 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| Acupressure (Shiatsu)
What is Acupressure?
Acupressure is basically Acupuncture without using needles. It is believed to be around 5000 years old and originated in China. Because it relies on finger and
thumb pressure to stimulate the acupoints, you can use it to treat yourself.
Acupressure is believed to be the 'father of Acupuncture' in that it predates the use of needles to stimulate the body energy flow. It uses the same principles of Meridian and points as Acupuncture, but pressure is applied directly to the Acupoints of the body mainly by using the hands, fingers, thumb or knuckles and sometimes by using a smooth, blunt object. Stimulation of the bodys meridian system by touch is perhaps one of the oldest healing systems, and many other therapies use Acupressure techniques including Shen Tao, Jin Shen, Do Jin Shen, Qigong, Shiatsu and Tuina.
What does Acupressure feel like?
No needles are used unlike Acupuncture, some people feel energized by the treatment, while others feel relaxed. Improper stimulation of the points, can cause soreness and pain during treatment. This is why it is important to seek treatment from a qualified Acupressure practitioner.
Is Acupressure safe?
In line with Acupuncture, the Practitioners need to be fully qualified. When not delivered properly, Acupressure could potentially cause some adverse effects, including nausea and headaches.
What can Acupressure be used to treat?
Acupressure can be used to treat:
Stress, Anxiety, Insomnia, Digestive Problems, Aches & pains, Headaches and Migraine, menstrual problems, PMS, Menopause and Fatigue symptoms.
Want more
information and some excellent related products? take a visit to Fishpond
Top
|
|
Acupunture
Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture began to become better known in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery.The term acupuncture describes a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques. American practices of acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.
Top
What does Acupuncture feel like?
Acupuncture needles are metallic, solid, and hair-thin. People experience acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pain as the needles are inserted. Some people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed. Improper needle placement, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle can cause soreness and pain during treatment. This is why it is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner.
Is Acupunture safe?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. The FDA requires that sterile, nontoxic needles be used and that they be labeled for single use by qualified practitioners only.Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported to the FDA in light of the millions of people treated each year and the number of acupuncture needles used. Still, complications have resulted from inadequate sterilization of needles and from improper delivery of treatments. Practitioners should use a new set of disposable needles taken from a sealed package for each patient and should swab treatment sites with alcohol or another disinfectant before inserting needles. When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious adverse effects, including infections and punctured organs.
Does Acupuncture work?
According to the NIH Consensus Statement on Acupuncture, there have been many studies on acupuncture's potential usefulness, but results have been mixed because of complexities with study design and size, as well as difficulties with choosing and using placebos or sham acupuncture. However, promising results have emerged, showing efficacy of acupuncture, for example, in adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in postoperative dental pain. There are other situations--such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low-back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma--in which acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program. An NCCAM-funded study recently showed that acupuncture provides pain relief, improves function for people with osteoarthritis of the knee, and serves as an effective complement to standard care. Further research is likely to uncover additional areas where acupuncture interventions will be useful. NIH has funded a variety of research projects on acupuncture. These grants have been funded by NCCAM, its predecessor the Office of Alternative Medicine, and other NIH institutes and centers.
Top
How might Acupuncture work?
Acupuncture is one of the key components of the system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In the TCM system of medicine, the body is seen as a delicate balance of two opposing and inseparable forces: yin and yang. Yin represents the cold, slow, or passive principle, while yang represents the hot, excited, or active principle. Among the major assumptions in TCM are that health is achieved by maintaining the body in a "balanced state" and that disease is due to an internal imbalance of yin and yang. This imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of qi (vital energy) along pathways known as meridians. It is believed that there are 12 main meridians and 8 secondary meridians and that there are more than 2,000 acupuncture points on the human body that connect with them.Preclinical studies have documented acupuncture's effects, but they have not been able to fully explain how acupuncture works within the framework of the Western system of medicine that is commonly practiced in the United States. It is proposed that acupuncture produces its effects through regulating the nervous system, thus aiding the activity of pain-killing biochemicals such as endorphins and immune system cells at specific sites in the body. In addition, studies have shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones and, thus, affecting the parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions and processes that regulate a person's blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature.
How do i find a licensed Acupuncture Practitioner?
Health care practitioners can be a resource for referral to acupuncturists. More medical doctors, including neurologists, anesthesiologists, and specialists in physical medicine, are becoming trained in acupuncture, TCM, and other CAM therapies. In addition, national acupuncture organizations (which can be found through libraries or Web search engines) may provide referrals to acupuncturists.
Check a practitioner's credentials
Do not rely on a diagnosis of disease by an acupuncture practitioner who does not have substantial conventional medical training.
Health care practitioners can be a resource for referral to acupuncturists. More medical doctors, including neurologists, anesthesiologists, and specialists in physical medicine, are becoming trained in acupuncture, TCM, and other CAM therapies. In addition, national acupuncture organizations (which can be found through libraries or Web search engines) may provide
|
How much will Acupuncture cost?
A practitioner should inform you
about the esitmated number of treatments needed and
how much each will cost. If this information is not
provided, ask for it. Treatment may take place over
a few days or for several weeks or more. Pysician acupuncturists
may charge more than non-physician practitioners.
More Information
Top
Re-produced from NCCAM Publication No. D003
http://nccam.nih.gov/
|
|
YOGA
Reiki Therapy
What is Reiki?
Developed thousands of years ago, in fact it was developed only in the 1900's in Japan.
Reiki principles are based on the Universal life force energies and is a
hands on healing art. There are many ways of using Reiki with the art being
passed from a master to his pupil in stages and over a period of time.
The
word reiki is copied from two Japanese words Rei and Ki. These are the words
that denote the "Universal Life Force and energy.
Reiki uses a person's own
aura to assist in their healing, This aura is known as Chi and when Reki is
used, the practitioner helps to strengthen the aura of the person they are
healing.
Chi is a mystical term which is used by many in both healing and
the martial arts. There are many other mystical cultures which also use the
universal life force for healing, however they are known under different names.
It is now a well known researched fact that the universe is made up of
energy and it is this energy which is tapped into when practitioners use Reiki.
They are able to adapt and use this positive force when healing a person.
Many critics of Reiki think of this type of healing as a scam; however
practitioners claim that it is the energy surrounding every person which can be
utilised by even our thoughts to ensure healing takes place.
They also claim
that reiki can also be based on the "sciences" of both Quantum Physics and
Metaphysics and may also be a deciding factor in why some people often make
miraculous recoveries from often life threatening illnesses. Reiki practice is
based on the actual universal forces present around a person
There are many
anecdotal and recorded instances of unexplained healing for many people whether
it is through prayer, the laying on of hands or any other form of healing. As it
is thought the core principle of all these healing strategies is the utilisation
of universal energy, it can be assumed that Reiki healing is actually based on
principles as old as time itself.
What does Reiki feel like?
A Reiki treatment is one of the most pleasurable experiences one can have. It's
non-invasive, not uncomfortable, you don't have to undress for it, you can lay
down, or you can sit up. It's preferable to lay down to get the most out of it
as you can totally relax, but if you are unable to, for whatever reasons, then
sitting is fine too.
It is assumed by many people that Reiki
healing is a difficult art to master, when in fact it is one of the simplest. It
is also very easy to use and practise.
When using Reiki for healing, the
practitioner places their hands upon the person who wishes to be healed with the
wish for the energies around that person to be used for healing. Many people
swear by Reiki and feel it is a very useful form of alternative treatment.
It is important to stop Reiki if you feel pain, dizziness or nausea.
What can Reiki be used to treat?
Reiki can be used to treat stress, tension, problems with posture and some back pain conditions, check with your Medical Doctor before starting a course of instruction.
More information
Click here
for further information about Reiki Therapy.
Top
|
|
Aromatherapy
What is Aromatherapy?
A French chemist, René-Maurice Gattefossé invented
the term aromatherapy
to describe the process of using plant oils therapeutically. History says that, while working in a perfume factory in the early 20th century, he used
lavender oil to treat a burn on his hand and
was so impressed by how quickly and cleanly the burn healed, he began studying
the healing powers of plant oils.
The Aromatherpist uses
a mixture of concentrated essential oils to treat conditions which
are based on elements from plants. These oils are extracted
from various flowers, grasses, roots, resin, peel or
bark which are not concentrated from whole plant parts - unlike regular
herbal medicines. However, people have been treated with plant oils for thousands of years -
records go back to the times of ancient Egypt, China and India
What does Aromatherapy feel like?
The first session can take up to two hours
including the initial consultation. After which, the
aromatherapist will create a mixture of the chosen oils in
what is
called a carrier oil - e.g. almond or grapeseed. This mixture is then massaged into your skin
paying particular attention to any sensitive or painful
areas on the body. It is also common for you to be given advice about aftercare treatments, for
example using the oils in baths or as inhalations. Subsequent
sessions will normally be shorter, approx one hour is
common and for long-term treatment you may need one
session per week for a number of weeks depending on
the condition being treated.
Is Aromatherapy safe?
Aromatherapy products such as toiletries contain only small amounts of
essential oils. But in their concentrated form the oils can be very powerful and
should always be handled with care - you only need a few drops in a bath for
example. More could cause irritation, and some essential oils are toxic if used
incorrectly - such as eating or drinking them.
Aromatherapy oils can have side-effects - nausea, headaches or an allergic
reaction for instance. Some of them, including citrus oils such as orange, lemon
and bergamot, react with ultraviolet light and can cause skin to burn more
easily in sunlight.
Essential oils should almost never be used neat on skin - exceptions are
lavender oil and tea tree oil in small amounts. You should only ever take them
internally on the advice of a fully trained professional therapist, and some
professional organisations advise against using the oils in this way at all.
Check with a professional therapist or your doctor before using an essential
oil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. There are several oils that should not
be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as some may find their way into
breast milk.
Some oils can aggravate skin conditions in susceptible people, so essential
oils should be used with caution on:
- infectious skin conditions
- broken skin
- varicose veins
Anyone recovering from surgery should not use aromatherapy. It's also not
suitable for anyone with any of the following conditions:
- epilepsy
- high blood pressure
- deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in your leg)
Some essential oils may either reduce or enhance the effects of certain
conventional medicines, including antibiotics, antihistamines, sedatives and
anti-epileptic drugs. Most homeopaths advise against the use of essential oils
if you are taking a homeopathic remedy.
Top
What can Aromatherapy be used to treat?
Aromatherapy is now used to treat a whole range of conditions and is believed
to work on people both physically and psychologically. The first part of the
theory is that when you smell an essential oil, it triggers your limbic system -
the part of the brain that controls emotions and stores and retrieves learned
memories - and relaxes you. The other part of the theory is that the essential
oils are absorbed through the skin, and have medicinal properties which act on
the cause of the problem.
Just some of the conditions aromatherapy is used to treat are:
- anxiety, stress or insomnia
- muscular aches and pains
- headaches
- asthma
- eczema
- digestive problems
- menstrual or menopausal problems
You can choose to be treated by an aromatherapist, or you can buy certain
aromatherapy oils over the counter at pharmacies and health shops, and treat
yourself. If you visit an aromatherapist, he or she will probably massage oils
into your skin. If you treat yourself, you can add them to your bath, or inhale
them using steaming water, a diffuser or an incense burner. There is also a wide
range of toiletries containing essential oils available, some of which may claim
to increase wellbeing or have some healing properties. Want
to learn more? Learn the Power of Aromatherapy
Top
|
|
No title
Homeopathy Explained
Introduction
Homeopathy is one of many Alternative and Complementary therapies available today. It is an effective and scientific system of healing which naturally assists the body to heal itself. Homeopathy recognizes that all symptoms of ill health are expressions of disharmony within the whole person and that it is the patient who needs treatment, not the disease. The idea is that the person is treated as a whole, with every aspect of them - physical, emotional and mental - being taken into account when choosing the right remedy.
Different people react in different ways to the same illness and in order to find the correct remedy, your naturopathic physician or homeopath will need to know not only your physical symptoms but also as much as possible about yourself and how your symptoms affect you.
Homeopathic remedies do not normally cause side effects, and patients cannot become addicted to them. This is because only very dilute amounts of the active ingredient are used in a specially-prepared form.
In 1796, a German Doctor, Samuel Hahnemann, discovered a different approach to the treatment of sick people which he called homeopathy (from the Greek words meaning "similar suffering"). He realized that there were two ways of treating ill health: The way of opposites (allopathic or traditional medicine) and the way of similars (homeopathic). The first person to practice the healing principal of treating 'like with like' was the Greek Physician Hippocrates 2000 years ago.
Samuel Hahnemann was the modern-day founder of homeopathy, he proved the principle of 'like curing like' with his experiments using quinine, know to be an effective treatment for malaria.
Top
How does Homeopathy Work?
Homeopathy uses very dilute substances to stimulate the body's own innate healing power. This power is very great and many complaints heal themselves unaided, but when the healing process is faulty, blocked, or slow, the homeopathic remedy acts as a stimulus to the curative powers of the body. To provide this stimulus, your physician must prescribe the right remedy and the right dosage for you.
For example, in the case of anxiety, the traditional allopathic way is to treat this condition by prescribing a drug to suppress the anxiety symptoms. This frequently involves the use of large or regular doses of drugs which can sometimes cause side effects or addiction.
The homeopathic way to treat anxiety is by giving the patient a minute dose of a substance which in large doses causes anxiety in a healthy person. Surprisingly, this will enable the patient to fell less anxious naturally. And, because the dose used is so small, no side effects or addictions will be experienced.
The Homeopathic Remedies
Remedies can be made from a variety of substances, with the most common sources being flowers, plants, poisons, roots, trees, minerals and metals. Occasionally insects are used too.
To minimise side effects Hahnemann used the smallest possible amount of substance to trigger a healing effect in the patient. Strange as it may seem, the less of the original substance that remained in the remedy, the greater its potency and effectiveness. The process for creating the dilute remedy is called 'Potentisation'. The mother tincture is created by making an alcohol/water extract from the substance, the extract is diluted to the required potency, denoted by the letters 'X','C' and 'M'. 'X' means that the remedy has been diluted - one part mother tincture in 9 drops of water; 'C' means - one part mother tincture in 99 drops of water; and 'M' means- one part mother tincture in 999 drops of water. A few drops of the final mixture are then applied to lactose (milk sugar) to form a tablet.
The most common potencies used today are 6c, 12c and 30c, many are available over the counter in supermarkets, health food shops and pharmacies. Some remedies are made into preparations which can be applied to the skin in the form of Creams, Ointments, sprays and balms, for example Arnica cream for bruising and muscular aches and pains.
Constitutional Types
Homeopathy treats the individual as a whole, taking into account the physical, emotional and mental states as well as the presenting ailment or disease. Establishing a person's constitutional type offers the practitioner insight into the best possible remedy for the patient. Two people presenting with the same condition may have different symptoms, therefore they may need to be treated with different remedies despite having apparently the same illness.
In order to find the right remedy, your physician will need to know as much about you as possible. You will normally be asked many questions about yourself as well as your illness and the physician will also want to know about the health of your family, both present and past. Its important to mention anything that you may think is unusual or unimportant, anything you say will be treated in confidence. The initial consultation can sometimes take an hour or so.
Top
What can I expect to happen during treatment?
After taking your remedy, you should notice some changes. For instance, it occasionally happens that your symptoms appear worse for a short time. This is the remedy taking effect, and you should feel the beginnings of recovery when this period has passed. Alternatively, patients often experience a period of well-being and optimism.
If you feel worried by any changes that you notice, contact your physician, even if this is shortly before your next appointment. Whatever your reaction may be, your physician will need to know so make a few notes of your changing symptoms as a reminder for you at your next appointment.
How quickly will I be cured?
This depends very much on what sort of illness you have and its duration. A very slowly developing complaint such as a stomach ulcer will not disappear overnight, but other complaints such as common colds or sinusitis can get better quickly. Remember treatment involves working from the inside out in homeopathy. This means that superficial outer symptoms such as skin disorders are often the last symptoms to go. Be patient. It is much better for you to be cured of both the cause of your illness and its symptoms rather than merely to relieve the symptoms. Every case is different, just as no two patients are alike.
Can I treat myself with Homeopathic remedies?
Anyone can learn to use some basic homeopathic remedies at home. There are a number of excellent remedies which deal effectively with first aid problems such as cuts, stings, burns, bruises, stomach aches, and childhood complaints. Ask your naturopathic physician for further information or click here to find out more. If any minor complaint does not respond to your first aid treatment, consult your naturopathic physician.
Top
Important tips
Do...
Leave your mouth free from food and liquid 20-30 minutes each side of taking the remedy.
Keep the tablets away from direct sunlight.
Store the tablets away from strong smelling perfumes or after
shaves.
Don't...
Swallow the tablet whole, it should be sucked or chewed slowly until it dissolves completely in the mouth.
Drink coffee or smoke while taking the treatment.
Touch the pills directly with your hands, always tap the tablets into the lid of the container as the sweat from the hands can absorb the remedy.
More Information
Top
Copyright Alternative Medicine Online (AMO) Publication No. T002
May 2005
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Disclaimer |