Using a Health Savings Account to Pay for Alternative Medicine
Posted by admin on Jun 30, 2009
The Natural Health Boom
Posted by admin on Jun 30, 2009
The 20th century has registered a veritable explosive development of alternative medicine. Defined as any health practice which takes the place of, or is not compatible with conventional medicine, alternative medicine differentiates itself from complementary medicine because it uses only nontraditional methods.
Alternative medicine features a very broad range of practices. While some of the healing therapies come from Ancient Chinese principles, like acupuncture, and the use of herbal compounds, others are based on Ayurvedic or Hindu therapies. The latter include some of the most well-known therapies, such as the practice of yoga, diet changes and cultivating the connection between mind, body, and spirit.
The emphasis on mind, body, and spirit also constitutes the landmark of holistic health, which can be both alternative and complementary. One of the popular figures of this kind of medicine is Dr. Deepak Chopra, who leans toward alternative rather than medical thinking. Despite the fact that he is a graduate of a Western medical university, his teachings are largely contested by the medical community.
Massage, chiropractic techniques and practice, meditation, spiritual healing, aromatherapy and exercise practices such as Tai Chi are some other examples of popular alternative therapies. However, there is an almost inexhaustible list of alternative practices. In fact, many people use different forms of alternative medicine, sometimes even without realizing it, for example when they take herbal supplements or vitamins without seeing the doctor first. As such, using the natural supplement Airborne when having a cold instead of consulting the doctor means that alternative medicine is practiced rather than traditional medicine. Studies have showed that over 70 percent of adults over 50 years of age use some kind of alternative therapy in order to treat illness and disease and to maintain a good health.
Although the Western medical community strongly opposes these practices, the ascension of alternative practices continues. This happens mainly because alternative practitioners often point to millenary traditions, although few clinical trials have proved their efficiency. However, given the advancement of complementary medicine there is now an entire host of medical schools where alternative methods are taught. Moreover, many physicians are now keen on learning about alternative medicine, as it offers more options in dealing with a medical condition.
More and more people now turn to alternative medicine because the traditional medicine can not provide them the means to cure when experiencing a certain condition. In fact, many Western physicians acknowledge the already established practices of alternative medicine and even recommend these therapies for patients whom they cannot help otherwise. Although a large range of physicians still remain skeptical, alternative medicine appears to many as a last resort solution.
Despite its popularity, alternative medicine is generally not covered by health insurance companies. Sometimes chiropractics may be part of a health plan, but otherwise nutritional supplements, acupuncture, yoga classes, or other alternative therapies must all be paid for by the beneficiary. However, alternative methods are increasingly popular because they pay attention not just to the physical body, but also to the spiritual, emotional and mental aspects of one’s health.
Eric Cho
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/the-natural-health-boom-97452.html
Why Search For Healthy Fundraising Solutions
Posted by admin on Jun 30, 2009
To successfully search for and enact healthy fundraising solutions at your school, the first step is to be realistic. Pretzels will not sell as well as a chocolate bar. That is just the bottom line. However, that shouldn’t dictate your fundraising precepts. If you think about it, cigarettes would probably also outsell many healthy items, but obviously there will be no “Winston’s For Wrestling” or “Kool’s For Cross Country” fundraiser on campus anywhere.
It may seem that the above analogy is far fetched, but it’s really not from a healthy perspective. There was a time in this county when cigarettes were considered harmless. They would actually give them to soldiers in WWII for free under the pretense that cigarettes would help them relax in the trenches. Doctors would prescribe them to women for nerves. All of that has obviously changed, and society’s attitude toward junk food and candy is changing as well. The number one killer in America isn’t lung cancer or throat cancer (smoking related). No, in fact, the number one killer in the country is heart disease, often caused by poor diet. That’s why it’s of dire importance to search for healthy fundraising solutions.
In addition to the health needs of America’s youth, you should also search for healthy fundraising solutions because its becoming the law on many school campuses. In California public schools for example, this September 2007 the state will begin phasing in CA SB-19, which mandates what types of food and snacks can be on campus between and hour before school starts and an hour after school starts. These guidelines are that snacks be less than 35% fat, less than 35% sugar, and less than 10% saturated fat, with exclusions for nuts and nut butters.
In September 2007 compliance is strongly recommended and by September 2008, it will be compulsory. In fact many school like the Torrance Unified School District decided last year that they would stand up for what is right and embrace these regulations a year early. Many other school districts desiring to stand up for health and nutrition have done the same thing. So the bottom line is, in California, using candy and junk food to fundraise is becoming a thing of the past.
Are you ready for the future? As mentioned in the preceding paragraph, California is leading the way in nutrition reform at the school level, but many states like Connecticut, Wisconsin, Washington and others are close behind in this manner. So not only is it the right thing to do to look for healthy fundraising solutions, it will soon be the law to do so.
Finally, direct fundraising or product sales fundraising is the most effective form there is. In the past this was overwhelmingly candy. Now that it’s going away, you’ll need an alternative to maintain a product sales focused fundraising program. This is the
third reason you should look for healthy fundraising solutions. The bottom line, most schools have the greatest success with product sales fundraising because you’re actually selling something of value to the customer/charity contributor. You’re providing something of value, rather than simply “begging for money.
So there you have them: your reasons to go forth and find healthy fundraising solutions!!!
Alec Moreland
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/why-search-for-healthy-fundraising-solutions-118948.html
The Zens About Energy Healing
Posted by admin on Jun 30, 2009
You have probably come across exotic-sounding terms such as ‘chakra’,'prana’, ‘aura’, and ‘tantra’ in your course of reading books on spirituality, sex, and healing in the New Age literature section of the bookstore. But what’s the real scoop behind these exotic vocabularies?
Are All Energy Healings the Same?
Chakra or energy center is a term used in Pranic healing, an ancient Hindu system of energy healing. ‘prana’ means life energy. ‘Aura’ is another terminology traced to Pranic healing. Aura is a non-physical body that consists of energy, which exists along with our physical body. The aura that covers our body is said to have seven layers pertaining to the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of an individual as manifested by energy. Studying the color and thickness of auras give ideas on the state of health of individuals. Six colors are associated with aura and interpreted into six personalities. These colors are all present in an individual but one or two are more pronounced.
Green – ambitious achiever
Blue – spiritual peacemaker
White – unconventional chameleon
Red – activist
Orange – creative communicator
Violet – psychic
Although Tantra is popularly associated with the peculiar practice of sex and spirituality, it is another method of energy healing. It comes from the word ‘tan’ which means to spread or expand. The concept of connectedness is a recurring theme in Tantric writings on sex and spirituality. As a method of healing, spirituality and sex figure prominently. It is presupposed that the union of man and woman can reach spiritual levels during orgasm, which removes the body and mind off collected impurities. These impurities being negative energies can in turn manifest as physical illnesses.
Unlike Pranic and Tantric healings, which have Hindu origins, Reiki originated from Japan. It is relatively younger than Pranic and Tantric healings having been rediscovered in the early 1900’s. Reiki stands for universal energy, an energy brought forth by higher intelligence. Students of Reiki are taught how to tap this energy to heal physical, emotional, and mental illnesses.
Although Pranic, Tantra, and Reiki are all systems of energy healing, they differ in the type of energy tapped for healing: life energy, sexual energy, and universal energy respectively.
The concepts of the connectedness of mind, body, and spirit; the connection of individuals to all living and nonliving things around them and to the universe; and how energy impacts physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being are some of the salient similarities of these three healing methods.
Why Do People Turn to Energy Healing?
Pranic, Tantric, and Reiki are considered alternative methods of healing. In spite of the availability and relative accessibility of modern medicine, how come more and more people are being drawned to them? Here are some possible reasons:
- Energy healing worked where modern medicine failed.
For several reasons both explainable and unexplainable, modern medical treatment failed to heal ailments and conditions in several if not many persons. Research or data may not be able to support this statement. But for the families of the dying as well as for the dying patient, they would take the risk of using alternative methods ranging from herbals and organics, faith healers, witch doctors, and New Age healing techniques just to be get well.
- People perceive modern medicine to be isolating.
Medical treatments are oftentimes focused on the disease and its causative agent, which can make a patient feel isolated and treated like a mere host of the disease. Although recent developments in hospital practice are gradually promoting the holistic treatment of a patient, the perception still persists. Unlike in energy healing, since energy and spirituality are intimately linked, the patient feels that all aspects of his health are being attended to.
- Energy healing is non-obtrusive and natural thus it is safer.
Repeated surgical procedures are physically and emotionally traumatic for most patients. It is but a logical and attractive option to both patient and families to look for less stressful health interventions. Moreover, with the rising popularity of New Age religions, going natural is the way to go.
- Energy healing is a good way of relieving stress.
Meditation is part and parcel of energy healing methods and this is an added come-on for highly stressed people. Moreover, sophisticated equipment is not required thus it becomes all the more convenient for students and future students of energy healing.
The battle between alternative healing and mainstream medicine continues as both present the benefits of their approach. But in the final analysis, what matters is the restoration of good health.
James Yee
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/the-zens-about-energy-healing-181151.html
What’s the name of the Alternative Healing Therapy that uses "hot spots" on the earth to heal people?
Posted by admin on Jun 30, 2009
I was intrigued by your question, as I have never heard of this before. All I could find on Google was a link about a book by Tyberonn. It does mention the hotspots and apparently I live near one!
http://www.earth-keeper.com/
I live in NYC and am looking for a doctor specializing in male infertility. Can anyone recommend a urologist?
Posted by admin on Jun 30, 2009
My wife and I have been trying to have a baby for 18 months. My sperm count is fine, but I seem to have bad morphology. My urologist said that I have a varicocle and would like me to have surgery. I don’t like the way he’s been pushing me without considering any alternative solutions, so I’d like to talk to an expert in male infertility in New York City. Please let me know if you have any recommendations. If they take Oxford health insurance, all the better. Thanks.
China town along canal street has lots of apothecaries. There are lots of licensed pharmacist of eastern medicine. Couldn’t hurt to ask for their advice. Good luck.
do you know herbal remedies or vitamins to help with a man’s energy level?
Posted by admin on Jun 30, 2009
Thanks for all who answered my other question about extreme exhaustion in a 40 year old man agter sex. I know that it is expected for him to be tired, but I wouldn’t think to be exhausted a day or two later. herbal remedies? Specific vitamins that may help? We are a relatively young couple- 40 and 36- and this is causing a bit of a problem in our marriage. It isn’t always the man who wants relations.
I am 38 and a few weeks ago discovered Mega Men multi-vitamin supplements. You can get them at GNC. They smell awful, but they work. Within days, my energy level increased noticeably…I can really tell if I forget to take them
What exactly is the difference between naturopathy & homeopathy?
Posted by admin on Jun 30, 2009
Homeopathy is a medical system based on the idea that "like cures like". Remedies are created by serial dilution and energising so that the original substance is completely reduced to an energetic level. It is safe, rapid, gentle and effective.
naturopathy is the practice of natural (ie. non-drug/surgery) medicine. Naturopaths use nutrition, herbs, massage and some use homeopathy. However, not to the degree a professional homeopath does.
I had a middle aged friend that was a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine…?
Posted by admin on Jun 30, 2009
I told her I had received a flu shot. She warned me that her friend had gotten cancer and died from a flu shot. Do flu shots give people cancer?
Uhhh…are you serious?
No, no they do not. That is ridiculous. The flu vaccine doesn’t even contain a live virus.
And we don’t even know for sure what causes cell replication to go haywire – causing cancer. There is nothing AT ALL to indicate that flu vaccines cause cancer. I don’t even know where she would get such an idea.
Oh, and it’s important to mention that so-called "Doctors of naturopathic medicine" are ****NOT**** Medical Doctors in any way, shape or form. They only have a title in 5 Canadian Provences and 16 US states (ND). They have a very limited scope of practice and cannot prescribe medicine. Most places don’t even recognize them as professionals.
Is natural healing a form of witchcraft?
Posted by admin on Jun 30, 2009
I have heard this mentioned in some groups and it is disregarded as an option because of this. I am interested in becomming a healer and wondered if there is still stigma attached to it. It obviously wont make any difference to me, I am just wondering
Healing belongs to ALL religions and NO religion. A religion without healing I feel to be an incomplete one.
It is a part of witchcraft for it is energy work. it is through witchcraft that you can get an understanding and excel in the healing field.
For instance reiki belongs to evreyone, but it is through it’s teachigns and the of witchcraft that I have come to learn mroe on it.
I consider it a part of it because it is connected with each other. Not may other religions help in explaining this.
But at the end of the day healing does not just belong to witchcraft and is a universal practice.
Blessings,
Shadow