Some Alternative Health Strategies
Some Alternative Health Strategies
CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) therapies are generally classified into 5 seperate categories or domains. Some of these domains have sub-domains but we will broadly go into them here.Alternative Medical Systems are built onto entirely different systems of theory in regards to the body and have evolved in a completely different direction from the mainstream medical approach. A couple of examples of alternative medical systems developed in Western societies are homeopathic and naturopathic medicine. Some real world Eastern techniques include Ayurveda, acupuncture and numerous local systems.Mind-Body Interventions uses a blend of techniques meant to enhance the mind's capability of affecting the body's condition, such as meditation, yoga, hypnosis and therapies that use creative techniques like art, music and dance, among others. Even something as routine as journal writing fits into this category.Biologically Based Therapies like natural and biologically based interventions, practices and products mostly composed of herbs, nutrients such as antioxidants and vitamins also count in this particular category. Some also overlap with modern medicine's use of dietary supplements such as antioxidants, which started out as CAM and is now obviously mainstream. Anything from the use of Tea Tree Oil to the Paleolithic diet can also fall under this CAM category.Manipulative and Body-Based Methods are based on manipulating certain parts of the human body. This includes, but is not limited to: chiropractic manipulation, colonics and massage therapies.Energy Therapies uses subtle and less than subtle manipulations of the energy field that are supposed to surround and inject themselves into the human body. Examples include biofield therapies like Reiki, Qigong, natural healing and bioelectromagnetic-based therapies which involves the use of electromagnetic fields.This article appeared originally in The September 2004 issue of The ZoneNet newsletter.Ryan Joseph is a writer/researcher. For additional information visit http://www.anti-aging-vitamins.com/
Alternative Medicine and Therapies ? What, Why and How of it
Alternative Medicine and Therapies ? What, Why and How of it
Alternative Therapies and alternative medicine has been gaining ground along with conventional treatments. Alternative therapies have been practiced for thousand of years especially in the east commonly known as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine.Modern medicine has replaced such therapies due to its ability to quickly suppress the symptoms and treat the specific physical condition with pharmacological and surgical methods evolved after much research.However the modern medicine too has severe side effects due to its toxicity and chemical interference in cellular functioning. This has resulted in alternative therapies and alternative medicines gaining ground. The inability of the medical science to quickly tackle the outbreak of immunity related disorders and disease like Aids and SARS have rekindled the interest in alternative therapies.Alternative therapy and medicine has also gained respectability as more and more clinical trials and research is establishing the efficacy of its treatments.Alternative therapies have very simple principles.The body can heal itself. You only need to facilitate the self-healing process.Prevention is the key to healthy living. The alternative medicinal system stresses on prevention of disease through a change in diet, use of proven herbs and lifestyle changes which while preventing the disease also helps in dealing with the basic cause of any disease.Each system of alternative medicine has their own complex method of diagnoses and treatment; broadly they focus on balancing the energies in the body as well as the emotional aspects of disease. Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine as well as homeopathy works on the principle of assisting the body to heal itself.All treatments in alternative therapy use medicines which are directly derived from botanical sources - ingredients in plants. They are generally safe in moderate doses if they are prepared with pure essence of such botanicals and unadulterated with any form of chemicals.Selecting the right herbal productsThere are plenty of spurious products in the market with tall claims. Buy only from the best source after verifying the background and credibility of the company.Don't go by claims of miraculous cures. You need to understand how each product works and go by the research available on the herbs along with the traditional history of healing.Buy the herbal or food supplements only after verifying whether company is meeting with the quality standards and test certifications. Check whether the ingredients on the label are as per the claims on the advertisements.Plenty of information is available from the website of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or NCCAM website for complementary and Alternative medicine.A final word of caution while using alternative medicines and therapies, whatever the claims made or facts about the medicinal and curative properties do not stop your regular treatment recommended by a doctor.It is best to use these products as a preventive and for good health. Do not use the products for symptomatic relief but for therapeutic use.Use the alternative medicine as complementary or as an adjuvant therapy to your regular medicine. Use of herbal remedies as a preventive or as food and health supplements is the best way to go as you do not run the risk of interference with your regular treatment of any disease or disorder.R.G. Srinivasan is a Certified Trainer, Writer and Author.He is passionate about alternate therapies and holistic herbal medicine. Check out his site at http://globalhealthnetwork.tripod.com
Hypertension, An Alternative Approach
Hypertension, An Alternative Approach
For many years high blood pressure has been defined based upon actuarial
tables prepared by life insurance companies. By that definition, blood pressure
of 140/90 is borderline hypertension in a person 40 years of age. The
suppressed fact is that blood pressure should rise by 5 points for every decade
of life. Therefore, 145/95 is borderline hypertension in a person of 50 years
old; 150/100, in a person 60 years of age, etc. However, that standard is
almost never applied in prescribing high blood pressure medications.Recently, a new standard is being applied: 120/80 (for years the gold standard
in blood pressure) has been redefined as "pre-hypertension," with the
recommendation that medication be prescribed. And, there is no allowance for
increasing age. So, we see headlines such as "Hypertension - An Emerging
Epidemic" on WebMD.Another very important fact is that most primary hypertension is diagnosed as
"idiopathic," which basically means the doctors do not know what's causing it.
We've had a variety of medical recommendations for years, but the overall
impact has been minimal (as evidenced by the statistic in paragraph 1, above).
These recommendations include: 1) drug therapy, 2) exercise, 3) dietary
restrictions on salt and fat, 4) weight loss, and 5)avoidance of drugs, including
tobacco and caffeine. The medical point of view is that lifestyle changes are
inadequate.2I would like to share with you the basic mechanism of "essential" or "idiopathic"
hypertension. These terms are applied to primary hypertension unrelated to an
underlying disease of the kidney or diabetes. Essential hypertension is the
body's physiologic response to insuring an adequate blood supply to the brain.For a moment, we need to digress so that you have a picture of how the
circulatory system for the brain works. Inside the cranial vault, the blood
reaches the brain through the carotid and vertebral arteries. It is drained out
into the jugular vein through a system of sinuses which are actually formed by
the meningeal membranes. The meningeal membranes (or dura) are the
fibrous structures which separate the lobes of the brain and actually give the
brain its shape. They include the falx cerebri (which divides the two cerebral
hemispheres), the tentorium cerebelli (which separates the cerebellum from the
occipital lobe of the cerebral hemispheres), the falx cerebelli (which divides the
cerebellar hemispheres) and the diaphragma sellae (which covers the
depression in the skull in which the pituitary resides).3 {You may visit my
website RichardsFamilyHealth.com and view the articles on "Cranial" to view a
cross section of these structures.}Being membranous, the dura is affected by distortions in the cranial vault,
resulting in twisting of the sinuses and restriction of the outflow of blood from
the brain. Therefore, to bring in more fresh blood and oxygen, higher
peripheral pressure is required to force through the blockage. While in school,
I was privileged to see a dissection of an unpreserved cadaver, demonstrating
the lines of stress in the dura due to cranial distortions. Strokes may occur
when the cranium shifts, suddenly allowing a surge of high pressure through
the fragile capillaries in the brain.Interesting confirmation of this mechanism comes from veterinary medicine. A
giraffe has a peripheral blood pressure of about 350/300 in order to get blood
to the brain. Yet, their intracranial pressure is very similar to humans. They
also have a specialized vascular structure at the base of their brain to
compensate for changes in pressure as they raise and lower their heads while
feeding and drinking. The critical point is that the higher pressure is necessary
to pump the blood up into the brain.So, the question becomes: What can be done about essential hypertension?
Probably the most effective way to control it is through cranial adjusting,
restoring normal motion to the cranial vault and removing the restrictions
which cause the pressure to rise. I have spoken to many alternative health
practitioners, and the consensus of opinion is that the effect of herbal
interventions is minimal, compared to the benefits of cranial adjusting. As an
added benefit, cranial therapy is completely free of side effects! {See my article
on the side effects of high blood pressure medications at
www.richardsfamilyhealth.com).}Of course, if there is underlying pathology, either diabetes or renal disease,
that process needs to be addressed as well. In many instances, that means
herbal therapy or nutritional supplements.References1 The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention,
Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, JAMA 2003:289-
2560-712 www.healthybp.com, sponsored by Novartis, a major manufacturer of
blood pressure medications3 Goss, C.M., MD, Gray's Anatomy, 29th Ed., 1973, p 880Dr. Richards is a Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Internists, a
certified herbalist, and a Fellow of the International Academy of Clinical
Acupuncture. She was recently awarded the distinction of being invited to
become a Fellow in the International College of Chiropractors. Dr. Richards has
been in practice for over eighteen years, teaches professionals, lectures, and is
currently working on several books. Her website is http://
http://www.richardsfamilyhealth.comDr. Richards can be reached at Richards Family Health Center (626) 963-1678.