Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Medicine

There are reasons why people chose alternative medicine and reasons why they avoid it, preferring conventional medicine. Alternative medicine is safer than standard health treatments and usually works. It's true that it can't be used in severe conditions like car accidents or other severe emergencies, but be that as it may, there are enough situations in which alternative medicine is recommended. When it comes to emotional and spiritual needs, non-conventional medicine may come up with the solution. Furthermore, it's better for preventing illnesses than standard medicine. More and more physicians nowadays agree upon the benefits of alternative medicine and also even advise their clients to choose the best natural treatment for them.

One of the advantages of alternative medicine is that it encompasses a broad range of therapies, treatments and products, thus the search for obtaining positive results doesn't flow on a narrow path at all.
A pretty important disadvantage states the idea that, even though the expenses of using acupuncture or chiropractic are sometimes covered by health insurances, the majority of alternative treatments are not reimbursed.

There are certain risks that come along with the usage of natural remedies. Despite the use of herbs throughout the years and even ancient times, not all of them have been studied regarding their safety and efficiency. There are issues concerning their purity and their possible interaction with other substances related to conventional therapies. The majority of information regarding herbs have been perpetuated throughout history and with the help of tradition. Many people assume that herbal medicines are better than synthetic drugs simply because, well, they are natural and not synthetic, therefore present no risk. But they are not risk free; they can do more harm than good if taken without having the details of their effects over the body.

People might abuse of natural medicines the same way as they do it in the case of synthetic drugs. They have the misconception that if unconventional medicine consists of herbal products which are natural, then there is no harm done if they triple the dosage or more. This is totally wrong and can have serious consequences. Take vitamins for example. They are just vitamins, right? They can't possibly do any damage inside the body. But they do. Vitamin overdosing or vitamin toxicity can lead to unpleasant effects depending on the vitamin that has been taken one too many times. Vitamin A over dosage can cause liver problems, osteoporosis, hair loss and other dangerous effects and Hypervitaminosis D leads to dehydration, vomiting, anorexia and even kidney stones.

An advantage of using herbal remedies concerns the effectiveness related with chronic health issues that don't respond well or even at all to traditional medicines. If long term medication is needed, then herbs are pretty much safer than conventional drugs. The alternative medicine industry takes advantage from this and keeps evolving and developing due to the constant need for natural remedies.

Another advantage is the low cost of herbal products compared to synthetic drugs which are highly priced for the simple reason that researching and testing the products is expensive. Furthermore, herbal products can be bought without a prescription and are easy to procure. The availability of natural remedies is outstanding; chamomile for example can be easily picked out from a nearby field.

The advantages of using herbal medicines are numerous, but so are the disadvantages. The best idea would be to consider modern medicine according to the severity of the illness, to consult a physician upon the proper medication and dosage and if you do chose the alternative medicine, try to gather enough information upon both kinds of treatments, natural or synthetic, so you may reassure yourself that you took the right decision to balance your health situation.

By Peter Rosenblum

Natural Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatments for Pain Relief

The condition in which numbness, pain, and tingling is experienced in the hands or fingers, especially the index, middle, ring fingers or the thumb, is known as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. In this condition, weakness in the hands and loss of sensation in fingers is also experienced.
Repetitive hand and finger use, especially with improper positioning, is the main cause. The compression of the median nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel results leads to this condition. It can also occur because of conditions like arthritis, diabetes, hypothyroidism, obesity, and pregnancy.
Natural Treatments
Following is a list of some very effective and natural Carpal Tunnel Syndrome treatments that can help relieve the pain:
1. Acupuncture
Thin needles are inserted into particular points on the body by acupuncturists. According to traditional theory, pain occurs because of blockages along with body's energy pathways, known as meridians. These blockages are released by acupuncture and the flow of energy along meridians is improved. According to science, natural pain-relieving chemicals are released by acupuncture into the body, as a result of which circulation in the body is promoted, and the nervous system is balanced.
2. Acupressure
Like acupuncture, the same principles are followed in acupressure too, but rather an acupressurist applies pressure to the acupuncture points instead of needles. It is believed that blood flow to the hands and wrists is stimulated, and the swelling and numbness in the area are eased by this. Typically, the acupressure points are on the forearms, hands and wrists.
3. Vitamin B6
According to research studies, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is associated with a deficiency of vitamin B6. It has also been discovered by researchers that the frequency and prevalence of it also increased because of lower levels of vitamin B6. Avocados, bananas, barley, bok choy, brown rice, chicken, chick peas, mangoes, pork, potatoes, salmon, sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, and turkey are among the food sources containing vitamin B6.
4. Yoga and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms can be reduced with the help of yoga. Patients with it can benefit from yoga to quite an extent, including reduction in pain and improvement in grip strength. Yoga postures are meant to balance, strengthen and stretch the upper-body joints, including those in the hands and wrists.
5. Chiropractic and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms can also be reduced with the help of chiropractic care, and function can be improved too. In chiropractic care, the body joints and the soft tissues of the arms and spine are manipulated. It has been concluded by researchers that chiropractic care is as effective as traditional care.
Some people suffering from mild Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms can take breaks more frequently to rest their hands and apply cold packs to ease their discomfort and reduce swelling. If this does offer relief within a couple of weeks, then they can try one or all the mentioned natural and effective treatments for pain relief.

Saad Naveed Bari

EVERYDAY FACIAL ACUPRESSURE FOR REJUVENTATION AND WELLBEING

Facial massage focuses on muscle properties, while facial acupressure addresses many levels, including toning muscles, energy balance and flow, specific point remedies, general wellness, skin tone and circulation. Many meridians and reflex zones run through the face so when you affect points on the face, you are affecting deeper layers o

f greater complexity.
Acupressure can be used to correct the internal imbalances that create the face’s wrinkles, sagging, discoloration, dark circles, or “bags” under the eyes.

How Does Acupressure Work?
Acupressure’s power for facial rejuvenation manifests in different ways:
* It helps the body regulate the free flow of Qi and blood to facilitate nutrient absorption.
* It encourages lymph drainage and enhances the skin’s ability to “breathe.”

* It stimulates the skin’s own ability for collagen production, softening the skin and smoothing wrinkles, and promotes normal secretion from the sweat and oil glands.
* It regulates and stimulates internal organ system function and promotes muscle contraction.
Acupressure results may take five to 10 minutes to take effect. If you end with this session it's nice to save time for some last minute energy work or quiet time before the client jumps up and gets dressed. Sometimes you can just sit a few minutes, lightly touching the client. If you begin with this session, the client will experience the benefits while receiving the rest of their massage.

Tools
Your hands will always be your most valuable tools but there are a few utensils that you can use for detailed work. If you have big hands and fingers, you may not be able to reach all the points on the face. Precision on the face is important. Muscles are small and there are crooks and crannies you need to access. If your fingers can't do it, try these. A cocktail drink mixer. These are typically plastic but glass ones can be purchased. You have a larger end that is rounded and one end that is smaller, giving you great versatility. Stones that are is smooth and small enough at one end to get into detailed areas. These can all be cleaned and reused. You could also use a chop stick. This is longer and easier for some people to handle and control. Wooden ones cannot be properly cleaned, so you'll have to discard them after use. Just be sure to have smooth ends on all tools. It's best to first practice on yourself in front of a mirror. This way you can feel and adapt the pressure for each utensil. The face can be sensitive, so if you use a utensil, be sure to practice beforehand.

Technique
Everyday Facial Acupressure Acupressure techniques vary according to your desired result. For instance, if you are attempting to get rid of a headache, you might deeply massage a point for one to two minutes. For our purposes, it is suggested that you work the point for 12 to 15 back-and-forth sweeping movements or circular combinations, which should take a few seconds. Use the specific point as your intended center of work but include the local surrounding area as well.The pressure will vary according to its location on the face, so use enough pressure to activate the point but not so much as to cause pain.
Also just tapping each point for a minute ot two works well by stimulating the facial meridians and is easy to do anywhere!

USING ACUPRESSURE TO RELIEVE HEADACHES

Acupressure massage promotes blood and energy flows, smoothes meridians and regulates organs, and thus benefits the overall physical condition. By selecting the appropriate acupoints and techniques, acupressure massage can be an effective complementary treatment for many health problems. Generally, you just need to select an appropriate massage plan that suits your health need, perform it in the morning and evening and make it last 20-30 minutes each time. When kneading or pressing on particular points, there should be enough force to bring about numbness or soreness, while rubbing or wiping should create a feeling of warmth. This section introduces massage plans for some common headache problems, which are recommended to be used once or twice a day or as needed.

MASSAGE TO RELIEVE HEADACHE

A headache is a symptom of many acute and chronic conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) claims that headache is either due to pathogenic obstructions or inadequate nourishment in the head region. Acupressure massage is most suited for headache due to flu, migraine or muscular tension. See chart above for step numbers to match instructions below.
1. Press and knead between the eyebrows 30 times.
2. Wipe the forehead with the middle knuckles of the index fingers, 30 times.
3. Thumb-knead the temples 30 times, then wipe back towards the hairline 30 times.
4. Press and knead the depressions below the occipital bone (Gb20), at the bottom of the skull, 30 times.
5. Clench the fists and beat the middle of the back of the opposite shoulder (Gb21), 15 times on each side.
6. Nip and knead the middle part of the palm web, between the thumb and the index finger (Li4), 30 times on each hand.

Add the following steps for individuals with:
Migraine:
7. Use the middle fingers to knead the corners of the forehead inside the hairline (St8), 30 times. Firmly wipe again the temple of the affected side, 20 times. Nip and knead the back of forearm 2-finger-breadths above the wrist (Sj5), 30 times on each side. Nip and knead on the back of the palm between the ring and little finger (Sj3), 30 times on each side.

Headache Located In The Crown:
8. Knead the center of the crown of the head (Du20), 30 times.
9. Knead the front of the forearm, 2-finger-breadths above the midline of the wrist (Pc6), 30 times on each side.
10. Knead the dorsum of the foot in the depression between the big toe and the second toe (Lr3), 30 times on each side.
11. Rub the center of the sole of the foot (Kl1), 30 times on each side.

Headache Located In The Back Of The Neck:
4. Knead the back of the head with the thumbs, 30 times.
7. Knead the base of the little finger (Si3), 30 times on each side.