Alternative Medicine | Chinese Alternative Medicine

Acupuncture, an Alternative Medicine Treatment for Depression

Many people are turning to alternative medicine for relief from depression after Western medicine fails to fulfill its many promises. Some people are lucky. With a little therapy or the first prescription drug they try, they find their answer to depression’s dark hold and move on with their lives. Others try doctor after doctor and prescription medication after prescription medication without finding anything that is effective for an extended period of time. Often, the medications do nothing or come with terrible side effects. Sometimes, the depression patient finds a medication that seems to work perfectly, only to have it give out a few months, or years, down the road.

While acupuncture doesn’t work for everyone, trying this alternative medicine technique could cure depression for some people. Chinese medicine doesn’t view depression as an illness by itself, but looks at the symptoms as a whole to try to remedy the problem. Studies have shown that acupuncture in conjunction with herbal therapy and psychotherapy can bring relief to some patients.

In a University of Arizona study, a group of 34 depressed women were broken into three groups. The first group had acupuncture treatments that targeted their depression. The second group also had acupuncture treatments, but they were general in nature. The third group was only told that they were put on a waiting list for acupuncture treatment.

At the end of the study, the first group that tried a targeted form of this alternative medicine approach experienced a much larger reduction in symptoms when compared to the second group. In fact, over half of the first group no longer met the diagnostic requirements to be considered clinically depressed.

This study points to the idea that acupuncture could be an all-natural treatment for depression that is just as effective as other types of treatment. While the World Health Organization embraces this idea, more studies are needed before it will be widely accepted by US medical groups. Although most acupuncture treatments are not covered by standard health insurance, many acupuncturists are offering this form of alternative medicine targeted towards relieving depression.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Medicine, Health Tips | Tagged: Tagged With: Acupuncture, Alternative medicine, Medicine, University of Arizona

Alternative Medicine Remedies for Anxiety

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Many people suffer from uncontrolled anxiety on a daily basis and look to alternative medicine for natural herbal remedies. Most everyone experience anxiety from time to time. It’s normal and was once a valuable survival instinct. However, if excessive anxiety is felt on a daily basis and interferes with a person’s normal functioning, it should be treated. Alternative medicine offers several herbal remedies for those who would prefer to try them instead of harsher prescription medications.

The passionflower herb has been used throughout history to control anxiety and insomnia. Studies have reported that passionflower has a similar effect as the class of anxiety medications known as benzodiazepines which include drugs like valium and xanax. This herbal alternative medicine does come with side effects including nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and rapid heartbeat. Care should be taken when combining any other herb or medicine with passionflower.

Mind and body techniques have also shown to be effective alternative medicine remedies for anxiety. This area includes massage, yoga, tai chi, meditation, and biofeedback. It appears that when the body relaxes, so does the mind.

Valerian is a root that has traditionally helped people with insomnia get a better night’s sleep. It is also known to help with mild anxiety. Valerian can take several weeks to work and shouldn’t be used for extended periods of time. Side effects can include dizziness, headaches, and heart palpitations. Don’t take valerian with other sedatives or alcohol.

Kava is another herb that has been found to help with anxiety. However, the US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about supplements containing Kava. Numerous cases of liver damage have been reported after using this herbal remedy.

Aromatherapy is an alternative medicine technique that is virtually side effect free. Many people find that certain scents instantly relax them and induce a calm state. Lavender is the most well-known fragrance that brings relaxation and reduces anxiety. The essential oils from certain plants can be added to infusers, bath water, and massage oils for aromatherapy. In addition to lavender, other relaxing scents include bergamot, geranium, cypress, jasmine, rose, melissa, sandalwood, neroli, and ylang-ylang.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Herbal Treatment | Tagged: Tagged With: Alternative medicine, Aromatherapy, Health, Herbalism

Alternative Medicine for Infertility

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For certain infertility problems, acupuncture is an alternative medicine technique that can provide relief. While many people cringe at the idea of inserting needles into their body, acupuncture is virtually painless. It involves the careful insertion of very thin needles into acupuncture points along the meridians or gateways that are thought to be nerve pathways that run through the body. This method is used by alterative medicine to treat the underlying conditions that are responsible for infertility like thyroid problems.

While acupuncture can begin at any time, it is generally started three to four months prior to artificial insemination, egg transfer, or in vitro fertilization. This seems to be the minimal amount of time needed for therapeutic results. Many women combine this alternative medicine treatment with herbal remedies and conventional care, but some find that they become pregnant with acupuncture treatments alone.

Most experts recommend that acupuncture treatments are continued throughout the first three months of pregnancy to reduce the chances of miscarriage. However, there are certain acupuncture points that should be avoided to prevent problems. The gallbladder, stomach, large intestine, bladder, spleen, or any lower abdomen areas should not receive any needle insertions during pregnancy. It would be best to find an acupuncturist that specializes in infertility treatments for optimal results.

As a part of alternative medicine, acupuncture can’t directly treat all types of fertility issues. However, acupuncture treatments can be used in partnership with other traditional medical techniques to improve ovarian function and help produce a healthy uterine lining. Acupuncture is best used as the primary treatment for spasmed tubes, elevated follicle stimulating hormone repeated pregnancy loss, luteal phase defect, polycystic ovarian syndrome with annovulatory cycles, male infertility, and unexplained infertility.

When looking for an acupuncturist, make sure that they are a licensed professional with adequate training. They should also be certified by the Board of Acupuncture for the state where they practice. Keep in mind that being licensed and certified doesn’t mean that they are an expert in fertility issues. Ask for references, the number of fertility patients they have treated, and the average results.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Alternative Medicine, Health Tips | Tagged: Tagged With: Acupuncture, Alternative medicine, Infertility, Medicine

Careers in Alternative Medicine

With the growth in the field of alternative medicine, many people are looking towards this area for career choices. This area is becoming a more and more accepted form of treatment by both doctors and their patients. In some cases, alternative treatments are used alone. In others, they are used in partnership with standard Western medical treatments. With varying levels of educational requirements and certifications procedures, almost anyone can find a career path in alternative medicine that appeals to them.

Virtually everyone has heard of chiropractic treatment. This form of alternative medicine involves the manipulation of joints and spinal discs to correct alignment for better functioning. It is often used to correct back pain and provides an option to harsh narcotic pain medications or spinal surgery.

A Doctor of Naturopathy combines several alternative medicine approaches to work with the body’s own healing forces. Techniques can include nutrition, supplements, herbs, massage, exercise, acupuncture, and even minor surgery. Many patients find that they like this holistic approach much better than seeing a traditional doctor that spends most of their time filling out the prescription pad.

Homeopathy uses highly diluted formulations of various substances to cure many different illnesses and problems. Curiously, the diluted substance would create the same symptom if it was given at higher dosages. In some cases, the formula is diluted to the point that virtually no original content can be found. Homeopathic remedies are sold in a variety of stores from pharmacies to health food stores. A career in this alternative medicine area could include creating homeopathic remedies or selling them in a store.

Acupuncture is another popular alternative medicine treatment. It involves the insertion of very fine needles at certain points in the body along the pathways of the central nervous system. These pathways are also known as meridians. It is thought that the needles stimulate the body to produce natural pain relieving chemicals as well as restoring balance to the body’s natural energy flows. While an acupuncturist doesn’t have to be a medical doctor, they do need to be both licensed and board certified to provide acupuncture therapy.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Practitioners' Notes | Tagged: Tagged With: Alternative, Alternative medicine, Health, Medicine

Naturopathy as an Alternative Medicine Option

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One type of alternative medicine provider is a Doctor of Naturopathy. A Naturopathic doctor, designated as an ND as opposed to an MD, bases their practice on the human body’s inner healing ability. They instruct their patients to modify their diet, exercise routines, and lifestyle and use new natural therapies to increase their innate ability to prevent and fight disease. Instead of focusing on a single part of the body or a set of symptoms, an ND views the patient as a whole person with interrelated systems. When a patient chooses an ND, they experience the best combination of modern medicine and natural medicine. In order to treat their patients, Naturopathic physicians seek out the root cause of an illness by following six basic principles.

An ND’s first principle is to let nature heal. The body has an innate capability to heal itself. A Naturopath will find and remove any barrier to the self-healing process like poor diet or unhealthy habits.

The second principle is to identify and treat the root cause of an illness. The ND understands that the symptoms will continue to return until the initial cause is corrected. They do not attempt to simply cover up symptoms with medications.

Do no harm is the third principle in the alternative medicine technique. A Naturopath will use safe procedures and healing substances like supplements, herbal extracts, and homeopathic remedies that have a low potential for side effects. They will only suppress symptoms when absolutely necessary because these are the body’s way of naturally trying to self-heal. Symptoms are suppressed if they become dangerous. An ND will see each patient as an individual that needs a customized diagnosis and treatment plan.

A doctor of Naturopathy’s fourth principle is to educate patients about nutrition, exercise, and relaxation techniques. The ND uses the fifth principle to treat the whole person as an individual with their own unique needs each of which contribute to their health. The sixth principle is to prevent illness. An ND will proactively evaluate heredity and other risk factors to prevent disease.

Filed Under: Healthy Medicine, Herbal Treatment | Tagged: Tagged With: Alternative medicine, Health, Medicine, Naturopathy

Some Infertile Couples Seek Alternative Treatments

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For many people, it’s hard to imagine the pain that couples face when they’re dealing with infertility. Well-meaning family members and friends try to console them, if they’re aware of the problem. Infertility is a topic that’s somewhat taboo, reserved for hushed conversations with close friends. Ultimately, couples are left alone to deal with the monthly heartbreak of yet another negative pregnancy test.

Typically, it takes six months to a year of unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant before a physician recommends that a couple undergo diagnostic tests. Fertility experts seem to agree that 40 percent of the time, the man has a medical issue that’s preventing pregnancy and 40 percent of the time, it’s the woman’s health problem. The remaining 20 percent of cases involve fertility concerns for both the man and woman. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that more than seven million (nearly 12 percent) of women between the ages of 15 and 44 experience infertility.

There are a variety of medical procedures available to couples. Doctors may prescribe ovulation-enhancing drugs like Clomid or offer outpatient procedures like in utero insemination. More involved treatments like in vitro fertilization require multiple visits to the doctor, thousands of dollars in medication, and minor surgical procedures. Except in states where it’s illegal to do so, many insurance companies exclude fertility treatments and related prescriptions from coverage, leaving couples to bear the high costs themselves.

Before undertaking expensive procedures to get pregnant, many couples explore alternative treatments like acupuncture. Practitioners strategically place very thin needles into the patient’s body. This technique for bringing the body into balance has gained wide acceptance and popularity when it comes to treating infertility. In fact, many physicians who do in vitro fertilization strongly recommend that their patients get acupuncture treatments to compliment the procedure. Some infertile couples turn to naturopathy for help, a process that involves increased exercise, better nutrition, and improved emotional health. Massage is another popular treatment that can help some infertile couples. Alternative medicine can be an affordable source of healing and help for couples having problems getting pregnant.

Filed Under: Chinese Herbal Medicine, General, Herbal Treatment | Tagged: Tagged With: Alternative medicine, Clinics and Services, Health, In vitro fertilisation, Infertility, Medicine, Pregnancy, Reproductive Health

Chinese Medicine: Basis and Primary Therapies

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The doctrine of century’s old, ancient wisdom held the belief that the body was made of energy, with nerves transmitting electrical currents throughout the spine and brain. From this frame of reference, Chinese doctors formed a distinctive medical system called Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, that diagnoses and cure illnesses.

At its core, TCM differs from traditional Western medicine in that it stems from a holistic interpretation of the world, as detailed in Daoism, with treatments based mainly on different syndromes—or misconstrued energies. So, while a Western doctor may treat an ailment with pain pills or surgery, Chinese doctors would prescribe something like Tai Chi in order to lessen the occurrence of the ailment by redirecting, or realigning, energy flows, thereby getting rid of the syndrome.

In essence, scientific diagnoses and subsequent treatments in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine are largely based on the theories known as the yin-yang and five elements. These theories relate natural marvels and the rules of nature to the teachings of physiological behaviors and pathological changes of the body, and its relationships that interrelate and continually interact.
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The most common therapies employed by TCM doctors are herbal medicine treatments, acupuncture, and exercises known as qigong. Commonly, these treatments are used together and compliment each other, working to aid different parts of the body in unique ways. Herbal medicine targets the internal organs and nourishes them, while qigong aims to restore an orderly flow of information inside the nervous system. Acupuncture is beneficial in that is stimulates specific areas of the outer body, easing tension and restoring calmness.

While these treatments are very different in how they are performed and what they do, they all have the same principal objective to heal the body and share insight into the nature of the body and how it interacts within the flow the energy of the universe.

Given the term ‘alternative medicine,’ TCM is becoming more popular in the United States and is practiced by millions, gaining acceptance, recognition, and a place within Western medicine.

Filed Under: Chinese Herbal Medicine, Herbal Treatment | Tagged: Tagged With: Acupuncture, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Alternative, Alternative medicine, Health, Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, United States

Alternative Medicinal Treatments: Reishi Mushrooms and Lycium Berry

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If you are seeking alternative health treatments and have an interest in Chinese medicine, consider the Reishi Mushroom and Lycium Berry, both of which contain incredible health benefits and invite tranquility, boost your body’s natural immunities, and harvest health and harmony.

Reishi Mushroom

Few things on this earth are as powerful and advantageous to your health as Reishi Mushrooms. Providing four-fold benefits that contribute to physical health, hearten happiness, promote longevity, and increase wisdom, this rare mushroom has achieved legendary status with its medicinal properties.

Believed by Taoists to be the elixir of youth, emperors and kings alike drank Reishi Mushroom teas to encourage a long life and achieve vitality. Containing strong antioxidant properties, these mushrooms boost immunity and act as a natural anti-inflammatory to treat many ailments associated with inflammation and neuralgia.
Because of the therapeutic effects of triterpenes and polysaccharides in Reishi Mushrooms, they increase blood flow and are beneficial for people with heart disease, Alzheimer’s and chronic, degenerative diseases that stem from inflammation.
Remarkably, Reishi Mushrooms are even believed to suppress the growth of tumors and are commonly used in cancer prevention. Incredibly enough, this exceptional mushroom is found in only two or three 10,000 year old trees; however it is available at certain health food stores and online.

Lycium Berry

Hailed as one of the most nutritionally complex foods there is, the Lycium Berry (also known as Goji) contains polysaccharides that provide abundant benefits to the body, including helping to regulate the immune system, protect the liver and kidneys from age-related stress, and improve insulin resistance caused by diabetes.

Used in Asia as an anti-aging tonic, the Lycium Berry is filled with vitamins and minerals, packing more vitamin C than an orange and more beta-carotene than a carrot.

Containing nine essential amino acids, calcium, magnesium, numerous B vitamins and Vitamin E, this little berry is full of healthy punch and gives you all the nutrients you will need.

Filed Under: Chinese Herbal Medicine, Herbal Treatment | Tagged: Tagged With: Alternative medicine, Cancer, Essential amino acid, Health, Heart disease, Immune system, Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine

Zen Philosophy and Alternative Medicine

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Zen philosophy is cultivated with a spirit of compassion and a deep sense of responsibility towards one’s self and all people, teaching that our capacity for growth is limitless, and that we can achieve body and mind wellness as one. An alternative health method for millions of people, Zen can help us along our given paths in life, allowing us to discover our full potential in time, recognizing that we can feel more alive, tranquil, and achieve self mastery both internally and externally.

There are many forms of Zen practices that have health benefits, including acupuncture, meditation, holistic diets, spa treatments, and alternative health products and supplements.

Zen acupuncture involves inserting and manipulating needles into precise points on the body in order to relieve pain or provide therapy. According to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture points are located on meridians where vital energy flows.

Zen meditation can be a way to manage pain and relieve stress and depression by inviting calmness, stillness, and the control of one’s breathing—which benefits the body physically and emotionally.

A holistic diet is primarily low-carb, high-protein orientated with a focus on eating organic, fresh food, and of course, eating in moderation.

Zen spa treatments can include aromatherapy, hot stone therapy, facials, and traditional body scrubs and massages. All treatments aim to obtain full body relaxation, rejuvenation, and cleanse the body of toxins.

Alternative health products and supplements generally are comprised of herbs, roots, and plants that contain vitamins and minerals that work to harmonize the body’s natural defenses by way of nourishment and strengthening the immune system. Some of these supplements come in the form of teas and spices, and have been shown to be quite effective when treating certain ailments.

In adherence a central theme of Zen philosophy–to have a deep sense of responsibility toward yourself, conduct research to see which alternative medicine treatment is right for you. A wise place to start would be at a Zen center, where you can experience first hand a Zen lifestyle and acquire advice, compassion, and take a step towards your path in life.

Filed Under: Chinese Herbal Medicine | Tagged: Tagged With: Acupuncture, Alternative, Alternative medicine, Health, Practitioners, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Vitalism, Zen

A Powerful Alternative Medicine

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Centuries ago, before modern medicine, the use of plants, roots, herbs, and flowers was critical in maintaining health and treating illnesses. Over the course of hundreds of years, knowledge began to amass revealing the effectiveness of certain combinations of specific herbs. Today, many doctors in traditional, Western medicine believe that while modern medicine may produce a quick fix, it does not provide long term solutions and work in accordance with the body’s natural functions and energies. A movement toward alternative medicine and treatments is gaining momentum in modern medical field, reverting back to use of natural herbs and plants.

One natural treatment that is being employed is the use of Beta-glucan. Beta-glucan is considered the most powerful supplement available for overall immune function and plays a crucial role in the body in its ability to modulate the immune system. Equipped with healing properties, it is a powerful antagonist to both benign and malignant tumors, and activates the body’s natural immunological defenses.

Clinical studies conducted in Japan suggest Beta-glucan promotes innate immunity without over-stimulating the immune system (as many clinical drugs do) and reduces influenza-infected cells. It also has been proposed in recent studies that it increases NK cell activity, and has been demonstrated in laboratory studies to kill H1N1 and Bird Flu viruses. It has even been used to treat cancer, and has been proven in several clinical studies to shrink tumors, inhibit tumor growth, and stimulate the body’s natural ability to destroy a tumor. In fact, in Japan for the past twenty years extracts containing an assortment of different types of Beta-glucan have been used to effectively help cancer patients.

With such compelling advantages to the body’s first line of defense–the immune system, and pioneer in the cancer-fighting war, the potent Beta-glucan is a central and highly valued ingredient in any health supplement.

Filed Under: Chinese Herbal Medicine | Tagged: Tagged With: Alternative, Alternative medicine, Health, Herbalism, Immune system, Medicine