Who Uses Homeopathic and Holistic Medicine?

© 2001 Linda Alexander

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Homeopathic and holistic medicine are two types of alternatives to Western medicine. Holistic medicine focuses on treating the whole person rather than individual organs that show symptoms. It is a philosophy of healing that treats the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the person, incorporating the patient's participation in his or her healing process. Click Here for a Leading Homeopathic And Holistic Medicine Resource!

Homeopathy is a holistic specialty discovered by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in Germany, in the late 18th century. It is based on the principle that "like cures like." Hahnemann's research showed how natural medicines affected healthy people, and healed those who had symptoms.

Homeopathic remedies strengthen patients' natural defenses and activate their innate healing abilities. Homeopathic doctors can correctly select the proper medicine for each patient. Treatments are usually inexpensive.

Homeopathic and holistic medicine are often sought out by people for whom traditional Western medicine has not worked. Others don't believe in Western medicine, and use holistic treatments alone. But most often in the US, homeopathic and holistic medicine are used in conjunction with Western medicine. They complement each other.

Conventional medicine, or allopathy, in contrast, focuses on suppressing symptoms when patients get sick. There is little focus on preventing disease. Illnesses are considered to be caused by bacteria, viruses, or chemical imbalances, with drugs and surgery used to treat them. Homeopathic and holistic medicine both focus on maintaining health in order to prevent illness.

Holistic medicine sees health as a balance of mental, emotional, spiritual and physical systems within the body. All aspects are interrelated as disharmony can lead to illness. These treatments are used for the long run, and are not meant to work overnight. That is why it's best to use holistic disciplines to complement allopathy. If there is an emergency situation, for example, usually Western medicine is best in order to stabilize an injury or condition.

The Popularity of Homeopathic and Holistic Medicine

Alternative medicine is becoming enormously popular in the Western world as people seek treatments for ailments that Western medicine doesn't cure. Natural healing processes are also attractive to those people who do not like the potential, often dangerous, side effects of drugs. Homeopathic and holistic medicine, in combination with herbal remedies have gone from a reputation in this country of quackery, to widespread acceptance.

Homeopathic and holistic medicine are mainly used to treat recurring illnesses. Some of these include asthma, allergies, migraines, digestive disorders and menstrual problems. In children, treatments can help recurring ear infections, attention deficit disorder, colic, and fears and anxieties.

Meditation and Relaxation CDs

Listening to a meditation and relaxation CD is only one method of calming and soothing your body to relieve stress. In this busy world, things that make us nervous, worrisome and tense often bombard us. It's no wonder that we seek solace in therapies which relax us and help undo all the damage we receive simply by living our lives.

A meditation and relaxation CD is certainly a great way to relax and unwind after a hard day's work. It is much more healthy, and has longer-lasting benefits, than alcohol or drugs. For those who are beginners at meditation, using a meditation and relaxation CD is an easy way to start and learn the relaxation techniques. But there are many more ways to de-stress.

Hatha yoga is an ancient spiritual practice with the side effects of helping improve focus, concentration, and present-moment living. It is the physical form of yoga that we in the U.S. are most familiar with--various exercises, or "asanas," are performed, and at the end of the session, participants are able to meditate easier and receive a sense of well-being.

Chinese tai-chi and chi-kung are other physical exercises that have similar effects of yoga. They help induce a meditative state and by performing the exercises, people relax. Other ways to de-stress include taking long walks, spending quiet time alone in nature, and taking a warm, relaxing bath.

Asthma Alternative Treatment

Asthma can be a chronic, ongoing and sometimes debilitating condition for which you might want to seek asthma alternative treatment. It is well known that steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs, often prescribed for asthma, can cause immediate and long-term damage to the body. It's no surprise then, that many sufferers turn to asthma alternative treatment.

While evidence that homeopathy treats asthma is conflicting, it is certainly worth a try. Some say "constitutional care," where a homeopath treats the individual's unique symptoms and overall health, can reduce the tendency toward attacks. Acupuncture, hypnosis, and biofeedback have also been used to treat asthma.

Chiropractic practitioners are another asthma alternative treatment. While some patients may breathe better after a spinal manipulation, there are other patients who don't see a positive change. Some say it works; others say it does nothing for their asthma. Certainly, alternative therapies look attractive when you consider the amount of chemical drugs an asthmatic takes over a lifetime.

If you are having a serious asthma attack, you should go to the emergency room or use the inhaler you already have. Alternative therapies are meant to help asthma over time; they may treat an acute attack if it is mild. But for severe attacks, get medical help immediately. In the long run, treating your overall health between attacks may help reduce the frequency of asthma attacks and help you feel better in general.

Eczema Alternative Treatment

Would you like to learn about eczema alternative treatment? Eczema is an inflammation of the skin characterized by redness, swelling, blisters, and scaling. It is not contagious. Conventional treatment usually includes the application of topical creams. Of course, not everybody wants to use such medications, as they can have long-term side effects. Some people turn to eczema alternative treatment for help.

Eczema can occur at any time in life, but is most often seen in infancy, puberty and at menopause, hence, the need for eczema alternative treatment. Heat, dampness and cold, along with stress, can also cause eczema to develop. Alternative treatments include dietary changes: avoiding tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages, refined sugar, and canned and flour products.

For an herbal remedy, turmeric is useful. You can either rub it on the patch of eczema, or take it internally--one teaspoon with milk. Eating muskmelon three times a day over a period of months is also considered a very effective remedy for eczema.

Homeopathy is another possible therapy you may wish to pursue. It sees your eczema as a manifestation of lowered immunity; instead of suppressing your skin symptoms, it treats the eczema by strengthening your immune system, allowing the body to heal itself. It works over time to make the outbreaks less frequent, and can eventually free you from outbreaks

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment

Irritable bowel syndrome treatment traditionally uses drugs to ease symptoms. These may include anticholinergic agents to reduce the pain from bowel spasms, antiflatulents to reduce gas, and antidiarrheal medicine. For those who don't want to use these medicines, alternative therapies may be used in conjunction with or instead of traditional Western medicine.

Elimination Diets

Irritable bowel syndrome treatment differs from person to person; everybody's symptoms or causes are not the same. Acupuncture, elimination diets, homeopathy, massage, and hypnosis all work to varying degrees. Since stress is a major contributor to IBS, biofeedback, or even counseling, might be helpful to you.

Certain foods can trigger irritable bowel syndrome. Common allergens are dairy, eggs, wheat, corn and peanuts. Eliminating these foods from your diet for two weeks, then adding them back one at a time, may help you identify if any of them are affecting you.

Herbal therapy has also been shown effective at relieving IBS symptoms. There are recipes on the web for different teas and tinctures you might experiment with to see what works for you. Finally, another irritable bowel syndrome treatment is homeopathy, which uses plant, animal, and mineral extracts to strengthen the immune system and help the body heal.

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