The Science Behind Aromatherapy

The image problem of aromatherapy has everything to do with the prevailing idea that the practice is all about 'smelling things', whereas the science really about 'things that smell'. Smelling things is very subjective, and may have little medical effect at all (though we'll see that it MAY as well). Aromatherapy is defined as the complete practice of the branch of natural medicine using the volatile liquids distilled from plants. Authors of the hard-science aromatherapy texts available today, professionally-trained aromatherapists (one with a PhD in Chemistry) note that the future of aroma medicine is with the treatment of serious infectious illnesses and cancer treatment. You don't even have to smell them for them to work! Other effects of essential oils also being successfully investigated include speeding wound healing, reducing inflammation, and acting as analgesics.

You can read these research abstracts yourself by Googling 'Pub Med', and searching for 'essential oil' and things like 'cancer' or 'staphylococcus' or 'axiolytic'. You'll find a few studies too that were inconclusive, like inhalation of a certain oil did not change the immune system stress marker researchers use. But there's also another showing that EVERY OTHER marker of stress WAS changed. It may be the study chose the right oil, or the study population was better treated with the selected oil in some studies and not in others (one showed a stress reduction in women from lavender essential oil, but not in men). You'll find a full page of results showing a statistically significant effect on stress from lavender and linalool. Try other combinations of pharmaceutical preparations and see if there are more significant results than that!

Essential Oils for Medicine

Searching for the term 'Aromatherapy' brings up several pages claiming aromatherapy is a fraud of some sort. That essential oil manufacturers and retailers are making 'dubious' claims of the efficacy of essential oils. These folks don't seem to have done their homework, or compared the validity of scientific inquiry to that produced by conventional medicine, which in fact could easily be claimed as 'dubious' using the same criteria. Ok, well actually there are no criteria used, just a few blurbs that present aromatherapy as a soft science, on that should be neglected along with everything else that's every been found under the heading of 'new age'.

How about we'll start be agreeing on this: That SOME of aromatherapy is in-fact a 'soft science'? That SOME people may feel more relaxed when inhaling Lavender, for example, and some will not? Aromatherapists will not disagree on this point -- they will however put up a defense when the medical applications of essential oils are thrown out with the soft side of 'aroma' therapy. Science IS BACKING UP many of aromatherapy's claims with valid data, even on the 'soft-science' of the practice.

Alternative vs. Traditional Medicine

There is a lot of difference between Alternative medicine and traditional medicine. And it is important for each one of us to understand these differences at large. In a layman terminology, alternative medicine can also be referred to as non-western or unconventional medicine. This form of medicine, in fact, does not follow the methodology of traditional medicine and hence is unique in its own way. According to NLM, United States, the therapeutic practices falling under alternative medicine does not fall under alternative medical practices.

Therapies like dieting, acupuncture, and yoga fall under alternative medicine. When these therapies are used along side conventional treatments they are referred to as complementary. However, if these therapies are used in place of conventional treatments, they are called as alternative treatments. It was only in the year 1995 that the exact description and definition of complementary medicine and alternative medicine was coined. According to this definition, the complementary and alternative medicine can be termed as resources that include different aspects of health practices and systems and that is so different from prevailing health systems in the current culture or society.

Therapies like herbal medicine, ayurveda, homeopathy, folk medicine, diet practices, music therapy and others come under complementary or alternative medicine. People tend to rely on the medicinal forms when their attempt with allopathic medicine fails completely. If the efficacies of individual therapies that are included under alternative medicine are proved they will be included under tradition medicine. A classical example for this would be chiropractors. Not so long ago, it was discarded by insurance companies as ineffective and alternative form of treatment. But after it was proved to be an important and effective mode of treatment, it is now being considered as an integral part of treatment.

Prescription vs Alternative Medicine

There are a large number of people who simply would like to avoid harsh chemical substances. For the people who do not feel very comfortable with these chemical products, there are numerous remedies in various disciplines of alternative medicine. These remedies are certainly not less effective if not more. They have other advantages as well!

First of all I would like to count their gentle action. That may appear to be a disadvantage to some people because gentle action may be inferred as slow, but gradual changes in the body systems are always better tolerated and have a more lasting effect. Then the natural remedies have a far less potential of side effects. There is either no side effect at all, or if there are any, they are also slow to appear and can hence be detected at an earlier stage without significant discomfort or damage.

Herbal and natural remedies in general, are a far cheaper option than the prescription medicine. They are simple to prepare and you hardly ever need the highly expensive professional supervision for their use. One may ask the very pertinent question then; "why the alternative
medicines are so much less in use". The answer is simple. The herbal and natural products have to be licensed by drug regulating authorities before marketing if they are to appear in the competitive market of medicine. That involves a lot of money. Humongous amounts need to be spent on pre-launch researches and the like. The industry of alternative medicine simply does not have that big money! Then there are no laws to grant patents for these products to assure the recovery of your investments.

Natural Medicine is In! Western Medicine is Out!

Have you ever tried a natural or herbal remedy to cure a condition or possibly for everyday usage? Some people think of herbal remedies are a ruse to lure people in and buy products. However now a days even medical doctors are realizing the benefits of natural herbal remedies. Herbs have been in use for over 5,000 years with several different cultures including Sumerian, Greek, Egyptian, Arabian, Roman, German, Swiss, and English.

The western culture has been using herbal medicine for thousands of years making herbalism one of the oldest forms of medicine. Additionally it is possibly one of the most widespread medicines with about 80% of the worlds population still using herbal medicine. Herbal medicine unlike conventional medicine is not only used for treatment of symptoms or conditions. Herbal medicine prevents diseases and illnesses, maintains proper daily body functioning and enhances mental attitude, appearance and performance. Herbal remedies can be used to help in areas such as digestion, respiratory, circulation, immune, endocrine, nervous system, detoxification, and externally for the skin, hair and nails. Herbal experimentation has been the basis for both Indian herbal medicine known as Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal medicine.

Chinese herbal medicine reflects Chinese belief that the universe is made up of energy called chi. Additionally human beings have an innate relationship with the world and environment surrounding them through chi; the human body is a small universe within itself made up of complex systems of energy and matter that works to maintain health of body and mind. Chinese herbal medicine is the primary therapeutic modality for internal medicine in China. This is used in conjunction with external modalities such as acupuncture, acupressure, massage, tai chi, meditation, dermabrasion and food therapy. With over 500 Chinese herbs, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) combines herbs to create specific formulas to fit the individual patient.

Anti-Oxidants - Garlic, Onion, and Pepper

Most of the spices and herbs used in our kitchen have anti-oxidant properties. You can practically see a lot of expensive herbal diet supplements that offer to get rid of nasty toxins out of your system in the market. You can get the same result out of your kitchen ingredients without having to dish out your savings on the herb supplements. The good part about it is that you don't have to worry about side-effects, allergies whatever you take in is 100% natural.

Kitchen spices like garlic, onions, pepper seeds and herbs like basil, rosemary are great anti-oxidants. You can include them in your daily meals or you can brew a healthy drink out of the fresh herbs. Wash them thoroughly with plenty of water and chop them before using. boil them up in hot water and let it simmer for a few minutes. Drain it with a strainer and you have an healthy anti-oxidant drink ready for your consumption.

Ginseng, a Valubale Natural Plant!

Ginseng is a perennial herb which is widely used in herbal medicines. People from Asia and North America use it extensively for natural healing. It helps a person relax and relieve from any forms of stress. The usage of Ginseng root, a popular panacea for fast recovery of body from any illness is very well known. It provides strength, immunity to infection and increases stamina of the body.

It is well known for enhancing physical and mental strength with absolutely no side-effects. Ginseng can also lower cholesterol level of patients having high-blood pressure and can improve the body's natural resistance to common health problems. You can even use it in tea or store it in a bottle with water and leave it to age for a more potent brew.

Natural remedies are very effective in treating a large range of ailments through correct and regular usage. Whether it is boosting your immune system against bacteria and viruses, regulating blood pressure or cholesterol level, preventing hair loss, treating persistent acne or dandruff, treating aches, pains or cuts and burns, you will always find a natural remedy in "Mother Nature's" vast resources.

Natural Medicine is the Future

There's an increasing trend that is occurring in today's society at the moment. More and more people are looking at alternative medicine and natural therapies as a means to heal both in physical and mental environments. There seems to be an increasing trend to shy away from normal medicine, from seeing a general practitioner for example. People seemingly prefer natural means to heal themselves. Seemingly running scared at the prospect of consuming pharmaceutical products to heal their ailments. Just like increasing numbers of people are seeking organic foods and the like to consume, shying away from food ridden with pesticides and the like.

There has been tremendous growth in the area of health and natural medicine over the past ten years. Insurance companies have started to pay rebates on therapies such as chiropractic, hypnosis, acupuncture and the like and this will continue to increase as more people choose natural medicines. There are also an increasing number of natural medicine practitioners taking the field, and this is evidence by the fact that more and more people are choosing health careers in the natural medicine field.

Why Alternative Medicine is the Answer

Here are only some of the advantages of natural medicine:

The approach is holistic. While conventional medicine is organ-specific, natural medicine approaches each person as a unique individual and takes on a holistic view in the treatment of symptoms and illnesses, believing the body to have its own natural healing powers and energies. It also focuses on the prevention or treatment of the cause of disorders, and deals with much more than mere relief of symptoms.

Alternative medicine embraces natural remedies, therapies, and products. The health and beauty industry has grown to include not just cosmetics and bodybuilding solutions, but also other products and services promoting one's general well-being. This includes natural / alternative medicine products, nutritional vitamins, supplements, fresh herbs, and other natural herbal remedies. Botanic Choice, for example, is a leading source of fresh, all-natural products for various health concerns, including cholesterol health, weight loss, heart health, blood pressure, diabetes, and respiratory care, among many others.

It is time-tested and safe. Conventional Western medicine, lest you forget, is only less than a hundred years old, while each modality of natural medicine is an integrated system of safe, time-tested healthcare that is increasingly being validated by scientific research. It has a longer history of development than has conventional medicine, spanning centuries, and it has also made people take much more active roles in understanding their bodies and bodily functions better as well as applying techniques to make these healthier.

Holistic Approach to Depression

Millions of individuals suffer from clinical or symptomatic depression. If you are one of them, you can experience great benefit from some specific attention to their own health as well as guidance from a health professional who understands the basic tenets of natural medicine.

Natural medicine is consistent with the rhythms of nature and how nature is organized. Historically, there has been a commitment in medicine to do no harm, and when you are using natural substances such as herbs and working at a gradual pace, the likelihood of doing harm is almost completely eliminated.

Because depressions symptoms can be all over the board and sometimes quite contrary to each other, finding the right herbal medicine for treatment can be tricky. For instance, some symptoms for one may include chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia, excessive sleep, loss of appetite, excessive appetite, headaches, backaches, joint aches, bowel disorders, as well as feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy.

The next person will complain of tension, stress, chronic headaches, chronic stomach aches, bowel problems, chronic nutritional deficiencies, chronic allergies, chronic physical disorder, poor diet, excessive sugar and caffeine intake, endocrine disorder such as hypothyroidism, endometriosis, lack of sun exposure, and assaults from the environment such as toxic metals.

Garlic as a Natural Medicine

Garlic is one of the oldest known medicine from plants. Ancient Sanskrit documents describe garlic remedies being used in India 5,000 years ago. Chinese medicine has used the healing and beneficial health qualities of garlic for over 3,000 years. In 1858, Louis Pasteur praised the anti-bacterial properties of garlic. World War I surgeons used garlic juice to fight infections in wounds. Garlic was also used as an antibiotic during World War II. Garlic has been used as a spice for food for centuries because of it s ability to kill germs that cause food to spoil. Roman senator, naturalist and scholar, Pliney the Elder, recorded the beneficial effects of garlic on human health. In Marseilles, in 1722, garlic was the main medicine used to prevent and treat the plague. Dr. Albert Schweitzer used garlic as an antiseptic in his hospital. Garlic is actually licensed as a drug in Japan.

Garlic contains a sulphur compound called allicin. Allicin is what gives garlic it s taste and aroma and is thought to be the key ingredient that gives garlic it s natural health benefits.

Garlic kills 30 types of bacteria that are known to cause intestinal disorders and digestive problems. Garlic has been used for hundreds of years to treat dysentery. Garlic has been known to help kill intestinal worms and other parasites. Garlic also has antifungal properties to prevent and help treat intestinal disorders such as candida. Garlic s antifungal qualities has also been used to treat fungal and bacterial skin infections as well as infections of the lung, sinus, bladder, vagina, colds and flu.

An Alternative Medicine Truth

There exist today many alternative medical treatments that fall under natural medicine. However, not all of them have been proven to be effective. You could mention homeopathy, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and other alternative medical treatments. It would pay to consult the experts as to the legitimacy of these treatments.

Natural medicine should also be thought of as an accompanying medicine. Right now, the current collective medical thought suggests that natural medicine be used only to supplement accepted modern medical practices. In that case of minor ailments your expert we actually advise you to take natural therapies instead.

The practice of modern medicine revolves around diagnosing an illness and prescribing treatments for such. Natural medicine is helpful because it suggests that treatment be not necessarily given only when sick. Natural medicine strives to make each patient practice good health habits. These habits include good diet, healthy living, and the regular natural treatment.

It is this same line of thought that leads our parents to tell us to eat our vegetables. Yes, a healthy lifestyle and will do no harm to our well-being. And this is the foundation of natural medicine; may it be massage, herbal medicine, aromatherapy or others.

It is funny but true that science, in its quest for excellence, is studying the knowledge of sages past. This, surprisingly, leads us back to the remedies nature offers. The possibilities of finding remedies to everyday illnesses in natural medicine are encouraging. So staying tuned to studying these remedies is worthwhile until we can verify that these therapies are truly helpful to our health and our society.

Natural Medicine: A Lost Art?

Natural medicine can be considered as a lost art. This does not mean that it has lost efficacy over time. In some cases, natural therapy is actually better than modern medicine. This leads some doctors to seriously consider and study the possible uses of natural medicine

Before we continue, it is important to stress that not all the natural remedies are legitimate. It would help to only try those remedies which have been thoroughly studied and are relatively risk free.

Take herbal medicine for example. There are many well-documented and studied herbal remedies available. However, only those that deal with minor ailments such as cough, colds, fever, skin rashes, and the like are likely to be recommended by health professionals. These remedies are sometimes superior to synthetic medicine. This is because herbal medicines are less likely to cause negative side effects.

Currently there are numerous organizations that study the effects and advocacy of natural medicine among which is herbal medicine. Some governments and health agencies openly advocate the use of natural methods since they are inexpensive and relatively risk-free.

As their studies compile, more herbs and treatments are added to the list of accepted medicines. However, many herbs and treatments have been proven to be bogus medicine. This represents a challenge for both the user and the agencies because they have to ascertain that the treatments they either use or advocate are legitimate.

Think Past the Medicine Bottle

When you get sick, you go to the doctor. And the doctor will, of course, prescribe medicines. You will go and buy medicines. You take them, and hopefully, you get well. This is how the health profession goes on nowadays, a cycle of diagnosis and prescription. If anyone were to give you herbs for medicine, you would probably say that that person was a quack.

But nowadays, studies are being conducted to see if there are really is any merit to what is called natural medicine.

Natural medicine is the use of natural methods, herbal medicines, and traditional practices to heal ailments. Every culture has a form of natural medicine. In ancient cultures, village medicine men served as the doctors of the community, passing on medical knowledge to the apprentices that followed them.

Many categories of the healing methods fall under natural medicine. Among these are traditional medicine, complementary medicine, and alternative medicine. Usually, natural medicine refers to medical practices that were in place before the advent of modern medicine. This includes herbal medicine, or phytotherapy, which is prevalent in Chinese, Ayurvedic(or Indian), and Greek medicine.

Upon the advent of modern medicine, many professionals discarded the use of herbs in favor of man-made medicine. The fact that these treatments are based on the healing properties of some herbs was forgotten.

For example, opium, digitalis, quinine, and aspirin all have their roots in traditional medicine.

Natural Medicine for a UTI

A UTI is a very painful infection that a lot of women can get. This infection causes women to feel a very intense burning sensation as they urinate and also, constant pain in their lower abdomen throughout the entire day. If you are currently living with this infection, then you need some help and fast.

You are tired of living in constant pain and discomfort. You really want to have some relief so you can feel like yourself again and focus on the things that are more important in life. This infection consumes all of your thoughts and you don't know what to do about it anymore. You feel so trapped and it extremely frustrating. Luckily, there is help for you.

There is natural medicine for a UTI that can really help you to feel some relief. You don't have to spend all of that money at the doctor's and you can get rid of your infection in no time. A great way to get rid of your urinary tract infection at home with natural medicine is to drink cranberry juice. This juice is one of the best and most natural treatments you could ever use. There are ingredients in this juice that help to flush out the bacteria that are causing this infection to occur. Along with getting rid of the infection, the cranberry juice will help to ease some of the pain that has been plaguing your body for so long. Finally, you can get some relief and get on with your life.

Natural Solutions to Menopause

Naturopathy treatment is considered as the most effective treatment for menopause. It assists people to regain their heath by following the right diet and lifestyle. Menopause, also known as climacteric, which means the cessation of menstruation during the reproductive life cycle of women. Usually this happens at the age of 50 but sometime it occurs prematurely in some women before 45 or artificially by the removal of ovaries. This onset of menopause might be slow or abrupt, the length of menstrual cycle increases, accompanied by decreased menstrual flow.

Therapy

In past, hormone swapping therapy has been used to treat these problems of women. Naturopathy, homeopathy, and contemporary medicines have distinct sorts of therapies and treatment ways for premature menopause. As these problems are more of lifestyle disorders, naturopathy treatment is found to be the very effective to treat this disorder.

Contemporary medicine recommends hormone swapping therapy as a remedy for this lifestyle disorder. Though, it is also found that women undergoing through hormone swapping therapy run an overall risk of uterine cancer 6 to 15 times better than non-estrogen users.

Turn to Naturopathy to Help With Obesity

Naturopathy points its fingers to two habits as the cause of obesity – eating more than is required and lack of exercise.

Sedentary lifestyle coupled with binge eating is recipe for fat accumulation, weight gain and obesity. Stress and excess alcohol too can be reasons for obesity.

Obesity can lead to formation of many kinds of diseases. High blood pressure and heart diseases are the main diseases that an obese person needs to be cautious of. Isolation from society is another serious condition obese people have to face.

Obesity is classified into three types: mild to moderate, moderate to severe and severe based on the intensity of the problem.

The Naturopathic Way of Curing Obesity

Cold hip bath two times a day

Warm water enema

Fasting on liquid food for 3-4 days

Underwater massage

Friction baths

Neutral whirlpool

Steam and sauna bath

Warm water immersion

Lifestyle Modification

After completing fasting or natural treatment, the person must be disciplined enough to not to get addicted to over eating again. It is essential to maintain healthy nutrition, intake of large quantities of water, and staying away from high calorie food.

Naturopathy is the Science of Nature

Nature has blessed us with many healthful gifts like water, air, sunlight etc. to stay healthy but as people cannot lead their lives in complete consonance with the law of nature, they are inevitably going to suffer from major or minor diseases. They can be restored to health by adopting various natural therapeutic measures like fasting, juice therapy, hydrotherapy, mud therapy, air bath, massage, etc. Naturopathy is simple, harmless and absolutely dependable, unlike most other system. This article will emphasize on naturopathy - the science of natural healing.

The aim of the naturopathy is to strengthen the natural resistance of the body to diseases, i.e., to activate the vital force, and to get rid of the poisons accumulated in the body. Naturopathy is a unique science with an unlimited potential to cure almost all diseases. With the exception of a few diseases which require surgical intervention, all diseases can be cured by naturopathy. Naturopathy not only eliminates the symptoms, but also exterminates the disease. It strikes at the very root of the diseases. It induces people to take an active interest in their health.

Fasting for short or long periods is used for quick elimination of toxins from the body. Hot and cold water is used in different ways (baths, packs, etc) to cure the diseases. The natural sunlight is also a good source of treatment.

Using Natural Medicine on Cold Sores

A person can have a low immune system due to a cold or a bout of flu. A cold sore can appear after the onset of a heavy cold or flu. There is nothing worse then waking up in the morning with a tingling and swollen lip. It may be small but it feels like a mountain has erupted overnight.

Cold sores can burn, itch and attack. Having a stock of natural medicine in your cupboard at the ready is the best form of defence.This annoying blister has to go through the stages of burning, blistering then drying out. The drying out stage is the worse as it can take a while. Recognising the symptoms associated with a cold sore and taking natural remedies can keep a cold sore under control and in some case stop it from appearing. Cold sores remain in the body lying dormant until the immune system once again is low. Out of the four seasons the winter months are the worst for having a cold or flu which has a bad effect on the body.

Once you have a cold sore you should avoid using the same soap and hand towels that family members are likely to use. Due to cold sores being contagious it is best to avoid oral sex with your partner.

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Health Boosts from Natural Medicine

If you feel uncomfortable while using drugs to cure simple health problems, there is another option for you. There are a number of natural alternatives to treat ailments. Alternative natural medicine treatment is gaining popularity, and if used correctly, can be quite beneficial for your health.

There are a lot of alternative herbal medicines available to cure common health problems. Such a herb is Passion flower that is quite effective in soothing the nervous system. It works as a strong relaxant and is used to treat anxiety, insomnia and tension. This herbal medicine has proven a boon to people who were previously dependent on sleeping pills and wanted to get rid of them. In some cases patients of hyperactivity, convulsions and hysteria are also given passion flower treatment. This herb is also effective in lowering high blood pressure.

There is another powerful antioxidant Co-Q10, which is quite beneficial for the cardiovascular system. When Co-Q10 is taken in combination with Hawthorne berry, it can provide anti-aging affects. It is also useful for Insomnia patients and helps improve the digestive system.

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