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Alternative
medicine is a term that refers to medical practices outside of
conventional medicine. Alternative solutions are sometimes new and
untested in the scientific realm of conventional medicine, stamped
with approval of the federal government. Also, they sometimes focus
around or contain a religious, spiritual or metaphysical element.
Here are some popular alternative medicinal solutions.
Acupuncture
–
This is the art of inserting tiny needles underneath the skin that
stimulate targeted body spots. Acupuncture is most often used to
relieve pain and heal the body.
Apitherapy
– Better
known as Bee Therapy, this practice makes use of honey and venom from
the honeybee for treatments. Popular ones for health and beauty
products and healing treatments are raw honey, bee pollen, royal
jelly and propolis.
Biofeedback
– This refers to a machine that gives feedback on the body. The
feedback helps healthcare providers chart bodily functions to help
with treatment. These machines are used to chart internal functions
with more accuracy than a human alone is capable of, and the results
are used to determine and then gauge how well the treatment is
working. Biofeedback has been used to help people with their
emotional disorders, digestive disorders, stress, migraines and heart
irregularities. The machine alerts people to the idea of how their
own emotions and thoughts can come into play with regards to illness
and treatment options.
Chiropractics
– This form of back treatment has been around for awhile and
focuses on the vertebrae not being aligned properly, thus
contributing to a variety of pain, illnesses and diseases. Many also
focus on stress, overall health and lifestyle. In general, a
chiropractor applies pressure in small amounts to various vertebrae,
helping them realign. Plus many help treat common diseases like
asthma, troubled backs and arthritis.
Feng
Shui
- This is a philosophy that is said to bring harmony into lives,
that features not only the four basic elements of earth, fire, water
and air, but a fifth; metal. By aligning these elements throughout
clutter-free homes, work, outdoor and other environments, peace and
tranquility are said to follow.
Healing
Crystals
– These minerals turned crystalline are said to boast certain
healing powers. For example, ancient grave sites house them as a
means of protection in the afterlife. In the modern world, many
believe these crystals house healing power. For example, to treat
stomach pain, some healers place charged quartz on the lower abdomen
area to help restore energy there.
Herbal
Remedies – Applying
herbs, either home grown or store bought, to certain ailments helps
with healing for many conditions. Among popular treatments are a
half-and-half solution of witch hazel and water to help clear up
acne, lavender scented oils and candles to sooth stress and garlic on
top of warts to remove them.
There
are many more alternative medicine treatments out there. Search your
favorite search engine for more.
The Benefits of Chinese Medicine
Chinese
medicine is a whole holistic system that can lead to a healthier,
happier and more stress free way of living. It is a system that
people have benefited from for over twenty-three centuries and is
used to diagnose, treat and prevent a wide variety or illnesses and
problems.
The
different aspects that make up Chinese medicine all basically rely on
the same principle, Yin and Yang. This is basically opposites
attract, such as night and day, cold and warm, inner and outer. The
basis behind it is to restore harmony and peace to the mind and body;
the Chinese believe that by doing so we can eliminate many diseases
and illnesses.
Qi
is the life force that flows uninterrupted throughout the body,
similar to blood throwing throughout the veins. It is when there is a
disruption in this Qi that problems and illness occurs; restoring the
flow of the Qi restores harmony and dissolves the symptoms of
illness.
The
two main components of Chinese medicine are acupuncture and herbal
remedies.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture
focuses on the Qi that flows throughout the body; it flows through
points known as meridian points. While it is flowing freely we are
healthy and happy, but if the channels should become blocked then the
Qi stagnates and this leads to symptoms of various illnesses
depending on where the Qi is blocked. It works by the acupuncturist
restoring the normal flow of the Qi by stimulating certain points on
the body.
Herbal medicine
Chinese
herbal medicine is usually dispensed after acupuncture treatment
although it can be used as a standalone. There are over a thousand
common herbs that are used in combinations for various problems and
illnesses. There are two main types of herbal remedies that are
commonly used, these are “food herbs” and are generally eaten as
part of the diet and are mainly used for prevention of disease and
illness and maintenance. “Medicinal herbs” are usually prescribed
by a Doctor of Chinese medicine and are specially prepared for the
patient based on the individuals needs. The formula is made up from
the patient’s medical condition, the environment and the
constitution of the person. Medicinal herbs are usually given
alongside acupuncture treatment and used in conjunction with the
“re-balancing” effects of acupuncture treatment.
The
benefits of Chinese medicine are numerous and is has been thought to
have helped many physical conditions along with affective disorders
and increases mental clarity, here are just a few of the conditions
it has been known to successfully treat.
- Sinusitis, bronchitis and asthma
- Conjunctivitis and cataracts
- Stroke, sciatica and osteoarthritis
- Faster recovery from injury
- Improved circulation
- Relief from stress and anxiety
- Relief from pain
- Strengthening of the immune system
- Addictions, phobias and eating disorders
