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The Risks Of Hypnosis

July 23, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

Like every procedure that tries to heal something, hypnosis has also many risks. And maybe because it’s not a normal, medical procedure, and it’s not even totally explained yet, it presents higher risks. We all know the risks of medicine, especially of surgery. Hypnosis has even higher risks because they are not all predictable. That’s why, before starting a hypnosis treatment, we should all be aware of the risks.

Hypnosis means giving up totally to your self-control in the hands of the person who hypnotizes you. Everything takes place with your agreement, because without it it’s impossible. The hypnotist needs your permission and allowance to enter your brain and thoughts, or else his trial will fail. The real risk begins after he manages to take over your brain, your thoughts and ideas. This is when you can’t do anything anymore.

The first risk is represented by the hypnotist. Either not a professional hypnotist or even a person who doesn’t want to help you but to harm you. In both cases, he can damage your memories, your emotions and feelings and he can create fears and anxiety inside your head. You can do things under his command that normally you wouldn’t do and you can remember things you wanted to leave forgotten. The point is: if you’re not sure on his professionalism, better don’t allow anyone to hypnotize you! Not even as a joke!

The second risk, if first one was eliminated, is represented by your mind itself. The hypnotist can never know what he can wake up inside of you with his questions. You can remember dramas, sad experiences from your past, old paranoia or even psychosis. By waking up certain things inside your mind without knowing these things will harm you, the therapist can really twist your mind. When you wake up, you will probably wake up with all those memories or psychosis back and it will be pretty hard to face them all. That’s why hypnosis therapists generally ask many questions so they can understand if your memories are positive or not. And if they are not, they simply delete them back or tell you to forget them again.

Another disputed risk is the one regarding the moment when you wake up. There is a theory that states people risk not to wake up anymore after a hypnosis session. It’s not something that can happen to everybody, but it can happen to some persons according to their mind state.

So before trying hypnosis, make sure you are very well informed and you choose the right person to hypnotize you!

For your free course teaching you exactly how to learn hypnosis and all the finer points of mastering the art of hypnosis, simply go to http://hypnotismsecrets.com

Hypnotherapy for Lasting Change

July 22, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

What exactly is the hypnotic state/trance? Trance is a state of awareness where it becomes possible to tap into those deep unconscious resources we all possess, allowing us to make desired changes. To be in a trance does not mean to be asleep, although it can sometimes look that way, but in fact the opposite is true. Studies of the brain activity of people in trance have revealed an increased level of alertness. So rather then it been a sleep it is actually a state of focus. Everyone has experienced trance many times, though most people don’t know it as trance. We all go in and out of this state several times a day. Have you ever found yourself so engrossed in the storyline of a movie or book, to the complete exclusion of the room and people around you? That is an example of trance that most people can relate to.

Healing by trance is among the oldest phenomena known to man and is found, in one form or another, in virtually every culture throughout the world. It is an enormously useful therapeutic tool. Once in a state of hypnotic relaxation, the subconscious mind is able to absorb information, suggestion and other content which bring about therapeutic changes. Suggestions (direct and indirect), therapeutic interventions, visualisation and language structures are utilised in this state, so you can achieve something you want, or something that will benefit you, and in this hypnotic state, that acceptance goes even deeper than it would in non-hypnotic states. Since the subconscious mind is a deeper-seated, more instinctive force than the conscious mind, when accessed, therapeutically, many desired behavioural and cognitive changes are achievable.

So we can see that really hypnosis, in the therapeutic context, is the focused use of trance to reprogram self-limiting unconscious patterns. It is a perfectly natural, relaxing and enjoyable state that can make the world of difference to breaking the cycle of habits, conquering phobias, reducing anxiety, lifting depression etc.

To understand how our subconscious mind can get things wrong, and how hypnotherapy can help, let’s look at why we suffer from phobias.

Irrational fears and phobias are actually very common and do not always present a major problem in peoples’ lives. For example someone might be scared of heights but feel no need to address the fear because they do not have to climb ladders or mountains very often.

With that in mind, naturally, the main reason a person wants to get over an irrational fear or phobia is because it directly inhibits them in one way or another from living a normal life. Examples could include freezing on the spot when a spider is spotted, running across a road when a dog approaches or not visiting relatives that live abroad because that requires air travel.

So why does a panic response set in so powerfully that in an instance all rationale goes out the window? You may have already worked out that it is a subconscious response. One of the roles of the subconscious mind is to ensure our safety and it is instinctive in nature. If faced with a real danger our subconscious, instinctive mind will trigger a sequence of events in our mind and body to prepare us to either run or fight. This is known as the fight or flight response.

Using cynophobia (fear of dogs) as an example, the subconscious mind has developed the idea that DOG=DANGER. So every time you see a dog, alarm bells go off and the response is triggered. The subconscious mind can apply the same reactive sequence to anything it perceives to be a danger. This can be anything in our environment or even a particular environment itself e.g. a dental surgery or airplane.

The good news is, using hypnotherapy and NLP fears and phobias are generally dealt with in two or three sessions. The process is very simple and the changes lasting. Once the subconscious mind has things in true perspective you can retain control, comfortably and calmly, when faced with your old fear. Why? This is because by reframing the fear the subconscious will not perceive the stimulus, in this case a dog, as been a direct threat to your well-being. Once this has been achieved then the panic response, triggered by the primitive, subconscious mind, will no longer be deemed necessary for your survival.

Filipe is a fully qualified hypnotherapist based in Bristol, UK, dedicated to helping people take control of their lives. With a firm belief that everyone has the ability to cope with any event in their lives.

He has helped many clients regain intellectual control of seemingly uncontrollable situations. Filipe specialises in the treatment of anxiety and related conditions. http://www.hypnochanges.co.uk

Seeking Back Pain Solutions That Work

July 22, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

Looking for back pain solutions can feel like looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack sometimes. Back pain is one of the most common and elusive physical problems people experience. You can literally suffer with chronic pain on a daily basis and still have to listen to doctors tell you there is no reason why you are hurting so badly. When the pain is caused by an obvious tear in a muscle or arthritis the cause of the pain is identifiable. But most people are not that lucky.

There are hundreds of thousands of people who have sought back pain relief through surgery only to discover the surgery did not work. Some people decide to try medication out of sheer desperation. The problem with taking prescription drugs for a problem that has no apparent cause is the fact you might be facing a life of drug therapy. There are plenty of people who innocently begin a program of drugs seeking pain relief only to find they have become addicted.

Back pain is one of the major causes of disability and often leads to work absences. When you have upper or lower back pain your whole life is affected. Pain that occurs anywhere along the spine from the neck to the tailbone is generally called back pain. The pain can emanate from the spine itself or from the nerves or muscles in the back. The pain can be acute or chronic. But whether your back hurts for a short or long time, the result is the same. Your quality of life is impacted because you cannot move without pain.

The causes of back pain can vary. The pain can be caused by muscle strain or tears, spine problems like a slipped disk or osteoporosis. The pain can also be caused by nerve damage, weakness in the muscles from aging and lack of exercise, and a multitude of mysterious problems that seem to have no source. Annually, over 65 million Americans a year visit a doctor seeking back pain solutions. Many end up taking prescription medications out of desperation.

Doctors are often not anxious to pursue alternatives to traditional medicine. But over thousands of years there have been many different successful alternative pain management strategies developed. These include acupuncture, massage, osteopathy and magnetic therapy. Of these alternatives the magnetic therapy is the only one which does not require the assistance of another person.

Back pain solutions that work best are often those which are non-invasive. Surgery should be a last resort, because operating on the back is always a delicate procedure with a high risk of causing permanent damage. The back is made up of a series of bones that look like they have been stacked like children’s blocks. In between the bones are cushioning discs. The whole structure is held together by ligaments, tendons and the surrounding muscles. Inside the spine is the spinal cord from which multiple nerves spread out into the body.

With such an amazing construction it is no wonder that so many people have back problems. Injuries at work and home, discs that bulge from too much pressure put on the back, inflammation of the nerves and genetics can lead to back pain. People who sit a lot at work such as at a desk are the ones most prone to lower back pain. Upper back pain is often caused by back overuse or back strain and tension.

There is no reason to live with chronic back pain without any relief when there are back pain solutions such as magnetic therapy that can block pain on a temporary basis. Alternative therapy for back pain may finally offer the relief you need so you can restore the quality of your life.

Andy West is a writer for QuadraBloc, a unique, therapeutic, non invasive, non pharmacological alternative for pain management. For more information on back pain solutions, visit Quadrabloc.com.

Using Magnets In Medicine Is Not A New Idea

July 22, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

The use of magnets in medicine is not something new. In fact magnets have been used for thousands of years, and many people are not aware of this fact. They think magnet therapy is some new-fangled alternative medicine. Skeptics argue there is no scientific proof they can be effective for the control of pain which is not true. Controlled studies at university medical facilities have shown that the correct placement of specially designed magnets over the area where the pain is occurring does relieve the pain for many people. That is why thousands of athletes use magnets and don’t worry about what others think. It is hard to argue with results.

So exactly how do the magnets work to relieve pain? There are detailed scientific explanations that use words like “c-fiber nerves” and “unmyelinated nerves” to explain the conduction of pain along nerve routes in the body. But in layman’s terms the magnets work by blocking the sodium, potassium and calcium from accumulating and causing the nerve pressure and pain. When using magnets in medicine, the magnets are attached to the skin right over the area where the pain is felt.

If you think this concept sounds a bit far fetched, then consider this: the electronic resonance imaging machine (MRI) uses a magnetic field to obtain pictures of body tissue in great detail. Athletes know that magnetic therapy accelerates bone healing which is another reason why many athletes are sold on the use of magnets as alternative medicine. Athletes like to avoid taking drugs whenever possible so the use of magnets can provide much needed pain relief in a safe and healthy manner.

Back pain is one of the most common medical problems people experience. Upper or lower back pain can be debilitating. Some people have intense and short episodes of pain while others live with a dull chronic pain. Back pain affects the quality of life in that it can force people to restrict their activities and living with constant pain is extremely stressful.

The use of magnets in medicine in medicine offers alternative pain management without the use of drugs or invasive surgery. The magnets can relieve pain by interrupting the flow of natural body elements that stimulate the nerves and increase blood flow to the pain area. It is well documented that healing can be speeded up by increasing blood flow, because blood carries oxygen. That is one reason why magnetic therapy is used to heal the bones of athletes that have been broken or fractured.

It should be mentioned that magnets are used to block pain in many other areas of the body besides the back. The magnets can relieve pain in the shoulders, neck, elbows, knees and feet. The comprehensive use of magnets in medicine offers pain relief to many people who have decided they will never find relief from pain.

Magnetic therapy has a lot of advantages over traditional methods of pain control. When looking at the use of magnets in medicine, it is easy to see that as a pain management alternative magnetic therapy is safe and worry free. There are no drugs involved and the therapy is non-invasive. You can purchase the magnets without a prescription and they are economical and long lasting.

If you are looking for relief from chronic pain then magnetic therapy may hold the answer. The use of magnets in medicine is a growing field of study which offers much promise for pain sufferers. You can use magnets that create a steep field gradient over the pain area and feel the reduction of pain within a few minutes sometimes. It just does not make any sense to continue suffering when an effective alternative is available.

Andy West is a writer for QuadraBloc, a unique, therapeutic, non invasive, non pharmacological alternative for pain management. For more information on using magnets in medicine, visit Quadrabloc.com.

Magnetic Healing Covers A Surprising Range Of Ailments

July 22, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

You know an alternative form of therapy has gone mainstream when it’s covered by health insurance. Increasing numbers of health insurance providers are covering the relatively minor costs of magnetic healing therapies because of clinical studies over the last several years that prove the efficacy of magnets in promoting faster, safer recovery from a variety of illnesses and injuries.

From simple, localized bruising to broken bones and chronic inflammation, magnets made from the rare earth mineral neodymium can improve conditions without triggering troublesome or dangerous side effects. Sports medicine specialists are particularly drawn to the advantages of medical healing for treating sports injuries because it promotes faster healing with stronger results at the point of injury; both important when a player is vital to the success of a team.

It’s also become popular for treating patients who may not respond well to pharmaceutical intervention, including the elderly, who may already be taking various medications that can cause drug interaction complications, and those with drug sensitivities.

Magnetic healing is increasingly popular in part because it encourages our bodies to become active in a sort of self-healing process that actually boosts our own immune system’s function. Some of the ways magnets work with our own bodies to help us heal are amazing.

Magnets help our bodies regulate calcium flow. Depending on the alignment of the magnets placed over bones and joints, the polarity of the magnets can either help bones heal faster by encouraging calcium flow to the area, which will strengthen bone, or improve arthritic joints by reducing calcium build-up. In fact, in controlled research settings, fractured hand and wrist bones healed on average 35% faster with magnetic therapy than without.

They help increase energy flow through acupuncture meridians. The flow of energy, or chi, through the body affects your immune system, ability to fight infection and handle pain if it is out of balance. Magnetic healing therapy can properly balance the flow of energy through the balance when used on the proper acupuncture points of the body.

The pineal gland, located in the brain, secretes the hormone melatonin, which aids the way the body processes light and is related to sexual development and mood. The pineal gland is magnetically sensitive and can be stimulated by magnetic therapy.

Magnets can alter the acidity and alkalinity of the body. When the pH balance of the body’s cells are out of balance, illness can result. The balance of acids and alkali in our cells is essential to hydration, nutrition and health.

Among the other healthy results of magnetic healing therapy is improved blood circulation, reduced stress levels, overall energy enhancement and faster wound healing. More mainstream doctors are turning to magnetic healing each year as an adjunct to traditional medications and therapies in order to enhance their effectiveness. An example of this is combining physical therapy with magnetic healing to heal joint injuries more quickly and reduce the stress of the therapy itself. Some doctors and holistic therapy practitioners are also using magnets to treat tension and migraine headaches so you can rely less on pain medications.

Andy West is a writer for QuadraBloc, a unique, therapeutic, non invasive, non pharmacological alternative for pain management. For more information on magnetic healing, visit Quadrabloc.com.

Some Benefits of Hammock Swings

July 21, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

What comes to mind when you think about hammock swings? You think of lazy summer days just relaxing in a comfortable hammock. Did you know that hammocks actually provide some health benefits as well? Recently, many doctors and therapists have been prescribing hammock usage to patients with chronic pain of the back and legs. Why is this?
It really comes down to gravity. A hammock forms to your body when you lay on it. Due to the hugging effect that occurs when lying on a hammock, your body weight is distributed evenly across the surface area of your body. All your weight no longer rests on your muscles. Removing the excess weight from those muscles allows them and your spine to relax and help to reduce pain in those areas. This is a huge benefit for those that suffer from bad backs and pain in their lower extremities.

Another benefit from using hammocks is that they are a great stress reliever. In today’s world people’s stress levels are getting higher and higher from the world around them. Lying in a hammock once a day can give your body a reduction in your stress level thus helping to increase the strength of your immune system.

Focus is a third benefit you can receive from using a hammock. It is believed that the swinging movement caused by a hammock stimulates the brain allowing for increased concentration. The motion helps stimulate the cerebral cortex, the area of the brain known for concentration. Tests have shown that people that read while in hammocks tend to comprehend the material better than those reading in a chair or a bed. Think about to when you were a baby. Most of the chairs you were in offered a swinging movement. This helps remind the baby of being in the mother’s womb. When the mother walks the baby naturally feels a swinging type movement.

The best part about a hammock is that they usually fit all sizes of people. Since the hammock conforms to one’s body anyone can lay in a hammock. Due to this the comfort a hammock can provide is unmatched to many other types of chairs and beds. Because hammocks are so comfortable many Americans are using them as their main bed to sleep on.

As you can see hammocks provide many health benefits to their owners. This should make the decision of buying a hammock or hammock swings that much easier. Who said you can’t enjoy something that is so good for you. Cause lets face it, it doesn’t happen that often.

Steve C provides information about hammock swings benefits through his website on Cheap Hammock Swings.

Part 1 of 2: The Cancer Cure “They” Don’t Want You To Know About

July 21, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

Hippocrates (460 BC - 370 BC) proposed a cancer cure based on the humor theory of four bodily fluids: black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood. According to the humor theory, if a patient’s humor became unbalanced, the patient developed cancer or other illnesses.

To rebalance the patients’ humor, treatment consisted of diet, bloodletting, or purging. Surprisingly, humor-theory treatment remained popular until the 19th century. The humor theory was later proven to be twaddle.

Surgery as a possible cancer cure was described in the 1020s by Avicenna in “The Canon of Medicine.” He promoted the surgical removal of diseased body parts or tissues. In the 16th and 17th centuries, more doctors dissected bodies to discover the cause of death.

Between 1871 and 1874, English surgeon Campbell De Morgan formulated that cancer spreads from a tumor to other body areas. Nevertheless, using surgery to cure cancer had poor results due to hygienic problems of that time period.

With hygienic improvement, surgery eventually became an effective cancer cure for early-stage cancer. But the later the cancer stage, the less effective surgery became. And cancer sometimes returned despite surgery.

At the end of the 19th century, Marie and Pierre Curie found radiation to be a possible nonsurgical cancer cure. Surgeons began working with radiologists, improving cancer-cure results. But radiation’s effectiveness depended on the cancer’s location.

In the 1940s, several patients with advanced cancer of the white blood cells were given mustard gas intravenously rather than nasally. The patients improved remarkably - but temporarily! Researchers began searching for other anticancer substances, giving birth to chemotherapy.

Since then, many anticancer drugs have been developed, exploding drug development into a multibillion dollar industry. So is chemotherapy the cancer cure? No. Unfortunately, some cancers are resistant to chemotherapy.

As you can see, the search for a cancer cure has been going on for hundreds of years. And you can see that a “real” cancer cure doesn’t exist. Hundreds of years of seeking a cancer cure has only led us to radiation, chemo, and surgical therapy. And even these don’t work well on all cancers. So what are we to do?

Actually, a “real” cancer cure exists - but it’s so new that it’s not widely known!

WHAT IS CANCER?

Cancer involves groups of bodily cells growing and dividing uncontrollably, refusing specialization for specific bodily functions, invading and destroying other bodily tissues, and sometimes spreading throughout the body. Most cancers form a tumor, but not all. For example, leukemia (cancer of the blood or bone marrow) doesn’t.

Cancer affects people of all ages, but affects older people more. According to the American Cancer Society, cancer killed 7.6 million people worldwide in 2007!

Cancer is caused by damaged genes within bodily cells. These damages can be caused by tobacco smoke, asbestos fibers, radiation, chemicals, or viral infections. Cancer-promoting genetic damages can also be inherited.

Normal cells are programmed to kill themselves if they become damaged beyond repair. Nevertheless, this program is turned off in cancer cells - allowing them immortality!

Basically, cancer cells are immortal “brain-damaged” cells that act crazy, killing normal cells, interfering with normal bodily functions.

VITAMIN D AND CANCER

Vitamin D isn’t really a vitamin. Since vitamin D is usually produced by the body’s largest organ, the skin, it’s really a hormone. For a chemical substance to qualify as a hormone, it needs to be produced by one of the body’s organs.

Not only do plants need sunlight to be healthy, humans also need it. Long ago, sunlight exposure was the only way humans got adequate amounts of vitamin D. Most foods are vitamin D-free or contain small traces of it - not enough for best health! The human skin is designed to photosynthesize large amounts of vitamin D from sunlight exposure.

Researchers recently discovered vitamin D deficiencies among the following people:

People spending most of their time indoors,

People regularly covering all their skin with clothing,

People regularly slathering on sunscreen,

People aged 50 and older,

People with excessive body fat,

People with inflammatory bowel disease, and

People living far from the equator. For example, the following cities have high cancer rates: Seattle, Toronto, Boston, London, Dublin, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Berlin, Moscow, and Anchorage.

Also researchers found that dark-skinned people are more susceptible to vitamin D deficiency, because their skin filters out more sunlight than light-skinned people.

Additionally, researchers discovered that many of these vitamin D-deficient people developed medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, heart disease, clinical depression, chronic anxiety, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, psoriasis, eczema, high blood pressure, bone softening diseases, chronic pain, muscle weakness, viral infections, polycystic ovary syndrome, and migraine headaches.

But since this article is about cancer, we’ll stay focused on cancer.

Can vitamin D cure cancer? Surprisingly, the answer is yes.

Vitamin D is a powerful hormone that regulates and repairs bodily cells. If you have adequate amounts of vitamin D in your body, the cancer cells in your body stop growing and dividing uncontrollably, stop invading and destroying other bodily tissues, stop spreading throughout your body, and begin specialization for specific bodily functions.

Also the cancer cells lose their immortality, and begin to die normally. Vitamin D forces cancer cells to behave like normal cells!

The singular most important cause of cancer is vitamin D deficiency. Most, if not all, cancer patients are vitamin D deficient.

VITAMIN D DOSE

In the past, people believed that taking 600 IU of vitamin D daily was enough for good health. Currently, researchers found that adults need at least 4,000 IU of vitamin D daily for therapeutic anticancer effects!

But how much is too much? Doesn’t vitamin D become toxic at high doses? Vitamin D does become toxic at high doses, but it’s much higher than you think. Researchers recently found that to poison yourself with vitamin D, you need to take at least 40,000 IU of vitamin D daily.

So if you have cancer, a strong and safe therapeutic dose of vitamin D could range between 10,000 IU and 20,000 IU daily.

WHERE DO I BUY VITAMIN D?

You can buy vitamin D tablets at vitamin and retail stores. It’s more convenient to buy tablets that have the highest dose per tablet. For example, I buy bottles of vitamin D containing 2,000 IU per tablet. So I need to take only five tablets to equal 10,000 IU - very convenient!

Vitamin D tablets come in two forms, vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Since vitamin D3 is more potent than vitamin D2, I recommend that you buy vitamin D3 tablets.

The Guaranteed Cure for Failure, an electronic publication, costs just $19.95 and is available through http://www.theguaranteedcure.com
The Guaranteed Cure Company, founded by Al A. Gammate, specializes in cures that cure.

Part 2 of 2: The Cancer Cure “They” Don’t Want You To Know About

July 21, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

If you have cancer, starting a vitamin D regimen is very important. It’ll save your life.

Taking less than 4,000 IU of vitamin D daily is too weak, leaving cancer untouched. Taking more than 40,000 IU of vitamin D daily is too dangerous, leading to vitamin D toxicity. Therefore, a strong and safe cancer-cure dose could range from 10,000 IU to 20,000 IU of vitamin D daily.

There are additional cancer-cure regimens involving tomatoes and broccoli, and cayenne pepper that you can use with your vitamin D regimen. But first, let’s look at some things that interact with vitamin D.

VITAMIN D INTERACTIONS

Some drugs interact with vitamin D. Corticosteroid drugs such as prednisone, prescribed to reduce inflammation, impair vitamin D metabolism. Some weight-loss and cholesterol-lowering drugs reduce vitamin D absorption.

Anti-seizure drugs phenobarbital (Luminal), phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), and fosphenytoin (Cerebyx) deactivate vitamin D to some extent. Antibiotics such as rifampin (Rimactane) also deactivate vitamin D to some extent.

The following drugs, if taken with vitamin D, decrease vitamin D’s intestinal absorption: cholestyramine (Questran), colestipol (Colestid), orlistat (Xenical), mineral oil, and the fat substitute Olestra.

The oral antifungal medication ketoconazole reduces blood levels of vitamin D in healthy men, reducing their blood calcium levels. Contrastively, taking vitamin D with thiazide diuretics may over-elevate blood calcium levels.

Some medical conditions interact with vitamin D. Taking vitamin D with hyperparathyroidism, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, lymphoma, adrenal insufficiency, or Crohn’s disease may heighten blood calcium levels too much.

Let’s suppose your drug or medical condition interacts negatively with vitamin D. Should you avoid taking vitamin D? Not necessarily. You should instead take vitamin D under your doctor’s and pharmacist’s supervision. In fact, you should do this even if your drug or medical condition doesn’t interact with vitamin D!

TOMATOES AND BROCCOLI AND CANCER

Tomatoes have anticancer effects. Tomatoes reduce testosterone level; some cancers such as prostate cancer need testosterone to thrive. Also, phytochemicals in tomatoes help to reduce cancer.

Like tomatoes, broccoli is also anticancerous. Broccoli contains sulfur compounds that degrade carcinogens.

It has been known that tomatoes and broccoli individually have anticancer effects. But only recently known that when eaten together, they’re much more powerful!

Researchers recently found that the tomato-broccoli combination dramatically shrinks cancerous tumors, especially prostate tumors.

The more you include tomatoes and broccoli in your meals, the better. This is easier than you think. For example, tomato sauce is a main ingredient in most Italian foods. So all you have to do is add broccoli - and you have a powerful anticancer cocktail!

Do you enjoy Caesar salad, Chef salad, Chinese chicken salad, Cobb salad, Greek salad, or Michigan salad? If so, make sure you add plenty of tomatoes and broccoli, and say goodbye to cancer.

Eaten raw or cooked, the tomato-broccoli combination is a powerful anticancer cocktail. In fact, eating tomatoes and broccoli cooked may make their cancer-fighting constituents more bioavailable.

CAYENNE PEPPER AND CANCER

Capsaicin is the active component of cayenne peppers. Capsaicin irritates animals and humans by producing a burning sensation at the point of tissue contact.

The American Association for Cancer Research reported studies of capsaicin killing prostate cancer cells by programming them to kill themselves. These studies also showed that capsaicin-treated tumors shrank dramatically compared to untreated tumors.

The University of Nottingham’s cancer study suggested that capsaicin can trigger cellular death in human lung cancer cells as well.

Besides squashing prostate and lung cancer, capsaicin can also squash leukemic cancer. For example, there have been studies showing capsaicin inhibiting the growth of leukemic cells.

Also, capsaicin had been found to stunt and kill cancerous bladder cells.

In Thailand, where much spicy food is eaten, gastrointestinal, colorectal, and stomach cancers are rare compared to the rest of Asia. In Mexico, where much spicy food is eaten, these same cancers are rare compared to the USA.

Researchers found that, besides programming cancer cells to kill themselves, cayenne pepper may also damage the cancer cells’ membranes and limit their oxygen supply. And that cayenne pepper selectively targets cancer cells.

CAYENNE PEPPER DOSE

What’s the ideal amount of cayenne pepper needed to combat cancer? According to herbal specialist Vilhaelm Torvund, the recommended dose for all herbal supplements is as follows:

To treat acute medical conditions, take 500 mg four times daily;

To treat chronic medical conditions, take 1,000 mg four times daily;

To treat severely chronic or terminal medical conditions, take 1,000 mg eight times daily.

Therefore if you have cancer, you should take 1,000 mg of cayenne pepper capsules eight times daily. If this is inconvenient, you can instead take 2,000 mg four times daily.

If you experience stomach irritation while taking 2,000 mg of cayenne pepper capsules four times daily, then you should instead take 1,000 mg eight times daily.

On starting a cayenne regimen, you’ll probably experience some diarrhea. Once your body becomes acclimated to the cayenne, you’ll no longer experience the diarrhea.

I buy my bottle of cayenne pepper from the retail store Rite Aid. They sell a high-quality brand made by GNC. It’s important to buy high-quality cayenne pepper, because the low-quality ones may contain harmful impurities.

My only other suggestion is to take cayenne pepper capsules with food and beverages to reduce any possible side effects.

CAYENNE PEPPER INTERACTIONS

Cayenne pepper capsules may interact with certain prescription drugs. For example, cayenne may increase the effects of warfarin (Coumadin), increasing the risk of bleeding. Also, cayenne may increase the absorption rate of prescription drugs in general.

Cayenne pepper capsules may interact with a certain medical condition. Don’t take cayenne if you’re allergic to cayenne peppers. Possible allergic reactions are difficulty breathing, throat closure, facial swelling, and hives.

It’s wise to take cayenne pepper capsules under your doctor’s supervision.

SUMMARY

Individually, vitamin D, tomato-broccoli combinations, and cayenne pepper have strong anticancer effects - but together, they slap the toughest cancer into submission! Taking vitamin D and cayenne pepper supplements, and eating tomatoes and broccoli can be called the DTBC (D vitamin, tomato-broccoli, and cayenne) plan.

The DTBC (D vitamin, tomato-broccoli, and cayenne) plan consists of doing the following:

#1: Take 10,000-20,000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) tablets daily.

#2: Take 2,000 mg of cayenne pepper capsules four times daily with food and beverages.

#3: Include both tomatoes and broccoli in your meals. The more you do this, the better.

#4: Use the DTBC plan under your doctor’s supervision.

#5: Use the DTBC plan with your cancer therapy (e.g., radiation, chemo, or surgical therapy).

P.S. If you’ve never had cancer, are healthy, but want to prevent cancer, you can use the DTBC plan. Nevertheless, there’s no need for you to take more than 10,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily or more than 1,000 mg of cayenne pepper four times daily.

A Peculiar Discovery: Delving deeper, I discovered that not only does the DTBC plan cure cancer, but it also cures heart disease and obesity. Perhaps cancer, heart disease, and obesity are somehow connected.

Common Sense: If you use the DTBC plan to cure your heart disease or obesity, you should do so under your doctor’s supervision.

What Is Homeopathy And How Does It Work?

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

What is homeopathy? The concept is very simple; cure an illness with minute amounts of what might actually be causing the illness itself, given in a single remedy. The base principle of homeopathy is that like cures like. One analogy would be snakebite. When a venomous snake bites a person, the cure often takes the form of anti-venom derived from the venom of the snake that bit the person. This theory works the same for allergies and vaccines. The patient receives a small dose of “what ails them” and the vaccine or shot helps to boost the immune system.

The second most preferred method of healing in the world is homeopathy. In contrast to herbal remedies, homeopathic remedies don’t need the required three to four weeks to build up in a body and start working. Homeopathic remedies, when diagnosed correctly, can work amazingly fast.

Unlike over the counter drugs and prescriptions, there are no unpleasant side effects with homeopathic remedies. These remedies are safe enough for babies and pregnant or nursing women to use. The remedies will not interfere with any regular medication taken either.

The whole idea of homeopathy for the medication to work with your body to help it cure itself. Most conventional medicines mask the symptoms, or cover up the pain. You take an aspirin, your pain is gone, but the problem is still there. Got a cough? Take some cough medicine to cover up that tickle in your throat, but that does not necessarily mean you are cured of the base cause. Homeopathic medicine treats the illness as a whole, no one symptom becomes singled out and treated. By treating the illness in this manner, the cause itself receives treatment, thus effectively eliminating the illness.

Another plus to homeopathic remedies is they are not addictive. As soon as the symptoms stop and you start to feel better, you can stop taking the remedy. On the other hand, should you find that your symptoms are not going away, and then you are probably taking the wrong remedy and should look into using a different one?

So, what is the downside to homeopathy? Firstly, trying to find the right remedy to fit your symptoms can be tricky. For example, there is no across the board homeopathic remedy for headaches. To find your remedy you have to look at where the pain is centralized, what were the circumstances that brought on the headache and what makes it feel worse. Every aspect of an illness has to be considered before you can begin to narrow down your options for remedies.

Homeopathic remedies are widely varied and it would be impossible for a pharmacy or health food store to contain all of them. There are about thirty or so that are commonly used and these you can usually find easily. However, if your remedy is not one of these, then you might find yourself embarking on a very long search to find it.

Jeff Clare has worked in healthcare and now writes regularly on health related topics including healthy foods and lung cancer and much more

Natural Treatments For The Effects Of Menopause

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

In recent years, there has been a trend towards using natural methods for healing ourselves and staying healthy. More and more people are looking to alternative medicine for cures from colds to cancer. One of the largest growing sectors in alternative health care is women searching for other options for treating the symptoms of menopause.

All too often hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has uncomfortable side effects. The hot flashes, mood swings and headaches are bad enough; women do not need additional symptoms piled on top of what they already have. This is the biggest reason that more and more women are looking at herbal and homeopathic remedies. There is still a lot of research to be done, however there is a lot of evidence supporting the effectiveness of natural remedies.

The most popular and effective natural treatment comes in the form of herbs. Plants like black cohosh and red clover contain a class of phytoestrogens that simulate the hormone estrogen in the human body. Soy is also said to possess some of these phytoestrogens and can be beneficial as well. It has been documented that by consuming a regular dose of soy products can be as effective as some prescription drugs used when treating menopausal symptoms. Other natural sources are flaxseed oil, chaste berry, ginseng and the Chinese herb, dong quai.

Black cohosh, though not as effective as soy or red clover, does help to reduce hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, and a few other symptoms. Further research has shown that black cohosh has no hormonal effects, yet it still manages to provide relief to the woman taking the herb. What researchers have found is that black cohosh contains elements that work on the pituitary gland and suppresses the pituitary’s secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH). LH is responsible for most of the symptoms of menopause and the black cohosh has been found to actually prevent these symptoms from happening.

As with all herbal remedies, they do take a while to be absorbed and used by the body. If you want a quick fix, you will not find your answer in the realm of herbs. Most herbs take three to four weeks to begin to work properly, as the elements in the herb have to build up in the system. Of course, the whole process of using natural remedies is time consuming and requires a lot of research to find out what will or will not work for you.

Jeff Clare has worked in healthcare and now writes regularly on health related topics including healthy living and lung conditions and much more

Are Soya Food And Drinks Really Good For Us?

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

For a few years now soya and soya based products have become very popular. Many people who are vegetarian use soya as a replacement for meat, and people who are lactose intolerant drink soya milk as a substitute for cow’s milk. soya has been so deeply ingrained into our way of life, but is it really good for us? Recent reports seem to say that soya is not.

Not too long ago, several centuries, soya was not considered as a food source, and it is amazing how modern propaganda could push this product into the spotlight. It wasn’t until the 2nd Century in China’s Chou Dynasty that the fermentation of soya made it a viable option for human consumption. Up until that point it had been mainly used in crop rotation to moderate the nitrogen levels in the soil.

The unfermented soyabeans were never eaten, as they contained large levels of natural toxins that blocked digestion. Many of these toxins cannot be removed, even through cooking. Soya has been shown to produce serious gastric distress and reduce the proteins needed for proper digestion and can also cause cancer.

A closer examination of soya shows that the product is 99% genetically altered. There are also more pesticides in soya than in any other food product in the world today. There have been further studies that show vegetarians who regularly consume soya products run a risk of severe deficiencies in calcium, magnesium and iron.

Producers of soya are still trying to figure out how to get these “anti nutrients” out of soya and make it more “user friendly”. One process involves mixing the soya with an alkaline solution to remove the fiber. The process takes place in large aluminum tanks where the aluminum has a chance to seep into the soya as well. After this process, the curds are spray-dried under high temperatures to produce textured vegetable protein (TVP).

Although numerous studies have shown soya to have caused poor results in animals who were fed the product, the soya industry has not let up in its push to market it to the public. School lunches, commercial baked goods and fast food all have soya in them and are consumed in large quantities every day. You have to know that something is seriously wrong when in 1913, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) listed soya as an industrial product and not as food.

There was a time when soya wasn’t selling quite as much as the soya industry would have hoped, so they changed their marketing tactics. Instead of targeting people who might live in impoverished areas, they shifted their sights to the mainstream and the people with money. soya became the next fad in a long line of ‘miracle foods’ and the public literally ate it up. Apparently, this is working and it is scary.

Jeff Clare has worked in healthcare and now writes regularly on health related topics including healthy living and asbestos related diseases and much more

Are Eye Lids Heavy? Do You Feel Sleepy?

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to stop smoking? Do you want a better golf game? Do you want to be more confident? Yes, all this can be yours, and there’s more, much more.

Seriously, there is something that can help you achieve any and all of your goals, and its called hypnotism. Of course the moment we hear the word “hypnotism” we get visions of the stereotypical magician, waving a pocket watch in front of a subject and then telling the poor, unsuspecting soul to act like a chicken while the subject’s friends die of laughter in the audience - but therapeutic hynotism is chalk to the stage hypnotists cheese.

What exactly is hypnotism? Hypnotism is a natural state of mind created by relaxing the body and mind. This state of relaxation opens up the brain and heightens the senses, making the subject receptive to suggestions. This state of mind is perfectly natural and similar to the one we are in when we are in right before we hit deep sleep. This is called the “alpha state”.

Many of us experience the alpha state when we are daydreaming, or so involved in a good book that we totally block out anything else going on around us. Hypnotism can be a very effective tool and is more than a novelty at parties or in shows on the Vegas Strip. Athletes use it to increase their performance in competition, people also use it to overcome bad habits such as overeating or smoking. With hypnotism you are reaching the sub-conscious and speaking directly to it.

Each and every day our sub-conscious is hard at work collecting a vast amount of information from the world around us. The sub-conscious never sleeps, it keeps going through our whole lives picking up on things we usually don’t consciously think twice about.

There is no technical difference between being hypnotized and self-hypnosis, and when you get right down to it, either way, we are the only ones who can decide whether or not we will allow ourselves to be hypnotized. Hypnotism is a state of relaxation and those of us who can relax easily are usually the better subjects for hypnotism. One common myth about hypnotism is that the hypnotist can make you say or do anything. What most people don’t know is that because the conscious mind is always present, you can not be made to do anything you normally would be unwilling to do.

Jeff Clare has worked in healthcare and now writes regularly on health related topics including healthy sleep and mesothelioma and much more

Mercury Detox For Your Autistic Child

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

Are you seeing odd behavioural patterns and habits in your preschool child? Is your child having difficulty with speech such as difficulty in forming short phrases or/and with plenty of babbling? Is he having problems interacting socially with the other kids? These are possible signs that your child may just be autistic.

Autism is a neurological brain disorder. Some experts say that autism may be caused by mercury found in the body. Mercury is known to cause neurological disorders as it mainly triggers brain dysfunction. Mercury is likely to be absorbed by the body if it is presented as ethyl mercury that are usually used in thimerosal, preservatives, and additives and even in pediatric vaccines.

Hence to get rid of the mercury, it appears that it is necessary to do a mercury detox. Mercury detox is a process where chelating agents aid the body into excreting heavy metals by bonding with the toxic materials and make them less active. Mercury detox is in progress when hazardous metals are absorbed by the bloodstream and is excreted safely by the liver or kidney.

There are a lot of medications that can aid in mercury detox. DMSA is one of the most common FDA-approved drugs to treat individuals who need heavy metal detox. It contains mixed disulfide and cysteine that forms a water-soluble chelating agent that can effectively excrete lead content through urination.

DMSA may be deemed as an effective heavy metal detox agent but there are known side effects that move a lot of physicians not to recommend it to autistic children. Some of the reported side effects of DMSA are self-stimming, seizures and some dysfunction of the central nervous system.

Individuals with autism may or may not show these side effects because as mentioned earlier, it’s always a case-to-case basis.

Another option for heavy metal detox is the intake of DMPS. This is the next alternative for DMSA. DMPS may be a little pricey, but it is recommended to be taken only once a month. This is generally cheaper compared to DMSA because you have to take them 28 times on a monthly basis.

There are also other options that you can consider for your child for a much gentler way of detoxification. For instance, taking certain herbal supplements known to aid in detoxification as well as homeopathy.

It is important that you first get your child tested for mercury or heavy metals. If the tests indicate the high presence of these toxic materials, consult your health care provider on what your options are.

Got constipation, weight gain, poor energy and bad breath? Need to detox and cleanse? Get free research and special reports by Sandra Kim Leong on detox diets, colon cleansing, liver cleansing and juice fasting here on Detox Cleansing Diet

Effective Natural Dry Skin Treatments

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

Symptoms most associated with Xeroderma (dry skin) are scaling, which is the visible peeling of the outer skin layer, itching and cracks in the skin.

Xeroderma is a very common condition. Dry skin happens more often in the winter where the cold air outside and the hot air inside create a low relative humidity.

Skin contains the hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, apocrine glands and blood vessels. Skin consists of loose connective tissue and elastin. Skin also harbors many nerve endings that provide the sense of touch and heat.

The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. Epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin. The blood vessels in the dermis provide nourishment and waste removal to its own cells as well as the epidermis.

Dry skin could also be a sign of an underactive thyroid Dry skin is common. Dry skin could be due to a genetic condition. Environmental factors such as exposure to sun, wind, cold, chemicals, or cosmetics, or excessive bathing with harsh soaps, can cause dry skin.

Thick, oily-type moisturizers work best Take baths or showers less often. Use bath oils and moisturizers daily.

You want to work from the inside out too. Fatty acids are particularly important to people with dry skin. Consider taking cod liver oil or fish oil supplements every day.

The two most common, sluggish, digestion culprits that affect your skin are not enough water and not enough fiber. Eat foods that contain essential fatty acids.

Coconut oil is very inexpensive, therefore, a good, cheap home remedy. Apply coconut oil to heal and soothe your skin.

It just takes motivation, a willingness to try it, and diligent application of coconut oil several times daily and at bedtime to see its benefits. Apply a thin layer of coconut oil and massage it deep into the skin.

Sunlight, water and air play an important role in keeping the skin healthy. The skin is subject to constant attack from without, so can be affected by numerous conditions, diseases and ailments.

Unclean skin favors the development of pathogenic organisms - the dead cells that continually slough off of the epidermis mix with the secretions of the sweat and sebaceous glands and the dust found on the skin to form a filthy layer on its surface.

If you’re still worried, or the problems persist, go and see your doctor. Skin doctors are called dermatologists. Call your doctor or naturopath when you feel itchy all over without a visible rash.

For more information on coconut oil treatment for dry skin and dry skin care treatments go to http://www.Best-Skin-Care-Tips.com Helen Hecker R.N.’s website specializing in care for skin conditions with tips, advice and resources for women, men, teens and babies, including information on the best natural products

Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment: Which Treatment Is Right For You?

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

If you suffer from social anxiety disorder then you may be wondering what treatment is right for you. It is important that you understand your social anxiety disorder so that you can treat it and ultimately cure yourself of it.

Social anxiety is a psychological condition which causes overwhelming fear of situations or events that require social interaction or performance in front of other people.

The anxiety often activates physical symptoms such as blushing, rapid heart beat, sweating, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, and many others and that can interfere with daily activities and socializing. And if this condition worsens, like keeps on recurring for more than six months and in most days than not without any reasonable explanations, this can become an immobilizing disorder.

A person with this disorder may fear social events and may result to being home-bound. But, there is cure to this illness. Social anxiety disorder treatment includes professional counseling and anxiety medications.

Treatments such as psychological counseling and medications, such as antidepressants which help reduce associated anxiety and depression, are both effective to those with this condition. The initial treatment is based on the severity of your emotional and physical symptoms and your ability to function in daily life activities.

People with social anxiety condition usually also have depression. In, addition, they may have problems with alcohol and substance abuse, therefore, your health professional may ask certain questions to know whether how severe your drinking or drug abuse can be. Usually, it goes undetected for years before treatment is sought and by that time, you may have developed behaviors that give room for the fears.

Types of counseling of social anxiety disorder treatment may include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy- helps sufferers identify their anxieties and the situations that provoke the anxiety. This may feel a little uneasy on your part, but this is an important part for a successful recovery.

Treatment may include several types of cognitive-behavioral therapy, like:

Exposure therapy- you will be guided by a professional counselor to imagine you are facing your feared situation until such time, you will no longer fear it, such as going to public places.

Cognitive restructuring- helps you learn to identify and improve thinking patterns in order for you to cope up with social events.

Symptom management skills- this teaches you how to minimize stress by using proper breathing techniques and other physical responses to anxiety.

Supportive therapy- this type of therapy may include education about the illness, family therapy- to support loved ones with this condition, and group therapy or support groups- to seek support from others who have the same condition.

Medications for social anxiety disorder include:

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are often the first type of medication;
Benzodiazepines are for relieving anxiety and not for those with drug problems;
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) for relieving depression and anxiety;
Beta-blockers are taken to reduce anxiety and seldom used to treat anxiety symptoms like rapid heart beat;
Venlafaxine helps relieve anxiety and depression;

Ongoing treatment usually includes continuous psychological counselling and regular checkups to monitor if medications must be added to your treatment. Regular and continuous treatments are the best approach to treat your anxiety. There are many ways to treat social anxiety disorder treatment, some of which may surprise you.

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medication, psychological visits and herbal remedies. Find out

more at http://www.anxiety.getwhatyouwant1.com today!

Dry Skin Isn’t What It’s Cracked Up to Be

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

The good news is that today, there are several types of treatments to choose from for your cracked, dry skin (xeroderma). Dry skin happens more often in the winter where the cold air outside and the hot air inside creates a low relative humidity.

Xeroderma is a very common condition.

Skin contains the hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, apocrine glands and blood vessels. Skin consists of loose connective tissue and elastin. Skin also receives less blood flow and lower gland activity.

The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The blood vessels in the dermis provide nourishment and waste removal to its own cells as well as the epidermis.

The dermis is structurally divided into two areas: a superficial area adjacent to the epidermis, called the papillary region, and a deep thicker area known as the reticular region.

Symptoms most associated with Xeroderma are scaling (the visible peeling of the outer skin layer), itching, and cracks in the skin.

Environmental factors such as exposure to sun, wind, cold, chemicals, or cosmetics, or excessive bathing with harsh soaps, can cause dry skin. Serious skin complications, including dry skin, can arise for people with diabetes.

The skin loses moisture and may crack and peel, or become irritated and inflamed.

Dry your skin gently and thoroughly, patting not rubbing. Apply moisturizers just after a bath or shower, when your skin is still damp. Avoid products that are alcohol-based.

You want to work from the inside out too. Good skin is often a reflection of a good digestive system. Consider taking cod liver oil or fish oil supplements every day. The two most common, sluggish, digestion culprits that affect your skin are not enough water and not enough fiber.

For an easy fiber boost, mix in two tablespoons of ground up flaxseeds in raw applesauce, from 2-3 apples, made in your food processor.

If you also have eczema or acne, coconut oil will treat those skin conditions too. Coconut oil is very inexpensive, therefore, a good, cheap home remedy.

Use coconut oil to remove your make-up at night, like I do; it leaves a fine layer of oil to nourish your skin all night long. Apply coconut oil to heal and soothe your skin.

The skin must be regularly cleaned or it’ll become cracked or inflamed. The skin supports its own ecosystems of microorganisms, including yeasts and bacteria, which cannot be removed by any amount of cleaning.

Go to your skin doctor if dryness and itching are preventing you from sleeping. See your doctor or naturopathic doctor if your skin doesn’t improve in spite of your best efforts. And did I say to drink lots and lots of water every day!

A Reiki Healing Session: What To Expect

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

Reiki is a form of energy healing that has become a popular complement to modern medicine as well as an alternative healing therapy used throughout the world. Although its roots can be traced back centuries, it developed in its modern form in Japan in the early twentieth century. And, it is from two Japanese words (rei and ki) that we get the word Reiki. Roughly translated, Reiki means “universal life energy”.

Practitioners of Reiki believe that there is a type of subtle energy that flows in and around everyone and everything in the universe. It is this universal life energy that a Reiki practitioner attempts to channel to the afflicted person during a healing session.

Reiki practitioners believe that all illnesses have non-physical components. The purpose of a Reiki healing session is to channel additional life energy, or ki, to the person who suffers from some type of physical or mental trauma. The additional energy clears blockages and establishes an increased, and more efficient, internal flow of energy within the person. As this occurs, true healing can begin.

The time needed for an individual healing session varies depending on the client and the particular problem addressed. However, Reiki therapists generally schedule their sessions for 45-60 minutes. The client remains fully clothed during a Reiki session. He or she may lie flat or sit upright. It is especially important that both the healer and the person who has sought out healing feel comfortable, peaceful, and serene during the healing session. Soft lighting and relaxing music are often used by Reiki practitioners to increase these feelings.

When the client is comfortable, the therapist places his or her hands lightly on, or slightly above, the person’s body. The hands of the healer are held palms down with fingers and thumbs extended. During the session, the Reiki therapist will move his or her hands to particular locations on the body, following a specific routine. There are 12-15 Reiki hand positions which correspond to energy centers. The healer will stop at each of these locations to transmit energy. The healer will pause at each location until the flow of energy seems to subside or stop. When the energy flow subsides, the therapist will move to another hand position, working from head to feet. It is important to note that a Reiki healer does not direct the energy in an active sense. The Reiki practitioner is merely a conduit. He or she simply adopts the intent to heal. The life energy itself is intelligent. It goes where it is needed.

A sensation of heat is often taken as an indication of Reiki energy flow. However, a wide range of personal perceptual experiences may be reported by both the healer and the recipient. Among other things, a tingling, coolness, warmth, or the sensation of colors may be experienced.

According to Reiki therapists, people typically leave a Reiki session feeling very relaxed and tranquil. However, recipients of Reiki therapy sometimes experience what therapists call a cleansing crisis. They may feel headachy, nauseous, dizzy, or weak. For Reiki practitioners, these symptoms are the result simply of the body getting rid of toxins and realigning itself to the flow of ki. Rest and increased fluid intake are often recommended to help the person cope with these symptoms.

Douglas Hardwick, Ph.D., has extensive interests in issues of holistic health and human development. He is a primary contributor to the information website: www.holisticwebworks.com - Holistic Health and Healing Resources

A Look At Fertility Herbs

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

Today the alternative approaches to treating fertility have taken a step back from the mechanics of fertilization and instead are looking at addressing the overall state of the body. Today there are fertility herbs around which provide an excellent way of strengthening the organ systems as well as improving their function without harmful side effects.

Once the organs have begun to work well it is useful to apply herbs which increase a body’s ability to utilize estrogen which enhances the production of eggs in the ovary. So not only will a woman’s body be in better shape for fertilization but it will also be well prepared for the actual pregnancy. In fact herbs which are recommended for fertility purposes are also useful during the actual pregnancy itself.

The following herbs listed below should be either taken as a water based infusion or as a strong tea. For preparing an infusion you will need to fill a clean wide mouthed jar a third full with dried herbs and then fill the jar up to the top with boiling water, place on the cap and then let the herbs seep in the water for no less than 4 hours. After the 4 hours strain and drink a cup of this per day. Refrigerate what you have not used and do not reheat or allow the infusion to boil.

Red Clover Blossoms and Leaves
This supplies calcium, protein, B Vitamins to the body as well as clearing toxins from the blood. The alkalinizing effect will lengthen the survival time of sperm. However you should not use this before or after surgery as its blood thinning properties will impair the clotting of your blood.

Nettle Leaf
This is high in iron and calcium and is good for treating anemia as it strengthens the kidneys as well as building blood and enriches and thickens the uterine lining. This enables implantation of the fertilized egg to occur. However people who either suffer from high blood pressure or fibroids should not use this herb.

Raspberry Leaf
This will strengthen the reproductive organs as well as supporting a person’s digestive system. It contains a wide array of vitamins and minerals.

It is important that you rotate the use of these 3 herbs and drink one cup of infusion per day (so Monday, Raspberry Leaf, Tuesday Nettle Leaf, Wednesday Red Clover Leaf and Blossoms and so on). After using these for about 3-6 months (all depending on the condition of your body in the beginning) your body should then be ready for the 2nd phase.

However it is important that the following herbs are NOT used during the pregnancy itself as they can stimulate uterine contractions. Add one of these to your regime of infusions and if you are not getting the required results within a few months then try another. Normally these herbs can be taken in the form of a tincture by just putting drops into a little water and then drinking.

Dong Quai (Tang Kwei) Root
This is a Chinese herb which is commonly used to help build up the female system and enhance the utilization of estrogen. It is important that you take 20-30 drops of this tincture three times a day.

False Unicorn Root
As this is an endangered species it should only be used when absolutely necessary. This has been used for a long time as a fertility herb and opens up the estrogen receptor sites in the ovaries. You should have 10 drops of this in water each morning.

So when next considering fertility herbs than look no further than the ones whose details have been provided above.

Lee Dobbins write for http://www.herbs-home-remedies.com/ where you can learn more about herbs and natural remedies.

Dry Skin Needs Tender Loving Care

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

Only a lucky few have ‘normal’ skin; the rest of us have a dry, oily or combination variety; if dryness is your problem, read on.

The good news is that today, there are several types of natural treatments to choose from for your dry skin.

Symptoms most associated with Xeroderma (dry skin) are scaling, which is the visible peeling of the outer skin layer, itching and cracks in the skin.

The skin is often known as “the largest organ of the human body”. Skin also receives less blood flow and lower gland activity. The average square inch of skin holds 650 sweat glands, 20 blood vessels, 60,000 melanocytes, and more than a thousand nerve endings.

The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. The epidermis can be further subdivided into the following strata (beginning with the outermost layer): corneum, lucidum(only in feet), granulosum, spinosum, and basale.

The blood vessels in the dermis provide nourishment and waste removal to its own cells as well as the epidermis.

Certain drugs, including diuretics, antispasmodics, and antihistamines, can contribute to dry skin. Dry skin happens more often in the winter when cold air outside and heated air inside cause low humidity. Skin gets exposed to the elements especially in winter. Dry skin could be due to a genetic condition.

Thick, oily-type moisturizers work best. Use bath oils and moisturizers daily. For any skin condition, it’s always better to take a natural approach.

Concentrating on a diet of LOTS of fruits and vegetables (preferably uncooked) and no junk food, should give you an observable improvement within 30 days.

Drink plenty of water, a minimum of a quart a day. For an easy fiber boost, mix in 2 tablespoons of ground up flaxseeds in raw applesauce, from 2-3 apples, made in your food processor.

The two most common, sluggish, digestion issues that affect your skin are not enough water and not enough fiber. Good skin is often a reflection of a good digestive system.

Coconut oil: it just takes a little motivation, a willingness to try it, and diligent application of coconut oil several times daily and at bedtime to see its benefits.

The best treatment I’ve found for dry skin is coconut oil. Coconut oil is very inexpensive, therefore, a good, cheap home remedy. Apply a thin layer of coconut oil and massage it deep into the skin.

Functions of the skin are disturbed when it is dirty; it becomes more easily damaged, and the release of antibacterial compounds decreases and dirty skin is more prone to develop infections.

The skin supports its own ecosystems of microorganisms, including yeasts and bacteria, which cannot be removed by any amount of cleaning. Sunlight, water and air play an important role in keeping the skin healthy.

Usually, these days, we can take care of dry skin without seeing our doctor, but sometimes we can’t avoid it.

If your dry skin lasts for a long time and is itchy or feels hot when you touch it, see your doctor. With this information your dry skin should be well on its way to recovery.

The Truth Behind Overcoming Sexual Performance Anxiety In Men

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

Sexual performance anxiety greatly affects a man’s self-confidence. Thankfully overcoming sexual performance anxiety is possible at any age and stage of a man’s life.

Anxiety is a normal part of life; therefore, it is likely that most people experience anxiety at some point in their lives. Anxiety keeps us alert and helps us cope in every stressful event or situation. But, there is a type of anxiety that is common to men when we talk about sexual issues- men’s sexual anxiety. Men’s sexual anxiety affects their performance in bed. This issue is hardly ever discussed openly for fear of losing their macho-image. Male sexual performance anxiety is described when a man has trouble getting an erection.

Men who have sexual performance anxiety usually worry about whether they do get a penile erection and when they are about to have sex, they lose their erection, or it can be that when they are actually in the course of having sexual intercourse, they lose the genital erection, or they don’t get their ‘thing’stubbornly up at all.

Sexual performance anxiety can happen to men in any of those situations. The real deal is usually that you are focusing relatively on the final goal, which is of course orgasm, or pleasing your partner with an orgasm, instead of focusing on all the rest of what goes on in the sexual encounter.

Concentrating more on the relationship and the intimate experiences that you are having as a contrary to the final goal, to make the story short focus on enjoying the whole process of sexual intercourse and not torment yourself by thinking the end result.

There are actually a large number of different treatments, as far as sexual performance is concerned. One of the treatments targets the erectile dysfunction (ED) known as the sensate focus technique. Through a series of four stages, the first thing that you should learn is to stop focusing on the outcome (orgasm) and worrying about whether or not you climax ahead or satisfy your partner to reach that instead concentrate on what the sensory stimulation is like, savor the actual moment of being stimulated, find out what are the ways in which you can reach the peak and pleasure each other.

This will take your anxiety off of what’s going to happen at the end; and once you’re through with that stage, move on to the second where you’ll be caressing, touching, and communication with clothes off. The third stage is actually being inside your partner but no thrusting, and the last stage is now the thrusting. But, the focus is on the sensations (or called sensate focus).

Analytical Therapy, which is psychotherapy, psychoanalysis using hypnosis, can be very effective in dealing with more deep-seated problems that most men have. Though ED and other sex interferences can have biological causes, many of the problems are psychological. Hypnosis can reduce sexual performance anxiety to promote a more relaxed and confident sense of self, optimize self-esteem, happiness and boost self confidence.

Another remedy is prescription drug treatment therapy. There are two types of penis erection drugs that can boost your self-confidence. The medication that goes to the brain to get an erection, and the other works directly to the genital. Uprima medicine works by enhancing nerve signals that causes nerve signals to be sent from brain to the male genital organ, which results it to become erect. Other drugs like Viagra, Cialis, or levitra are some of the drugs to choose from for erectile dysfunction treatment.

Men sexual performance anxiety is one of the issues that are not very popularly discussed publicly. The reasons of men’s sexual performance anxiety are either the result of how they feel or because of genital erectile dysfunction. Whatever the reasons maybe, sexual performance anxiety is curable

Do you or does someone you know suffer from anxiety or
depression? 1000s of people who suffer from anxiety have been cured in the comfort of their own home without anxiety

medication, psychological visits and herbal remedies. Find out

more at http://www.anxiety.getwhatyouwant1.com today!

What If You Could Find An Anxiety And Panic Cure - Most Effective Treatments Revealed

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

The best way to cure anxiety and panic is to understand the anxiety condition. It is normal for people to experience feelings of anxiety and panic from to time. It makes us cope from very stressful situations, however, when anxiety becomes too much and turns into irrational fear of everyday circumstances, it becomes a debilitating anxiety disorder.

Unlike short-lived, mild anxiety caused by a stressful event, anxiety disorder lasts at least 6 months and may worsen if not properly and immediately treated.

The best way to cure panic and anxiety feelings is to understand the anxiety condition. Anxiety is a troubled state of mind. Anxiety results from fearful thinking of future events or situations. It is a condition that is not accidental, unknown, or uncontrollable.

Anxiety condition occurs for specific reason and have underlying basis why it persists. Education is an important way to help attain anxiety cure. Here are some of the helpful tips towards anxiety cures which may aid in taking control over your own emotions again.

Anxiety And Panic Cure One - Relaxation techniques - a person feeling anxious most of the time has trouble relaxing, however, learning how to release muscle tension is an important anxiety cure. Relaxation techniques include regular muscle relaxation, meditation, abdominal breathing, and isometric relaxation exercise.

Anxiety And Panic Cure Two - Proper breathing techniques- the physical symptoms of anxiety maybe triggered by hyperventilation or rapid breathing, which raises oxygen levels and reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood. A person with anxiety condition should know how to breathe from their diaphragm, and not from their chest, to prevent against hyperventilation. This technique can help you calm down while feeling anxious.

Anxiety And Panic Cure Three - Cognitive therapy- this technique focuses on altering patterns of thinking and beliefs that are associated with ad trigger anxiety. The basis of cognitive therapy is that ideas can trigger thoughts, which then trigger feelings, results manifest trough action.

Cognitive therapy strategies should include rational self talk, training on attention, reality testing cognitive challenging, and cognitive restructuring. This means monitoring your self talk, challenging fears and beliefs, and checking out the negative thoughts in terms of their reality.

Anxiety and Panic Cure Four - Behavior therapy- the major component of behavior therapy is exposure. Exposure therapy involves deliberately confronting your fears in order to desensitize yourself. Exposure lets you to redefine the danger or fear aspect of the situation or trigger.

Anxiety and Panic Cure Five - Medication- is important to see medication as a short term measure, not a solution to anxiety disorder. Studies show that psychological therapies are much more effective than drugs in managing anxiety disorder in the long run. Brief course of tranquilizers or antidepressants may be prescribed by your doctor to help you deal with the symptoms.

Anxiety and Panic Cure Six - Dietary adjustments - inadequate intake of vitamin B and calcium can worsen anxiety symptoms. Nicotine, caffeine, and stimulant drugs should be avoided for they trigger your adrenaline glands to release adrenaline, one of the main stress chemical.

Anxiety and Panic Cure Seven - Exercise burns up stress chemicals and promotes relaxation. Plan to do some physical activities at least 3 to 4 times a week and vary your activities to avoid boredom.

There is always an effective anxiety and panic cure, however, the level of recovery depends on the participation and willingness of the person with anxiety condition. The sooner you can get treatment, the bigger your chance of getting better and be back to normal health.

Do you or does someone you know suffer from anxiety or
depression? 1000s of people who suffer from anxiety have been cured in the comfort of their own home without anxiety

medication, psychological visits and herbal remedies. Find out

more at http://www.anxiety.getwhatyouwant1.com today!

Colon Cleanse for IBS Symptoms

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

If you have severe IBS symptoms, you may be experiencing little success from taking laxatives and managing your fiber intake. It may be that your body has grown accustomed to the laxatives that you have been consuming and that they are losing their effect. There is, however, one more treatment option that you can consider a colon cleanse. According to naturopathic practitioners, colon cleanse is highly suitable for those who suffer from severe IBS symptoms.

A colon cleanse is about cleansing the intestines. It is believed that cleaning the colon is just as important to cleaning other parts of the body. A dirty colon can become toxic and this may be why your digestive system becomes irritable causing IBS symptoms. A dirty colon can be the result of you eating processed foods or foods that are not healthy and/or having unhealthy eating habits. When your colon cannot eliminate the toxins effectively, it becomes overburdened and toxins accumulate.

Even with colon cleansing, there are several ways that you go about it. A colon cleanse can begin with taking natural supplements as well as power drinks. These drinks usually contain different herbs and medications that work together to give you the results that you desire. If you choose this route of colon cleansing, you may have to avoid certain foods during the cleansing process for maximum results. Before purchasing these power drinks, it is advisable to check with your health care provider first. Also ensure that these drinks contain the best quality ingredients.

Spices and special herbs may also be used for colon cleanse. Some foods have calming results on your digestive system, too. These foods include rhubarb, peppers, ginger, and garlic. These items will help to cleanse the digestive system, which aids in easier bowel movements.

Many who have undergone colon cleansing for their IBS symptoms claim that it is an effective form of treatment. Not only are they reducing the severity and frequency of their IBS symptoms, they are also experiencing better overall health. There are of course skeptics who do not believe in colon cleanse or any form of cleansing. They say that your body is equipped to colon cleanse toxins on its own and need no extra help.

Still, if you have no luck with other forms of treatment for your IBS symptoms, it does not hurt to find out more about colon cleansing from your doctor. Make sure you let him know about the exact symptoms that you are currently having and the current method of treatment, whether laxatives or otherwise, that you are on.

The Facts About Adrenal Complex

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

In our body, we have what we call as adrenal glands that are the main system for handling the negatives effects of stress. As such, the adrenal glands are then responsible for safeguarding the other system from the effects of every type of emotional, physical, and mental stress. However, there are really some instances that our adrenal glands function insufficiently which results to fatigue, allergic hypersensitivities, muscular weaknesses, hypotension, low blood sugar and food cravings.

With that adrenal exhaustion effects, the medical experts fortunately developed the Adrenal Complex formula to give our body with the essential supportive and re-strengthening factors that the adrenal glands badly needed to react to todays exhausting demands. So what is about the Adrenal Complex?

The Adrenal Complex basically contains not only raw adrenal glandular concentrates in order to promote regeneration, but it is a combination product that contains herbs, vitamins, and other nutrients that is believed to give or elevate the adrenals, and the endocrine glands that are found on top of each kidney which then emits steroid and stress hormones. The Adrenal Complex therefore is designed to improve the adrenal glandular function and hormone production in our system.

The Adrenal Complex then nourished the adrenals for the purpose of increasing the energy level and so to reinforce the bodily reaction to stress, and the properties that are particularly beneficial to people who are suffering from fatigue due to overwork. Aside from that, the Adrenal Complex is developed for the purpose of reinforcing the response to emotional strain, chronic fatigue syndrome, specific thyroid malfunctions, and other certain causes.

The ingredients that the Adrenal Complex products contained usually vary, but almost all Adrenal Complex products contain one of the popular energy tonic ginsengs, in form of either Siberian or Panax, and also licorice, which is an extensively researched and studied herbal remedy with the strength to elevate the presence of stress-fighting adrenal hormones like the cortisol.

Aside from that, most high quality adrenal complex products contain one or more B vitamins, like the vitamin B5 which is believed to play a vital role in the adrenal function. Some of the Adrenal Complex products also involve a small amount of raw adrenal gland that is usually taken from cows or sheep. These raw adrenal glands taken from animals are thought to rouse the adrenal glands function in the human body. But mind you, any Adrenal Complex product is not applicable to vegetarians.

The Adrenal Complex is generally offered in health food stores for ease and convenience, although any of the individual herbs, vitamins, or nutrients that are contained in the products can be purchased separately.

And in terms of using the Adrenal Complex, one should be aware that it is important to follow the package instructions for those who have chronic fatigue syndrome, and for those who have fatigue, 2 pills of Adrenal Complex every morning is suggested. And for those who have thyroid disorder, especially for the hyper, two capsules are applicable, and for the hypo, two capsules each morning while thyroid replacement is being adjusted are the recommended.

For more articles and information or to view a selection of medicine related articles and information and meditation articles and information visit Articles.net.au - Your source for free Articles, Information and Website Content.

Acupuncture Treatment Stands the Test of Time

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

The acupuncture school is part of the oriental medicine, which is, along with the western medicine, the most important medicine school in the world. The term derives from the Latin acus, which means needle, and pungo(punctura), which means to puncture.

Acupuncture is actually an effective method of diagnosing, preventing and treatment all kinds of illnesses with the help of special metal needles which are inserted into the patient’s body. The needles are inserted in special locations which are called acupuncture points. Uninitiated people may already have a nasty nagging sensation when thinking about all this but the truth is that an acupuncture specialist will make each insertion no more painful than a mosquito bite.

The origin of acupuncture dates back from antiquity, when it is said that Chinese warriors found out that getting hit by an arrow in a specific part of the body helped another part of the body recover from previous injuries.

Although it has a long history, acupuncture has not had an easy ride all the way. Controversies existed along the way, but it was its fascination and effectiveness that kept it alive. Entire libraries of books have been written, books which define over 600 acupuncture points. However, in the 19th century, the acupuncture school fell victim to the western trained Chinese doctors. Only folk medicine kept it alive, although it was forbidden in hospitals all over China.

However, in the 20th century, in 1949 to be more specific, Chairman Mao worked at rehabilitating traditional Chinese medicine and placing it into a modern context. At that time, there were about 70.000 practitioners of modern medicine and about 500.000 traditional doctors. Nowadays, it’s estimated that about 90% of China’s illnesses are taken care of (at least partially) with the help of acupuncture.

For each particular acupuncture point, there are observations which account for thousands of years of experience. There are many dedicated Chinese doctors who devoted their lives into the study of a single acupuncture point, and who have passed on their knowledge to their students.

So in the 20th century, the whole acupuncture science was researched again under Chairman Mao’s insistence. The entire system was put in a scientific and logical manner, and thus modern acupuncture was born. It combines elements of traditional Chinese medicine with the modern western approach. This has not been a fortunate combination all the way though, as there are many differences in the two approaches.

As the acupuncture medicine states, human body is filled with life energy, which circulates through the body, by means of invisible pathways which all called meridians. This can be compared to the system of aircraft routes, which is invisible in the sky, but it exists nonetheless. Each meridian is associated with a vital organ, such as the heart, kidney, lungs, etc.

There are also other basic differences between the two medicine schools, but one thing is clear though: acupuncture has been around for thousand of years, and it couldn’t have been without effectiveness. That’s why the acupuncture school is still an important part of oriental medicine.

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Exhance Your Yoga Experience With The Latest Gear

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

One of the great advantages of persuing yoga is that it doesn’t require much in the way of gear. In fact, most folks can get by with nothing more than a comfortable pair of sweats and a litte open floor space. But if you’re ready to get more serious about your yoga, there are some items that you might want to add to your routines. Here are just a few for your consideration:

Mats

Sticky yoga mats can provide a safe and comfortable non-slip surface for your yoga routine. Believe it or not, there are mats that are specifically designed for yoga, as opposed to Pilates mats or other exercise mats. A good yoga mat will tend to be thinner and easy to roll up to place in your gym bag for easy transportation and storage. By the way, most places selling yoga equipment can offer you a variety of mat styles and colors, so you’ll be able to express your individuality in the gear you choose.

Yoga Straps

Yoga straps are less common that some of the other forms of gear listed here. In fact, if you’ve been doing yoga for awhile, you still may not be familiar with them. A yoga strap is a simple nylon strap with a plastic or metal buckle. Usually light-weight, you can find them in a number of different colors. How are they used? Most commonly the yoga strap is used as an aid for those people who just can’t quite reach a specific goal in a pose. For example, they can help you with such challenging poses as the Seated Forward Bend (or Paschimottanasana) where you sit with both legs in front of you and attempt to lay your torso flat over your thighs. If your hamstrings are particularly tight, a yoga strap can be looped around your feet to pull your torso gently forward until you feel that distinctive sensation where you know you want to be.

Blocks

Yoga blocks and bricks are used by many yogis to modify poses in their workouts. These blocks can help you to deepen your stretches, reduce the strain on a particular muscle group when you’re beginning to learn a new pose, and provide a better foundation for proper body alignment. Most yoga stores will sell a variety of blocks in sizes that can help you with both simple and advanced poses.

Videos

Not technically gear, yoga workouts on DVD and video have become incredibly popular today, particularly for those who are too busy to attend a regular class, or who no longer feel the need for the guidance of a yoga instructor. You can find DVD yoga workouts for all levels, from beginner to master, including titles such as Crunch - The Perfect Yoga Workout, The Total Body Yoga Workout DVD, QuickFix - Power Yoga Workout, and ZenMama Prenatal Yoga Workout DVD. There’s something for everyone interested in yoga on DVD.

If you have a yoga store near you (or if you poke around the Interent a bit), you’ll also find that there are a variety of yoga “kits” available as well. These packages typically include all the basic yoga gear: one or two blocks, straps, a mat and sometimes even a video or flash cards of different poses. Yoga kits are a wonderful starting point for the yoga enthusiast, especially if you aren’t quite sure where to begin.

David Silva is the webmaster for Alternative Medicine First, where you can discover many of today’s alternative medicine approaches, such as holistic medicine, biofeedback, Chinese medicine, meditation, homeopathic medicine, hypnosis, yoga, and more.

The Facts About Activated Charcoal

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

Numerous studies have noted that activated charcoal is carbon. It is a charcoal that has been treated with oxygen with the purpose to open up millions of tiny pores in the middle of the carbon atoms.

The poison control centers always suggest the activated charcoal in treating the accidental poisonings, making it a beneficial supplement that must be kept in the home. In particular, the activated charcoal is formed from organic materials like the wood pulp and then it is treated to further elevate its absorptive strengths.

It is believed that if activated charcoal is ingested, it largely binds with specific chemicals in the digestive tract which turns to prevent them from being absorbed into our system and causing harm. Aside from that, activated this supplement is also applied, yet in far lesser doses than are suggested for poisoning, specifically as a remedy for digestive complaints like the intestinal gas (flatulence), diarrhea, and stomach ulcer pain.

There are also some benefits form taking activated charcoal like the fact that activated charcoals absorption abilities is able to prevent fats from entering the bloodstream, therefore lowering the cholesterol levels and lessening the danger of heart disease. In addition, there are also some claims which hold that activated charcoal can rid the body of environmental toxins. However, there is still little evidence to support such claims or for those functions.

In terms of its form, it is necessary to remember that activated charcoal usually comes in the form of pill and powder. Many experts suggest that if you fit for the powder, just mix it with a tall glass of water and then drink it through a straw to keep away from staining your teeth. Since there are instances in which the teeth and tough are blackened, it is best recommended if such case happens to quickly brush the teeth and rinse it. It should then come right off. In taking activated charcoal, it is as well important to note that you should avoid taking the activated charcoal with milk or other dairy products, for the reasons that those products may lessen the effectiveness of the activated charcoal.

In the case of flatulence, it is right to blend two tablespoons activated charcoal powder into a large glass of water, and then drink through a straw thirty minutes before the meal. Taking it by a 500 mg capsule after meals and every two hours as needed is also applicable. It is just necessary to take extra care in ingesting more than 4,000 mg in any 24-hour period.

For further interest, one should note that since activated charcoal can hamper with the absorption or metabolism of various nutrients and medication, just take it for at least two hours after or before the other products. And if a suspected poisoning happens, it is important to consult a poison control center expert, and not just somebody else, before taking the activated charcoal. Dont apply activated charcoal at the same time as syrup of ipecac, which is another form of home remedy for poisoning. It is as well necessary to know that when this supplement is taken in large doses, it can cause black stools, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and vomiting.

For more articles and information or to view a selection of health related articles and information and alternative medicine articles and information visit Articles.net.au - Your source for free Articles, Information and Website Content.

Positive Gains With Hypnosis

March 28, 2008 Alternative Medicine No Comments

Over recent years, hypnosis has gained acceptance as a credible method of treatment within the traditional medical community. It is now recognized as credible by both the Mayo Clinic and the National Institutes of Health, as seen by the information provided on their websites.

Hypnosis has been proven to be effective in treating many physical, emotional, and mental concerns. These include pain control, weight loss, phobias, quitting smoking, sleeplessness, and many others. Historically, the alternative medicine community has accepted hypnosis as a valuable option in treating distress.

Hypnosis is a process in which an individual goes into a trance, or a state of deep inner focus. The person stays in control and aware of their surroundings while in the trance, although their focus is channeled inward. A trance can be facilitated by another person, a taped recording, or by the person her or himself (self hypnosis). A common myth is that a susceptible person can be hypnotized without their consent, and this is just not true.

Techniques to induce hypnosis often begin with a process to relax the body. The subject is guided in a systematic way to tense the various muscles in their body and then to let go of the tension. Ultimately, the body reaches a very relaxed state. Counting backwards slowly, interspersed with affirmations of deepening relaxation, then serves to deepen the trance state. A guided image of walking down a stairway or descending in an elevator while counting slowly backwards can also serve to deepen the trance.

The purpose of inducing a trance is to bring the person to a very calm relaxed place, where the conscious mind has let go of control and the subconscious mind is more directly available. It is widely h