Posts Tagged ‘Pain’
Chiropractic Adjustments
March 31, 2010 Written by JPI have a confession to make. Even after many years of using and working with natural medicine, I still have an underlying fear of chiropractors. Not the men and women who make up the profession. But the actual process of getting an adjustment. I’ve just never gotten used to the cracking and popping sounds brought about by manual adjustments. However my concerns are often at odds with some of the positive evidence that exists about this widely utilized holistic technique. The most recent figures published by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine estimate that upwards of $4 billion a year is spent on “chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation” in the US alone. It appears that many health conscious consumers do not share my reservations about visiting their friendly, neighborhood chiropractor. Read more »
Tags: asthma, Chiropractic, Headache, Pain
Posted in Alternative Therapies | 8 Comments & Updates
Mind Body Medicine
March 16, 2010 Written by JPToday I want to discuss a very special kind of pharmacy. It’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It doesn’t close for holidays and the staff is always on call. One of the best features of the place is that all medications in stock are 100% natural and entirely compatible with your individual physiology. I know what you may thinking: “This place sounds very expensive”. Or perhaps: “My doctor or health insurance company never works with these ‘holistic-type’ facilities”. Fortunately for us all, none of these concerns apply here. Read more »
Tags: Depression, Exercise, Inflammation, Pain
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Exercise, Mental Health | 15 Comments & Updates
Vitamin D and Chronic Pain
July 27, 2009 Written by JPMany people throughout the world suffer from chronic pain. The exact locations of the symptoms and the causes of the discomfort vary widely. Determining the origin of inflammatory processes can often be elusive. Therefore, doctors and patients alike generally turn to powerful medications to alleviate physical suffering. This is, of course, understandable and sometimes necessary. But there is new research that may offer an innovative tool in the fight against many pain related conditions. It turns out that the answer may lie in a simple blood test, some added sunshine and an inexpensive nutrient known as vitamin D. Read more »
Tags: Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, Pain, Vitamin D
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Nutritional Supplements, Women's Health | 10 Comments & Updates
Animal Assisted Therapy
July 13, 2009 Written by JPThe window of our home overlooks an expansive private courtyard and garden. Weather permitting, almost every day I see men, women and children playing out there with their canine companions. Sometimes they simply rest together underneath the shade of a tree. On occasion, I even hear interspecies “conversations” going on. It’s actually a really beautiful sight to behold. The connection that is present between animals and humans is a profound one indeed. This observation has not escaped both traditional and modern health practitioners. Today’s column delves a bit into the research that exists on animal-assisted therapy (AAT). Read more »
Tags: Anxiety, Cancer, Pain
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Heart Health, Mental Health | 19 Comments & Updates
The Feldenkrais Method
June 24, 2009 Written by JPPoor balance is a leading cause of disability and infirmity in the elder population. If you aren’t a part of that age group yet, please don’t tune out. The Feldenkrais Method is a unique mind-body technique that helps to improve balance, but, may also help a wide range of other conditions, including chronic pain, depression, eating disorders, fibromyalgia and, even, multiple sclerosis. Read more »
Tags: Anxiety, Fibromyalgia, Pain
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Exercise, Mental Health | 13 Comments & Updates
Comfrey Ointment for Pain Relief
May 27, 2009 Written by JPOccasional aches and pains are an expected part of life. But sometimes these discomforts take a while to heal. In the meantime, life goes on. Modern medicine has addressed this common problem by offering many over-the-counter pain remedies, which can be quite effective. The trouble is that even non-prescriptive medications may not be suitable for everyone. Fortunately, there is a scientifically validated, natural remedy that offers a safe and effective alternative to these drugs.
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Tags: Arthritis, Inflammation, Pain
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Bone and Joint Health, Exercise | 28 Comments & Updates
Dr. Oz and Sauna Therapy
April 30, 2009 Written by JPRecently I was flipping through the channels on my TV and spotted a segment onĀ The Oprah Winfrey Show that featured Dr. Mehmet Oz. He was discussing all sorts of unconventional medical treatments and natural therapies that he felt were legitimate. One of the items on his radar was an infrared sauna. He cited benefits ranging from lowering blood pressure to increasing metabolism (calorie burning), and even eliminating toxins through the skin. Oprah conducted part of the interview with Oz in the sauna itself. They got out just prior to breaking a sweat.
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Tags: Heart, Pain, Sauna
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Detoxification, Heart Health, Mental Health | 8 Comments & Updates
Hypnosis and Pain Management
March 14, 2009 Written by JPI would venture a guess that most of us haven’t had the experience of being in a hypnotic state. We’ve seen people being hypnotized on TV or perhaps even in magic performances. But the difference between artistic representations of hypnosis and the reality of clinical/medical hypnotherapy is quite dramatic. Read more »
Tags: Hypnosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Pain
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Mental Health | 4 Comments & Updates
Acupressure for Health
January 31, 2009 Written by JPAcupressure is technique used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that is quite similar to acupuncture. Instead of needles, instruments or fingers apply direct pressure on specific points of the body in order to alleviate symptoms or to support various organs or systems of the body. Read more »
Tags: Pain, Pregnancy, Sleep
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Women's Health | 5 Comments & Updates
Acupuncture vs. Headaches
December 4, 2008 Written by JPWe all get an occasional headache. But for some people, headaches are a regular part of life. And while taking pain relievers every once in awhile may be reasonably safe, taking them on a long-term basis may not be. Read more »
Tags: Acupuncture, Headache, Pain
Posted in Alternative Therapies | 10 Comments & Updates