Chiropractic medicine is believed to have been around since 1895. Chiropractors believe that joint mobility and anatomical alignment of the spine can exert inconceivable effects on your nervous system. Since the spinal column is so much a part of the nervous system, chiropractors think that manual adjustments can promote and improve the overall health of a person. Such treatment can reduce whatever is exerting pressure on the spinal cord, the chief neurological tissue.

When misalignment or fracture is found on any of the vertebrae, this is normally attributed to either an accident, a fall or even body tension. Whatever the cause may be, when your spinal nerve root is irritated, you will experience the reflexes of pinched nerves, usually resulting in severe back pain. That’s one reason for you to visit a chiropractor.

When examining a patient most chiropractors use the same approach as that of medical doctors. First is the consultation. Next is the discussion of your case history. Then this should lead to a physical examination. Further tests may then be needed such as laboratory analysis and x-ray studies.

Chiropractic care engages a drug-free and non-surgical methodology in treating the patients. It involves manually manipulating your body joints and adjusting your spinal column to bring a sense of balance back to your body. Thus restoring your health. This process is even believed to have disease prevention effects. When all is done, your joints should be able to have normal motion back again. Not only that, your body will have diminished nerve interferences, resulting in removal of stressful attacks, rejuvenating your whole body back into its healthful state.

The following will give a brief idea of how spinal joint mobility can actually be restored by chiropractic practice. Through using a highly trained manual sequence called chiropractic spinal manipulation, pressure is applied or forced to the joints that have been limited by muscle strain, inflammation and/or pain. This form of manipulation will relieve tightness and pain of muscles, and also promote general health. It also is found to be especially helpful in reducing back pain and in treating sciatica with disc protrusions.

As stated above, these types of manual adjustments can be very helpful in treating sciatica. They can help ease the irritations in the root nerves that are causing all the sharp pains, inflammation and muscle spasms usually associated with sciatica. Alignment adjustments and mobility manipulations are both safe and should be pain free. If there are discomforts during or after treatments, make sure to let your chiropractor know immediately.

The sounds you hear when a chiropractor makes adjustments to your joints are not the sounds of bones cracking. These are sounds of gases being released from your joints, incredible as this may sound. But they are actually the release of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide which have built up in your joints, causing them pressure. You should begin to feel wonderfully good after the chiropractor is done with this. There should be no discomfort unless your muscles are in spasm or you get overly tensed about the whole procedure. It’s quite important that you are able to relax in an adjustment session. Tensing up your body works against you and defeats what the chiropractor is trying to do for you.

Chiropractic care can be an incredible aid for maintaining a healthy pregnancy. From controlling nausea all the way to having a full term delivery. It could even help in shortening the time of labor and delivery! Most of the professionals have been trained to work with pregnant patients and so it is very safe for both the mother and the baby.

When modern medicine cannot offer any genuine relief for those with chronic back pain, it’s time for you to definitely check out chiropractic care. Instead of taking more pain-killers, and facing the possibility of surgery, you have a truly viable alternative here.

Many people who began visiting a chiropractor found out it made them feel much better than they had in years. When you keep your body in alignment, it returns back the favor by keeping you in better overall health. Taking constant medications does no good to your health in the long run. And nobody likes going for surgery either. So it should only be the last resort, after you’ve exhausted all other means.

Chiropractic care is now a century old practice and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down. Real world results are confirming that these manual adjustments are bringing surprisingly good health benefits to patients. There are other issues of health where positive results are even surfacing because of this treatment. In areas such as allergies, headaches, adult and child ADHD, they can be either relieved or diminished by going to the chiropractor. As time progresses, it looks promising that many more areas of common health issues will likely be uncovered, which could responsively benefit from the chiropractic care approach.

About the author:
Pete Wyatt is a chronic pain sufferer. His wife has a neuro-stimulator implanted in her back and does not have any painfree moments. Their quest for information to deal with their pain resulted in the creation of their site at http://pain.3trends.com/

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/jrparis/86509233/

Modern diet and lifestyle has affected the human body a great deal. White flour, meat and fiberless foods have taken their toll on the human digestive system. A major part of the food is absorbed in the intestine. If the intestine does not function properly, then the entire body suffers. Colon Cleanse is a safe and natural way of removing accumulated waste from the digestive tract.

Methods for Colon Cleanse:
With so many options for Colon Cleanse available, you can choose any of them for detoxifying your digestive system. Juice fasting, enema, and the use of laxatives are some of the simplest methods of Colon Cleanse. For best results, you should go for Colon Cleanse at a retreat, but if you cannot, then the following methods can be tried at home.

Juice Fasting
Juice fasting for Colon Cleanse is more beneficial than simple fasting. This is because the high fibers found in vegetables and fruits are ideal for cleaning up the colon. However, they are harder for the intestine to digest. This leads the intestine to overwork itself when people eat just fruits and vegetables for colon cleansing.

An essential part of colon cleansing, apart from removing the toxic waste from the digestive system, is to let the system rest. High fiber foods do not allow the digestive system to rest. This is why consuming fruit juice is seen as more beneficial for colon cleanse than consuming whole vegetables or fruits.

Enema
Enema involves washing out the colon with water to remove toxic waste. Enema is one of the most effective methods for colon cleanse. Enema kits are available in the market. These can be used at home for colon cleansing. The first time you use an enema kit, you may feel slight cramps, but this is simply because the hard waste inside the colon is being removed.

Laxatives
The fibers found in fruits and vegetables are indigestible, so they behave like natural laxatives, helping flush out the waste from the colon. Sometimes, the fibers in fruits and vegetable cause diarrhea or cramps, so switching to enema is a safer method. Other safe laxatives are prune juice and senna tea. However, you must consult your health care specialist before using these methods.

Colon cleanse is something most people may hesitate to talk about, but once you undergo the therapy, you can feel the difference it makes to your lifestyle. You feel energetic, enthusiastic and less lethargic. Those with irritable bowel syndrome, constipation and other chronic problems of the digestive system find almost instant relief after they undergo a colon cleanse.

Author: Barney Garcia
Barney Garcia writes about colon cleanse and detox diets. Visit
http://www.help-colon-cleanse.info/ and
http://www.colon-cleanse-online.info/

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/fl4y/2575300395/

A video primer on reflexology.

“Natural products can be good medicine when of high quality and used correctly. The multibillion-dollar industry offers a dizzying array of products. The article contains useful links for nutritional supplement rankings, the FDA and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Click here to read the full article at www.seattlepi.com |

Aromatherapy, commonly associated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), is the use of volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils (EOs), and other aromatic compounds from plants to affect someone’s mood or health.

When aromatherapy is used for the treatment or prevention of disease, a precise knowledge of the bioactivity and synergy of the essential oils used, knowledge of the dosage and duration of application, as well as, naturally, a medical diagnosis, are required. In the Anglo-Saxon world, even among “natural” practitioners like herbalists or naturopaths, aromatherapy is regarded more as an art form than a valid healing science. At best, it is viewed as a complementary and seldom the only treatment prescribed.

In Europe, especially in France, where it originated, aromatherapy is incorporated into mainstream medicine. There, the use of the anti-septic properties of oils in the control of infections is emphasized over the more “touchy feely” approaches familiar to English speakers. In France some essential oils are regulated as prescription drugs, and thus administered by a physician. In many countries they are included in the national pharmacopeia, but up to the present moment aromatherapy as science has never been recognized as a valid branch of medicine in the United States, Russia or Germany.

Essential oils, phytoncides and other natural VOCs work in different ways. At the scent level they activate the limbic system and emotional centers of the brain. When applied to the skin in the form of massage oils they activate thermal receptors, and kill microbes and fungi.

Internal application of essential oil preparations, mainly in pharmacological drugs, may stimulate the immune system, urine secretion, may have antiseptic activity etc. Different essential oils have very different activity.; they are studied in pharmacology and aromachology.

While the practice of aromatherapy is sometimes thought to be confined to inhalation, it may include various methods, including:

* Inhalation (directly or diffused into the air)

* Absorption through the skin (baths, massages, compresses)

* Absorption through the mucous membranes (oral rinses and gargles)

* Ingestion (occasionally prescribed, with caveats)

Skeptics argue that while pleasant scents can be relaxing, lowering stress and related effects, there is currently insufficient scientific proof of the effectiveness of aromatherapy. Like many alternative therapies, few controlled, double-blind studies have been carried out. A common explanation is that there is little incentive to do so if the results of the studies are not patentable.

There are some treatments generally accepted in Western medicine to give a form of relief for the airways in case of cold or flu, such as mint and eucalyptus essential oils. Some skeptics acknowledge that aromatherapy has limited scientific support but argue that its claims go beyond the data or that the studies are not adequately controlled and peer reviewed.

The term “aromatherapy” has been applied to such a wide range of products that almost anything which contains essential oils is likely to be called an “aromatherapy product”, rendering the term somewhat meaningless in that context.

Some proponents of aromatherapy believe that the claimed effect of each type of oil is not caused by the chemicals in the oil interacting with the senses, but that the oil contains a distillation of the “life force” of the plant from which it is derived that will “balance the energies” of the body and promote healing or well-being by purging negative vibrations from the body’s energy field.

Arguing that there is little scientific evidence that healing can be achieved, or that the claimed “energies” even exist, many skeptics reject this form of aromatherapy as pseudoscience or even quackery.

Disclaimer: The information presented here should not be interpreted as or substituted for medical advice. Please talk to a qualified professional for more information about aromatherapy.

Copyright © 2006, Heather Colman. Find more aromatherapy resources at: http://www.aromatherapy-centre.info and http://www.ebookpalace.com

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/kendiala/19527447/

“When at a loss to explain my new malaise, I visited my naturopath. It may sound unorthodox, but if it works, who cares?

She insisted that my exhaustion was caused by electromagnetic “smog” in my flat. The problem, she explained, is that our dependence on office and communications equipment (especially mobile phones and the masts needed to power them, as well as microwaves, computers and electrical equipment), exposes us to frequencies that can have a detrimental effect on our wellbeing, especially if we are run-down, or if our immune system is compromised in some way.

This made sense, as my symptoms had begun soon after installing wireless technology in my sitting room. Wireless (Wi-Fi) technology allows you to access emails and the internet anywhere in your living space. It’s convenient but I could live without it if meant having more physical energy. So I immediately turned off my wireless network and replaced it with broadband.”

Click here to read the full article at www.independent.co.uk

The topic of electromagnetic pollution is highly charged with many people clinging desperately to the outdated notion that what you can’t see, can’t hurt you, especially when comforted by early reports of safety from our own government. Many people do not need a scientific study to know that they feel dramatically different when far removed from power lines, mobile towers and home wiring. More importantly when it comes to the safety of yourself and your family is it really so ridiculous to err on the side of caution?

According to Mike Adams of NewsTarget.com,

“the human body is really a magnificent quantum physics machine. We are made up of literally nothing more than vibrating energy. Humans are made of cells, which are made of atoms, which are made of particles, and those so-called particles are actually just vibrating energy. Every atom is just a probability wave, and most of the stuff we call physical matter is really made up of completely empty space. We are more empty space than physical stuff; more vibration than mass. Thus, we can be strongly impacted — either positively or negatively — by vibrational energy.”

The precending quote came from an article in which Mike was reviewing a machine (VRCR) that changes the vibrational energy in your home.

Learn more about EMF & EMR:
Mike Adams review of the Violet Ray
5 steps to protect yourself from EMR
www.pillaroflight.net

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/leecullivan/122271605/

The term naturopathic treatment covers a broad range of modalities that come under the umbrella of alternative medicines. All natural therapies aim to work with the body in treating the cause of illness, not just the symptoms. Naturopaths treat people holistically, taking into account not only their physiology, but also psychology and lifestyle.

Some examples of healing methods that come under this umbrella would be acupuncture, both Chinese and western herbal medicine, Indian ayurvedic medicine, chiropractic and massage, macrobiotics and energy work such as reiki and thought field therapies. Some are more accepted by doctors as having something to offer patients in assisting with maintaining their health, while others are frowned upon as being useless scams.

Naturopathy as a label has only been around for about one hundred years, but most alternative healing methods it covers are tradition-based medicines that have been used for much longer than we can prove. Ancient Egyptians, Native American Indians and Aborigines, to name a few, have used what they find in nature to heal their people and some of their recipes are successfully used today.

It is important to remember that all potent and potentially harmful medicines that are pharmaceutically produced have some plant derived ingredients. They are simply concentrated to the point where they are very powerful and sometimes damaging. Naturopaths have a motto that has been used since the 1800’s and that is to “do no harm”. Where prescription medications can have long-term side effects and even cause short-term discomfort, Naturopathic medicines are subtle in assisting. They work with the body, not against it and positive results can be felt quickly.

A Naturopathic medicine for a common cold for example will be ingredients to enhance the immune system, to help the body decongest and reduce inflammation, and probably something that is antiviral and antibacterial to eradicate germs more quickly. The medicines they use only encourage the bodies own ability to do all these things itself. If you buy an over the counter pharmaceutical treatment, it may cover your symptoms, but can deplete the immune system, dehydrate you and give you a false impression of health so you don’t allow your body the rest it needs to recover.

If your immune system is able to beat any illness on it’s own, it will be more robust and capable next time it is faced with similar circumstances. Seeing a Naturopath when you are in good health can also be a great idea. You can discuss things like Naturopathic medicines for energy levels, sleeping patterns, moods and even homeopathic mixtures to prevent generic diseases which may run in your family.

There are many different ways they can help with general health, and the less stressed you are and the stronger your immune systems, the less likely you will be to get sick in the first place. Visits to the Naturopathic center are usually covered by health insurance, so you can get similar insurance benefits as you would going to any other doctor.

Disclaimer - The information presented here should not be interpreted as or substituted for medical advice. Please talk to a qualified professional for more information about naturopathic treatment.

Author: Heather Colman
About the author: [Copyright © 2007, Heather Colman. Find more of Heather’s articles at eBook Palace. Her articles are available for syndication. Reprinting individual articles is permissible provided no changes are made.

Image: Vancouver Acupuncture on Flickr.com

The use of herbal formulas to cleanse and detox the body has been used throughout the world and throughout the ages. Herbs can be used alone for their individual functions or together for a more complete cleanse. They are often used in conjunction with a fasting detox to accelerate and enhance the cleanse.

Herbs come in many forms such as tinctures, teas, powders, fresh, or dried. They can also be purchased as combinations as part of a cleanse program. Please be aware of potential drug interactions prior to taking any herbal remedies and check with your physician if you are pregnant or nursing.

Some of the more commonly used detox herbs are:

Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle helps cleanse the liver from alcohol, drugs, heavy metals as well as protecting the liver from future toxins. It is also a mild laxative and soothes and moistens mucus membranes.

Spirulina
Spirulina is actually a very safe whole food (not an herb) and can be eaten every day. It is a blue/green algae containing chlorophyll which is known as nature’s green magic for its cleansing capabilities. It also builds the immune system, lowers cholesterol, rebuilds intestinal flora. Effective in eliminating heavy metals and dioxins, spirulina is also a terrific source of protein, beta carotene, iron and GLA (an essential fatty acid).

Red Clover
Red clover cleanses the blood, increases urine & mucous production, improves circulation, and stimulates bile production.

Echinacea
Echinacea is used to cleanse and detox the lymphatic system.

Licorice Root
Licorice Root cleanses the colon, supports lung & spleen function, and promotes adrenal gland function. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and increases mucous fluidity in lungs.

Dandelion
In addition to dandelions many nutritional benefits, it provides urinary & glandular benefits, acts as a liver & kidney tonic and as a blood purifier.

This preceding list is a very small selection of helpful detoxing herbs. To learn more about herbal cleansing please visit the following site: Herbal Detox: www.healthrecipes.com
Author: Sheryl Lyon
Image: NYC - Queens - Flushing: Queens Botanical Garden - Herb Garden

A very effective method of detoxing the body that can be used alone or in conjunction with fasting and/or herbs is sweating. This is done through the use of saunas, steam rooms and hot baths.

Profuse therapeutic sweating is one of the most natural ways to assist your bodies natural detoxification because perspiration is designed to eliminate waste from your body. Skin has been called the “third kidney” for its incredible waste removal capabilities.

The increase in body temperature caused by these techniques induces an artificial fever. This increase in temperature leads to an increased immune system function, increased production of white blood cells, increased metabolism, and increased heart rate and blood flow. Many believe that toxins lodge in fat cells beneath the skins surface. Sweating is the easiest and closest exit point for these toxins.

Although steam rooms and hot baths can feel hotter than a dry sauna because of the humidity, the temperature is actually lower and much of the water you feel on your body is condensation rather than sweat. For this reason, many experts recommend FIR infrared saunas instead. In addition, infrared saunas are more energy efficient, offer a high comfort level, and usually provide a deeper penetration of heat which in turn provides a more substantial detox.

Dr. Mercola recommends far-infrared saunas and even includes instructions on how to build your own simple sauna for home use for under $75.

If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant please exercise caution when using steam, saunas, hot tubs, or baths. Hyperthermia (increase in body temperature) is linked with fetal neural tube defects especially during the early weeks of pregnancy. Some countries like Germany routinely recommend the use of saunas for pregnant women so blanket statements about safety certainly do not apply, but if you do decide to use a sauna, do not spend more than 10-12 minutes in the heat and then be sure to cool down completely.

Learn more about sauna benefits at:
www.mercola.com
www.wikipedia.com/sauna

Image: Finnish Sauna Society

Here is some interesting information from Dr. Mercola on how to find a good natural medical doctor (which unfortunately are not that easy to find).

He recommends an actual MD or DO because they are licensed to prescribe and should have the appropriate knowledge and training to help wean you off any toxic and/or addictive prescription drugs that you are on so you can take control of your health.