing builds and maintains healthy skin (thick, firm, strong, etc. The incorrect amounts, build too much or too little skin. Too little protein and fat tends to under build, thin and weaken the skin causing it to crack, bleed and or infect.

The symptoms of eczema indicate deficiency via breakdown (falling apart). Low protein and low fat diets, in the extreme, tend to thin and weaken all structure and function, including the skin. Too many carbohydrates (pasta, bread, salads, tropical fruits, juices, etc.) tend to dilute and weaken digestion (acid, enzymes) reducing nutrient absorption (especially protein and fat), blood, which in turn, dilutes, weakens and thins everything else skin, hair, bones, memory, vision, etc.

Case history: In 1989, I developed a bad, hideous case of eczema. It first started as a pimple, blister on my index finger (left hand). Over the course of two months, it (blisters, cracked skin, bleeding, pus, etc.) spread to every finger up the back of hand to the arm. My other hand was affected eventually although not as bad. This happened while I was going to acupuncture school. It was gross. I tried every Chinese herbal remedy. Nothing worked. My skin kept getting worse and worse. I eventually turned to Ayurvedic Medicine (Ayurvedic Healing, and Yoga of Herbs by Dr. David Frawley, O.M.D.), which recommended the use of spices. My diet at the time was bland, low protein, low fat, sweet and cooling. I was living in Hollywood. Fl. I reduced juices, fruits, increased protein and fat and started cooking with spices (fennel, cumin, coriander, ginger, etc.). I always used at least five spices. Within three weeks, my eczema cleared up. My digestion also improved less bloating, gas, burping, farting, etc. I did have eczema as a teenager, although not as serious.

Diet related eczema is simple but time consuming to cure as the skin takes time to rebuild via proper diet. The middle diet, daily meal plan, adjusted accordingly is recommended. Reduce salads, raw vegetables, tropical and citrus fruits, cold drinks, milk and yogurt

Other causes of eczema: low levels of hydrochloric acid, Candidiasis and or food allergies, all of which can all be caused by poor diet (low protein, low fat and high carbohydrate, in the extreme).

Psoriasis (hot)

Psoriasis is a painful chronic skin disorder characterized by dry, red, scaly skin covering the scalp, genitalia, skin, etc. that alternates between exacerbation and remission. It is a disease of excess, caused in general by too much protein and fat, especially red meat, pork, hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, lasagna, oily, greasy foods (fries, chips, etc.) in addition to alcohol and sweets. Psoriasis generally occurs in conjunction with liver congestion, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, etc. The colder middle diet, meal plan is recommended.

Hot and Cold Health

SECTION I PHILOSOPHY AND DIET

Chapter 1 The Way of Thinking Chapter 2 The Way of Food Chapter 3 Digestion, Spices and Chinese Herbs Chapter 4 Cooking Class

SECTION II BIOLOGY, EAST AND WEST

Chapter 5 Three Treasures Chapter 6 Blood and Body Fluids Chapter 7 Spleen Chapter 8 Stomach Small Intestine Chapter 9 Large Intestine and Urinary Bladder Chapter 10 Heart Chapter 11 Liver & Gall Bladder Chapter 12 Lungs Chapter 13 Kidneys Chapter 14 Disease and Diagnosis

SECTION III DISEASES A- Z

Chap 15 A Diseases AIDS 141 Alzheimer s 143 Anal fissure 143 Anemia 144 Anger 145 Aging 146 Anxiety 147 Arthritis 148 Asthma 152 ADD 154 Auto-immune 154 Chap 16 B Diseases Blood 157 Blood Pressure 158 Body Odor 159 Bones 161 Breast lumps 162 Bronchitis 164 Chap 17 C Diseases Candidiasis 167 Canker Sores 169 Cellulite 171 Cholesterol 173 Chronic Fatigue 175 Circulation 176 Cirrhosis 178 Cold hands, feet 178 Cold (lungs) Constipation 180 Coughing 182 Crohn s 182 Chap 18 D Diseases Depression 185 Detoxification 188 Diabetes 191 Diarrhea 193 Diuretics 195 Dizziness 195 Dysmenorrhea 196 Chap 19 E-F Diseases Ear Infections 197 Eczema 197 Edema 200 Endometriosis 202 Eyes 202 Fear 204 Fever 204 Fibrocystic Breasts 204 Fibroids 205 Fibromyalgia 205 Forgetfulness 207 Frigidity 208 Chap 20 G-H Diseases Gall Stones 209 GERD, GIRD 210 Gout 212 Hair Loss 213 Hearing Loss 215 Hepatitis 218 Herpes 220 Hot Flashes 220 Hysteria 221 Chap 21 I-J Diseases Infertility 223 Inflammation 223 Insomnia 224 Irritable Bowel 226 Itching 227 Jaundice 227 Chap 22 K-O Diseases Kidney Stones 229 Miscarriage 230 Mucous 231 M. Sclerosis 231 Nails 233 Nausea 235 Numbness 236 Obesity 237 Osteoporosis 238 Chap 23 P-R Diseases Pediatric 241 Perspiration 244 Plantar F. 244 Pregnancy 248 PMS 250 Prostate 251 Psoriasis 252 Rashes 252 Restless Leg 252 Chap 24 S-Z Diseases Sex 255 Shaking, tremors 257 Sinusitis 258 Skin Diseases 259 Sleep Apnea 261 Snoring 262 Sweaty hands 263 Teeth 264 Tumors 266 Urinary T. I. 267 Varicose Veins 269 Weight loss 270 Yeast infection 274 Chap 25 Case Histories 275

SECTION IV DAILY PRACTICES

Chapter 26 The Way of Breathing, Chap 27 Exercise, Chap 28 Meditation 303, Chap 29 Spiritual Practices (belief in God) 307 Appendix 313 Bibliography 315 About the Author 317

About the Author:

Author: Hot and Cold Health; Acupuncture Physician (FL 1992-2002; owner, operator Food and Thought, health food store, Hollywood, FL (1984-2001); questioned and counseled 30,000+; There is no disease that I cannot figure out, cause, effect and cure, treatment." Email me.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Acne, psoriasis, eczema, diet, digestion and traditional Chinese medicine

The Point Of Treating Acne With Acupuncture

Author: Scott Goodman

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in China and the East, and one of the benefits is that the skin tends to clear up. Some with painful cystic acne that can leave scars find long lasting help treating acne with acupuncture. Your pimples or cysts are't usually punctured by the special, slender acupuncture needles. You usually get treatment on your ear.




The Finer Details

It is thought that hormone imbalance can cause the body secrete more oils than it really should. Treating acne with acupuncture can help regulate your body's hormone output, and thus make your skin clearer. Treating acne with acupuncture isn't a magic cure-all, though. You still have to eat a balanced diet, wash yourself consistently and avoid heavy makeup or products that might irritate your skin.


Sometimes treating acne with acupuncture can be covered by some health insurance, but often it isn't. Keep the costs in mind, as well as your doctor or dermatologists advice, when considering treating your acne with acupuncture. Even acupuncturists say that the best way to combat acne is by preventative means. Your doctor or dermatologist might even know of an acupuncturist to recommend to you. You may have to go for as many as twenty or thirty treatments. Acupuncture can also help with other skin diseases like psoriasis, dermatitis and warts.

About the Author:

You can find many more Acupuncture and related articles at Acupuncture Body Points For all your acupuncture needs, interests and hobbies, please visit Acupuncture Weight Loss

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

Acupuncture eczema, acupuncture psoriasis - Acupuncture for healthy skin

How Acupuncture Can Help Psoriasis

Author: Annie Beal

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that produces scaly skin that is rather unsightly. Surprisingly, many people with psoriasis are able to find relief with acupuncture. Because of its unsightliness - even to close family members, when psoriasis flares up it creates a problem. It can affect rather small patches or large areas on the body. Here is why acupuncture may be able to help psoriasis

.

Causes of Psoriasis

The cause of psoriasis has not yet been determined. However it is known to be genetic, sometimes skipping a generation. The problem stems from a rapid growth of cell production. Cells are produced faster than they are lost so there is a build of cells that results in a scale effect. Scientists are not certain what causes this scaling of the skin cells, but there is a general belief it is related to the immune system. It is considered to be a severe case of psoriasis when it covers 30% or more of the body. Those that have psoriasis are also candidates to get a form of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis.

Things That Can Trigger Psoriasis

Psoriasis has a number of known things that can trigger a flare-up of the disease. It can remain relatively inactive, at times, but when these triggers occur, it will often produce a recurrence. These flare-ups are:

· Stress
· Food allergies
· Alcohol - in men only
· Smoking

Acupuncture for psoriasis

Acupuncture comes from China and has been used there for over 2,000 years. It is based on the Chinese religious beliefs that the universe, and our bodies should have a balance of the oscillating forces of yin and yang. Problems in the body come when this balance is lost. Chi, or the life force, normally flows through the body in a balance, along certain pathways called meridians.

When the chi is stopped along some lines, problems develop. The acupuncture specialist inserts hait-thin needles of silver, gold, or copper, to help unblock the flow of life-energy. This will permit the body to bring about a healing of itself.

Acupuncture has been known to bring about some excellent help for psoriasis. In fact, there have been cases where traditional medicine could not do much, but the acupuncture treatments were found to be quickly helpful.Although more research is needed using acupuncture to treat psoriasis, results do look very good. Many studies have been performed in China showing significant improvement.

One of the best reasons that acupuncture can help with psoriasis, is because it is known to be able to relieve anxiety. Anxiety is one of the major triggers of psoriasis. The exact reason why acupuncture works is unknown to medical science. It is known that acupuncture releases endorphins, the body's own pain-killing chemicals. This may block some inflammatory mechanisms involved in psoriasis, or possibly prevents some nerve action from taking place.

An acupuncture treatment will usually last from around a couple of minutes to about an hour, at most. Treatments may also include other forms of acupuncture, such as electro-acupuncture, or laser acupuncture. Laser acupuncture uses mild lasers, instead of acupuncture needles.

About the Author: Annie Beal makes it easy for anyone to feel better naturally with acupuncture and acupressure on www.acupuncturegold.com/tips.html

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

Eczema Holistic Treatment – Alternative Eczema Treatment Methods

Author: Ricky Lim

Eczema holistic treatment can help relieve and cure your eczema problems efficiently. Unlike medical approach, holistic treatment will not leave you any side effects. For this reason, holistic treatment has gained extreme popularity in recent years as more and more people choose holistic treatment over medical treatment.

1. Holistic Treatment

Several examples of holistic treatment are acupuncture and juice therapy. Acupuncture has been used since ancient chinese to cure various health problems. Some health problems that can be treated using acupuncture are but not limited to are asthma, arthritis, liver, lung problems and more.

Juice therapy is another therapy that is very popular in treating eczema, blueberry juice has been reported to effectively cure eczema.

2. Alternative Eczema Treatment

Outside several eczema holistic treatments mentioned above, there are another several alternatives you can use such as natural herbal remedy. They have same effects in curing eczema and provide no side effect at all.

3. Moisturizer

Using moisturizer can help relieve and cure your eczema. You can use your moisturizer at any time as long as suitable. It might be a good advice to bring your moisturizer wherever you can as you never know the moisture condition outside.

Using a moisturizer every time after taking a bath can also be beneficial to your skin preventing eczema.

Conclusion

Eczema holistic treatment has been known as effective cure that give free side effect result. Some examples of holistic treatments for eczema are acupuncture and juice therapy. Blueberry juice is one example that has proven to be effective in relieving eczema symptom.

Other alternatives are herbal eczema remedy. A moisturizer also helps a lot in preventing and curing eczema no matter what is the cause of your eczema whether heredity or allergic.

About the Author:

If you are looking for a natural eczema cure, i highly recommend Janet Simpson Cure Your Eczema guide. Learn how to stop your eczema problems within 14 days.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Eczema Holistic Treatment – Alternative Eczema Treatment Methods

The Health Benefits of Chinese Herbs

The Health Benefits of Chinese Herbs

Antioxidant activity of 45 Chinese herbs and the relationship with their TCM characteristics

Hui Liao, Linda K. Banbury and David N. Leach

Centre for Phytochemistry and Pharmacology, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia and 2Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030012, China

Here, 45 Chinese herbs that regulate blood circulation were analyzed for antioxidant activity using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. A recent publication by Ou et al. identified a close relationship between in vitro antioxidant activity and classification of Chinese herbs as yin or yang. The 45 Chinese herbs in this study could be assigned the traditional characteristics of natures (cold, cool, hot and warm), flavors (pungent, sweet, sour, bitter and salty) and functions (arresting bleeding, promoting blood flow to relieve stasis, nourishing blood and clearing away heat from blood). These characteristics are generalized according to the theory of yin and yang. We identified a broad range, 40–1990 µmol Trolox Equivalent/g herbs, of antioxidant activity in water extracts. There was no significant correlation between ORAC values and natures or functions of the herbs. There was a significant relationship between flavors and ORAC values. Bitter and/or sour herbs had the highest ORAC values, pungent and/or sweet herbs the lowest. Other flavors had intermediate values. Flavors also correspond with the yin/yang relationship and our results are supportive of the earlier publication. We reported for the first time antioxidant properties of many Chinese herbs. High antioxidant herbs were identified as Spatholobus suberectus vine (1990 µmol TE/g), Sanguisorba officinalis root (1940 µmol TE/g), Agrimonia pilosa herb (1440 µmol TE/g), Artemisia anomala herb (1400 µmol TE/g), Salvia miltiorrhiza root (1320 µmol TE/g) and Nelembo nucifera leaf (1300 µmol TE/g). Antioxidant capacity appears to correlate with the flavors of herbs identified within the formal TCM classification system and may be a useful guide in describing their utility and biochemical mechanism of action.

Full report on http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/5/4/429

How to Maintain Clear Skin Using Western and Chinese Herbs

From WikiHow.com

Outside in

1. Purchase some dried calendula (marigold) flowers (preferably organic).

2. For a gentle floral water/toner, steep 3-4 flowers per cup of hot water for about 3~5 minutes until the water is a nice golden color. Let cool, then store in a glass/plastic bottle with or without a spray nozzle. Add 1 teaspoon of glycerin per cup of calendula water if your skin is dry. Store in refrigerator for up to a week.

3. For an astringent floral water/toner, steep 5-6 flowers per cup of organic apple cider vinegar, and keep in a dark, cool place for about a week. Add one tablespoon of this calendula apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of distilled water then store in a glass/plastic bottle with or without a spray nozzle. Store in refrigerator up to two weeks. It is okay to keep the calendula apple cider vinegar outside the refrigerator, preferably in a dark cool place.

Inside out

1. Purchase some pearl jasmine tea, dried red rose buds, and dried osmanthus flowers.

2. Steep 1 teaspoon of pearl jasmine tea, 1 teaspoon of dried osmanthus flowers, and one red rose bud in a cup of hot water.

3. Enjoy the aroma and relax. Incorporate this as a part of your daily beauty routine as you take a moment to unwind from a busy day.

4. Another alternative tea that is great for skin is Eastern Beauty Oolong tea from Taiwan. When you purchase some, the box/tin/package should come with instructions on how to steep the tea.

Tips

* The "Outside in" method doesn't provide a full skin regimen, but it can be your first step towards exploring natural herbal remedies for skin. Calendula has soothing, anti-inflammatory, astringent, and antiseptic properties. Therefore it can also be used to heal acne, and clean wounds and sores.

* For cleansing, a gentle cleanser without soap or too much alcohol, would be a great choice. Homemade options like yogurt is also a good option - just take a spoonful and massage onto your face. Make sure to rinse with lukewarm water (10~20 times) and finish off with a cold water rinse (5 times) to freshen skin.

* For moisturizing, jojoba oil is a good choice, since it is a lipid, not an oil. Therefore, it doesn't go rancid, and has very similar properties to your skin's natural sebum. It's also a multi-tasker can be massaged into the ends of your hair to prevent split ends.

* The "Inside Out" method is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. While the teas have effective medicinal properties, it is important to maintain a balanced lifestyle. Enjoying the teas should be the first step towards relieving stress and negative thoughts/feelings. This will decrease the likelihood of negative buildup affecting your skin.

* When purchasing the teas/dried flowers for this method, I recommend typing in "Dried Osmanthus Flowers" first in the search engine. An online shop with the osmanthus flowers is most likely to have the pearl jasmine tea, and the dried red rose buds, but not vice versa. This will make your shopping alot easier, and allow you to save on shipping fees.

An important disclaimer: as usual, please note this article is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Before taking any action, take qualified advices.

Chinese herbs for fertility: alternative medicine to heal infertility, infertility Chinese herbs

Chinese Herbs for Infertility

Author: Kingsley Modozie

At the time married partners are not able to give birth after having sex for over a year, those partners, either the man or woman or both are believed to be infertile. The phrase “infertility” really takes a whole lot of problems ranging from polycystic ovarian condition and anovulation to sperm motility and low sperm count. There are a lot of Chinese herbs for infertility, but not all of them are good for you in general.

An option for infertility which is an alternative to the usual medical remedies is through the utilization of Chinese herbs. It is known that partners can regain their fertility through the use of Chinese plants. This is not just about any type of herb but there are specific ones made for fertility. Some of them are ginseng and astragalus which can be used specifically to boost male fertility. As for the ones used to boost female fertility, they are referred to as raspberry leaf and red clover.

1. You need to find and consume the herb extract gotten from astragalus. It is known that this herb has the ability to energize your sperm to better motility.

2. You should try out ginseng. Though the curative abilities of ginseng are broadly covered, but most persons do not know that it has the ability to enhance their sperm count and testosterone.

3. Visit your nearby food mart and get some false unicorn root. Though it is used for normalizing hormonal unbalance, but it can also act to boost ovulation in a natural manner.

4. Consume a cupful of red clover tea per day. Red clover is usually utilized by partners who have infertility. It has a lot of nourishments which are crucial for the optimal health of your uterine. It can as well aid to relax your nerves, letting you to get pregnant soonest.

5. Try to include the normal dosage of the extract from raspberry to your day to day meal. Raspberry leaf is thought to be valuable for fixing the imbalance of hormones. In addition, it also has a high content of calcium. It can help women who may have high chances of getting osteoporosis soon in their lifetime.

6. Try to utilize lady’s mantle onetime every day to aid to normalize menstruation. It can as well aid to affirm the smooth growth of uterine and offer the best environ for nidation.

About the Author:

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Chinese Herbs for Infertility

How Acupuncture Enhances Fertility – A Look at Current Research

By Jill Blakeway, M.S. L. Ac.

Acupuncture can help women to to ovulate.
Some of the women I treat are not able to get pregnant because they are not ovulating. There can be lots of reasons why someone isn’t ovulating and I always advise these women to have a western medical workup but often all they need is regular acupuncture and sometimes a specially tailored herbal formula.

It turns out that acupuncture can have a powerful effect on the ovaries. Dr. Jin Yu of Shanghai Medical University in China was able to get rabbits to ovulate with acupuncture alone. Apparently rabbits do not ovulate until they become sexually active (who knew!), but Dr. Yu was able to take non-ovulating rabbits and affect them using just a few acupuncture needles so that their reproductive systems woke up. Dr. Yu is a well-known fertility expert in China and a professor of Gynecology. Her book, which is probably a bit too technical for most people’s taste, is available at amazon.com.

Her follow-up study which involved inducing ovulation in women with electro-acupuncture is on http://www.aborm.org/research/EA%20Ovu%20Induction.html

In another study patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome were helped to ovulate. You can read the study on http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10716298

Acupuncture can increase blood flow in the pelvic region
It improves the blood supply to the reproductive organs, improving the quality of the uterine lining and nourishing the developing follicle. Acupuncture seems to relax the blood vessels in the pelvis leading to increased blood flow, which in turn leads to eggs that are better nourished and a thicker endometrial lining. Dr. Susan Emmons, a Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Oregon Health Sciences University was able to use acupuncture to increase the number of follicles in women undergoing IVF. Her research is available on http://www.aborm.org/research/ICSI.html



Acupuncture can influence the hormones that positively affect fertility
A literature review by Dr. Raymond Chang and well-respected reproductive endocrinologists Dr. Zev Rosenwax and Dr. Pak Chung concluded that there was compelling evidence that acupuncture increases levels of hormones in the brain that enhance fertility.


Acupuncture has a normalizing effect on reproductive hormones
This is explained on http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9330669 which discusses the effect of acupuncture on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis and concludes that acupuncture can regulate abnormal HPOA function.

Acupuncture can reduce the effects of stress on the body and lower stress related hormones that can impede fertility.
The same study we talked about above also examined previous studies on the effect of acupuncture on depression and stress related illnesses. It concluded that acupuncture is a viable option to relieve stress in women that are undergoing fertility treatment. This is particularly important because it is known that stress plays a very important role in failure to conceive. A study that was published in Fertility and Sterility in 2001 looked at the state of mind of women going through IVF. It concluded that the women who were most stressed and worried about the procedure were likely to have 20% fewer eggs available for retrieval and a fertilization rate that was 19% less than more optimistic women. You can read an abstract of the article here.

Acupuncture dramatically improves pregnancy rates in women undergoing IVF
A study in Germany that was published here in the USA divided 180 women who were having IVF into two groups of 80 women. One group had IVF with acupuncture and one group had IVF without acupuncture. The group that had acupuncture had a pregnancy rate of 42.5% versus the group that had no acupuncture that had a pregnancy rate of 26.3%. That’s almost a 50% better outcome in the acupuncture group. You can read the study on http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9330669


Other studies back up these finding, including http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16600232

Acupuncture can increase fertile cervical mucus
In order to conceive naturally it is important to have enough egg white cervical mucus at ovulation. This provides sperm with a medium that they can swim in. Patients often tell me that they notice an increase in the amount of fertile cervical mucus at ovulation after starting a course of acupuncture treatment.

Although many aspects of Chinese Medicine remain mysterious there is no doubting its value in helping women get pregnant. Chinese women have known this for many generations but as an acupuncturist I am delighted that researchers are beginning to study this phenomenon and uncover such positive results.

You can read more about our work enhancing fertility at The YinOva Center

TCM for infertility: TCM and infertility, TCM and fertility - TCM for fertility diet

Acupuncture Infertility Treatment

Based on article written by: Shanna Ohmes

Primarily a Chinese remedy, acupuncture is a complementary modern treatment that cures infertility problems in both men and women. Acupuncture for infertility is most effective for those people who are suffering from problems like irregular ovulation, or blockage in the sperm ducts.

Acupuncture works in a way different from all types of typical medicines

Acupuncture fertility works in this way. Often there are obstructed movements in the meridians that run throughout the length of the body. These obstructed movements cause swelling up of energy in some parts of reproductive organs while others get deprived from such energy conjures. Acupuncture works by placing needles on these blocked sites and stimulate the nervous system to release chemicals to the reproductive organs. This releases the required amount of energy to cure infertility in both men and women.

Acupuncture brings effective cure to men and women suffering from infertility

If you are thinking how acupuncture and infertility works for one another then the answer is simple. Acupuncture aids in regular flow of blood to the reproductive organs and instantly stabilizes the hormone levels, which in turn increases ovarian function in women and rapid sperm production in men.

Acupuncture uses several methods for curing infertility. You either need to take Chinese herbal medicines that are capable of replenishing the Kidney or apply acupuncture under the feet, behind the ears, near genital organs and on your palms to get relieve from infertility.

Acupuncture does not work with only needles but also provides aid with other special treatments like in-vitrio fertilization [IVF] and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] for acupuncture fertility. Organizations like the Atlanta acupuncture for infertility pregnancy also offers acupuncture and electro-acupuncture methods for treating infertility.

Know more about the success rate of acupuncture from reducing infertility

Reports say that at least 90% of women undergoing acupuncture get cured from infertility problems, polycystic ovarian syndromes [PCOS], excess pelvic pain and severe intercourse pains. However, reports also say that even 86% of men have been cured of all unusual reproductive problems with the aid of acupuncture.

About the Author: Shanna suggests to visit there links: Discount Link Click here Success Stories:Click here

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

Acupuncture for depression and anxiety - Healing anxiety and depression with acupuncture

Do you want to know why anxiety and depression can be healed with acupuncture? Authors Craig Elliott and provide their view on the subject.

Acupuncture - an Effective Depression Remedy?

Acupuncture and Depression

Author: Craig Elliott

Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of medicine - dating back to around 8,000 years ago in ancient China. Acupuncture is the art of inserting tiny needles into specific places on the body and can cure many different ailments including asthma, insomnia and high blood pressure. It is believed that acupuncture can successfully treat over 40 different common health problems - but can it treat depression?

Depression is the most common emotional condition in the United States - affecting, to some degree, an estimated 11 million people every year. Depression is more common in women, affecting around 20% of women as opposed to around 10% of men - although men are more inclined to commit suicide when depressed. The illness costs an estimated $40 billion a year in charges for treatment and lost productivity.


Research suggests that acupuncture can help to treat depression - although there is little firm evidence to date. One major study was undertaken by the National Institute of Health in 1998 - the study determined that sufferers from depression who were treated with acupuncture enjoyed a 40% reduction in symptoms. Other studies have had similar results - those treated with acupuncture were more likely to be cured than those treated with traditional medication or therapy.


According to Chinese wisdom, a person's body and mind are both part of the same system. Acupuncture treats both the body and the mind at the same time, rather than separating the two. The purpose of acupuncture treatment is to try to balance the body's life energy, by the skillful placement of the needles. The concept of the life energy is important to our overall sense of well being - a person with a reduced flow of life energy will tend to suffer from stress or depression.

Acupuncture is effective as it tends to work on a person's general health, rather than treating a specific disease or ailment. It's also considered to be a natural remedy, so it is recommended for its lack of side effects, rather than medication. Medications can effectively treat depression but often have side effects and can introduce toxins into the body. Most practitioners recommend acupuncture along with therapy to treat depression or anxiety.

Acupuncture supposedly helps treat depression by unblocking the body's clogged up lines of energy - or meridians. Once the energy lines are unblocked by placing the needles into the correct point on the body, the energy can flow through the body freely and whatever negative symptoms are in the body will then be removed.


It's likely that acupuncture is effective in treating depression because it helps to stimulate the body's central nervous system and increases the production of naturally occurring chemicals. These chemicals, which include enkephalins and endorphins, are partly responsible for a person's feeling of well being.


Acupuncture has several benefits when it comes to treating depression as well as other conditions. There are no side effects and no danger of addiction. Most practitioners also advocate exercise, a healthy diet and lifestyle along with the acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture also helps a person to sleep better, and reduces muscle tension and pain.


Also, being treated for depression with acupuncture is fast - positive results can typically be achieved by just several sessions over several weeks rather than a course of antidepressant drugs which may take several months.

Many people state that they feel better and have more energy after just the first treatment. And as acupuncture tends to treat the actual root cause of depression - there's a good chance that the treatment may prevent a person from suffering from depression in the future. Those who have been treated for depression by acupuncture usually state that they maintain a feeling of well being after the treatment.

Most people - even those who have a needle phobia - tend to not be too bothered by the needles. The needles used in acupuncture are extremely fine and cause virtually no pain when being used - there may be a slight feeling of discomfort or pressure, when being treated with needles. Many people claim to experience a warm comforting feeling when the needles are inserted. Acupuncture needles are always sterilized and procedures are completely safe.


Research has also been done on the effects of electro-acupuncture. As the name suggests, this technique involves passing a very small electrical current through acupuncture needles. Initial results indicate that those who undergo this technique also benefit from a general feeling of well being and invigoration.


The techniques and the benefits of acupuncture are still a mystery to many people - to the uninitiated, it isn't considered real medicine. However, acupuncture is becoming more and more acceptable - there are an estimated 9,000 practitioners throughout the US and around 15 million Americans have now benefited from this ancient technique.

About the Author: Craig Elliott is a freelance writer who writes about mental health topics including Community Support Services | Depression Anxiety Treatment

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Acupuncture - an Effective Depression Remedy?

Acupuncture may alleviate PTSD symptoms, including depression

By Rev. Dr. Richard Browne

(http://www.amcollege.edu http://www.acupuncturistmiami.com)

Acupuncture can be an effective addition to treatment regimens for post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms including insomnia, stress, anxiety and depression. It can also reduce body pain without medication side effects. Classified as an anxiety disorder, (PTSD) can result from the experience or witnessing of traumatic or life-threatening events. Symptom clusters of PTSD include re-experiencing of the event (intrusive memories, flashbacks), emotional numbing and/or behavioral avoidance of trauma-related stimuli and hyper-arousal (difficulty sleeping, irritability, being easily startled).

PTSD has multiple categorizations. Persons whose work exposes them to traumatic events or who treat trauma survivors may develop secondary PTSD (compassion fatigue). These occupations include emergency medicine specialists, police officers, firefighters, search-and rescue personnel, and disaster investigators. Complex PTSD, also referred to as ‘disorder of extreme stress’ results from exposure to prolonged traumatic circumstances, such as the ongoing threat of insurgent attacks among military personnel currently in active deployment.

According to the National Center for PTSD (US Department of Veterans Affairs), about 30 percent of the men and women who have spent time in recent war zones experience combat-induced PTSD, a categorization of PTSD more difficult to treat than PTSD caused by other traumas. Most individuals with PTSD have dual diagnoses with depression, anxiety and/or panic disorders. The most effective treatment modalities include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-exposure therapy, anxiety management) and medication. Treatment is complex, due to the myriad of trauma possibilities.

Nasal irrigation: more about nasal lavage

Considering the growing importance of nasal lavage, we cover the subject in more details, using contributions to Wikipedia as starting point.

Nasal irrigation or nasal lavage is the personal hygiene practice, often executed with a neti pot, in which the nasal cavity is washed to flush out excess mucus and debris from the nose and sinuses. The simplest approach, requiring no equipment, is to snort water from cupped hands. The application of commercially available saline nasal spray is another simple alternative, but it is relatively inefficient.

A simple yet effective technique is the old Ayurvedic technique known as jala neti, using a container to administer the saline; such container is called a neti pot, from Sanskrit for "nasal cleansing". A second neti technique known as sutra neti uses a piece of string instead of water. Neti pots are traditionally made of metal, glass or ceramic. Some modern variants available from chemists are made of flexible plastic and can be squeezed to exert additional pressure. If a bulb syringe is used instead, the user has complete control over the pressure.

Another, more advanced variation of this technique, known in yoga as "Vyutkrama Kapalbhati", involves pouring the same saline solution into one nostril while the other is held closed, so that the solution runs out of the mouth. It is more challenging than the basic version (care must be taken to keep the saline solution out of the throat and to suppress possible vomiting reflex), but it allows to achieve more thorough irrigation of the nasal cavity and the sinuses. It is strongly suggested to stick with the use of a neti pot, unless trying more complex approaches under experienced guidance.

It is clear that the removal of mucus plays an important role in making nasal irrigation effective. Damage to the mucociliary transport system is an important factor in the development of sinonasal diseases, leading to a stasis of mucus. The numerous proteins found in nasal mucus include inflammatory mediators, defensins and many whose function is not understood. Thus hypotheses include that nasal irrigation may decrease inflammation through the removal of mucus, that it may improve mucociliary clearance, and that it may remove thickened mucus that cannot be handled by the cilia. In a study with eight healthy volunteers, solution was transported reliably to ethmoid and maxillary sinuses when it was snorted or applied with a squeeze bottle; a nebulizer was significantly less effective. Sphenoid and frontal sinuses were rarely reached, and not at all with the nebulizer.

Holistic veterinarians: interview with homeopathic and holistic veterinarians

As the second installment of our review on holistic vets, we offer two interesting interviews with holistic veterinarians.

How Homeopathy Works: An Interview With Homeopathic Veterinarian Dr. Jill Elliot

From http://www.pawfun.com

Dr. Jill Elliot DVM, MSW is a homeopathic veterinarian who practices in New York City. She’s the co-author of Whole Health for Happy Dogs, and she’s also Benny Bix Ochman Labradoodle’s vet. Pawfun.com Blog asked Dr Elliot to explain how homeopathy works.

About homeopathy in general

What is homeopathy? What type of medications are used in homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a holistic science-based medical treatment. It was developed in the late 1700’s by a German Physician named Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. Homeopathic treatment takes the whole being physical, environment, diet, emotional state, etc., into account – not just the specific ailment the animal is presenting.

Homeopathic remedies are made from animal, mineral and plant based products. These substances are diluted down to their smallest possible amount. Actually at the point they are used for treatment they are in an energetic form.

What type of conditions can homeopathy treat?

Homeopathy is affective for a wide range of illnesses, including acute (sudden onset ) problems like trauma, animal bites, burns, bees stings, allergic reactions, sudden collapse, etc.); long-term chronic conditions (diabetes, seizures, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, ear disease, liver disease, kidney disease and cancer to name a few. It also can be very effective in treatment of behavioral problems (fears of thunderstorms, other dogs, people, separation anxiety, timidity, etc.)

About homeopathic remedies for animals

Can homeopathy treat cancer in animals?

One third of my practice is devoted to treating animals with cancer who have been given a very poor prognosis by traditional vets. Many of these animals have gone on to live happy lives well past the prediction of their conventional vets. Moral: Do not give up on your animals if they have cancer.

Can people treat their pets homeopathically on their own?

They can and they do. However most of these people are treating acute problems. For chronic illness people who are knowledgeable can treat their own animals. The trick is to know how to assess improvement and when to repeat a remedy, what potency to use when you repeat, how often to repeat and when to stop. Often people give remedies too frequently. When it’s working well, homeopathy does not have to be repeated.

Did you study homeopathy in vet school?

No I started to study homeopathy three years post vet school training. I got my traditional veterinary degree in 1995. And then I studied homeopathy for two years, beginning in 1998, with Dr. Richard Pitcairn, who is considered the guru of homeopathic veterinarians in the USA. I’ve continued advanced studies of homeopathy in England, and in New York, and view my education as ongoing.

What got you interested in studying homeopathy?

After I was practicing three years as a conventional vet I got frustrated with all the recurring disease I encountered. I wanted to find a way to cure these cases not just palliate them (and see them return every few months). I investigated different modalities and started spending one day a week with a seasoned veterinary homeopath. After a short time I saw what I considered miracles. Diabetic animals that could get off insulin or greatly reduce the need for it. Allergic dogs were able to get off steroids, seizure dogs could reduce or get off phenobarb or never have to start it.

The clincher was when my own 13 year old Keehond dog, Licktey Split,, who had been terrified of thunder storms his whole life was  cured of this fear…..I knew I had to study homeopathy.

Why do you think homeopathy is not more mainstream in the US?

Multifaceted reasons. First homeopathic vets are not as organized as other alternative medicine modalities like acupuncture. Many cannot agree on the basic standards of practice. There is an Academy of Veterinary Homeopaths that I belong to. We have annual meetings and all subscribe to a standard of practice. But many other vet homeopaths may not be members nor care to associate with this organization.

Secondly we don’t advertise and many of us are not great at marketing.

Third, homeopathy is not widely accepted by conventional vets. Rather than an atmosphere of cooperation and collaboration. there may be a feeling of competition between conventional and homeopathic vets for the same clients.

Homeopathy is mainstream in many places outside of the USA: Europe, India, Asia, South America, etc. Homeopathy is actually the second most used medical treatment throughout the world (except in the USA).

Natural Treatment for Dogs with Allergies

Written by Dr Lea Stogdale (DVM, Diplomate ACVIM). From the website of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.

Ears
Clean with water plus vinegar, with a 50:50 combination, or rubbing alcohol plus vinegar (50:50)

For Topical Use (Hot Spots)
• To soothe skin irritations and help stop the scratch–itch cycle, apply a wet, warm black teabag on the affected spot. The tannic acid in the teabag has a soothing effect relieving the itch. Hold the bag to the skin for 4 – 5 minutes. Do this twice a day for at least 3 days.
• Following the teabag treatment, apply Aloe Vera either from an opened leaf or from purchased gel. Aloe speeds the healing process.

At Home
• Use as many non-toxic products as possible.
• Do not use scented powder on the carpet (baking soda is fine if odor is a concern).
• For dog blankets use unscented laundry detergent. Use only ¼ the amount recommended.
Wash in hot water
• Do not used liquid fabric softener when washing the dog blankets.
• Do not use fabric softener sheets when the dog blankets are drying.
• Dog food and water dishes should be glass, ceramic or stainless steel (not plastic).
• Dilute dog shampoo. One cap full or a small squirt of shampoo in a cup of water.
Mix well before applying to your pet. Rinse well after shampooing.
• Dilute conditioner. One cap full or a small squirt of conditioner in a cup of water.

Basic Diet
Many commercial pet foods are loaded with highly processed, inferior-quality ingredients, and chemicals that may contribute to overall ill health or trigger allergic sensitivities. A switch to a higher quality, more natural food with fewer potential allergic offenders may reduce allergic reactions.
• Eliminate processed treats (eg. S’nausage).
• Eliminate treats containing gluten (ie. Bread or biscuits made from wheat, barley or rye).
• Appropriate commercial diet or home prepared meals – as discussed with Dr Stogale.
• It’s okay to feed from the table – but only healthy natural food such as vegetables (no onions) or fruit (no grapes).
• Sauces, gravy made from mixes, processed foods (ie. deli meat, processed cheese) should not be given to your dog. Fat or gristle from meat is not appropriate as a dog treat.
Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzymes improve nutritional absorption, and reduce the allergenic load on the intestines and the dog. These should contain: Protease – to break down protein
Lipase – to break down fats
Amylase – to break down carbohydrates
Cellulase – to break down plant fiber
A good example is “Prozyme,” available from Aesops – always on the shelf, just ask the receptionist at Tuxedo Animal Hospital. Or as a special order from your veterinarian.


Pro-Biotics
Lactobacillus acidophilus and others are the normal ‘good’ bacteria that should populate the small intestines. They are killed by antibiotics and reduced by stress. Decreased levels of these ‘good’ bacteria results in reduced intestinal health and an imbalanced immune system.

Probiotics are included in “Prozyme.” Or add a Lactobacillus acidophilus capsule (or the powder from a capsule) to your dog’s food daily. The amount of these bacteria in ‘live culture plain yogurt’ is inadequate.


Anti-oxidants
Vitamin A, C, D, and E are anti-oxidants and free radical scavengers that help maintain an optimal environment for the functioning of the immune system.

Various herbs and plant extracts contain effective anti-oxidants and free radical scavengers that complement the vitamins. They also have a large variety of other effects on the body including antimicrobial actions, cell membrane stabilization, improvement of vascular integrity, and inhibition of collagen destruction.

Dr Stogdale will discuss the selection, doses, forms and easiest ways to get your pet to take these supplements, as appropriate for your particular pet. In some dogs, especially small ones, and all cats, using a combination products makes administration much easier. One of these is
Cell Advance 880 (Vetri Science) -- a complete antioxidant formula designed to prevent free radical damage in dogs. Cell Advance also promotes cellular energy and immune system function.


Salmon Oil (Omega 3): has been shown to help reduce the allergic inflammation affecting both the skin and the intestines by promoting the production of natural anti-inflammatory substances in the body. Dr Stogdale will discuss the sources, dose and administration of omega 3 oils. There is a separate sheet of information about Omega 3 benefits, sources and administration.

Mount Rainier: Wonder of nature

Mount Rainier is an active composite volcano in Pierce County, Washington, located 54 miles southeast of Seattle. It towers over the Cascade Range as the most prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and Cascade Volcanic Arc at 14,411 feet.



The mountain and the surrounding area are protected within Mount Rainier National Park. With 26 major glaciers and 35 square miles of permanent snowfields and glaciers, Mount Rainier is the most heavily glaciated peak in the lower 48 states. The summit is topped by two volcanic craters, each over 1,000 feet in diameter with the larger east crater overlapping the west crater. Geothermal heat from the volcano keeps areas of both crater rims free of snow and ice, and has formed the world's largest volcanic glacier cave network within the ice-filled craters. A small crater lake about 130 by 30 feet in size and 16 feet deep, the highest in North America with a surface elevation of 14,203 feet, occupies the lowest portion of the west crater below more than 100 feet of ice and is accessible only via the caves.

The Carbon, Puyallup, Mowich, Nisqually, and Cowlitz Rivers begin at eponymous glaciers of Mount Rainier. The sources of the White River are Winthrop, Emmons, and Fryingpan Glaciers. The White, Carbon, and Mowich join the Puyallup River, which discharges into Commencement Bay at Tacoma; the Nisqually empties into Puget Sound east of Lacey; and the Cowlitz joins the Columbia River between Kelso and Longview.

Mount Rainier has a topographic prominence of 13,211 feet, greater than that of K2. On clear days it dominates the southeastern horizon in most of the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area to such an extent that residents sometimes refer to it simply as "the Mountain." On days of exceptional clarity, it can also be seen from as far away as Portland, Oregon, and Victoria, British Columbia.

Pelargonium sidoides: Umckaloabo (South African Geranium) to stops viral and bacterial infections

The Health Benefits of Umcka: Stops Viral and Bacterial Infections

Pelargonium sidoides,  also known as Umckaloabo or Umcka, is an herbal extract that has been shown to work against colds, flu, sinusitis, tonsillitis and antibiotic-resistant ear infections. It has shown both antiviral and antibiotic properties in killing both viruses and bacterial infections.

Natural Antiviral Remedies From Plants

There are numerous natural remedies that people take, and everyone seems to have their own favorites that work for them. Elderberry extract, known both as Sambucus and Sambucol, is very popular. Sambucus comes from the elderberry bush. You can read about elderberry extract (Sambucus) in the article Fight the Flu With Sambucus. Some people feel that a remedy cannot work unless it’s an actual medicine prescribed by their doctor. Most of us have now heard of Tamiflu. Large companies and governments are stockpiling Tamiflu for the upcoming flu season. To get Tamiflu you have to have a prescription from your doctor and it works to decrease the severity and duration of the flu. Tamiflu is actually another natural remedy that comes from a plant. The main ingredient in Tamiflu comes from the star anise plant and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for 5,000 years.

History and Discovery of Umckaloabo

Umckaloabo comes from the root of the Pelargonium sidoides or South African Geranium, and is native to South Africa. The Zulu culture of Africa have used this herbal remedy for centuries. In 1897, Englishman Charles Stevens contracted pulmonary tuberculosis and left for the warmer climate of South Africa. While there he met a native healer by the name of Mike Kijitse who gave him a traditional cure known as Umckaloabo. When Mr. Stevens returned to England, his doctor pronounced him cured.

The Studies

In October 2008, the British government Department of Health granted an official license for this herbal remedy to be marketed and sold as a cold and flu medicine in England and carries the brand name of Kaloba. In the United States Umckaloabo is sold as Umcka by Natures Way.

According to NHS Evidence, the Umckaloabo herbal remedy is thought to be effective in the treatment of acute respiratory infections. [1] They reviewed eight random trials with accepted methodologies. Two trials showed that Umckaloabo was effective in relieving all symptoms in adults with acute bronchitis and in particular with cough and sputum production. A third study showed that it was only effective for treating sputum production. The final word with these studies is that the herbal preparation may be effective in relieving symptoms in acute bronchitis in adults and children, and sinusitis in adults. The common cold is an upper respiratory tract infection caused by a virus.

Another placebo-controlled study with 468 adults with bronchitis received 4.5 ml (milliliter) of the extract or a placebo for 7 days. Significant differences were found between the two groups, with the extract group reporting less severity of bronchitis symptoms. At the start of the test, 67% of the participants were unable to work. By day 7 only 16% of the Umckaloabo extract group was unable to work while 43% of the placebo group was still unable to work. [2]

A study with 143 children who had tonsillitis (group A [beta]-hemolytic streptococcus-negative tonsillopharyngitis) were randomly chosen to have 1 ml of the root extract or the placebo 3 times per day for 6 days. By the fourth day, the Umckaloabo extract group was statistically superior. By the sixth day 81% of the children in the extract group were able to return to school and only 21% of the children in the placebo group were able to return to school. [3]

How Umckaloabo Works

Studies have suggested that Umckaloabo exhibits both antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects. Immunomodulatory means it changes the immune system, in this case it would cause the immune system to attack the virus or bacteria cells. Antimicrobial is a substance that inhibits or kills bacteria, viruses and fungi. If in fact the root extract of the Pelargonium sidoides cured Charles Stevens of pulmonary tuberculosis, that means that it can cure a disease caused by a bacteria, since tuberculosis is caused by bacteria. Studies have shown that Umcka has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and immune-boosting properties.

When boosting the immune system and fighting viruses, Umcka works much like the elderberry extract (Sambucus or Sambucol) as a natural immune booster, preventing the virus cells from replicating and also destroying the virus cells. Boosting the immune system helps the cells become more resistant to viruses.

Where Umcka seems different than elderberry extract is in its ability to destroy infections not only caused by a virus, but also infections caused by bacteria. This is important since a main concern with a cold or flu is that they can turn into a bacterial infection such as pneumonia.

Umcka is also a natural expectorant, helping to eliminate the excess mucus from the sinuses, chest and the entire respiratory tract. By eliminating the excess mucus, it also eliminates a breeding ground for more infection to grow.

Scientists aren’t exactly sure what it is that makes the Pelargonium s. extract exhibit both antiviral and antibacterial properties, but studies are very positive at this time.

The studies found that Umcka works best when taken within 48 hours of the start of the cold or flu. The sooner the person takes the extract, the better it works.

Safety

There have not been any negative side effects from this extract except an occasional allergy if the person is allergic to plants in this family. There are no known supplement or food interactions. There has not been any safety testing in children under 6, pregnant or nursing women, or people with severe liver or kidney disease. Clinical studies have only involved taking this extract no longer than 7 days. This should not be looked at as an alternative to an antibiotic if you are sick for more than 7 days, have a high fever or chest pains.

August 21, 2009

Sources:

[1] NHS Evidence is a web-based service that provides easy access to high quality clinical and non-clinical information about health and social care.

[2] Matthys H, et al. Efficacy and safety of an extract of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) in adults with acute bronchitis. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Phytomedicine. 2003;10(suppl 4):7-17.

[3] Bereznoy VV, Riley DS, Wassmer G, Heger M. Efficacy of extract of Pelargonium sidoides in children with acute non-group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus tonsillopharyngitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Altern Ther Health Med. 2003;9:68-79.

Original article: The Health Benefits of Umcka: Stops Viral and Bacterial Infections - written by Sam Montana on Factoidz

Holistic veterinarians: finding holistic vet in USA and Canada

Finding holistic veterinarians is usually no easy task, especially because there is confusion about the meaning of the term. If you are looking for Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Chiropractic, Herbal, or any other specific discipline under the umbrella of Holistic veterinary, it is useful to refer to organizations that list or accredit veterinarians in specific modalities.

As said, holistic veterinary therapies include - but is not limited to -  homeopathy, herbs, nutrition, naturopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic. They are becoming more and more popular. Together, we see some of the main points, and resources available online, to know more about holistic veterinarians and what they can do for our beloved animals.

American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association
The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (http://www.ahvma.org/) explores and supports holistic, complementary and alternative veterinary medicine and natural healing for pets and animals, including chiropractic, homeopathy, acupuncture and nutritional therapy for horses, dogs, cats, birds. It is dedicated to integrating all aspects of animal wellness in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.

The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association created a useful directory of holistic veterinarians on http://www.holisticvetlist.com/ with United States and Canada based holistic veterinarians.

Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy
The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy (http://www.theavh.org/) aims to advance veterinary homeopathy through education and research. It provides updates about conferences, and a list of certified holistic veterinarians on http://www.avhlist.com/avh_index.php

The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy also provides a useful list of questions to better understand which treatment your animal will receive. Quoting from the site, "Questions to ask a Veterinarian to Determine if S/he Practices Classically"

On what do you base your prescription?
Symptoms alone are the guide to remedy selection.

Do you treat symptoms, or do you provide treatment based on the name of the disease?
Symptoms alone are the guide to remedy selection. The disease name may be helpful for prognosis and determining which symptoms are important to the case, but never for remedy selection.

How do you administer remedies?
Oral administration is most suitable.

Do you utilize diagnostics? Why?
Diagnostics are important to help determine the prognosis for your animal. They typically do not assist with remedy selection. They can also document improvement in the case.

Will you need any information about past illnesses?
Historical information is very useful to confirm or deny a potential prescription.

Do you use more than one remedy at a time?
This is never acceptable.

Do you use more than one modality at a time?
The use of acupuncture, network chiropractic, or Chinese herbs is not homeopathy, and interferes with the curative response to a remedy.

If my companion has a troublesome skin wart, can I have it removed?
Surgical removal of a lesion will suppress the vitality of the patient and make it more difficult for the patient to react curatively to the remedy. Surgery, even seemingly minor, is always problematic.

What type of adjunctive treatments do you employ?
Very mild herbs, such as slippery elm for diarrhea, or calendula rinses for a wound, do not interfere with healing. But the use of allopathic drugs, even ear ointments or skin creams, directly interfere with the animal's response to curative treatment.

Is nutrition important?
Good nutrition is essential to the optimal health of your companion, and helps speed cure. This may involve some home preparation of foods.

What if my animal is already on allopathic medication?
As your animal improves, classical prescribers will work with you to gradually eliminate the use of drugs such as prednisone, thyroid medications, and other drugs that may be supporting your animal.

What if my animal is incurable?
Some animals cannot be cured. However, using the best-selected remedy (or series of remedies) and optimal nutrition will give your companion the longest and best quality of life possible.

If my animal's case is difficult, where do you go for help?
There are email forums and conferences of homeopathic veterinarians which are used extensively, even by experienced practitioners, to discuss difficult cases and provide consults.

Additional sites
Other sources you may find useful are:

The American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture
http://www.aava.org/

National Center for Homeopathy
http://nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org/

Why Can Acupuncture Help Depression?

By: Annie Beal

Depression can affect up to about 16% of the population of the United States, sometimes in a milder, sometimes in a more acute form. Treatment is usually necessary in order to help the individual cope with ordinary life. This article explains how acupuncture helps to relief from depression.

What Are The Primary Causes of Depression

Depression can often stem from basic biologic insufficiencies. It can stem from such things as simple as a lack of a balanced diet, insufficient vitamins and minerals, or, a lack of physical exercise. Most remedies for depression will include an examination of the life to see if these are properly maintained, because they are necessary to our mental well being. Apart from these more ordinary things, hormonal imbalances, and mental instabilities can also cause it.

In order to detect if this is the case, it will be necessary to see your doctor for further consultation and testing.

Acupuncture May Be Helpful

While acupuncture is still new and unusual to many Americans, it has been used in China for well over 2,000 years. They have enjoyed its benefits as a recognized source of help for many physical problems. Among other things, it has been used to help those with depression.

Acupuncture In The United States

The Food and Drug Administration gave acupuncture official status of being a viable means for medical treatment in 1996. As early as 2002, there were about 8.2 million Americans that had received acupuncture treatments. There are now more than 20,000 certified acupuncturists in this country, and more than a third of these also medical doctors.

The Principles of Acupuncture

The Chinese believe that the human body has 12 main points of intersection through which the natural energy of the body flows. This energy is referred as qi (or chi). When energy flows freely throughout the body you experience health. Illness, or depression, would indicate a blocked or insufficient flow of energy.

The purpose of acupuncture treatment for depresession is to help restore the proper flow of qi so the body can function properly. An interpretation of all this, in the language of Western science, is that it helps to stimulate the central nervous system. Acupuncture treatment releases endorphins, the body's pain-relieving chemicals.

Acupuncture's ability to release endorphins may be one of the main ways it can help relieve depression. These chemical messengers may stimulate the body's natural healing mechanisms to help restore normal mood.

Acupuncture Has Been Shown To Help Depression

When the alternatives to depression are considered - strong drugs, acupuncture may be something that you might want to try. The drugs have many side effects including drowsiness, headaches, lower levels of interest in sex, and anxiety.

Clinical studies (though more need to be done) have shown that acupuncture does provide measurable benefits. And one of the best things is that there acupuncture does not have any side effects.

The only "side effect" of acupuncture is some mild discomfort from the needles. Other forms of acupuncture now use low power lasers - which have the same effect without using needles.

Acupuncture May Even Be Covered By Your Insurance

About 80% of health insurance companies will now accept acupuncture as a means for medical treatment of many disorders. You may want to look at your policy and see if it covers you.

About the Author:

Annie Beal makes it easy for anyone to feel better naturally with acupuncture and acupressure. To receive your free 7-part mini-course visit: www.acupuncturegold.com/tips.html

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

Living life at full - The power of now

Yogini Mary Ceallaigh shows us an easy meditation technique, helping us to live and enjoy more fully what life bringsus day-by-day.

Neti pot: Nasal irrigation

The use of neti pot for nasal irrigation has gone mainstream, also thanks to Dr. Oz explaining its (very easy) usage on Oprah.

A neti pot is a small pot used for irrigating the nasal passages. Typically it has a spout attached near the bottom, sometimes with a handle on the opposite side. They can be made with clay, glass, various metals, plastic, or ceramic. The most durable kinds are made out of either metal or plastic. Some modern variants available from chemists (pharmacies) are made of flexible plastic and can be condensed to exert additional pressure.

Historically, neti pots were used in yoga to assist in clearing the nasal passages, since controlled breathing plays a central role in yoga. The neti pot was introduced to the West approximately thirty years ago, and today many people in the West have taken up a modified type of Neti practice called Jala Neti (water neti) using a neti pot.

It use requires mixing up salt and water, that will then be poured through the nasal passages. The neti pot used with a saline solution has been shown to be an effective treatment for hay fever, sinusitis, and other nasal conditions. Both isotonic and hypertonic saline is used for Neti.

In modern times, saline nasal irrigation (SNI) has become more widely accepted as a home remedy to relieve conditions such as allergies (ex.: hay fever), colds and mild sinus infections. Clinical studies have looked at SNI for the treatment of a number of other nasal conditions

Yoga of retreat

Mary Ceallaigh offers advice on how to change our mental state, with yoga and meditation.

Meditation: calming the heart, raising compassion

Mary Ceallaigh teaches meditation to calm the heart and raise compassion, because marriage and relationships in general are considered to be the ultimate yoga.

Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine

The ancient wisdom of the Traditional Chinese Medicine provides many answers to today's questions. While China itself is moving fast, towards new techniques and tehnologies, the results of TCM are making it successful in North America and Europe. It would take several books just to provide an overview of TCM, so here we outline only its main points, which will be expandend with following posts. This article is made with contributions from Evelyn Lim, who owns a health and wellness article directory site called Health and Wellness Central, plus excerpts from Wikipedia.

Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Basic Understanding

Author: Evelyn Lim plus Wikipedia excerpts

Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM, includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. Although well accepted in the mainstream of medical care throughout East Asia, it is considered an alternative medical system in much of the western world. Medical practitioners are trained in the diagnostic and healing techniques with centuries of tradition and philosophy. Like naturopathy, TCM is holistic. It considers all aspects of the person including physical, nutritional, emotional, mental and spiritual for diagnosis.

TCM is based on the balance of opposing elements (the yin and yang) in the body, as well as their harmony with the environment around it. The two main forces of yin and yang combine to form the "qi" (pronounced as "chee") or universal life force. When qi is in harmony, health is not only enhanced but also the capacity for fufilment, happiness and well being. Disease and illness arise from imbalances of yin and yang that block the proper flow of qi. Therapies to treat disease are aimed at restoring the balance and unblocking the flow to restore health.

TCM is primarily non-invasive. TCM treatments include the use of Chinese herbs, acupuncture, meditation, Chinese massage therapy, mental and physical disciplines such as Tai Chi and Qigong and nutritional therapy. Practitioners will attempt to realign the body's balance using a combination of treatments before suggesting surgery by a Western Doctor.

Most research into the effectiveness of TCM has been conducted on acupuncture. Although it has been difficult to conclusively prove the benefits of acupunture, the results of large-scale studies are sufficiently convincing enough for FDA to consider the tradition "promising" and worthy of further study.

In addition, it has been proven that many herbs used in Chinese medicine have therapeutic benefits. For instance, ginseng and Echinacea are both powerful herbs with strong medicinal actions. More recently, there has been some acknowledgement that Chinese massage therapies do help to manipulate muscles, nerves and tendons.

Traditional Chinese Medicine, an historic background

Much of the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine derives from the same philosophy that inform Taoist and Buddhist thought, and reflects the classical Chinese belief that the life and activity of individual human beings have an intimate relationship with the environment on all levels.

In legend, as a result of a dialogue with his minister Qibo, the Yellow Emperor (2698 - 2596 BCE) is supposed by Chinese tradition to have composed his Neijing: Suwen or Inner Canon: Basic Questions. The book Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon)'s title is often mistranslated as Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine. Modern scholarly opinion holds that the extant text of this title was compiled by an anonymous scholar no earlier than the Han dynasty just over two-thousand years ago. Also another Chinese index book of herbs is "Ben Cao Gang Mu" written by Li Shi Zhen.

During the Han Dynasty (202 BC –220 AD), Zhang Zhongjing, the Hippocrates of China, who was mayor of Chang-sha toward the end of the 2nd century AD, wrote a Treatise on Cold Damage, which contains the earliest known reference to Neijing Suwen. Another prominent Eastern Han physician was Hua Tuo (c. 140 – c. 208 AD), who anesthetized patients during surgery with a formula of wine and powdered marijuana. Hua's physical, surgical, and herbal treatments were also used to cure headaches, dizziness, internal worms, fevers, coughing, blocked throat, and even a diagnosis for one lady that she had a dead fetus within her that needed to be taken out. The Jin dynasty practitioner and advocate of acupuncture and moxibustion, Huang-fu Mi (215 - 282 AD), also quoted the Yellow Emperor in his Jia Yi Jing, ca. 265 AD. During the Tang dynasty, Wang Bing claimed to have located a copy of the originals of the Neijing Suwen, which he expanded and edited substantially. This work was revisited by an imperial commission during the 11th century AD.

There were noted advances in Chinese medicine during the Middle Ages. Emperor Gaozong (r. 649–683) of the Tang Dynasty (618–907) commissioned the scholarly compilation of a materia medica in 657 that documented 833 medicinal substances taken from stones, minerals, metals, plants, herbs, animals, vegetables, fruits, and cereal crops. In his Bencao Tujing ('Illustrated Pharmacopoeia'), the scholar-official Su Song (1020–1101) not only systematically categorized herbs and minerals according to their pharmaceutical uses, but he also took an interest in zoology. For example, Su made systematic descriptions of animal species and the environmental regions they could be found, such as the freshwater crab Eriocher sinensis found in the Huai River running through Anhui, in waterways near the capital city, as well as reservoirs and marshes of Hebei.

Contact with Western culture and medicine has not displaced TCM. While there may be traditional factors involved in the persistent practice, two reasons are most obvious in the westward spread of TCM in recent decades. Firstly, TCM practices are believed by many to be very effective, sometimes offering palliative efficacy where the practices of Western medicine fail or unable to provide treatment, especially for routine ailments such as flu and allergies, or when Western medicine fails to relieve patients suffering from chronic ailments. TCM has been shown to be effective in the treatment of chronic, functional disorders, such as migraines and osteoarthritis, and is traditionally used for a wide range of functional disorders. Secondly, TCM provides an alternative to otherwise costly procedures whom many can not afford, or which is not covered by insurance. There are also many who turn to TCM to avoid the side effects of pharmaceuticals.

TCM of the last few centuries is seen by at least some sinologists as part of the evolution of a culture, from shamans blaming illnesses on evil spirits to "proto-scientific" systems of correspondence; any reference to supernatural forces is usually the result of romantic translations or poor understanding and will not be found in the Taoist-inspired classics of acupuncture such as the Huang Di Nei Jing. The system's development has, over its history, been analysed both skeptically and extensively, and the practice and development of it has waxed and waned over the centuries and cultures through which it has travelled - yet the system has still survived thus far. It is true that the focus from the beginning has been on pragmatism, not necessarily understanding of the mechanisms of the actions - and that this has hindered its modern acceptance in the West. This, despite that there were times such as the early 18th century when "acupuncture and moxa were a matter of course in polite European society"

There are many criticisms of TCM as a form of healing, especially because some of the TCM beliefs have been mixed with Eastern mythology. However, aside from the criticisms, there is much merit in the philosophy of TCM. healing. If more research can be done into TCM, then the mythology can be separated from the facts and perhaps, more people will embrace TCM more readily as a form of healing.

About the Author:

Evelyn Lim owns a health and wellness article directory site. Her site has a growing database of health articles on more than 100 topics such as alternative healing, disease and fitness. Check out

http://www.HealthandWellnessCentral.com Now!

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Basic Understanding

Holistic education options: Holistic Healing Centers, Holistic Health Colleges, Holistic Universities

We continue our overview on some of the holistic education options available, talking about Holistic Healing Centers, Holistic Health Colleges, Holistic Universities. Articles were written by free lancers with different background, who often run websites devoted to holistic health.

Holistic Healing Centers: Teaching Healing Arts

Author: Steven Parbach
While there are several alternative and holistic schools, were you aware that holistic healing centers, such as chiropractic clinics, health and wellness facilities and other natural healing centers offer public education and wellness classes? Today, individuals can attain education in yoga, natural remedies, herbal medicine and various bodywork modalities through a number of holistic healing centers.

For example, while you are receiving natural health treatments, you can sometimes enroll in ongoing classes in meditation, Tai Chi, Qigong, acupressure and other similar studies. In most cases, holistic healing centers that provide these adult education seminars and classes will gear learning toward pathology-specific training, such as Tai Chi for arthritis. Other classes extended through holistic healing centers may include education in natural skin care, holistic nutrition and weight loss.

There are a number of holistic healing centers that also provide educational courses in hypnotherapy, reiki, reflexology, energy healing, mind-body-spirit medicine, among other holistic studies. Additional subject matter offered through holistic healing centers may encompass Bach flower remedies, herbal essences, essential oils, aromatherapy, shamanic studies, sound healing, consciousness studies, and many more.

Though the vast majority of holistic healing centers may not always offer certification programs, some may extend certificates of completion. If individuals are interested in learning basic holistic health topics and modalities, holistic healing centers can offer clients/patients distinctive ways of learning as many holistic practitioners comprehensively explain the ins and outs of treatment regimens; how they’re used, and what benefits can be expected as a result of these natural health treatments. So, seeing a chiropractor or acupuncturist isn't a typical doctor's office visit as the patient will often gain extensive knowledge about specific therapies by visiting one of numerous holistic healing centers.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding holistic healing centers, let career training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

About the Author:
CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd - Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com - Educational Resources for Holistic Healing Centers, Holistic Schools, and other Natural Health Schools.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Holistic Healing Centers: Teaching Healing Arts

Holistic Health Colleges: Course of Study

Author: Steven Parbach
Because there are many holistic health colleges which you may choose to apply to, it is important to determine what subject matter meets your educational aspirations. For instance, if you are seriously contemplating a professional career in bodywork, some holistic health colleges extend exclusive training in massage therapy. Holistic health colleges that provide massage training will primarily consist of classroom and clinical training in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, CPR and first aid, deep tissue massage, Swedish massage and sports massage. However, due to the far-reaching modalities of massage, some holistic health colleges may afford students with the opportunity to learn more advanced techniques, including massage applications in acupressure, animal massage, shiatsu, Chinese medical massage, cross fiber massage, lymphatic massage, geriatric, prenatal and infant massage, chair massage, among many others.

A number of holistic health colleges provide degree programs* where students can earn various degree levels in Oriental medicine, chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathy and herbology. If you elect to enroll in an herbal medicine program at one of several holistic health colleges, you may be able to attain a bachelor's degree in herbal sciences. Students who wish to engage in TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) will discover an entirely new way of thinking, as Eastern medicine practices are based on ancient therapies and remedies. Holistic health colleges offering this course of study will enable students to become professional Oriental medicine practitioners and acupuncturists. (Prior to applying, students should carefully review degree programs in holistic health colleges as they may require college-level prerequisite courses.)

If certification is what you're seeking, then holistic health colleges also pose real academic opportunities in various holistic healing modalities, including certification programs in hypnotherapy, herbal consulting, holistic health, homeopathy, iridology, energy healing medicine, mind-body-spirit medicine, and numerous others. In addition, many holistic health colleges provide holistic seminars, workshops and continuing education courses. And for the home or office-bound student, holistic health colleges may sometimes extend home-study courses, as well as online resources.

Once successful graduates have completed all educational requirements in one of a number of holistic health colleges, candidates can go onto becoming lucrative, holistic healthcare practitioners in the fields of holistic medicine and other natural healing arts.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding holistic health colleges, let career training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

About the Author:
CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd - Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com - Educational Resources for Holistic Health Colleges, Holistic Schools, and other Natural Health Schools.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Holistic Health Colleges: Course of Study

Holistic Universities: Meeting Alternative Education Demands

Author: Steven Parbach
While the fields of alternative and holistic medicine continue to expand, so does the growing demand for integrative and complementary healthcare. This explains the phenomenal development and rise of holistic universities.

Today, one can choose from any number of holistic universities that offer a broad spectrum of healing arts modalities. Whether you elect to enroll in a chiropractic course of study, or if you are more drawn to massage therapy, then holistic universities can provide you with education and training to meet your personal and professional aspirations. Chiropractic holistic universities do, however, require prerequisite education from an accredited college or school. Furthermore, students choosing to pursue their doctor of chiropractic degree will quickly discover that the majority of chiropractic holistic universities call for a mandatory 4,000+ hours of clinical, class and lab training.

Holistic universities offering bodywork programs, for example, will typically provide education and practical training in musculoskeletal anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, deep tissue massage, sports massage and Swedish massage. For more advanced courses, a number of holistic universities will extend hands-on instruction in acupressure/shiatsu, Chinese medical massage (Tuina), cross-fiber massage, craniosacral therapy, Rolfing technique, lymphatic massage, Thai massage, and a variety of other specialty bodywork methodologies.

Holistic universities offering Oriental medicine studies will give students an opportunity to learn about Eastern medicine philosophies, including education in acupuncture, Qigong, Chinese herbal medicine, needling techniques, moxibustion (cupping), and other related coursework.

There are also holistic universities that offer training to students who desire to become holistic health practitioners. Applicants who engage in this course of study will gain a wealth of knowledge and skills in holistic health modalities including instruction in mind-body-spirit medicine – which may involve energy healing therapies, bodywork, herbology, natural health, nutrition (vitamins, supplements, etc.) and associated classes in anatomy, physiology and pharmacology.

Overall, conventional medicine is no longer the only proverbial "kid on the block" for treating common illnesses, ailments and disease; holistic universities provide the necessary academics and training to accommodate the popular demand for holistic MDs, chiropractics, acupuncturists, massage therapists and the like.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding holistic universities, let career training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

About the Author:
CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd - Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com - Educational Resources for Holistic Universities, Holistic Medicine Schools, and other Natural Health Schools.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Holistic Universities: Meeting Alternative Education Demands

Holistic education: Holistic Nursing Programs

Along the path of our holistic development, many of us feel the need to put our time at the service of other people, in a way which respects our values. Some of us decide to stay within our current professions, and act accordingly to our values; some decide to work in holistic health. No matter how knowleadgeable we already are on the subject, both for ethical and legal reasons, it then becomes necessary to successfully pursue recognised holistic education programs. With this serie, we offer an overview on some of the options available. Reviews are offered by writers with different background, who often run website on the subject. Today, we explore Holistic Nursing Programs.

Holistic Nursing Programs

Author: Steven Parbach 
Note from HHM editors: if you are practising in US, you may also want to get further information from the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA - http://www.ahna.org/ ), a non-profit membership association for nurses and other holistic healthcare professionals, serving more than 4,100 members and more than 152 local network chapters across the U.S. and abroad.

It promotes the education of nurses, other healthcare professionals, and the public in all aspects of holistic caring and healing. The efforts of AHNA recently resulted in the recognition of holistic nursing as an “official nursing specialty” by the American Nurses Association. AHNA provides a supportive community, informative publications, continuing education, local networking opportunities, liability insurance, and a focus on self-care and wellness, among others.


Holistic nursing programs are intended for individuals who have already graduated from a Nationally Accredited baccalaureate nursing program, and who possess an active RN license from the state in which they practice. Holistic nursing programs combine the knowledge and skills from conventional nursing with holistic medicine.

Students who are interested in holistic nursing programs will quickly learn that holistic nurses address the patient as a "whole" being and not just the disease. Holistic nursing programs teach candidates how to integrate complementary and alternative medicine and how to administrate individualized care and treatment to patients. In addition, holistic nursing programs instruct future holistic nurses in how to provide undivided attention by consciously "being with" the patient on an emotional and psychological level throughout the course of prescribed treatment.

Holistic nursing programs also teach students how to facilitate and administer self-healing methods. Through the course of the holistic nursing program study, practitioners will begin to understand and promote self-awareness, and preventive healthcare. Holistic nursing programs will also delve into compassionate healing techniques that surround the use of acupressure, aromatherapy, herbology, hypnosis, guided imagery, Chinese Medicine, Reiki, healing touch and other empathetic healing modalities. Students will find that holistic nursing programs enhance nursing techniques, and aid in the comfort of both inpatients and outpatients as a complementary or integrative medicine.

Some courses that may be included in holistic nursing programs are theories in holistic nursing, pathophysiology, stress management, pharmacology, and other integrative and complementary medicine theories and practices. Practicing nurses who are seeking to expand and enhance their nursing careers will find that enrolling in one of several holistic nursing programs will not only help them professionally, but personally as well.

Note from HHM editors: you may also want to check the American Holistic Nurses' Certification Corporation ( http://www.ahncc.org/ ) which is responsible for the administration of the Holistic Nurses' Certification Examination. Its Board of Directors is responsbile for ensuring the valididity, reliability, security and integrity of the certification process.

If you are interested in gaining certification through one of many holistic nursing programs or simply wish to learn more about this humane healthcare service, feel free to browse our site for schools that offer this and other healing arts programs.

About the Author:
Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com - Educational Resources for Healing Arts Schools, Holistic Nursing Programs, and other Alternative Healing Schools.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Holistic Nursing Programs

Holistic Healing Programs Today

Author: Steven Parbach
Since you've made the excellent choice to pursue one of several holistic healing programs, rest assured that you can gain a quality and comprehensive education to achieve your professional aspirations in the field of natural and holistic healthcare.

One of the many available holistic healing programs today includes earning your graduate certificate in holistic health care. While no two courses are identical, healing arts curricula may typically involve training in anatomy and physiology, holistic health care and modalities (philosophies and concepts of holistic wellness), visual arts, music and poetry therapy, movement therapy, essential oils and herbal remedies, holistic/spiritual counseling and nutrition, biofeedback, meditation, reiki; and bodywork treatments including acupressure, aromatherapy and hydrotherapy, among other subject matter.

If natural healing modalities interest you, there are a growing number of holistic healing programs in massage therapy. For example, did you know that you could earn a certificate to become a holistic massage therapist? Today, experienced massage practitioners earn upwards of $30+ hourly; and with expanded client healthcare services, have the potential to earn even more.

Holistic healing programs that incorporate massage therapy into the overall curriculum promise to be both personally and professionally enriching. These natural healing courses generally involve 300-500 academic hours in basic health sciences like anatomy and physiology, in addition to hands-on training in deep tissue massage and Swedish massage. Other elective natural health courses that are offered in these holistic healing programs may include massage modalities in reflexology, cranial sacral therapy, myofascial release, Shiatsu, and lymphatic massage, among others.

Because patients are placing a greater emphasis on self-healing and natural healthcare methods, individuals who successfully graduate from any number of holistic healing programs are a welcome addition to the public healthcare industry. A matter of fact, holistic nutritionists, for instance, can play a vital role in public health as they focus on natural ways to improve overall wellbeing without the use of drugs, chemicals and artificial nutrients. Holistic healing programs geared toward nutritional counseling typically involve in-depth studies in the anatomy and physiology, vitamins, minerals, holistic dietary nutrition, quantum physics, basic chemistry, enzyme nutrition, metabolism, and much more.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding holistic health courses, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore holistic healing programs near you.

*Occupational Resources: BLS (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

About the Author:
Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com - Educational Resources for Holistic Healing Programs, Holistic Colleges, and other healing arts.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Holistic Healing Programs Today

Biographies of Tibetan Buddhists masters: The Treasury of Lives website

Quoting Alex Gardner, Associate Director of the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation:

"The Treasury ( http://www.tibetanlineages.org/ ), a project of the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation, is a website of biographies of religious figures in Tibetan Buddhism. Each biography is linked with the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center (TBRC) and Himalayan Art Resources (HAR). Independent scholars, professors, and graduate students, including Dan Martin, Cyrus Stearns, Sarah Jacoby, Ron Garry, and Gyurme Dorje, wrote the biographies and essays now on the site. Gene Smith and Jeff Watt have been invaluable advisors for the site at all stages. To grow into a truly valuable resource the site will need your participation.

The Treasury began three years ago when Donald Rubin, Matthieu Ricard, and Vivian Kurz, envisioned an online encyclopedia of the major traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, with separate pages for Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug. One year ago we reimagined the project to be an integrated database of illustrated biographies presented in a way that permits innovative browsing and efficient searching.

The Treasury website is designed to associate each biography with five categories: tradition, community, historical period, geography, and natural landmark. Traditions are broadly conceived as having either institutional or doctrinal independence. Community includes both monastic institutions and clan structures. Geography includes both “traditional” and contemporary organizations of Tibetan space: one can browse via the Tibetan categories of U-Tsang, Kham and Amdo, within which are further divisions, or by contemporary provinces, prefectures, and counties. The category of Natural landmarks includes mountains, lakes, and caves with which religious figures are associated. All of these categories – known as “facets” in the terminology of the web – can be combined with each others to optimize browsing, so that user might, for example, browse for 13th century Kagyu lamas who were associated with Kailash, expand it to include Sakya, or narrow it to exclude all but Drigung Kagyu.

The Treasury uses both Extended Wylie and the phonetic system created for the Rubin Museum of Art: no diacritics, no umlauts, no acute accents. The site anticipates multiple phonetic rendering of names, acknowledging the lack of a single authoritative system, particularly useful for those times when the proper Wylie spelling is not known. Searches for Phagmodrupa or Phakmodrupa will both be directed to Pagmodrupa.

The Treasury database is borrowed from the Person records of TBRC, and the goal is to provide a biography of every known Tibetan religious figure, excluding those still living. We now have over 150 biographies, with about 75 more in the editing stage. Additional biographies will be provided by the community of users – by you. The Treasury’s general editor, Alex Gardner, will revise them for the basic style and upload them to the site. Features planned for the future include enabling users to suggest corrections and additions and to discuss controversies such as dates and affiliation.

The biographies are written for the North American undergraduate. Certain Tibetan stylistic flourishes common in the rnam thar genre are to be expected, but the biographies are not meant as hagiographies. Nor are they written in term-paper form; while they reflect awareness of scholarship, they contain no footnotes or in- line citations. A biography of Tibetan and other-language sources is given at the end of the essay, and each essay is signed by the author. The site is not copyrighted.

The Treasury is being launched now in Beta form; not all content is complete, and some basic elements of the site are either still in development or in need of further design. In addition to the “community” section, other features to come include mapping of teaching lineages, dynamic tours of lineage paintings, and additional sorting options. One reason for this soft launch is to ask for feedback on the basic site from the people who will use it.

The Foundation welcomes all comments and suggestions. We want to know whether you would use the site for your own research and teaching, whether you would contribute, and what would make the site stronger.

The Treasury of Lives is being created for an Internet flooded with information on Tibetan Buddhism; most living lamas have websites for their teaching and their home institutions, and many of these contain historical and biographical information. However, these sites all exist in isolation, furthering the erroneous view that Tibetan Buddhism is comprised of a number of exclusive “schools” or “orders” that had little to do with each other. The reality is far more interesting, and the Treasury of Lives is designed to better represent this fact. I look forward to your comments on the project, and I ask that each of you send biographies of the people whose lives you have researched, for the benefit of your colleagues and students in the fields of Tibetan and Buddhist Studies".

Holistic Health Magazine - Welcome from the editors

Editors of the Holistic Health Magazine would like to welcome you. Our mission is to bring you interviews, news, retrospectives, and prospectives on Holistic Health.We are updating the site regularly, usually on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Plus, once per month, you'll find a selection of articles available in PDF format.

If you have questions, inputs, advices, suggestions for new articles, etc. please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!