How Holistic Healing Works

Where at any time does this give the body a chance to reach a balanced state? It doesn't get rid of the root problem and that is where holistic medicine comes in, it goes after the root problem and this takes time.

How holistic medicine works it that is focuses on preventing illness and maintains health, viewing health as a balance of the bodies system mental both physical and spiritual.

All of these aspects are interrelated. Holistic comes out of a term called holism which meant a state of wholeness. Any disharmony is a stress to the body and perhaps leads to illness or sickness. So to fight the dis-ease, you have a wide range of therapies that boosters the body's mechanisms. This is what happens when you take an herb.

I may be jumping ahead but to give somebody an idea of what your body's built in mechanism is about: The mouth has all the receptors that are hard wired to the brain which produces endorphins or the brain may make certain glands in the body like the thyroid, the parathyroid, pituitary, thymes, adrenals the kidneys, in women the ovaries in men the testicles these all part of our immune system and drug factory.

When you take an herb today you can even pop an herbal pill because herbs come in capsules. Well, when you pop that herbal capsule you are bypassing the main entry point.

What you do is break the capsule and sprinkle it on your tongue. The receptors on your tongue are hardwired to your brain and then it goes to all the various glands in your body. By holding that herb on your tongue your body is starting to produce endorphins.
But when you take capsule, the chemical doesn't affect the tongue or anything else, it works through your stomach, bypassing the main area that needs to be addressed first.

No, they don't teach that anymore. There is a whole line of therapy that deals with just the tongue. They taught doctors through Hippocrates until the 1900's what part of the tongue addresses what part of the body and they read your tongue.

The Chinese and in India they read your tongue and the inside of your nose and the iris of your eye. Those three points would determine what was going wrong with the person and they are dead on.

Nowadays a doctor looks at your tongue and they look for cracks or something like this they don't touch on the whole thing that is going on with your tongue. If there is one part of your tongue that is bad it is directly aligned with your liver and they need to prescribe herbs that treat your liver. Your kidneys the same thing all of these things have gone along the wayside but the truth is they are starting to come back because it will not be denied.

Look at it this way, holistically speaking when something goes wrong with somebody and they have incredible back pain, conventional medicine will prescribe Valium. Knock the puppy down so you have fatigue, lack of coordination or even your heart could stop.

Now holistic medicine we go to the root of the problem. Okay it may hurt a little but you need to do this exercise to pull back this muscle into place and while you are doing that I am going to manipulate this and slip this back into place.

It's going to hurt but it is going to work. Then you lay on the table awhile and take a nap and I am going to put a hot compress on it and I am going to give you some white willow bark which is going to work better than aspirin and guess what you are going to get up and walk out of the office feeling pretty good but you are still going to have to do these exercises and it is going to hurt for a while but you are re-patterning your body.

We are taught to take this pill to dull the pain. No, the pain is there for a reason, to tell you to make corrections. That is how your body balances itself out and when the pain is so bad you can't move then you don't but there are other things you can do while you are immobile to alleviate it that will work.

Author Resource:- Gregg Hall is a consultant for online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida. .Get more information on holistic healing at http://www.emerald-energies.com

Why You Should Consider Natural Healing

Natural healing is so called because the therapies and medicines do not make use of synthetic drugs or invasive surgery. What are used are mainly natural substances or bodywork to help treat illnesses. Natural healing is also based on a holistic approach. This means that healing is aimed at treating you in whole; that is balancing your body, mind and spirit. In contrast, conventional medicine is only aimed at helping you treat the symptoms that you observe.

In natural healing, it is believed that illnesses strike whenever there is an imbalance between body, mind and spirit. Fortunately, there are several natural methods and therapies that can help you bring about balance. Many of these methods or therapies have been handed down since generations ago and may fall under Traditional Chinese Medicine, Indian Ayurvedic Medicine or others.

The very first thing that you can do to get a strong body is to ensure that you consume a proper diet. What you put into your body can really impact your well-being. The more junk food that you eat, the more likely you are going to suffer from all kinds of health problems. Toxins in your body also result in the various symptoms that you observe. To become well, you would need to remove these toxins from your body.

Regular exercise is also a very important aspect of natural healing. Exercise helps you get rid of excess calories and helps to tone your muscles and heart. Exercise can also keep your immune system in check.

Herbal remedies play an important role in natural healing. Herbs can be used to help keep treat your body whenever you encounter any disease. They can also be used for prevention by improving your immune function. There are also numerous herbs that help improve your mental alertness and your brain function.

Therapies that help bring about balances in your body include acupuncture, energy healing, massage therapy, and applied kinesiology. As an illustration, Acupuncture involves the use of inserting stainless steel needles at various meridian points throughout your body to remove blockages in your energy flow. Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine.

Then, there are also other therapies that can are beneficial to your body. For instance, spending regular time in the sauna will help to purge your body of any toxins that may be in it. Another thing that is used are relaxation techniques such as Yoga or Tai Chi. This helps the body become attuned with itself. Through disciplining their body, practitioners hope to be able to increase their general health while adding to their flexibility and strength.

What is great about natural healing is that you can easily make use of more than one natural therapy or method to help your body. For instance, you may decide to use a Chinese massage therapy for improving blood circulation, practise Ayurvedic yoga for deep breathing and purging of toxins and use herbal remedies for pain relief. Ask your natural health practitioner for some advice about which natural healing method to use in combination. Together, the different therapies can put you on the path to overall health and wellness.

Author Resource:- Evelyn Lim is the writer and editor of a free newsletter on herbal home remedies. In her newsletter, she shares amazing tips on using non-drug remedies to cure and treat common health ailments. For more information, please visit http://www.herbalremedytips.com.

Get Successful Breast Cancer Treatment By Including Complementary And Alternative Therapies

Chemotherapy along with surgery is traditionally the most common form of treatment for breast cancer. However, recently, holistic treatments have become more popular. The reasons for this are many, but the usually, it is because the patient doesn't want to endure chemotherapy or surgery, or feels there is a better way to combat the disease.

The Problem Of Traditional Breast Cancer Treatment

Modern medicine claims that if the cancer is caught early enough, breast cancer treatments like radiotherapy or chemotherapy can help the patient lead a long and active life. However, it has been proven that if chemotherapy is used too soon, it may actually shorten the life of the patient.

Another risk of modern medicine is using mammograms as an early diagnostic tool, rather than preventative. Mammograms will sometimes give false positives and leave some women enduring treatments, only to find out later they may never have had cancer at all.

When mistakes happen with traditional breast cancer treatments, harmful side effects may shorten, rather than prolong a patient's life.

Getting Help By Alternate Therapies

Serious heath problems such as breast cancer are being treated more frequently by holistic medicine. Holistic therapies go beyond the traditional remedies that only treat mainly the body. Holistic medicine also treats the mind and spirit as well. It is important to note that, even though you may experience fewer side effects with holistic medicine, you don't choose to forgo traditional medicine, but add holistic practices to it.

Also, it is important to remember that just as there are side effects of chemotherapies and other types of medical treatments, there are side effects to using holistic breast cancer treatments as well. However, there have been many studies done that show patience frequently live longer than what doctors had estimated they would.

Women fighting breast cancer may seek out holistic therapists to detoxify her body. The therapist would use Naturopathy to detect certain toxins in the body. After this, kinesiology is employed to check the body's energy fields. After checking these two items, the therapist can put together a course of treatment that will revolve around natural remedies.

There are many types of detoxifying programs that may be used during breast cancer treatment. One is to cleanse the liver and involves black walnut, wormwood and cloves. There are also detoxifying programs for the mind to help patience achieve a better emotional state.

Holistic therapies help by ridding the body of deep-rooted toxins; also by treating your mind so you can better fight the disease of breast cancer. When a patient is first diagnosed with cancer, it can lead to fatigue and stress within the body and mind. Once you can focus on the treatment, your chances of beating cancer increase. It is important to keep mind body and spirit in good health.

Seeking breast cancer treatment from a holistic therapist is perfectly all right as long as you don't forgo traditional breast cancer medicine. While holistic treatments may take away some of the symptoms traditional medicine have, it should not be a substitute for medical advice. Keeping your mind calm will help in receiving treatments.

Summary:

Holistic therapist shouldn't be used in place of medical breast cancer treatment, but it can help treat your emotional needs that will make your overall state of being as well as helping with the side effects such as vomiting and nausea. Sometimes, holistic treatments will prolong a patience life, some times by years.

Article From Articles On Tap http://www.articlesontap.ws

Acne Prevention

There are no sure ways to prevent acne, but the following steps may be taken to minimize flare-ups:

• Gentle washing of affected areas once or twice every day.
• Avoidance of abrasive cleansers.
• Limited use of makeup and moisturizers; with avoidance of oil-based brands altogether.
• Oily hair should be shampooed often and worn up, away from the face.
• A healthy, well-balanced diet should be eaten. Fresh fruits and vegetables should be stressed, and foods that seem to trigger flare-ups should be avoided.
• The face can be washed gently, twice daily with a soap compounded of sulfur, Calendula officinalis, or other substances that are useful against acne.
• Affected areas should not be handled excessively. Pimples should not be squeezed or prodded, as this may contribute to scarring, as well as spreading the acne lesions.
• Emotional stress should be kept in check.

Article Source: Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
The Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine is an accessible, comprehensive and in-depth guide to the 150 types of alternative medicine practiced today.

Acne: Alternative Treatments

Alternative treatments for acne focus on proper cleansing to keep the skin oil-free; intermittent fasting; eating a good diet; an elimination diet where the individual avoids alcohol, dairy products, smoking, caffeine, sugar, processed foods, and foods high in iodine, a mineral which appears to contribute to acne.

Supplementation with herbs that are blood cleansers or blood purifiers is recommended. These herbs strengthen the action of the liver and the kidneys, helping with detoxification and excretion. Dandelion root tincture (Taraxacum officinale) is recommended. Others include burdock root (Arctium lappa), which is also known as gobo, can be purchased fresh at health food grocers or in Asian markets. It can be used either raw or cooked in salads, stir-fries, or other vegetable dishes. Burdock root tincture can also be used. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) makes a pleasant tea that can be consumed throughout the day. Milk thistle seed (Silybum marianum) can either be taken in tincture form or the seeds can be ground up and eaten in combination with hot cereal, granola, or other foods.

Other herbs useful in the treatment of acne include Echinacea spp. and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). Goldenseal is particularly helpful in clearing up underlying conditions of intestinal toxicity. Herbal remedies used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for acne include cnidium seed, (Cnidium monnieri,) and honeysuckle flower (Lonicera japonica). Supplementation nutrients, such as essential fatty acids (EFAs), vitamin B complex , zinc, vitamin A or beta-carotene, and chromium is also recommended.

Bowel toxicity may contribute to acne flare-ups, and should be addressed. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus should be taken in yogurt or in capsules to maintain a healthy balance of intestinal flora. Goldenseal can be used to kill toxic bacteria. Allergic foods should be identified and removed from the diet. Dietary fiber, such as oat and wheat bran, beans, fruits and vegetables and their skins, and psyllium seed, should be increased in the diet. The fiber will absorb toxins and carry them through the colon to be excreted.

In addition, those with acne may want to participate in movement therapy , such as yoga or t'ai chi , or begin an exercise regimen. The person may also consider stress reduction or meditation.

Allopathic treatment

Acne treatment consists of reducing sebum and keratin production, encouraging the shedding of dead skin cells to help unclog the pores, and killing or limiting bacteria. Treatment choice depends upon whether the acne is mild, moderate, or severe. Complicated cases are referred to a dermatologist, or an endocrinologist, who treats diseases of the glands and the hormones. Counseling may be necessary to clear up misconceptions about the condition and to offer support regarding the negative effect of acne on the physical appearance.

Topical drugs

Treatment for mild acne consists of reducing the formation of new comedones with over-the-counter acne medications containing benzoyl peroxide (e.g., Clearasil, Fostex), salicylic acid (Stridex), sulfur (Therac lotion), resorcinol (Acnomel cream). Treatment with stronger medications requires a doctor's supervision. Such medications include comedolytics, which are agents that loosen hard plugs and open pores. Adapalene (Differin), the vitamin A acid tretinoin (Retin-A), and concentrated versions of salicylic acid, resorcinol, and sulfur are in this group. Topical antibiotics, such as erythromycin, clindamycin (Cleocin-T), and meclocycline (Meclan), may be added to the treatment regimen. Drugs that act as both comedolytics and antibiotics, such as benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid (Azelex), or benzoyl peroxide plus erythromycin (Benzamycin), are also used.

After washing with a mild soap, the acne medications are applied alone or in combination, once or twice a day over the entire affected area of skin. It may take many months to years to control the condition with these medications. Possible side effects include mild redness, peeling, irritation, dryness, and an increased sensitivity to sunlight that requires use of a sunscreen.

Oral drugs

When acne is severe and the lesions are deep, oral antibiotics may be taken daily to reduce the spread of bacteria. Tetracycline is the medication most often used. Minocycline, however, may be more preferable because it has fewer side effects. Erythromycin and doxycycline are also used, and they also have side effects, including dizziness, photosensitivity, gastrointestinal problems, and darkening of the skin. Other possible side effects include allergic reactions, yeast infections, dizziness, tooth discoloration and folliculitis. It is necessary for antibiotics to be used for up to three months to clear up the condition.

Isotretinoin (Accutane) can be used in cases of very severe acne, or if antibiotic therapy proves unsuccessful. It may clear up resistant cysts and nodules in up to 90% of people and prevent scarring. Some do require a second course of treatment before this happens, however. Although the medication can be quite helpful, women who might become pregnant should use it with care. Isotretinoin can cause birth defects up to a month after it has stopped being used. Therefore, strict attention is paid to pregnancy tests and contraceptive requirements for women of child-bearing age who take this medication.

The course of treatment with isotretinoin lasts about four to five months. If dosage is kept low, a longer course of therapy is needed. Isotretinoin is a strong medication. Side effects are very common, mostly dryness of the eyes, genital mucosa, and lips. Other effects may include increases in cholesterol, tryglicerides, and abnormal liver enzymes. Blood tests taken each month should be monitored during the course of treatment to insure that the medication is not causing serious harm.

Anti-androgens, drugs that inhibit androgen production, are used to treat women who are unresponsive to other therapies. Oral contraceptives such as norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol (Ortho-Tri-Cyclen) have been shown to improve acne. However, they can also make it worse in some cases. Improvement may take up to four months. Other drugs, such as spironolactone and corticosteroids, may be used to reduce hormone activity in the adrenal glands, reducing production of sebum. This is the treatment of choice for an extremely severe, but rare type of acne called acne fulminans, found mostly in adolescent males. Acne conglobata, a more common form of severe inflammation, is characterized by numerous, deep, inflammatory nodules that heal with scarring. It is treated with oral isotretinoin and corticosteroids.

Other types of treatment

Several surgical or medical treatments are available to alleviate acne or the resulting scars:

• Comedone extraction. The comedo is removed from the pore with a special tool.
• Chemical peels. Glycolic acid is applied to peel off the top layer of skin to reduce scarring.
• Dermabrasion. The affected skin is frozen with a chemical spray, and removed by brushing or planing.
• Punch grafting. Deep scars are excised and the area repaired with small skin grafts.
• Intralesional injection. Corticosteroids are injected directly into inflamed pimples.
• Collagen injection. Shallow scars are elevated by collagen protein injections.
  

Expected results

Acne is not a serious health threat. The most troubling aspects of this condition are the negative cosmetic effects and potential for permanent scarring. Some people, especially teenagers, become emotionally upset about their condition, and this may contribute to social or emotional problems.

Acne is not considered curable, although it can be controlled by proper treatment, with improvement possibly taking many months. Acne tends to reappear when treatment stops, but it often spontaneously improves over time. Inflammatory acne may leave scars that require further treatment.

Acne

Definition

Acne is a common inflammatory skin disease characterized by pimples on the face, chest, and back. It occurs when the pores of the skin become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and/or bacteria.

Description

Acne vulgaris, the medical term for common acne, is the most common skin disease. It affects nearly 17 million people in the United States. While acne can arise at any age, it usually begins at puberty and worsens during adolescence. Nearly 85% of people develop acne some time between the ages of 12 and 25 years old. Up to 20% of women develop mild acne. It is also found in some newborns.

The sebaceous glands lie just beneath the skin's surface. They produce sebum, an oily secretion that helps to preserve the flexibility of the hair and moisturizes the skin. These glands and the hair follicles within which they are found are called sebaceous follicles. These follicles open onto the skin through pores that allow the sebum to reach the hair shaft and the skin. In certain situations, the glands excrete excess sebum and it cannot be cleared from the pores efficiently. This happens, for instance, at puberty when increased levels of the androgen hormones cause overproduction of sebum. In addition, cells lining the follicle are shed too quickly and begin to clump together. The excess sebum combines with the dead cells, and forms a plug, or comedo (also called comedones), that blocks the pore, which is not usually seen. When the follicle begins to bulge and show up as a small whitish bump mostly under the skin, it is called a whitehead. If the comedo opens up, the top surface of the plug darkens, and it is referred to as a blackhead.

Infection results when a plugged follicle is invaded by Propionibacterium acnes, a bacteria that normally lives on the skin, and possibly other microorganisms. The bacteria produce chemicals and enzymes that bring on inflammation. Pimples are the result of infected blackheads or whiteheads that rupture, releasing sebum, bacteria, dead skin, and white blood cells onto the surrounding tissues. Inflamed pimples near the skin's surface are called papules; they are red and raised, and may be quite tender to the touch. The papules may become filled with pus, and are then called pustules. If the follicle continues to enlarge rather than rupture, it forms a closed sac, called a cyst, which can be felt as a lump under the skin. Large hard swellings deep within the skin are called nodules. Both nodules and cysts may cause pain and scarring.

Causes and Symptoms

The exact cause of acne is mostly unknown. Sometimes when acne in women is due to excess male hormone production, it is diagnosed by the fact to an onset of the condition in adulthood; excessive growth of hair, especially in places not usual on a female, called hirsuitism; irregular menstrual cycles; and premenstrual flare-ups of acne.

Many alternative practitioners assert that acne is often related to a condition of toxicity in the intestines or liver. This may be due to the presence of bacteria such as Clostridia spp. and Yersinia enterocolitica, a low-fiber diet; a lack of friendly gut flora such as Lactobacillus spp.; an intestinal overgrowth of Candida albicans; and food allergies.

The interaction between the body's hormones, skin protein, skin secretions, and bacteria determines the course of acne. Several other factors have also been shown to affect the condition:

• Age. Teenagers are more likely than anyone to develop acne.
• Gender. Boys have more severe acne and develop it more often than girls.
• Disease. Hormonal disorders can complicate acne in girls.
• Heredity. Individuals with a family history of acne have greater susceptibility to the condition.
• Hormonal changes. Acne can flare up before menstruation, during pregnancy, and menopause.
• Diet. Although they are not the primary cause of acne, certain foods may bring on flare-ups or make the condition worse.
• Drugs. Acne can be a side effect of antibiotics, oral contraceptives, and anabolic steroids.
• Personal hygiene. Use of abrasive soaps, hard scrubbing of the face, or handling pimples will often make them worse.
• Cosmetics. Oil-based makeup and hair sprays worsen acne.
• Environment. Exposure to oils and greases, polluted air, and sweating in hot weather can all aggravate acne.
• Stress. Emotional stress may contribute to acne.
• Friction. Continual pressure or rubbing on the skin by such things as bicycle helmets, backpacks, or tight clothing, as well as hard scrubbing of the skin, can worsen acne.

The most common sites of acne are the face, chest, shoulders, and back, since these are the parts of the body where the most sebaceous follicles are found. In teenagers, acne is often found on the forehead, nose, and chin. As people get older, it tends to appear towards the outer part of the face. Adult women may have acne on their chins and around their mouths. The elderly often develop whiteheads and blackheads on the upper cheeks and skin around the eyes. Inflamed lesions may cause redness, pain, tenderness, itching, or swelling in affected areas.

Diagnosis

Acne has a characteristic appearance and is, therefore, not difficult to diagnose. A complete medical history should be taken, including questions about skin care, diet, factors that improve or worsen the condition, medication use, and prior treatment. Physical examination includes the face, upper neck, chest, shoulders, back, and other affected areas. Under good lighting, the doctor can determine what types and how many blemishes are present, whether they are inflamed, whether they are deep or superficial, and whether there is scarring or skin discoloration. Blood tests are done when the patient appears to have hormonal or other medical problems. Stool tests can be helpful in determining whether there is a bacterial or yeast overgrowth contributing to the condition. Food allergy testing should also be considered.