Archive for the ‘Health Treatment’ Category
Choosing the Best Herbal Medicine For Your Health
Herbal medicine is a popular alternative cure in treating health-related problems or in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. These medicines are composed of 100% natural ingredients from plants and animals that can target specific areas in the human body and supporting its function.
As a cost-effective solution to common illnesses and major diseases, herbal medicines are quite popular with average individuals that cannot afford expensive modern medical treatments. Modern individuals of Asian countries, like China and Japan, are known to practice the use of herbal medicines in their daily life since ancient times.
All Medicines Are Risky
Despite the fact that herbal medicines uses natural ingredients as its composition, these form of treatment still has some risks involved when it is not properly prescribed or administered to an individual. In most cases in using any types of medicines; malpractice, which involves inaccurate prescription and instructions can be deadly to the human body.
To avoid this problem, it is best to practice caution when it comes to consulting an expert and purchasing the medicine you are opting for in this kind of alternative treatment method. First, you need to consult a doctor, physician or an herbalist regarding what type of herbal medicine would best address your health problems.
During the consultation, they will be asking you certain question regarding the status of your health, as well as the medications that you are currently taking to treat it. It is best to answer them truthfully considering that their prescription and instructions will solely depend on your answer.
Careful With Your Purchase
Another factor that involves the health risks of herbal medicines is the actual product itself. If you plan to purchase the medicine in raw form in any retail shops in your area, then you better make sure that there are no other herbs mixed into it. You might also want to determine if these medicines are carefully prepared or properly sealed to avoid any outside contamination.
If you are planning to acquire commercialized herbal products in retail stores, then it is advisable that you only purchase from credible and trustworthy companies. Check the labels carefully to make sure that everything is in order and determine if the seal is tampered with or not. You might want to consult your doctor if they can refer you to an agent or a store that can sell you these quality products that will help you in your treatment.
It is true that the practice of herbal medicine is well-documented in known medical texts around the globe; it even serves as the foundation of modern medicine. But the risk factor in choosing a wrong product, as well as some malpractice in both you and with the professional that you consulted with regarding this matter is very much evident.
An Introduction to Alternative Health Treatments
Medicine can be defined as the practice (or science) of maintaining and restoring health through study, diagnosis and treatment of patients. It can also be defined as any agent that treats a disease.
Although the definition I have used here states that a medicine is any agent that treats a disease, most of today’s medicines do not treat diseases. Many only treat the symptoms of the disease. For example medicines for arthritis usually treat the pain without treating the inflammation. Insulin and other medications that control blood sugar levels do not cure you of your blood sugar problems. They only help control your blood sugar levels.
Unfortunately some alternative treatments do not cure the disease either; however, they almost never have side effects (unless you are allergic) and are usually much more cost effective than modern pharmaceuticals.
Almost anything can be considered an alternative health treatment. Examples of alternative health treatments include: different forms of massage, herbal remedies, aromatherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, and even yoga or meditation.
I can tell you that many scientists and doctors say that there is none to very little scientific evidence to support some of these treatments. There is no scientific evidence to support the “placebo effect” either however; the placebo effect is widely recognized. From everything I have learned about clinical trials, scientists try to study things in a “vacuum”. Studies are conducted using inclusion and exclusion criteria. One of the reasons for the criteria is to focus the study, but sometimes the criteria are to eliminate factors that could affect the results of the study. One of these factors could be taking certain medications.
Because of the lack of credibility of some alternative treatments, some of them are now conducting clinical trials. A product known as Peri-Gum (it treats periodontal disease) is clinically proven to work. There has also been some research performed at John Hopkins to explain the health benefits of goji juice. Most of us know about the health benefits of certain foods and vitamins.
One of the problems with alternative health treatments is that it can be difficult to judge the quality of the product of service. For example, did you know that the vitamin supplements you are taking may not easily dissolve? If the pill does not dissolve, you can bet you will not be able to absorb it. To test your current vitamins, create a solution of equal parts of vinegar and water and leave the pill in the solution over night. If it fails to dissolve, demand your money back. Since supplements are not regulated you cannot be sure that the package even contains what the label says. There was a program started back in 2001 where manufacturers could submit their products to the United States Pharmacopeia for testing. If you find a USP certification mark on the product you buy, this means that the product meets certain requirements for accuracy in labeling, purity and good manufacturing practices.
There have also been some studies done on the health value of touch. Touch as in stroking, patting or hugging can stimulate the immune system. I have also seen many studies that have been done on the value of owning a pet. Some health benefits I’ve seen cited include: decreased blood pressure, decreased cholesterol levels and improved mental health.
There is one other alternative therapy that deserves a mention in this article and that is “home remedies”. You should ask your mother or grandmother about these. They were very commonly used by many poor families before insurance became widely available. Here are two home remedies that I know about that have worked for me. This remedy is for a skin infection such as acne or a boil. For acne cut a potato and rub it over the acne, then let it sit for 2 hours and wash it off. For a boil, peel a potato and put the inside of the skins against the boil and leave overnight. My daughter also swears by tea bags for acne. For warts, put a copper penny (if you can find one) into a small bowl filled with red wine vinegar. Every day rub the wart with the soaked penny a few times a day. Eventually the wart will dissolve and yes there will be a bit of blood. My mom did this to me when I was a kid and I had many warts. I still years later don’t have any warts and I don’t have any scars either.
In conclusion, there are many alternatives to taking pharmaceuticals but you need to find out about the quality of the product or service you want to try. Please note this article is informational only. I am not a licensed health care provider and am therefore, not dispensing any medical advice.
Herbal Medicine For a Beautiful and Leaner You
The popularity of herbal medicines as a dietary supplement to promote a healthier body is now on a worldwide scale. Despite the availability of modern treatment methods, many health-conscious societies are going for alternative treatment using herbal products manufactured and developed by credible medical companies to address their health-related problems.
In truth, the cost-effective treatments of using herbal medicines are known to be risk-free, as compared to the usage of synthetic drugs that can have adverse reactions depending on the health of an individual. Here are just some of the health problems that herbal products can help you with.
Obesity And Overweight
Modern societies are plagued with people who are obese or overweight due to the lifestyle of today. Excessive eating, especially with junk foods and fast foods, can cause increase the amount of cholesterol in the body that will eventually lead the individual to become overweight. Statistics shows that a good portion of people around the world are suffering from health-related problems due to obesity like heart problems.
But due to the suggestion of physical exercise and control of their eating habits, many of these individuals don’t have enough determination to go with their weight loss program — since they can’t enjoy their usual meals.
Herbal products can help these individuals lose weight without turning their life inside and out with sweat, grunts, and drools. Some herbal products can help increase the metabolic rate of their digestive system for faster digestion of food. Other positive effects of herbal products for weight loss include:
o suppressing hunger to reduce food intake
o help the body burn excess fat without strict physical exercise
o clean the digestive system of waste
o anti-oxidants to remove harmful toxins from the body
Cosmetics
Aside from weight loss, herbal products today address the need of an individual, especially females, in getting rid of the sign of aging. Instead of resorting to surgical method that is known to have health risks, these women are now using herbal products to maintain their youthful beauty. These vary according to function, such as:
o dietary supplement to promote healthy and moisturized skin
o removing wrinkles, scars, and acne
o healthy hair
But as with any products with healing properties, this can also have health risks, especially when not used properly. An individual should always consult their health expert regarding their problems to accurately diagnose the cause and providing a prescription of the herbal product that can address it.
The Ancient Practice of Herbal Medicine
Our ancient ancestors are known to utilize the natural curative properties of plants to cure common household illnesses, as well as maintaining proper health and promoting longevity. Considering the absence of modern medical treatment methods, these ancient doctors have perfected the art of herbal medicines by studying the effect of certain plant parts with different health-related problems.
What Are Herbal Medicines Anyway?
Herbal medicine uses 100% natural ingredients from different plants. Scientific studies have proven the fact that certain plants contain phyto-chemicals that can help our body recover without using synthetic drugs or modern treatments. Our ancient ancestors were able to compile these effects that served as today’s basic for this kind of alternative healing method.
Is It Risk Free?
Even if herbal medicines come from the natural curative properties of plants, it is always a possibility that there is a risk involved when taking them in. In truth, our body was created differently, with assorted reactions that might cause serious health problems when left unchecked. In most cases, the risk of taking in herbal medicine stems from malpractice. Even if these medicines are made from all-natural ingredients, we can never be too sure on the possible reaction it might have with our bodies.
Consult A Professional
Even our early ancestors are extra careful when making use of herbal medicine to address their health problems. They always take extra time to consult with a doctor or herbalist to get the proper prescription, as well as the proper dosage when taking them in.
During these sessions, these professionals will be asking you certain questions regarding your health, such as the history of your family’s health problems, current medications, aches and pains in the body, and so on. They will also be doing some physical examination to check out possible symptoms in your body.
When you are asked question during these consultations, it would be best to answer truthfully so that they can provide an accurate diagnosis of your health, as well as the proper prescription of herbal medicines and instructions in taking them in.
Avoid Self-Medication
When taking in herbal medicine, it is advisable to avoid self-medication at all cost. You need to have professional instructions regarding the process of preparing these medicines, as well as the proper dosage that will provide maximum treatment specific to the workings of your body.
In most cases, the problems regarding the use of herbal medicines stems from the capacity of men to take matters into their own hands. Too much dosage can cause side-effects, like nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, diarrhea and so on. To avoid these problems, always stick with the proper instructions and refrain from self-medication at all costs. The practice of herbal medicine in today’s society is proven by many to show satisfactory results, which contributes to its popularity. But as with all medicines, it’s always best to price safe treatment, than to cause more problems in the long run.
Types of Alternative Treatment
Alternative medicines are prevalent throughout the world and are growing in use in the UK. Sometimes new types are founded on an idea of how the body works, and treatment is then provided. Most herbal remedies were created and developed before modern medicine arrived. The use of alternative treatments may be beneficial alongside conventional medicine but shouldn’t be considered a replacement. The following article details some of the most widely used treatments and remedies available today.
Traditional Chinese Medicines include a number of treatments such as acupuncture, herbal remedies, supplements and specific diets. The system is predicated on the philosophy that good health is based on the flow of ‘chi’ and balance (denoted by the now ubiquitous yin and yang symbols). According to this school of thought, a disease is caused by an imbalance of these factors, and natural ingridents and acupuncture are provided to restore this balance. Acupuncture is particularly popular at the moment, and it basically consists of stimulating specific points of the body with various techniques, commonly metal needles. Acupuncture is currently practiced to treat a variety of diseases, and anecdotal evidence suggests it can provide relief to people suffering from headaches, menstrual cramps, high blood pressure, back and muscle pain.
Ayurveda: a collection of treatments originating in India. These treatments include yoga, massage, herbal remedies and detox style diets. It is based on the theory that the human body is made up of three elements or Doshas called Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
This premise is similar to the ‘humours’ theory as advocated by Hippocrates, which dominated European until the 19th Century and started the advent of conventional medicine.
According to Ayurveda, these three elements are responsible for the basic characteristics of a person. The proportion of these elements depends on the individual. An imbalance in these proportions is reputed to be the reason for illness and disease.
Yoga can be an effective form of meditation, whilst other areas of Ayurveda are intended to treat individuals with digestion problems, stress and fatigue, joint disorders etc.
Modern naturopathy began in Germany in the 20th century and is focused on two central ideas – the natural healing power of the body and changing one’s lifestyle to improve health. Treatments include hydrotherapy and cures found in nature, for example using naturally occurring minerals, elements, food and herbal remedies.
Homeopathy is currently hugely successful in the UK, and is based on the principle of treating someone using tiny doses of a substance, to produce the symptoms of a disease similar to the one experienced by the patient, the idea being that the body reacts against this substance and provides a natural resistance against the actual disease. Like naturopathy, homeopathy originated in Germany, and purports to cure a wide range of ailments.





