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  • Holistic Medicine

    Holistic medicine is often referred to as alternative medicine by many
    people and it takes a whole different approach to treating illness and
    overall health. There are many different aspects of holistic medicine
    and many of the practices and ideas many practitioners of alternative
    medicines use are well known forms of exercise such as yoga and Tai
    Chi. Practitioners of holistic medicine look at your complete health
    including your mental and emotional health, physical health, and even
    spiritual health in some cases. With so many dangers involved in modern
    day medicine and pharmaceuticals many people are looking to the ancient
    practices of natural medicine. Many of the philosophies behind these
    medicinal practices come from many different and ancient societies in
    Eastern culture, such as China and India. Alternative medicine has been
    used for such a long time and many people feel it is much more
    effective and much safer for the patient.

    Some of the other
    practices that are often used with holistic medicine are things such as
    massage therapy, acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractic care,
    herbalism, and medical marijuana. These practices are not generally
    accepted by the majority of the public in our society mainly because
    many people are uneducated about what natural and holistic medicine are
    all about. These medicinal practices must have a great deal of success
    to have been around for the thousands of years that they have, and as
    more people learn about the natural art of medicine the more people
    will turn towards it. There are many insurance companies that are
    finally starting to cover alternative medicine since it is finally
    starting to be accepted more and more in our society. There are many
    Doctors out there that also use some of the alternative medicinal
    practices mixed with many of the modern day practices, a good Doctor
    will work together with the patient and come up with a healthcare plan
    that the patient is comfortable with.

  • History of Medicine

    There is a long and storied history of medicine that can be dated
    back to approximately 13,000 to 25,000 B.C. where cave paintings have
    been discovered in France that have shown evidence of various herbal
    forms of early medicine. There have obviously been many huge advances
    in the long history of medicine since these primitive ages, but there
    are many people that prefer the ancient medicinal practices such as
    herbalism and other natural medicines that have existed for so many
    thousands of years. There are many other cultures that have played a
    huge role in the history of medicine and the evolution of medicine. The
    Native Americans discovered many new kinds of plants and other
    botanicals that were found to be extremely effective in treating many
    different types of illnesses and infections, and many are just as
    effective today. One plant that has a long history in the natural form
    of medicine, and is well known to many people is the Aloe Vera plant,
    which has been proven to be a natural salve that can aid in healing
    wounds and battling infections.

    Some of the other cultures
    and empires that played a big role in the history of medicine are the
    ancient societies of China and India. A large percentage of the
    medicinal philosophies of these cultures was based off of a natural
    philosophy, and still are to this day. They are also quite popular
    today, and many people are turning back to the older ways of medicinal
    practices since modern western medicine has many more dangers
    associated with it, especially when it comes to prescriptions. Western
    medicine does play a big role in the history of medicine as well, and
    many major breakthroughs have stemmed from modern day western medicine.
    Over time there are always new illnesses and diseases entering into our
    society but there are also many solutions to these problems, with more
    advancements coming every day.

  • Herbal Medicine

    Many of the medicines our ancestors found highly effective in the
    treatments of many different illnesses were various types of herbal
    medicine, and there are millions of people in the world today that
    prefer herbal medications over the modern day pharmaceuticals. Herbal
    medicine is often called botanical medicine, phytotherapy, or herbalism
    and it is also the oldest form of medicine known to man. In the past
    many of the Indian tribes worldwide discovered many of the medicinal
    properties of all kinds of plants in their environment. They also found
    many other uses of plants that they used for all kinds of things
    including constructing shelter, food, and clothing. Herbal medicine has
    been traced many thousands of years into the past before the American
    Indians were using it, and there has been evidence of herbalism in cave
    paintings in France that have been traced to have been drawn somewhere
    between 13,000 and 25,000 B.C.

    There are a small percentage of
    modern pharmaceuticals as well that are based solely off of herbal
    medicine and when pharmacists are going to school they also studying
    many of the aspects of herbalism. Every pharmacy you go into nowadays
    will also have a whole section of different herbal supplements, but
    sometimes many of these are processed using chemicals so many true
    herbalists prefer the whole plant when they are setting up an herbal
    medicine treatment program for a patient. Most herbs and plants have
    many different properties that will aid your body in more than one way.
    After hearing some of the horror stories about certain modern day
    medications in the media there are more and more people that are
    looking into different kinds of botanical medications. Some of the best
    ways to take many herbal medications is by drinking them in teas or
    using the natural extracts of the plant as oil or even a balm.

  • Alternative Medicine

    Seeking out alternative medicine is a personal choice, but there are
    some ways to determine whether or not one would be a good choice for
    this type of treatment. The first test of whether one would be willing
    to undergo treatments from a practitioner of alternative medicine is
    how much one wants to be a part of his or her own medical care.
    Alternative medicine typically depends on the patient being an equal
    participant. He or she needs to be aware of energy and how living
    everyday life, from eating fast food to doing yoga in the mornings,
    affects physical health.

    Alternative health providers
    typically believe that the mental state, including stress and emotional
    issues, affect the physical body much more than the opposite is true.
    Because of this belief, they often prescribe alternative treatments
    that may range from relaxation methods to acupuncture. Many people use
    these remedies as opposed to other, mainstream medical options, such as
    prescription drugs. If you are uncomfortable with trying out medical
    solutions that may not be ideal or that may or may not work, then you
    should seek out a medical doctor as opposed to a healer or alternative
    medicine practitioner.

    Another important difference is that
    alternative medicine tends to be more whole-body focused, or holistic.
    While some established medical providers also believe in this approach,
    it is paramount to alternative treatments. That means that when you
    come in for a backache, you may discover that you will be treated for
    something other than the backache. That is because alternative healers
    may note other problems than the one you mentioned and realize that
    they should be treated first. Understanding that alternative healing
    techniques are a bit different than your run-of-the-mill doctors’
    offices will help with your confidence in the process of trusting in
    their care.

  • Civil War Medicine

    In the eighteen hundreds western medicine was very poor and many
    doctors did not due anything to prevent infections, and due to this
    many soldiers died. Civil war medicine practitioners did not have any
    such thing as antiseptics and antibiotics were also not available. They
    say that more soldiers died due to the lack of proper Civil war
    medicine and also the lack of medical professionals than died from
    other war wounds. At the start of the Civil war there were around one
    hundred surgeons on the battlefields and this was not near enough for
    the amount of casualties. One of the biggest problems with the lack of
    proper Civil war medicine and doctors was when infection and disease
    started there was nothing they could do to stop it since it was not
    fully understood at the time.

    Since much of the Civil war
    medicine was so primitive one of the things doctors would do to stop
    the spread of infection was amputating the infected part of the body.
    This worked sometimes but other times patients would once again become
    infected where the amputation took place due to the many germs that the
    Civil war medicine could not properly destroy. As the war went on the
    medical conditions improved a little bit but during that time period
    they were still kind of in the dark ages of the medical field. Many of
    the soldiers were more scared of being wounded and becoming infected or
    obtaining some disease since so many soldiers were lost due to the
    extremely poor medicine and doctors of the times. After the civil war
    medicine started to have many advancements and soon antibiotics and
    antiseptics were invented, but there were also many new and different
    diseases popping up all the time. A lot of soldiers had to lose limbs
    just in order to survive an infection that would be easily treated
    nowadays.

  • Women in Medicine

    Through the ages women in medicine have played an important role in
    shaping how we treat and care for women today. In older times medicine
    women also known as wise women were whom the villagers would go to for
    treatment of and herbs to cure what was ailing them. The care that
    women in medicine provided was rooted in helping and healing. Quite
    different from a man’s role in medicine during the same time period
    when men were known as sawbones.

    Women
    in medicine have since the beginning of time been helping woman through
    and during labor and bringing children into the world. This is a role
    that they continue to fulfill in the present day and it is still known
    by the name midwife. There was a time in recent history when women
    predominantly had a doctor care for them when they became pregnant.
    Today, a large amount of woman are seeking the more natural and
    holistic care that a midwife provides to her patients.

    Women
    in medicine have dominated the nursing profession since the beginning –
    before it was official known as nursing. From the time when hospitals
    were staffed by nuns who played the role of nurse to today when the
    majority of nurses are still women. That is beginning to change with
    more and more men deciding to pursue a career in nursing. This is still
    a relatively new development and will still take time to change our
    definition of a nurse. It is no longer a female dominated profession.
    This is very similar to a time when women in medicine were not allowed
    to become doctors – it was considered an all-man profession. Today, we
    hold no biases towards a male or female doctor. They are all equal, it
    has been a long time coming but it is here.

  • Fibromyalgia Symptom

    People experiencing chronic pain specifically – muscles aches,
    spasms and stiffness are said to be suffering from fibromyalgia
    symptom. This can further cause tingling of the skin, fatigue and sleep
    loss. Though some researches suggest sleep loss is actually correlated
    to interruption in sleep pattern.

    There are others who are
    affected with fibromyalgia symptom such as problems with thinking and
    memory, headaches, and passivity in the hands and feet. Especially
    woman having menstrual periods suffer severe pain. Fibromyalgia symptom
    is more profound particularly in the morning and while sleeping at
    night.

    There are lots of people who enter the state
    commonly known as ‘brain fog’. This is a state in which the brain waves
    get slower and cognitive shortfalls. However, the major fibromyalgia
    symptom is associated with interruptions in sleep.

    Normally,
    fibromyalgia is encountered more often in women than in men. Those in
    their middle adulthood and even children are mostly the victims of
    fibromyalgia. In some cases it is also hereditary, so people a family
    history of fibromyalgia may be affected with it too.

    Having
    pain in any part of the body shouldn’t always be ill-conceived as a
    fibromyalgia symptom. Nevertheless, those suffering from fibromyalgia
    may experience pain spread throughout the entire body or may occur in
    particular locations like pain in the back, shoulders, neck, and hips.

    Three major symptoms of Fibromyalgia:

    There are various symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia, however there are major symptoms as mentioned below:

    Pain
    – This is the most perceptible fibromyalgia symptom. This symptom
    typically spreads over the entire body starting from head down to the
    knees. The pain grows more terrible when pressure is employed. In some
    instances the painful body part of the patient gets stiff and hard to
    move.

    Fatigue – It is also a major fibromyalgia symptom. In
    this case the patients get too wearied even if he does not involve in
    any kind of tiring job. Such a type of fatigue is generally called
    ‘brain fatigue’, as the victim feels that he has lost all his energy
    and is incompetent of performing any task. Subsequently, this leads to
    lack of concentration and therefore such patients are incapable of
    doing full-time jobs.

    Sleeping disturbances – Those suffering
    from this fibromyalgia symptom have sleepless nights. For some it
    prevents them from reaching the stage four or deep sleep. Anyhow, there
    are some patients who have sleep for adequate time, but when they wake
    up they feel extremely tired. This is generally occurs when several
    activities in the brain disrupts patients deep sleep.

    Other fibromyalgia symptoms

    Some
    of the other fibromyalgia symptoms are – skin disorders; irritable
    bowel syndrome, which includes diarrhea and constipation; Chronic
    bladder conditions, migraine; painful menstrual periods; facial pain;
    tingling sensations; increase in sensitivity and dizziness; and chest
    pain.

    Causes for fibromyalgia

    The specific cause of
    fibromyalgia is not yet known. Generally, there can be a list of
    factors such as stressful or traumatic events, illness, repetitive
    injuries and certain diseases held responsible for fibromyalgia.
    According to certain researches it may be genetic. In the opinion of
    some doctors it results from chemical changes in the brain. Again there
    are others who believe that it is a viral infection.

    Detecting fibromyalgia

    Currently,
    there is no firm test for detection of fibromyalgia. However, most of
    the doctors depend on the medical history of the patient and
    fibromyalgia symptom. At most what one can do is undergo medical tests
    like blood tests and x-rays. These are likely to come back normal. Some
    estimates suggest that diagnosis of fibromyalgia may take as long as
    five years.

    Treatment

    The best way to treat
    fibromyalgia is by modifying the life style. Have healthy food, have a
    bit of exercise everyday and try to go to bed on time. To get rid of
    the chronic joint pain, it would be better to use prescribed medicine.
    The doctors generally prescribe little doses of anti-depressants. Such
    medications can be of great help to treat fibromyalgia symptom.

  • Multiple Sclerosis

    Description: Hormones, genes, and lifestyle may contribute to multiple sclerosis risk.
    People may have heard of multiple sclerosis (also referred to as MS)
    without knowing much about it. It is a chronic disease affecting the
    central nervous system. The disease is indeed a cause of great concern
    as the central nervous system – the spinal cord and the brain – is
    affected. In multiple sclerosis, the immune system of one’s body
    attacks the other body components as if they are alien; hence, it is
    categorized as an autoimmune disorder.

    Multiple sclerosis is believed to affect around 300,000 people in the
    United States. Worldwide, over 1 million people are affected by the
    autoimmune disorder. It is a fact that twice as many women are affected
    by this disorder as men.

    What Happens In Multiple Sclerosis?
    In multiple sclerosis, the body misdirects the white blood cells and
    antibodies against the myelin sheath proteins. (The myelin sheath is a
    fatty substance that insulates the nerve fibers in your spinal cord and
    brain. Like the sheath around an electrical wire, the myelin sheath
    protects the nerves from damage.)

    This misdirected activity injures the sheath and it gets inflamed;
    eventually, this inflammation spreads to the surrounding nerves. This
    damage slowly goes on to block the nerve signals that controls the
    body’s strength, muscle coordination, vision and sensation.
    The part of the body where demyelination occurs shows the development of plaques and lesions.

    Why This Happens?
    The primary factor for the development of the multiple sclerosis are
    genes. If the parents are afflicted with the disease, their children
    are most likely to get it. Viruses causing diseases like measles, flu
    and herpes may also lead to multiple sclerosis. One can also be
    afflicted with the disease due to a change in the environment.
    Hormones, especially sex hormones, like progesterone and estrogen play
    a significant role in weakening the immune system and provoking
    multiple sclerosis.

    Symptoms
    Usually the first signs of the disease or symptoms can be experienced between the ages of 20 and 40.

    Numbness or weakness in the limbs and generally on one side of the body at a time
    Blurring of the vision or double vision

    Complete or partial loss of vision in one eye at a time; one may also experience pain during eye movement

    Fatigue

    Dizziness

    Electric-shock sensations, especially during head movements

    Pain or tingling in parts of the body

    Lack of coordination and weakness in the lower part of the body

    Consequences
    The severity of the multiple sclerosis varies from person to person. In
    some, the disease remains a mild one, whereas in others the disease may
    also lead to permanent disability.
    People affected with the MS may also develop slurred speech, muscle
    stiffness or spasticity; problems with bowel system, sexual function
    and the bladder are also not uncommon.
    One can also experience some mental changes like difficulties in concentration and forgetfulness
    .
    Treatment
    The doctor finds out the actual status of the disease and then the mode
    of treatment is decided upon. The affected person has to go through
    various tests. Medicinal drugs like Rebif and Avonex are prescribed.
    However, when medicines fail to work, the ultimate option for treatment
    will be to undergo chemotherapy.

    How To Prevent Multiple Sclerosis
    If one,s parents are suffering from the disease, he/she should take the
    required precautions after consulting a doctor. Prior to making any
    foreign trip, one should take the pains to analyze the effects of any
    environmental changes. Doctors, too, should be extremely cautious while
    prescribing medicines to someone who suffers from fluid retention,
    kidney issues and/or hypertension. People should also follow a balanced
    diet in order to keep the immune system strong and keep multiple
    sclerosis at bay.

  • Fibromyalgia Treatment

    Fibromyalgia treatment has emerged as a boon for all those suffering
    from unbearable pain of the dreadful disease. Fibromyalgia is
    characteristically a chronic pain all over the body. Fibromyalgia (FM
    or FMS) is actually indication of collection of symptoms and signs
    associated with diffusion or joint, or bone pain, fatigue, and many
    other such symptoms.

    Currently, fibromyalgia is receiving
    greater credence and patients who are suffering have a gained better
    knowledge of the disease. Most of the people affected with fibromyalgia
    are now leading a better life after going through some changes in their
    lifestyle. Lots of people have improved with passing time.

    Causes of fibromyalgia

    The
    causes of fibromyalgia are still to be uncovered. Nevertheless there
    are a number of factors, which considered responsible such as illness,
    repetitive injuries, stressful or traumatic events, and specific
    diseases. According to researches in some cases it occurs on its own
    while others say it is genetic. Apart from these causes there can be
    several reasons behind fibromyalgia.

    Recent studies suggest
    that fibromyalgia is not contagious, yet genetically susceptible. The
    nature of fibromyalgia is not clearly understood, some physicians think
    that it may be psychogenic or psychosomatic.

    Some doctors
    claim to have developed a successful fibromyalgia treatment,
    specifically in psychological cases, although a universal cure is yet
    to be accepted.

    Treatment of fibromyalgia basically assists
    in reducing pain, improving sleep, and gives relief from related
    symptoms. Such treatment is specifically designed for individuals. The
    response of the fibromyalgia treatment varies. While some patients
    receive considerable relief from the symptoms, others witness a fair
    amount of improvement, and there are others who receive meager or no
    relief at all.

    Different types of treatments

    Fibromyalgia
    has different kind of symptoms and there are different types of
    treatment associated with them. Have a look at the some of the
    fibromyalgia treatment programs:

    Medication- The
    antidepressant agents also called tricyclics are widely used in
    fibromyalgia treatment. They assist in relieving sleep upsets, decrease
    muscle pain, and treat depression. Generally tricyclic usually
    prescribed for fibromyalgia treatment is amitriptyline.

    The
    antidepressants should be taken in low doses initially and then if
    needed the dose can be increased. This kind of medication can provide
    only limited relief from pain, fatigue, and sleeplessness and in most
    cases the patients succumb to side effects of these drugs even at low
    doses.

    Lifestyle Changes – This is said to be the best
    possible fibromyalgia treatment. Some modifications in the lifestyle
    specifically scheduling an exercise program, evading caffeine, getting
    rid of incidental activities, concentrating on tasks, fixing a regular
    sleep routines, and having proper diet can help in ameliorating the
    symptoms. Relaxation techniques such as biofeedback or meditation can
    reduce the symptoms.

    Exercise – Settling a routine for
    exercise, which should include low-impact aerobics such as walking,
    swimming, and riding a stationary bicycle. This may reduce depression,
    relieve pain, and would help to sleep.

    Physical Therapy – In
    this method, therapies with ultrasound, massage, whirlpool, heat, ice
    and electrical stimulation, which may reduce pain. Some physical
    therapists suggest certain exercises to enhance the fitness,
    flexibility, and posture.

    Behavior Modification- This
    treatment includes learning coping skills, relaxation exercises, and
    self-hypnosis. Counseling or any other therapy should be used to cope
    with their illness, improving self-esteem, and reducing stress.

    On
    a whole the fibromyalgia treatment appears to have its own limitations
    as far as relieving pain, fatigue, and sleeplessness is concerned. The
    studies show that only about 5% of those undergoing fibromyalgia
    treatment become totally symptom free, yet for those excruciated with
    chronic pain a bit of relief is more than enough.

  • Learn about Hip and Back Pain Prevention

    BE VIRTUALLY BACK PAIN FREE
    – JUST 21-DAYS –

    Hip and back pain are very often interrelated – one
    adverse physiological condition often leads to the other. Each time
    when you keep your feet on the ground, the pain travels through your
    legs and hip and then hits your back. At times, it may happen that you
    have a flat feet and a condition of over-pronation is causing hip and
    back pain.

    It is no doubt hard to treat
    such excruciating pain. Seeing a medical practitioner can prove
    helpful. The doctor will get to the root of the pain and even suggest
    you exercises, medication and/or surgery to overcome the pain and
    suffering.

    Other Relevant Causes Of Hip And Back Pain

    • One leg shorter than the other causing difficulty in walking and finally giving way to severe back and hip pain

    • A wee bit uneven pelvis

    • A kind of curve in the spine

    • Degeneration of any one of the discs between the vertebra of the spine

    Sportspersons
    and athletes also suffer from conditions of back and hip pain, which is
    essentially caused by relentless muscle strain. They usually visit an
    orthopedist, an osteopath or may be a chiropractor; the medico will
    examine the spine and vertebra to have a clear understanding of the
    condition and prescribe remedies accordingly.

    A
    weak abdomen or lower back muscle may also contribute to causing an
    excruciating back hip pain. Regular exercise can significantly take
    care of this condition by providing utmost strength to the stomach and
    lower back portion of the body.

    If, in
    any case, unequal leg lengths is the cause of your hip and back pain,
    the physician may recommend the use of a piece of 1/2″ foam rubber into
    your running shoe or prepare a sponge of just the right size. When both
    the heels are of similar sizes, your problem of a painful back and hip
    may be solved to some extent.

    However,
    if the problem lies in the structure of the foot, you can readily solve
    your problem of hip and back pain by wearing running shoes of different
    sizes. You can simply order for a motion-control shoe as a solution for
    over-pronation.

    Pain in the back and
    buttocks may be caused by an uneasy piriform muscle, which lies deep in
    the buttock. In this case, the back of the buttocks becomes sensitive
    to touch. Tightening of the back or hamstring does not allow the
    piriform muscle to work well and it can also give form to undue
    inflammation causing unbearable hip and back pain. Icing and
    anti-inflammatory can greatly help in easing this form of hip and back
    pain. Vigorous massage of the knot can also help a lot in relieving the
    pain. Likewise, you should also concentrate on stretching and
    strengthening your hip, hamstring and lower-back muscles.

    Common Remedies For Hip And Back Pain

    • Work less and avoid excess physical strain

    • Try applying some damp heat

    • Take hot baths or visit the steam room

    • Help yourself with occasional heat rubs

    • Closely inspect the cause of the pain and think of a possible remedy as fast as you can

    There
    are plenty of reasons for hip and back pain. However, if appropriate
    treatment measures are taken, then you are soon to get rid of an
    agonizing condition of pain.