Alternative Medicine

Herbal Remedies For Insomnia And Sleeplessness

2008-05-29T22:45:00.000-07:00

Insomnia can make falling asleep difficult, wake you up in the middle of the night or awaken you way to early in the morning. Some herbs can aid in getting to sleep and staying asleep. Professional herbalists do not prescribe herbs simply to treat symptoms such as insomnia but aim to correct the imbalances within the body that cause those symptoms.

Numerous plants have sedative action. Plants commonly prescribed as aids in promoting sleep include: passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), hops (Humulus lupulus), valerian (Valeriana officinalis), skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), and chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla).

Passion flower is calming and sleep inducing, relieves pain, and muscular spasms. It is useful for the treatment of general insomnia, insomnia in asthmatics, hysteria, cramps, and nerve pain.

Valerian is relaxing and sleep inducing, relieves spasms, calms the digestion, and lowers blood pressure. It is useful for severe insomnia and insomnia accompanied by pain, cramps, intestinal pain, wind, menstrual pain, tension, anxiety, and over-excitability.
Jamaica dogwood is calming, eases pain and disturbing persistent thoughts. It is good for insomnia caused by nervous tension, pain, or menstrual pain.

St John's wort is sedative, pain-relieving, improves sleep quality.
Wild lettuce is relaxing and sleep- inducing, relieves pain and destructive feelings.

Herbal baths are a pleasant way to use herbs for the alleviation of steeping difficulties. The relaxing and warming effect of the hot water enhances the sedative properties of the herbs. Herbal baths can be used with herbal infusions.

A number of relaxation techniques such as meditation, visualisation, autogenic training and gentle exercises such as yoga can be tried to help decrease stress and thus decrease the build up of these stress hormones. Physical exercise raises your core body temperature and increases your adrenaline levels.

The actual set-up of your room may also effect your sleeping habits. Avoid bright colors and different patterns in the room and radios and alarm clocks should be kept at least three feet away. Soft calming pastel colours are the best and there should not be a drastic difference in the patterns of your bedspread, curtains and carpets.

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have been treating insomnia sufferers for thousands of years. A typical approach may utilize acupuncture, dietary and lifestyle analysis, herbology and other techniques, with the goal of rebalancing the body's energies to resolve the problem at a subtle level.

Wanna Buy Medicines? Go online

2008-05-09T02:24:00.001-07:00

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2008-05-09T02:19:00.000-07:00

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A Few Facts about Vitamin Supplements

2008-01-11T03:32:00.000-08:00

Vitamins play an integral role to a healthy life. They provide essential nutrients. It is advisable to get all vitamins from the food you eat. However, millions of people all over the world take supplemental vitamins as part of a daily healthy plan.

Doctors may recommend supplements:

• For certain health problems
• If you eat a vegetarian or vegan diet
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Some facts about vitamins are:

• The body uses vitamins for several biological processes that include growth, digestion and nerve function
• The body absolutely needs 13 vitamins which are vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate)

The AAFP cites two categories of vitamins:

• Water-soluble vitamins: these are easily absorbed by the body; the body does not store large amounts; the kidneys remove the vitamins that are not needed
• Fat-soluble vitamins: are absorbed into the body with use of bile acids that are fluids used to absorb fat; the body stores fat-soluble vitamins for use as needed

The dietary supplements produced today contain vitamins and minerals as well as other less familiar substances such as:

• Herbals
• Botanicals
• Amino acids
• Enzymes

It is always wise to check with a health care provider before combining or substituting them with other foods or medicines. In addition:

• Do not self-diagnose health conditions
• Work with your health care provider to determine how best to achieve optimal health

Tips for buying dietary supplements:

• Avoid chasing the latest supplement headlines
• Follow sound health advise is that is generally based on research over time and not just a single story voiced throughout the media
• Steer away from claims of a “quick fix” that differs from scientific research and established dietary guidance
• Be advised that “more” may not be better; some products are actually harmful when taken in high amounts over long periods of time or in combination with certain other substances
• Watch out for false claims and learn how to spot them; if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is not true

Examples of false claims on product labels may include:

• Quick and effective “cure-all”
• Treats or cures disease
• “Totally safe”
• “All Natural”
• “Definitely no side effects”

Other claims to watch out for include:

• Limited availability
• Offers of “no-risk, money-back guarantees”
• Requirements for advance payment

Concerns to be aware of before purchasing and taking supplements:

• Is this product worth the money?
• Resist pressure to buy a product or treatment on the spot
• Some supplement products may be expensive or may not provide the benefit you expect such as excessive amounts of water-soluble vitamins like vitamins C and B are not used by the body and are eliminated in the urine

Source: FDA Dietary Supplements Guidelines

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All health concerns should be addressed by a qualified health care professional.

6 Steps to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

2008-01-01T04:20:00.000-08:00

The holidays don't have to wreck all of your weight loss progress. Sure there are temptations around every corner but you can tackle them with a few sure-fire strategies. Here are some tips to keep you on track during the holidays so you can enjoy and still manage your weight.

1. Choose what you love. When it comes to holiday parties there are often many not so healthy food choices. Don't eat food just because it's there and don't feel like you have to restrict yourself from eating things you enjoy. Find some balance. Pick one or two foods you absolutely love and fill the rest of your plate up with healthy salads, vegetables, and lean meats.

2. Baking Traditions. Don't feel like you have to give up your time honored family holiday recipes. Bake enough for a few days for your family and give the rest away for gifts to your friends and neighbors. This way you won't be tempted with these wonderful baked goods for weeks.

3. Don't Arrive Hungry. So many parties and so many wonderful dishes and desserts. Arriving to a party hungry can lead you to eat too much. Eat a high protein snack before your holiday get together to avoid feeling starving when you sit down to eat. This will help you to avoid overeating once the food arrives.

4. Watch the Alcohol. Between work, friends, and family, there are several holiday parties to attend which for many people means more alcoholic beverages. Holiday mixed drinks can pack an enormous amount of calories. One cup of hot buttered rum can cost you 400 calories while traditional eggnog can add 350 calories. Not to mention, alcohol can slow down fat metabolism leading you to store more calories than burn them. Limiting the alcohol this season can help you to keep your weight management goals on target.

5. Get Some Activity. You know you will be indulging a bit more than you usually do so getting some activity will go a long way to burn off some of those extra calories. Go for a daily walk, go to the gym, or take an exercise class during this time of year to help you balance your energy intake (calories) with your physical activity.

6. Get Back to Your Healthy Habits. According to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the average weight gain of the study's participants from Thanksgiving to New Year's was less than one pound. The weight increase is not dramatic like many people would think; however, what is important is that the participants did not reverse their slight weight gain during the following months. This goes to show how important it is to keep your focus during and after the holidays. It is not a time to let go of all the healthy changes you have made but instead, a time to find balance. Stay on track during and after the holidays instead of slipping into old patterns.

Alternative Health Articles

2007-12-27T21:45:00.000-08:00

Winter Nutrition For You Alternative Health Articles

Think of winter food and your mind conjures up images of thick vegetable soups, and steaming stews. And surprise, surprise these are exactly the type of food you should be eating at this time of year. When the days are colder you need more warmth from your food and this is provided by these types of meals where everything is cooked in one pan so no nutrients are lost and warming spices are added to increase the metabolic rate and send heat round the body. Now in these days of air conditioning and central heating and traveling by car from door we may need this less than in the past but the principles are the same. This is also not an excuse to throw all your summer healthy eating out of the window just because it's cold outside. The same principles apply but just adapted to take advantage of all the seasonal vegetables available.

Good Winter Foods
Vegetables which are fantastic winter foods include:

Sweet potatoes
Pumpkin (always go for the orange varieties of both of these vegetables)
Squashes
Turnips
Swedes
Parsnips

All of these are high in Vitamins A and C which will help build the immune system and ward off illness. Garlic is another good vegetable to eat at this time of year as it has proven anti-viral and anti-fungal properties and could just help you stave off that cold. For warming grains go for:

Oats
Quinoa
Brown

Other grains are more cooling so if you are making or buying bread try not to make it the staple of your winter meals. Other good ingredients include:

Adzuki (or aduki)
Beans,
Black beans
Lentils

Really any pulse will do. They have been called the "perfect health food" Low in fat, high in protein and complex carbohydrate and fibre, they also contain a range of vitamins and minerals and are low on the Glyceamic index, what more could you ask? They will add a welcome bulk to any soup, stew or vegetable side dish and are an excellent source of protein and Vitamin B for vegetarians and vegans. If you want to avoid some of the side effects of these high fibre foods cook them with fennel or cumin and make sure you follow the preparation instructions regarding soaking if they are dried. It goes without saying that you should choose foods from good sources and organic when ever possible. Traces of chemicals found in non-organic foods often cannot be removed simply by washing and over time can build up in your body tissues to unacceptable levels.

Other system boosts
You may find that you are feeling a little down as the nights draw in. Do try to get outside, especially in the mornings as the sun comes up. Natural light will help your pineal gland to switch off it's night- time melatonin production and act like a natural caffeine boost. Artificial light is not full frequency light and as such is not as powerful as sunlight at switching off the Pineal and this why you might feel more sleepy in the winter time. If you are still not feeling 100% you might want to try a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. Try to buy the best quality you can and make sure it is in the best form for your body to assimilate it. Generally fat soluble vitamins (ADE) are better in capsules and water soluble (BC) in tablets. And make sure you get a good cross section of minerals to help with this too. Just because it is cold and you might feel more inclined toward hot drinks, don't forget your body still needs at least 1.5 litres of water a day. If you find it too cold to drink chilled water, leave it to stand and drink it at room temperature. It is more rehydrating that way anyway as the body doesn't have to expand energy heating it to body temperature. Or if you want a heated drink try a herbal tea instead of regular tea or coffee.

Things to avoid
Try to avoid eating too much dairy produce. In general these are mucous forming and won't help if you are prone to colds or chesty coughs. You can still get good quantities of calcium from:

Tofu,
Beans,
Dark green vegetables (such as Kale, and Broccoli, the Purple variety in particular or by sprinkling some poppy seeds on your food)

Eat simple combinations. It may be tempting to stick as many things as you can into a stew but you are making it hard for your body to digest them all. It does give you chance to appreciate the flavours too. Try to reduce your refined salt and caffeine intake. (If you must have salt try to find whole natural sea salt which is slightly grey.) This is good advice at any time of the year and even more so during the winter when your lymphatic, immune systems and Liver are busy trying to keep you healthy. Following on from the last point try to avoid chemically altered or highly refined foods. These will have almost none of the nutrients that fresh foods have and could actually be more difficult for your body to deal with. Try to avoid alcohol. It's no accident that the word to describe feeling drunk is intoxicated! If you are eating well to build your immune system you risk undoing all your good work if you overindulge at the bar.

Alternative Medicine

2007-12-27T21:22:00.000-08:00

Alternative medicine is often referred to as therapeutic or preventive health care; many categorize it together with complementary medicine.

WorldwideHEALTH.com lists over 90 different categories of therapists such as homeopathy, aromatherapy, naturopathy, chiropractic, and herbal medicine etc., even though these medical methods may not have a proved scientific explanation for their effectiveness, they are widely acclaimed by many people throughout the world as proven ways to treat a vast array of health complaints that are often not successful with conventional medicine.

Alternative medicine practices are usually based in belief systems not derived from modern science, therefore may incorporate spiritual, metaphysical or religious underpinnings. When an alternative medical approach is shown to be safe and effective by conventional practitioners it is then often no longer considered "alternative".

The term complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is an umbrella term for alternative medicine, complementary medicine, and integrative medicine, a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products, that are not currently part of conventional medicine. They include, but are not limited to, herbalism, meditation, chiropractic, yoga, body work and diet-based therapies. When some of those practices are used in conjunction and cooperation with conventional medicine they are termed "complementary medicine.

WorldwideHEALTH.com brings you to the very best therapists and practitioners who have the experience of treating the most complex of health problems. The WorldwideHEALTH.com directory can help you either search by therapist or health complaint to find the help that you need, you can also study topical articles written by professional health practitioners and therapists. If you have a particular health problem that you have not been able to resolve, please click the "Ask A Question" button on this site to have one of the professionals answer you and give advice at no cost to you.