Children's Health And The Alternative

The area of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Children's Health deserves much more attention and research.

So you'd think children's health is all about pediatrics, but it's really much more than that and even starts way before a child is born with the parents and their lives and involvement. It may seem that the focus is an individual child, but actually it's the entire family unit.

There's so much involved and it happens in stages and cycles of life. From planning a family, conception leading to pregnancy and childbirth, and then beginning with childhood vaccines shortly after birth.

Whether it's in in hospitals, long term care facilities, emergency care, or multidisciplinary primary health care settings, the natural community believes that healthy communities raise healthy children. So that also means empowering parents to use safe, effective and natural medicines at home with their children.

 

Natural / Alternative medicine offers a unique holistic approach to empowering children and families to break out of the conventional box and to actually improve their health.

Alternative care can compliment and is in addition to a child's regular doctor visits. The natural approach to health and healing differs from conventional medicine. By using gentle and non invasive treatments to restore and maintain health, side effects from natural treatments are absent or at least minor or rare.

 
As with adults, more aggressive therapies and surgery with children should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

Communicating and listening to a child's symptoms is important for clues that indicate where the imbalance is in the body, and addressing the underlying causes of said symptoms will bring about healing.

The approach of suppressing symptoms thereby avoiding the cause through conventional medicine, will only cause more symptoms and decrease health.

 

Creating an individual health plan is necessary to focus on a child's specific strengths, weaknesses, sensitivities, and susceptibilities based on history, lifestyle, emotional health, mental health, environment and genetics.

The individual plan must be developed specifically for a child and may include the use of various different natural healing modalities.

The goal is to stimulate a child's natural healing ability through the use of natural medicines that are effective and safe. The body has an amazing talent to self heal given the correct environment and circumstances.

Natural and alternative medicine focuses on tweaking this natural talent to restore and maintain health and to get rid of blocks and barriers to healing. Health and healing can unfortunately be prevented by toxins, bad nutrition, and even too much stress.

Parents need to be encouraged to ask questions and to be empowered to make correct decisions about their own and their child's health by using open and honest communication. Even before conception while involved in family planning, they must make the effort to show their concerns and ask questions.

 

Both parents and a child's doctor and natural practitioner need to review important information and details together. In this way, both traditional wisdom combined with modern medicine and research are used to measure parents' health and that of each individual child so as to create a specific treatment plan.

 

Treatment plans and natural modalities may include:

• Herbal medicine (specific for children)
• Nutritional medicine
• Homeopathy
• Acupressure
• Bodywork / Massage
• Hydrotherapy
• Mind-body medicine

Also, counseling for parents and their children is necessary for support, especially during transitions and different stages in life, and gentle, understanding guidance while dealing with challenging events towards a life that is more balanced.

Natural medicine is useful for any child, with whatever symptoms they may have, because focus is given to improving the ability to heal. A treatment plan's extent, length, and other specifics will vary depending on an individual child's level of well being and health.

Parents often visit both doctors and natural practitioners in general for advice and help with many things, among them being:

stomach aches, stress, immunization and vaccine options or information, sleep disturbances, skin rashes / eczema / skin issues, sinus / nasal issues, hyperactivity, food sensitivity, flu, fever, eye infections such as pink eye or conjunctivitis, ear infections such as otitis media, diarrhea / constipation, cough, cradle cap, chickenpox, cold, colic, attention disorders, asthma, and allergies, and the list goes on...

Natural / Alternative Practitioners can help and should be consulted besides for doctors in order to give parents an informed choice as to how they wish to proceed in the treatment of their children.

As well, through Alternative medicine we can:

• aid kids and help them stay away from being exposed to various toxins and also help their body detoxify,
• reduce the risk of problems stemming from drugs, from being vaccinated or having surgeries,
• allow parents to receive appropriate information regarding childrens vaccinations, more natural vaccines or alternative choices,
• reduce a mother's and child's recovery time after birth,
• reduce the possibility of being injured, of having surgery, physical trauma, and emotional / mental trauma
• help improve a child's ability learn, concentrate, and study without the use of drugs in conditions such as ADD, ADHD, learning disorders or hyperactivity.
• optimize health through the stages of conception, growth and development, to adult,
• Make available to parents health advice congruent with a natural approach.

As much as possible, Alternative practitioners should also be taught to do total physical exams, and to know how to take a thorough medical history, but at the very least they should work hand in hand with the child's physician, considering and taking into account their medical exam and diagnoses.

All children should have a “physical” annualy at least. Depending on a child's medical history and symptoms, other examinations and tests should be done, such as blood tests, allergy tests, stress, orthopedic, or a nutritional assessment.

Performing and interpreting both natural and conventional medicine lab tests is necessary. Depending a child's present situation (and medical results obtained), a natural practitioner may ask and recommend other additional tests to evaluate stress, toxins, allergies, or sensitivities to food / substances etc.

This way, diagnosing is done for conditions from both a conventional as well as natural point of view. Natural diagnosis is more for seeking out specific imbalances in our body and systems.

Through this natural and alternative practitioners can get to the root cause of disease, not only its symptoms, and catch early disturbances, before they turn into conditions, diseases, and illnesses.

When natural treatment plans are prescribed and carried out, a child's specific plan may involve combinations of natural treatments and modalities some of which were mentioned. 

Progress is then monitored both by a parent as well as the practitioner. Reassessment in follow up visits during and following treatment plans is essential in order to assess a child's progress.

It is important to work in tandem with other different health care experts and practitioners. Naturopathic doctors, as well as other natural and alternative therapists actually do refer to pediatricians, work with them and family doctors, Osteopaths, Chiropractors, massage therapists, counselors and other various professionals to provide integrative healthcare of high standards as a team.

Often, natural doctors and practitioners may have similar training to physicians, but their guiding principles may be different. First and foremost, a child's health is top priority. As a result, not to cause harm, they use natural treatments that are effective and safe as opposed to conventional medicine which may tax the system and even be toxic.

The ultimate goal, is to strengthen and improve each person's ability to heal the self, and not to override the body's natural healing mechanisms. 

This is done by first finding and then treating the cause of disease rather than only suppressing symptoms, healing the whole person with their body, mind, and spirit, with thorough assessments, examinations, and individualized treatment plans, and by teaching the important principles of life long prevention and healthy natural living.

The Ultimate Weight Loss Secret!!!

So you want to lose weight, and you want to do it fast, and you don't want to break your head doing it. 

The idea of how to keep weight off easily goes even further than just Boosting Your Goal with booster foods and nutrition. There are two ways to go about it. Each way is very powerful in and of itself. Combined, it goes above and beyond. KABOOM! You need to do it yourself though.

Shhhh. Here's the secret. The Blood Type Diet and Food Combining.

Either regime or diet if you will, (though I hate the word diet) has advantages and disadvantages in terms of patience and choices. They both take getting used to and demand consistency. Both have ways or things that you should or should not eat, but once you got it, you got it and it's smooth sailing. 

It's way not as complicated as it sounds but both systems will require some trying and research on your part. YOU are the laboratory. And it's way much simpler than having to count calories. Who wants to do that, eh? Carry around a calorie counter, and count points? Feh!!! 

Isn't it much more easy and convenient to eat your fill, of course to a healthy point, not over stuffing yourself. You still need room in there to digest. Do NOT overtax the liver.

The premise of either system has to do with the link between digestion, enzymes, and hormones. I am simplifying it here for you and giving you the basis for further reading, research, and to try on yourself.

In the Blood Type Diet based on Dr. Ddamo's teachings each person eats the “ideal foods consistent with their blood type” and with the way their particular blood type digests foods and reacts to them internally. The different blood types are also based on historical archetypes and the types of foods they have eaten throughout history in different locations. Flesh eaters, versus fruit and vegetable eaters, versus grain eaters, versus legume eaters, versus dairy eaters, versus everything eaters etc.

There are Positive, Neutral, and Negative foods. You want to eat Positives and Neutrals. Positive foods for example will build and boost your immune system, or help you fight off certain diseases. They have overall or specific positive impact on your body and its systems. 

Neutral foods will not necessarily have this boosting or building effect, but they don't have a negative effect either, so they're okay to eat. 

The negatives you want to stay away from as much as possible, as they may cause you to build up mucous, or may weaken you in certain ways, or bring about different ailments if you eat them consistently.

There's some controversy out there regarding this system and its biochemical basis and theories, but it's worked for me and many many many others. A buddy of mine actually turned me on to this some years back. He used to be vegetarian with his wife and kids, started eating according to his blood type which is actually more meat oriented, and he just shed the pounds like that. No more vegetarian. So sorry...

In food combining, foods are eaten in a way that gives the body the proper time and the correct internal environment to separately digest and assimilate foods in an ideal fashion.

As far as food combining goes, I have read and seen many approaches both in books, charts, and on the web. The first I read about it was from Dr. Norman Walker of blessed memory. who was also known as “The Carrot Juice Man”. 

He wrote a book (among many books) called, Pure and Simple Natural Weight Control. It was by following the regime and way of life laid down in this book, that I noticed both quick and long lasting results that kept me thin, healthy, and happy. Also suggested to me by different friends who like myself are very into juicing and staying healthy.

The basic premise is that you don't mix complex carbohydrates such as breads, grains, and cereals, as well as high glycemic fruits with proteins at the same meal, and “at least” within a 2 hour period. There goes tuna or peanut butter sandwiches! Nu nu. What can I tell you? 

Proteins / fats and vegetables, fine. Complex Carbs and vegetables, fine. Carbs and high glycemic fruits, fine.

This is the basis, and you will see many variations out there. Choose what works best for you. With this system, your body has time to digest in proper order and with minimum exertion and much ease. You will feel less bloated and your hormones will not get messed up. Your system will also, well, uh, be moving very well...

So what do you think? What happens when you combine both systems? Eating the proper foods based on your blood type, while combining them in the proper time and order at appropriate meals. I leave it up to you to find out. Start doing it now, and in no time it will become second nature as you know how and what to eat when.

Otherwise, have fun counting calories on The Weight Watcher's System and become a life time member. I have 2 sisters that are! Tried and true, and it also works of course. IF you have patience for that sort of thing... I don't...

Wake up and start living!!!

The Water of Life

Hi Everyone. Does anyone out there in the crowd know what the best natural treatment for dehydration is?

Anyone ever read the DUNE series by Frank Herbert? In my personal opinion, one of the best Sci Fi series of all time. I've read the books and I've seen the original movie which flopped in the US (yes I admit it), and apparently made it big in Europe, and have also seen the 2 later mini series produced by the Sci Fi Channel. All in all they are all a real psychedelic trip to say the least.

Basically on a vast desert planet scorched by the sun with barely a blade of grass, water is the most precious resource. It is stored, gathered, and cared for as life itself. It is the mission of the natives of this planet to once again transform their world into a green water rich oasis.

An interesting part of the story is the Water of Life, a special poisonous liquid containing the blood essence of a baby giant earthworm drowned in water, which has the power to transform its drinker into higher states of consciousness and psychic energy, if he / she succeeds in transforming the poison in their body and rendering the liquid harmless.

Much can be learned from all this, and I recommend reading the books even if for nothing else but interesting reading, entertainment, and maybe burning a few of your brain cells. It's worth it.
So in Chinese medicine water is known as the Element of Life, and even the Ming Men or Kidney point is known as the "Gate of Life". Water as we know is the Primordial Element that precedes creation even, in the Bible. We are. our bodies as adults mostly made up of water about 75%, and even more so in infants about 90%.

A liquid medium is required for chemical reactions to take place, and as a carrier. You can survive weeks without food, but only a few days without water if you are a normal human being.
Water and drinking plenty of it is sooooo important. I cannot stress it enough. I tell everyone especially my patients to have at least 2 liters a day, in the winter or summer. And that's without doing exercise or heavy workouts. Lack of water and especially dehydration can be the cause of many illnesses and aches and pains in the body.

Especially when treating patients with Osteopathy, drinking water is paramount, as the treatment tends to dry patients out even during a session. Fluids tend to go to wherever one is being treated as the body rallies its resources to work in those specific areas. The fluids must be replenished. They also work to detoxify the said areas of pain, lesion, and discomfort.

I do my best to practice what I preach to everyone. usually I am pretty good at it. So a couple of years ago, I'm at a 2 day martial arts seminar in Caesarea over looking the Mediterranean Sea. Breathtaking and beautiful. and the food was decent. 

I'm in this huge gym getting knocked around, being shlepped on the floor, and thrown around by friends half my age or more. Fighting in the rafters, going through fitness and technique drills, holding my own and getting my wonderful fill of bumps and bruises.

Don't even ask me why I do it. I enjoy it!!! Lo and behold. I forgot to drink enough water. I thought I did, but with the hot weather and expending lots of energy I just did not estimate correctly. Plus someone forgot to have the staff refill the big water cooler for everyone! Sound familiar? I was way too busy with myself to take care of myself, and I thought I knew myself better than myself, and I paid for it dearly.

I had my Homeopathics with me as well as my home made Dit Da Jow ointment for my body. Love the natural stuff!!! So I handled everything pretty well, but it wasn't till a couple of hours later when I got to my friends where I was spending the weekend, that I realized I was totally dehydrated. My aches and pains were pretty much under control, BUT I felt very weak, I had a dull headache, and I was a squeezed shmatta that could not move off the couch. I quickly realized where I was at and what I needed to do.

After a few cups of Seltzer water I was still far from where I needed to be. I then remembered about Electrolytes and about how I had recently recommended them to a patient that was being helped by them. Essential chemicals / ions that your body needs in order to balance its fluids and to carry out cellular function and to maintain proper metabolism. 

VERY IMPORTANT!!!

You can pretty much pick up a decent Rehydration solution or powder at any drug store these days. My friends where I was, are also into health and holistics, but alas, the big tub of Rehydration powder they had was for their goats and it clearly stated on the bottle that they were not for human consumption. Darn. Close but no cigar. I was really tempted, but as bad as I was feeling, I had no desire to risk being turned into a bleating goat. What to do?

So my friend's wife who is a very smart woman, and who also enjoys researching the internet for all sorts of neat stuff, tells me she has a recipe for a home made rehydration drink. Really?!

As soon as she got me the info, I mixed 3 table spoons of sugar, with 1 tea spoon of salt, in 4 cups of water, shook well and dissolved in a bottle, and Voila. I drank it all down, but it was not until the next afternoon after having had another batch the next morning, that I began to feel lighter, more mobile, and felt the heaviness lifting from my head. I had apparently lost lots of water and needed major replenishing. It really helped, and of course I also had more liquids period as well.

I was so excited after that, that I even started looking up more recipes online. Feel free to do the same. In general, don't bother spending money on energy / electrolyte drinks and things of that nature. Unless you have to. Obviously it pays to have some Rehydration solution or powder around in case of emergencies, but you can make your own anyway. It's cheap and easy. Here is an example of one recipe I really like. 2 teaspoons of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and baking soda, added to 1 Liter of water. 

Shaken and not stirred!!!

I am talking to myself here too. ALWAYS keep yourself well hydrated on a regular basis, and also try adding an apple, orange, and banana to your daily diet for some natural electrolytes. And if you're planning on working out summer or winter, drink extra water and bring more along, as well as a mix of your favourite home made Rehydration drink.

I hopefully have learned a big lesson from this experience, so I'll save you a step. So as it says in the good book DUNE, "Water is Life!"

L'Chaim! Hic!

Wake up and start living!!!

Man of Action

Everyone wants to be healthy and wants to know know how to best heal and balance mind, body, and spirit within themselves.

So you say you want to be healthy? Then do something about it. This is a world of action, and man is a creature of action. To get something done we must APPLY our intention and MOVE. Within creation, mineral, vegetable, animal and man, we are the only ones with the ability to make intelligent choices and decisions and to actually act on them. Talking about it is fine and nice but it won't get you anywhere. Not unless you bring it down from your intellect and spirit into manifest reality.

How so?

So as we said, everything manifests physically since we are physical beings, but let's elaborate.
Why do you suppose we stand and walk on our feet and not on our hands? I mean usually. Gymnastics and Yoga are great as exercise and very appropriate, but I mean from day to day. The bottom of our being is the most physical and it connects us to the earth. Our feet and legs are what connect us to reality. They are what drive and take us to where we have to go, and help us do what we have to do.

Higher up are our organs which though physical, also have emotional attributes. The 5 major organs and their respective pairs in Chinese medicine for instance, have connected emotions. Each organ is unique in function and has a related positive and negative emotion. “What do you want, an ulcer?” “Calm your liver!!!” We'll get back to this eventually.

Then there is the head, the seat of our intelligence and spirituality. Yes, thoughts are more subtle and have a lighter less physical energy than the lower parts of our body. They are actually more spiritual and connected to our soul, which though it permeates our entire being is most manifest in the head.

All actions start with a thought / desire. When you want a carton of milk, you need to think about going to the grocery for it. Notice also how when you think of a disturbing thought for instance, you then feel the emotions lower down in the stomach or chest for instance. In many spiritual / energetic practices the head is the area of the third eye in the middle of the forehead. The frontal lobe of the brain which is barely used or channeled in the average human being, is the seat of powerful psychic energy. So this area is both spiritual and intellectual. Try to stop thinking for a few seconds. Good luck. If you failed don't worry. It's a sign that you are alive.
These are the different parts of ourselves that make up our being, and in striving for and maintaining health, we need to address them all. How do we do it?

Physically – nutrition, Exercise, Grooming, Health Care...

Balanced diet and variety from food groups, drinking enough water, taking supplements / herbs / homeopathy if needed, going to the gym or an exercise / martial arts class, hiking, breathing, bathing and brushing your hair and teeth, and seeing a doctor or health care practitioner when necessary, acupuncture / reflexology / body work / massage...

Mentally / Emotionally – Counseling, Therapy, Inner work..
Seeing a Psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker, Going to a Life Coach or Substance Abuse counselor, attending Life Transformation Workshops...

Spiritually / Intellectually – Education, Meditation, Prayer, Refining our attributes and Relationships...

Taking courses in University or elsewhere for expanding our knowledge, going to a House of Prayer for Services, attending a silent retreat, consciously focusing on our breath, connecting to others and to the Creator, being mindful of ourselves and our actions, treating others with love and respect, working on our inner and global consciousness...

These are a few basic examples that we barely touched upon, just to give us an idea as to what it's all about. We will go deeper when we can to get a better picture and to put it all together.
There is definitely a crossover and spillover among the different areas of the body, and even in the approaches to our health and well-being. This again because there are often borders that are not that clear especially since we are unified, complex, beings present in one body. Each area of the body contains elements of all the others and flow to each other, but each area is unique in what it manifests MOSTLY.

Take something like Homeopathy for instance, which in some cases is actually meant to treat someone physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. However it is actually a physical application of remedies. Also even within one category and approach there could be a number of approaches that one should and can be doing at once. Like nutrition, acupuncture, and exercise for instance. Makes sense, right?

There you have it. Enough to get you started. That's what I mean when I talk about a multidisciplinary approach to health. Don't ignore the different parts of yourself. Pay attention and address them all. Pick and choose what you need and how you want to approach it. Not everything works for everyone. You know yourself the best of all.

Take action.

Wake up and start living!!!

King Solomon's Seal

Also known as Polygonatum or Polygonum, the King Solomon's Seal plant is related to the lily-of-the-valley, and it certainly looks like a larger version of this, but it can have either white or creamy-yellow flowers.

Polygonatum was first used in the treatment of diabetes in 1930 by Hedwig Langecker. It is effective in fighting nutritional hyperglycemia, though not that caused by adrenaline release, since it contains its glucokinin.

The main elements of Solomon’s Seal tea are vitamins, saponins (similar to diosgenin), and flavonoids. A solution is used in alternative medicine as an astringent, demulcent, and tonic.

The dried roots are a great laxative and restorative, and is does wonders when it comes to inflammations of the stomach, indigestion, profuse menstruation, piles, general debility, bowel issues, and chronic dysentery. 

One variation of Polygonum is used in Ayurveda as an aphrodisiac. It is also used to treat pain, fever, inflammation, allergy, and weakness.

An herbal remedy used in Chinese medicine is a mix of Polygonatum species. It is supposed to strengthen various organs and enhance the chi.

A solution of Solomon’s Seal can be used in case of internal bleeding, indigestion and other stomach and digestive system complaints. 

Solomon's Seal's thus has wide healing potential. Among other things:

• It can help rebuild damaged cartilage and connective tissue.
• Reduces inflammation and speeds up healing of wounds, bruises, and skin irritation.
• Shortens recovery time from bone injuries and associated connective tissue, such as from broken or stressed bones,  and arthritis including osteoarthritis.
• Helps produce synovial fluid to reduce grinding in joints.
• As needed, tightens or loosens tendons, ligaments, joints and attachments associated with repetitive joint stress, injury,  and inflammation
• Soothes gastrointestinal tract inflammation and injuries.
• Loosens mucous in the lungs.
• Regulates the blood pressure.
• Treats and relieves women's issues.
• It is also a good remedy when it comes to kidney problems, heart conditions and sexual problems.

A decoction is also an excellent face rinse, natural makeup remover, or organic face treatment.

You can also apply Solomon’s Seal roots on open cuts or eczema.

Oil infused with Solomon’s Seal can be kept in the medical cabinet, and is great for broken bones or strains, torn ligaments, and joint problems. 

Solomon’s Seal is useful for many things and  has proven its medical and culinary uses.

Alternative Medicine: Mind Body Practices, the Basics

Here are some more important basics of Complementary Alternative Medicine which people want to know about.

The fascinating area of mind body medicine involves the interrelationship of the body, brain, mind, and attitude, with the idea of using mind or intention to bring about proper body function and to promote a healthy mind and body. Different Alternative Complementary Medicine practices use this concept in various ways.

Meditation or imagery techniques for example include different postures, focused attention, or an open flowing mind toward distractions. Meditation can be used to calm down and relax, improve emotional balance, cope with sickness, or enhance overall health and well being.

Yoga is used for health purposes and has different styles like in martial arts. They usually combine postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. Yoga is used as part of a general health regimen, and also for a variety of health conditions.

Mind body practices also include guided imagery, hypnotherapy, deep-breathing exercises, progressive relaxation, Chi Gong, and Tai Chi.

The concept that the mind is important in the treatment of illness is integral to the healing approaches of traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine, dating back more than 2,000 years. Hippocrates who is regarded as one of the fathers of modern medicine, also noted the moral and spiritual aspects of healing and believed that treatment could occur only with consideration of attitude, environmental influences, and natural remedies.

I have been doing martial arts since about age fourteen on and off, and even have a black belt in a system of Karate while working on another. I continue today to do both internal and external martial arts whenever I can, and attend classes about 2-3 times per week. I started with Tai Chi and Qigong about 15 years ago, and have never left it since. They are wonderful for maintaining health and well being and particularly useful for the posture and structure of the body. In my work with patients, I usually give them a number of exercises to do, based on Tai Chi and Qigong, which are designed to realign them properly and thus help them with pain relief.

I also began using Guided Imagery, Creative Visualization, and focused meditation about 15 years ago in order to relax, better my life, and to attract abundance and happiness, as well as to help manifest my desires, wants, and wishes. They have proven to be amazing tools, and are most helpful when I don't take them too seriously, and I am just able to let go. When letting go as much as possible, the results are most quick and profound, and usually not at all what I expected. Manifesting actual things in our reality can often take time, as our thoughts are very subtle and operate on the energy level as opposed to our gross physical reality. For health concerns however, they can and should be used at every opportunity, and are very accessible and useful.

A couple of years back, I unfortunately broke and cut the distal phalanx of my right middle finger and was admitted to the emergency ward for stitches. They stuck a hypodermic needle into the base of my middle finger, and then further along the nerve root into the finger along the bone. Though this was an “extremely” painful experience, I applied focused Qigong breathing and was there flowing “with” the pain, very present and in my reality. This made the experience bearable, though the nurse was alarmed and thought I was beginning to hyperventilate, and I had to explain myself and calm him down. I was inspired to do this because of a recent meeting with an old Head Counsellor of mine, who is the founder and director of Kids Kicking Cancer, an international organization that teaches kids and even adults undergoing cancer treatment how to use these techniques in order to deal with intense pain and to overcome it.

I recently developed through my practice, a workshop that I call Six Element Emotional Release. This combines, Qigong / Tai Chi, Guided Imagery, color, focused breathing, meditation, and EMDR with the main purpose of healing and rebalancing the emotions. I have used and taught many of these exercises and techniques for years, and only in the past couple of years came to realize that I actually had a complete system in hand that could be put to good use.

I have also used EFT for the past six years, and it has served as a most useful tool in emotional healing as well. I recommend the techniques often to clients, especially when there are emotional issues at hand blocking the complete healing process, and I either send them to practitioners, or tell them where they can obtain the information and manual online . It can be used for many things, like in order to control itching due to chronic eczema / ringworm / fungus, for instance. I was also treated by at least a couple of different practitioners in the past with an offshoot of EFT called Quantum Techniques. It's also out there and online for you to look at and do.

One significant turning point in my life is when I actually took the ten week course in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction in Toronto due to the recommendation from my Acupuncturist. Different techniques including, yoga, breathing, meditation, and guided imagery were taught and given over, and I continue to use and teach what I learned there. Some of my clients and friends have taken the course as well, and I have one good friend and colleague who is a trained facilitator.

Yoga is technically the first holistic discipline that I encountered at about age eight or nine. I had a private Yoga teacher at least once a week to teach us three siblings and my dad. We studied, breathing, stretching and postures, and it was helpful to us all. I mostly remember learning the lotus position which I do not think I have ever successfully gotten into, as well as alternate nostril breathing, and of course the headstand which I still occasionally do.

Last year I sent someone an online video of how to do the fish pose which is very relieving for sinus issues and infection. It works. So, as a result, my martial arts and Tai Chi Qigong classes usually contain certain Yoga or similar movements or postures either in the warm ups or cool downs and stretching. When I am leading the class I incorporate them to be sure as long static stretching is very healthy for the muscles in the long term.

Alternative Medicine: Natural Products Basics

Alternative medicine may be known sometimes as CAM or Complementary Alternative Medicine, usually when it is discussed or taken into account alongside or with mainstream Conventional Medicine. What exactly is it? What are the basics of it and how can we simplify it? As I mentioned, there are different categories and approaches within Alternative Medicine itself.

Either way, it's still called alternative which has me confused sometimes. Didn't Aspirin for instance originally come from a plant? And isn't Valium for instance originally from the Valerian plant, which is used to relax and to sometimes even get rid of headaches?
These are the kinds of things that make you go, hmmmmmm.......

You see, there exist today, and have existed since ancient times, effective, natural alternatives to many drugs. This may constitute the using of a vast selection of herbs, botanicals, minerals, vitamins, and so called natural products. Of these a lot are available all over as vitamins or so called supplements. Some use dietary supplements like multivitamins to meet the daily needs of nutrition, take calcium to improve bone health...

This may not even be thought of as Alternative Medicine anymore, as they are now part of and even promoted as inherent to our daily living. (In this sense they may even have a more conventional use, in the sense of, “take a pill and you’ll be fine.”, and may even be manufactured and marketed by mainstream drug companies.)

Alternative Medicine natural products may also refer to probiotics or live microorganisms like different types of good / pro bacteria that are the same as those in the body's digestive system and intestines and have positive effects for the body and its health. Probiotics are also found in foods like yogurt or kefir besides for being taken as supplements in capsular form.

There are also many different herbs or botanic products used as medicines. These stem from some of the first attempts to improve the human condition since ancient times. Many different traditions and cultures have their specific folk medicine and “grandma remedy" traditions.
Practices of traditional healers can also be considered a form of Alternative Medicine. Traditional healers use methods based on indigenous theories, beliefs, and experiences handed down from generation to generation. A familiar example in the United States is the Native American healer / medicine man.

Dietary and Nutritional healing approaches may also be considered here of course. Many well known and even popular diets or lifestyle / naturalistic approaches, may be used by individuals to promote the healing and well being of a person. Different healing foods and their uses, specific diets, cutting out allergic foods, and even fasting may be used in a therapeutic sense, and are well known both in our modern age, as well as from ancient times from specific peoples and cultures.

It all depends on what specific health issue you are working on or wish to solve at any given time. There's lots to choose from. So foods, supplements, herbs, or natural products are just one very powerful form of natural or alternative medicine that are part of your massive arsenal for self help and healing.