What is Acupressure?

What is Acupressure?

A common practice in alternative medicine is known as acupressure. Acupressure is defined as being the application of the hands or the fingers to the body, creating pressure on the body. These specific points on the body, which are commonly referred to as acupoints by many acupressure practitioners, lie along meridians which are perceived to be invisible lines made up of flowing energy in the body.

Acupressure comes from traditional Chinese medicine. In traditional medicine, the stimulation of these points using acupuncture or acupressure has been thought to restore the proper flow of energy in the body, known as Qi, as well as to treat a number of specific conditions and ailments including headaches, nausea and muscle tension.

Acupressure can either be done on your own self or performed by a practitioner, typically a licensed acupuncturist. There are a number of different acupressure points, but one of the most common ones is known as PC6, and it is located just on the inside of your wrist. Another can be found in the skin between the thumb and the forefinger, and it is believed that placing pressure here for a period of time can relieve nausea as well as chronic headaches.

Acupressure is not for everyone, but if you have a chronic condition and you are looking for a non-conventional way to treat it, then you should consider that alternative medicine practices such as acupressure and acupuncture have shown themselves to be capable of helping in certain situations. Work with a licensed acupuncturist when determining whether or not this type of therapy can benefit you.

Filed Under: Ancient Practices, Chinese Medicine Tagged With: , ,

Are you Making Mistakes with Herbal Remedies?

Are you Making Mistakes with Herbal Remedies?

When it comes to taking herbs, you may actually be unwittingly making a mistake that could potentially harm your health. Here is a look at one of the biggest mistakes that you could be making when it comes to taking herbs.

Are you drinking chamomile tea without really knowing what types of medications it is capable of interacting with?

Most people think that chamomile tea is simply harmless, but the truth is that this seemingly harmless tea can have some pretty serious side effects when it is combined with specific types of medications, and so it is important for you to be aware of these potential interactions so that you can avoid them.

Here is an example: There was a case that was published in Canadian Medical Association Journal in the April 2006 issue that describes how a 70 year old woman was being treated by her physician with a drug called warfarin, when she was simultaneously using chamomile. She ended up being admitted to the hospital because she had internal bleeding, and it turned out that she had been using chamomile body lotion and chamomile tea as a means of self treating some cold symptoms that she had.

There is actually a pretty extensive list of drugs and medications that are capable of interacting with chamomile. It is important that you speak to your physician before you take chamomile, or tell your physician that you are taking chamomile if he or she plans to put you on a new medication so that you can prevent a completely unnecessary interaction from happening between your medications and your herbal supplements. A little bit of forethought can go a long way in ensuring your good health and overall safety.

Filed Under: Ancient Practices, Herbal Tagged With: ,

How to Use Lemon Balm

Lemon balm herbal tea

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How to Use Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is also known as Melissa officinalis, and it is an herb that is used fairly regularly for the treatment of stress and anxiety. This essential herb is actually a member belonging to the mint family. It contains what are known as terpenes, and these are chemicals that are thought to be capable of producing a relaxing effect. There are a number of potential uses for this lemon balm herb. Some of the common health claims that lemon balm is applied to are going to include the prevention or the treatment of the following conditions: Heartburn, indigestion, genital herpes, cold sores, insomnia and anxiety.

There have not been very many scientific studies to date that have focused on any health benefits that are associated with lemon balm. Despite this, findings from the currently available research are suggesting that this herb is definitely showing promise in the treatment of a number of things. Because of its antiviral properties, lemon balm can be used to treat cold sores for example. Lemon balm may also be capable of benefiting people that are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, at least according to a study from back in 2003. Additionally, lemon balm has been recommended for the treatment of insomnia, anxiety and a number of other conditions as well. Lemon balm is generally going to be considered to be safe, but it can interact with some medications and so you should not attempt using it as a supplement without first speaking to your physician.

You can generally purchase lemon balm in a capsule, tincture or tea form depending on personal preference. Make sure when making lemon balm tea that you keep the steam in, because it is thought to contain all of the therapeutic aromatic oils of the herb.

Filed Under: Ancient Practices, Herbal, Traditional Medicine Tagged With: ,

Using Essential Oils Daily

Glass vial containing Lime Essential Oil

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Using Essential Oils Daily

Essential oils and aromatherapy have been proven in some studies to benefit the body and overall health in different ways. There are hundreds of different essential oils that are said to be capable of enhancing health, but that does not mean that every one of them has been studied in depth to explore the beneficial effects. The current research regarding aromatherapy is somewhat limited, but some essential oils have so far proven themselves capable of helping in the treatment of specific conditions.

Lemon, for example, is said to be capable of improving your mood when you breathe in its scent. This is according to a study from 2008 that tested 56 volunteers. Studies have also showed, however, that lemon oil does not lower blood pressure, ease pain or lessen stress. A study in 2009 indicated that animals inhaling linalool from lemon essential oil decreased their stress-elevated immune cell levels.

Another essential oil that has proven itself capable of working is lavender. People say that lavender has a sedative effect, and so it has proven itself capable of relieving anxiety and lessening insomnia in several different studies. One study was published in 2007 that showed lavender to be capable of alleviating agitated behaviors in older adults suffering from dementia.

Tea tree oil has been used for a very long time in folk medicine for the purpose of treating burns, cuts, infections and a number of other skin conditions. It may also be capable of killing Staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria that is responsible for causing staph infections, at least according to a report from 2009.  Other studies have showed that tea tree oil can be effective in treating a number of other conditions including dandruff, athlete’s foot and warts.

Another worthwhile essential oil is rosemary. If you sniff rosemary for five minutes you can experience a decrease in a stress hormone known as cortisol, according to a study that was conducted in 2007.

Filed Under: Ancient Practices, Traditional Medicine Tagged With: ,

Understanding Aromatherapy and Essential Oils

Tea Tree Oil

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Understanding Aromatherapy and Essential Oils

In the alternative medicine known as aromatherapy, specific plants known as essential oils are utilized in order to promote healing and to stimulate well being. If you are suffering from any of a number of different conditions, then the odds are good that aromatherapy may be able to have some kind of an impact. Aromatherapy is often incorporated into other therapies, such as massage for example, because you can apply the essential oils into the skin by way of a carrier oil. Aromatherapy oils can also be inhaled using an aromatherapy diffuser or something similar for example.

You can think of essential oils as being a highly potent substance containing all of the aromatic compounds from within a plant. These oils are capable of being extracted from a wide variety of different parts of the plant, including the roots, the leaves and the flowers.

There are a wide variety of different types of aromatherapy practices and essential oils. Some of these essential oils are more advantageous than others in delivering the results that they are meant to. Five essential oils that have been proven to be successful include lemon, lavender, tea tree, rosemary and peppermint.

Breathing in lemon can improve your mood significantly according to a study from 2008. Lavender is believed to have sedative properties, and so it can relieve insomnia and anxiety according to a number of different studies. Tea tree oil has been used in folk medicine for many years for burns, cuts, infections and a number of other skin conditions and it is recommended for use in pets as well as people. Rosemary has a scent that can help you relieve stress because it decreases cortisol levels. Peppermint on the other hand can help to relieve irritable bowel and when breathed in can relieve tension headaches and improve energy. These are all basic essential oils and herbs that can have a profoundly positive impact when you use them properly from day to day.

Filed Under: Ancient Practices, Chinese Medicine Tagged With: ,

Acupuncture for Pain Relief

Basic Acupuncture.

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Acupuncture for Pain Relief

There are a number of different pain conditions that acupuncture can be used to help, including people that are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, people that have severe menstrual cramps and people that have TMJ which is also known as temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Acupuncture has also been beneficial for people dealing with arthritis conditions, lower back pain, headaches and migraines.

Acupuncture for Headaches and Migraines

According to a research review that was published back in 2009, acupuncture can be as effective as medication if not more so than in protecting people from migraines. Another review done in 2009 indicated that acupuncture may also be capable of benefiting people that have frequent chronic tension headache episodes.

Acupuncture for Arthritic Conditions

According to recent research, acupuncture may also be capable of benefiting people that have osteoarthritis, especially in the knees. According to a review and a meta-analysis in 2007, researchers have found that administering acupuncture in an intensive treatment regimen over two to four weeks may offer significant relief for this type of arthritis related knee pain.

Acupuncture for Lower Back Pain

According to a study back in 2009, 638 adults that had chronic lower back pain were studied. They participated and underwent 10 different acupuncture sessions that were administered across a period of seven weeks. These people showed much greater improvement in their symptoms in comparison to those that only received standard care. A year after the treatment, the study members that were in the acupuncture group had still showed significant improvements in their dysfunction, showing the potential for long term relief.

Emerging evidence is suggesting that a number of different people are going to be able to benefit from acupuncture, including people that are suffering from TMJ or temporomandibular joint dysfunction, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome and even menstrual cramps. These are just some of the ailments that have shown to be treatable using acupuncture and other alternative treatments.

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Understanding Acupuncture as an Alternative Treatment

Understanding Acupuncture as an Alternative Treatment

Originally practiced in Chinese Medicine for many years, acupuncture is regarded as an alternative medical therapy that involves the use of needles in order to stimulate very specific points on your body. Each of these points is said to be connected with meridians, which are specific pathways within the body that are responsible for carrying your vital energy throughout your body.

According to theories regarding acupuncture, it is blockages in your natural flow of energy or “chi” that disrupt your well being and lead to become ill. It is believed that when you stimulate these acupuncture points, blockages can be cleared up that will allow you to return to a healthier and more vital state. Because this type of practice involves needles, it is vitally essential that you only allow a licensed practitioner to practice acupuncture on your body, and that you never do it to your own self.

Acupuncture is commonly used for treating pain, and pain complaints and musculoskeletal complaints actually account for as many as seven of the top ten different conditions that individuals use acupuncture for. According to the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, acupuncture is appearing to be a truly promising alternative for people with a wide variety of different pain conditions, but it is apparent that further research is going to be needed before any conclusions can be drawn about how effective acupuncture actually is for these conditions.

Acupuncture is commonly used for migraines and regular headaches, arthritis conditions and lower back pain. Acupuncture has also been recommended for people that are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, people that have severe menstrual cramps and people that have TMJ which is also known as temporomandibular joint dysfunction. There are a number of other ailments as well that acupuncture may be capable of treating, but the official word is still out as people try to understand how acupuncture can impact the flow of energy in the body, and the health of the body accordingly.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Ancient Practices Tagged With: ,

Is an Electronic Cigarette Safer than a Regular Cigarette?

Electronic Cigarettes
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Some say yes, others say no. Whatever the response, people are citing a number of different reasons for their opinion.

Those who believe that an electronic cigarette is safer than a regular cigarette give several typical responses. One is that the device is safer because no tobacco product is being burned, thus no tars or chemicals are being taken into the body (as happens with regular cigarettes).

Others say that an electronic cigarette is safer because even if the contains some nicotine liquid, the amount taken in is nowhere near that of a regular cigarette. Less nicotine means less danger from nicotine intake; plus, taking in less nicotine can help them cut down or even stop smoking regular cigarettes.

The argument is also made that an electronic cigarette is safer because nothing is burning. There is no danger of burning oneself or someone else with the lit end, or of anything catching fire should one fall asleep while smoking an electronic cigarette. This can be especially true, they say, of those devices that have automatic shut-off features that operate when the device has not been puffed on for a while.

Those who take an opposing view say they believe an electronic cigarette is not safer because the filters and delivery methods in the devices can actually release harmful chemicals. They also say that if one smokes an electronic cigarette that contains liquid nicotine, the chemical is being absorbed in the body, and even a small amount is too much.

They also say that anyone who truly wants to quit smoking can take advantage of smoking cessation methods such as nicotine patches or even acupuncture, which is a part of traditional Chinese medicine practices. Any of these may help someone be able to stop smoking entirely, without having to rely on e-cigarettes.

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Traditional Chinese Medicine – An introduction

Chinese medicine shop
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TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is often an alternative source of health medicine all over the world, dominating the Asian market to begin with. In fact, it is considered as the mainstream method of treatment all over in East Asia. The West is yet to accept it as a major force in the medical world as the majority of the Western society depends largely on allopathic remedies.

TCM is not a single dimensional way of treating people as it consists of various forms of treatments such as acupuncture, massage, herbs and dietary therapies. TCM’s roots are supposedly quite deep in to the history of ancient China. Arguably it is the kind of treatment that has been going on in China and East Asia for thousands of years. TCM is based on the clinical observation of Nature and how it interacts with the human body, and vice versa. It studies the cosmos as well to get deep in to the remedial system of human body system. TCM has got its practice majorly through family tradition as it has moved from one generation to the other to establish its dominance.

China is one of those countries who prefer to update themselves with modern technologies and advancements without refusing the history, culture and tradition. As a part of that, TCM has also been modernized in its application. Now the major ingredients of TCM, such as herbs and plants, are transformed in to tablets and soluble granules. China has its medication source from living creatures as well. The living creatures used for preparing TCM, which are about 25 in number, include frogs, earthworms, bees and snakes. Their key ingredients are now packed in sachets as pills. Another example of its modernization is that Artemisinin, an extensively used western drug to treat malaria, has got its inspiration from the major ingredients of TCM.

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Filed Under: Acupuncture, Ancient Practices, Chinese Medicine, Traditional Medicine Tagged With: , ,

Benefits of Chinese Medicine

Chinese traditional medicine includes a variety of treatment methods such as acupuncture, dietary therapy and herbal medicine that are used for treating health problems. It includes massage techniques such as Tui Na and Shiatsu through which various ailments can be brought to normal levels.

The philosophy behind Chinese Medicine is that the human body is made up of a set of systems that are interconnected with one another. Chinese medical practitioners akin the human body to the universe and state that it is ruled by yin and yang energies. Their view of disease or illness is that it arises out of the malfunctioning of interconnected body systems or simply put – an imbalance in yin and yang forces. It is only when there is harmony between these two life forces that a person’s qi or vitality is maintained and they enjoy good health. There are five critical elements in the human body and Chinese medicine aims to balance these elements to heal the body of its various illnesses.

Chinese health medicine is useful for treating a variety of health problems. Here is a look at the conditions that it can treat:

Respiratory problems such as chronic cough, perennial rhinitis, asthma, bronchitis and sinusitis

Gastro-intestinal problems such as chronic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis

Rheumatological problems and urinary problems

Psychological problems such as depression, anxiety and so on

In the west, Chinese alternative medicine is viewed as alternative form of therapy, but in China it is used alongside modern medicine. Its popularity has risen over the years, owing to the fact that it does not cause any side effects since it does not make use of any harmful chemicals. Those who have undergone treatment feel re-energized and vitalized. It has shown positive results for problems such as asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, gastro-intestinal diseases and so on.

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