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.

Give Holistic Medicine a Try

It is important to know what you're getting yourself into when you decide to purchase any form of medicine. Whether it is produced by a giant pharmaceutical manufacturer such as Merck or Pfizer, or obtained from your local Chinese herb shop, being in the know is what is best for you. In this day and age of the internet, lack of information is not an acceptable attitude.

If you take any medicine too often or for the wrong ailment, you could be putting your health in jeopardy; however, there are some natural medicines that are considerably less risky. It is a well known fact that a person should visit their doctor on a bi-yearly basis if they are taking a number of prescription medicines. The reason for this is that the normal doctor, busy as they are, does not generally take the time to review each medication you are taking at your timer of regular visit. Perhaps you are going in for treatment of the complaint of gout, for example, and your doctor treats you for this ailment at that time. But the doctor, usually distracted and in a hurry, does not review your current list of meds to determine that what he prescribes you for gout may interact with the medication that he has you on arthritis or rheumatism. It is the patient's responsibility to discuss these concerns with the doctor at time of visit.

Natural health medicine has been documented to have less or no side effects when compared to its chemical counterparts. That is because natural health medicine is generally made with products taken out of nature without being refined. They have generally been used for decades by different cultures, with little or no side effect. The medicine is made out of natural ingredients that will work in conjunction with the body, whereas their refined counterparts might have an adverse affect. One must also consider too that the compounds and inert substances used to bind prescription drugs may cause an interaction in the system. At the very least, the body cannot process naturally these agents.

How We See Alternative Medicine Today

It is interesting to observe that more and more people are now accepting alternative medicine after having tried out traditional forms unsuccessfully. In fact, a recent survey concluded that as many as 36% of people in the United States relied on alternative medicine alone. But still, there are many doctors in the United States that are totally against using alternative medicine as a mode of treatment. Here again, the researches conclude otherwise! According to these researches, the alternative medicine does include different varieties of compounds in them and all of them have benefits associated with it. If at all you come across doctors that believe in these theories you will do well to contact someone else.

The major challenge confronting people who opt for alternative medicine is that they will not come across doctors with accredited degree pertaining to it. But there is also no denying the fact that most of the colleges across the United States these days are offering degrees in ayurveda, unani, homeopathy, naturopathy and acupuncture. The phenomenal increase in the demand for treatments related to alternative medicine is a very good indicator that this industry is indeed growing healthily. People no longer have to suffer with illnesses and pain as most of modern day pharmacy does not have magic to relieve them from it.

Fight the Flu...Naturally!

More and more people today are looking for a natural flu treatment as an alternative to traditional flu medicine, especially in light of recently revealed dangers to some age groups from the over-the-counter preparations. While we may wish it, there is no natural cure for the flu, at least not today. Happily, there are several natural ways to treat the flu, should you come down with it.

A fever is the immune system's way of trying to kill off the virus by creating a hotter than normal environment. Fever also forces the proteins that kill germs to move faster through your blood, and makes them more effective at the same time. It is tough to endure, but will be worth the wait. Coughing is another sign that your immune system is trying to conquer the virus. By coughing, you are helping to clear the breathing passages and your lungs of the thick mucus that helps carry the virus throughout your body.


There is a natural flu treatment to help get rid of that congestion your body is already trying to fight off. When you use an over the counter flu medicine such, you are actually restricting the blood flow to vessels in your nose and throat, even though you really need more blood flow to warm that area and force the germs out. Instead, a natural remedy for congestion is to drink more water. When you are having breathing trouble, you need to keep hydrated, and the more you drink, the more the mucus will be affected. Once the mucus has taken in too much water, it can no longer hold its form, and it and the germs it carries will be forced out of the body through the nose.

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.

The Natural Cure for a Yeast Infection

Yeast infections are nothing to laugh at, and it's no surprise that many are seeking a natural cure for yeast infection. The symptoms are at many times completely unbearable, as you will find out if you ever suffer from the problem. When the yeast infection is in a male, the problem is not quite as obvious; generally they will suffer from what is known as a leaky gut. The leaky gut generally leads to a large gut, and even fatigue. This is not fatal, but it can become irritating. In women however, it is an entirely different story.

You've probably heard many myths, stories, and promises regarding the extermination of your infection, but if you are here, then you probably have yet to find an actual cure that meets your expectations. Or in some cases you have yet to find one that actually works in the first place. If this is the case, then there are a number of ways you can obtain relief.

Some people will turn to the homeopathic remedies such as tea tree oil. This can be inserted into the vagina as a douche using droppers. Many have used this and they claim that it works perfectly for them.

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.

Natural Medicine for Insomnia

Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese Medicine has been using acupuncture for decades for treating insomnia and other related diseases. This is done by using fine needles that are inserted into the skin at specific points that can influence blood flow and improve the functioning of the internal organs. There are scientific researches that back up the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving sleep quality among people with insomnia.

Herbal Remedies

Herbal remedies for insomnia have been found to be just as effective as some of the anxiety drugs that are in the market. The root of the valerian plant is known to stimulate sleep, and has been found to have no side effects such as dizziness, which some sleeping pills cause. Other herbal remedies for insomnia include ginseng, passionflower, hops and green tea. These herbs are known to relax the body and the mind, which can improve sleep.

Meditation and Relaxation

Sleep usually does not come easy when you are feeling stressed out. By learning techniques of deep breathing and meditation, you can achieve a more relaxed body and mind, which can help you sleep better. Researches have shown that meditation and relaxation can lower your blood pressure and can also regulate your heart beat, which are all essential in achieving quality sleep.