The sour truth about apple cider vinegar - evaluation of therapeutic use

Apple cider vinegar is an old folk remedy claimed to be beneficial in treating a long list of ailments. Proponents say that it can cure arthritis, guard against osteoporosis, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, prevent cancer, destroy infection, assist in digestion and weight control, maintain memory, and protect the mind from aging.

Vinegar is said to have been used for medical ailments for at least 10,000 years. The Babylonians first converted wine into vinegar in 5000 BCE using date palms, grapes, and figs, and believed vinegar had exceptional healing properties. Hippocrates is said to have used vinegar as an antibiotic. Samurai warriors supposedly used a vinegar tonic for strength and power. During the U.S. Civil War, soldiers used vinegar to prevent gastric upset and as a treatment for various ailments including pneumonia and scurvy. It was used to treat wounds during World War I.

The name vinegar comes from a French word meaning "sour wine." It is produced by the action of yeast and bacteria on grains or fruit juices. Vinegars take their name from the material used to make the vinegar, i.e., apple cider vinegar comes from apples, wine vinegar comes from grapes.

Apple cider vinegar is made by crushing apples and squeezing out the liquid. Sugar and yeast are added to the liquid to start the fermentation process, which turns the sugars into alcohol. In a second fermentation process, the alcohol is converted by acetic acid-forming bacteria into vinegar. Acetic acid gives vinegar its sour taste.

"Mother of vinegar" is a term used to refer to the mass of scum that forms on top of cider when alcohol turns into vinegar, or to the cloudy substance that sometimes develops in stored vinegar. It is actually bacteria and yeast cells that have died.

Folk Claims

In 1958 Dr. D. C. Jarvis, a "noted Vermont country doctor," wrote a book entitled Folk Medicine in which he extolled the virtues of vinegar. He claimed that Vermonters knew how to cure migraine headaches, diabetes, chronic fatigue, arthritis, and a variety of other ailments. They used apple cider vinegar.

Among Dr. Jarvis's many tenets about apple cider vinegar was his advice to pregnant women to drink an apple cider vinegar tonic daily to assure that the infant is born with "an excellent chemical pattern with which to meet its new environment." He recommended the same tonic for those suffering from arthritis. Believing that apple cider vinegar would destroy bacteria in the digestive tract, he advised those with GI problems to consume a tonic with each meal. He also declared that the regular consumption of an apple cider vinegar tonic would make body fat disappear because the vinegar would cause the fat to be burned instead of stored.

His book quickly sold 500,000 copies and is still in print. Apple cider vinegar is still promoted as one of the chief "natural" remedies for arthritis.

Those who believe that apple cider vinegar has miraculous properties attribute its powers to an abundance of nutrients in the liquid. One company's sales pitch states, "Each golden drop is a natural storehouse of vitamins and minerals." Marketers point to the trace minerals, bacteria,. and enzymes present in their product as the ingredients that give apple cider vinegar its curative characteristics. Another company suggests that their apple cider vinegar is superior because it contains pectin, beta-carotene, and potassium in addition to enzymes and amino acids. Apple cider vinegar is also said to contain an abundance of complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber. Dr. Jarvis believed that the healing properties of apple cider vinegar were due in large part to its rich potassium content.

Some New Twists

Apple cider vinegar is sold today by "health food" companies and others who claim it has remedial properties. The claims are similar to those in the past, but some have taken on a modem twist based on more recent medical research.

Marketers contend that the beta-carotene in apple cider vinegar destroys free radicals in the body which are involved in the aging and mutation of tissues and in destroying the immune system. Apple cider vinegar's beta-carotene is said to be in a "natural, easy to digest form."

Its use as a remedy for arthritis is based on the notion that acid crystals harden in the joints and tissues which cause the joints to become stiff and the tissues to harden. These acid crystals also cause the body to age prematurely, so the ads state. Apple cider vinegar is supposed is put these acid crystals in solution so they can be flushed from the body.

Producers also claim that apple cider vinegar can lower cholesterol and blood pressure. These assertions are based on the assumption that people naturally crave acids when eating animal proteins in order to lessen the thickening influence of "heavy proteins and fat." Apple cider vinegar supposedly thins the blood so it can circulate. more freely. Thick blood, they say, puts a strain on the heart and up goes the blood pressure. Another source states that the pectin present in apple cider vinegar works its way through the digestive system, binding to cholesterol and removing it from the body.

Apple cider vinegar is also available in tablet form. One brand is merchandised as a "digestive aid for vegetarians." The manufacturer of this product alleges that the tablets help acidify the stomach and help digest protein. Another tablet, which contains apple cider vinegar as one of its components, is sold as a fiber supplement and supposedly assists in weight loss. Still other companies add herbs to their apple cider vinegar "so people see relief from even more ailments."

The rubbery mass of goo called the mother of vinegar" is reputed to have magical healing properties as well. Nibbling on a bit of this moldy slime every day is purported to prevent most infectious diseases and keep germs and parasites from invading the body.

One company's advertisement for organic, raw, unfiltered, unheated, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar is particularly alarming. This company's ad maintains that "there is nothing in this wonderful natural apple cider vinegar that can in any way harm your body!" Apparently, they have never heard of the danger of E. coli 0157:H7 in unpasteurized fruit juices. Normally vinegar is too acidic to support bacteria. However, should the acidity weaken (pH reaching 4.6 or higher), then pathogens will survive and grow.

Jogging in a Jug

In 1985, Jack McWilliams, an Alabama farmer, concocted a potion he called "Jogging in a Jug." It consisted of apple cider vinegar combined with a variety of fruit juices to give it a more appealing taste.

Acetic acid, claimed McWilliams, was lacking in the modem diet, and this deficiency was the root cause of many health problems. He claimed that the potion had cured his arthritis and heart disease, and it could reduce the risk of cancer in the internal organs. McWilliams marketed his product through the media, receiving extensive coverage in small community newspapers and broadcast outlets. He reportedly sold $9 million worth of his potion in one year.

The FDA, however, did not look kindly on Mr. McWilliams's vinegar product and its advertised claims. The federal government seized the product in 1994 due to the unproven health claims.

In 1995, thousands of bottles of the potion were ordered destroyed because the product was considered an unapproved new drug due to the claims made by the producer. Subsequently, Mr. McWilliams's company, Third Option Laboratories, Inc., paid the Federal Trade Commission a $480,000 fine to settle charges of false advertising. "Jogging in a Jug" is still on the market today with a new label that meets FDA guidelines.

The Real Story

There is no scientific evidence that apple cider vinegar has any medicinal properties. While the folksy anecdotes from those who claim to have benefited from apple cider vinegar tonics may be amusing to read, they are simply that -- anecdotes.

Apple cider vinegar is anything but a storehouse of nutrients. A nutritional analysis of one tablespoon (more than the one or two teaspoons suggested to make a tonic) reveals that the golden liquid contains less than a ram of carbohydrate: minuscule amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium. copper, manganese, and phosphorus; and a mere 15 mg of potassium. The fiber, vitamin, and amino acid content is zero.

10 questions your gynecologist wants you to ask: don't be shy; speaking up could save your life

The less time your annual gynecology checkup takes, the better - breast exam, pelvic, Pap smear and you're gone.

Wait - not so fast! Maybe you should take a few minutes longer with the gynecologist. You may think all doctors are in a rush to get to the next patient, but most want to give their patients the best care.

However, doctors can't address what you don't tell them. "The 20s and 30s are basically a healthy time of life, and young women tend to come in to the gynecologist's either to get a form filled out or to get a new prescription for contraception and then leave," says Ann Davis, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Harvard University and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. What gets lost in the quick shuffle are potentially crucial health (and happiness) issues, from HIV testing to sexual satisfaction.

Here are 10 top questions that your gynecologist would love to discuss with you - if only you'd ask.

1. Should I be tested for sexually transmitted diseases?

"I wish patients would ask and be completely frank about risk-taking sexual activity, which really begins with anything other than abstinence or a long-term, monogamous relationship," says Jill Maura Rabin, M.D., chief of ambulatory care and head of urogynecology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y. "We want to be able to educate them about how to keep themselves alive and safe."

Besides being on the lookout for symptoms of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, pelvic infection and more, that might also mean: increasing the frequency of Pap smears if so-called high-risk human, papillomavirus (HPV, the virus that causes genital warts) is detected, since it predisposes you to cervical cancer; annual HIV tests (condoms are not fail-proof AIDS prevention, Rabin points out, because 13 percent of them will break or leak); and hepatitis C tests in case you've been exposed through your own or a partner's drug use, or had a blood transfusion or C-section prior to 1992, when donated blood was not routinely screened for the disease.

2. What about a different contraceptive?

Just because a contraceptive's worked for you in the past doesn't mean it's still the best choice, Rabin notes. If you've used condoms only, for instance, you can ask about going on the pill or another hormonal method for contraceptive backup. Or, if the pill causes symptoms you're unhappy with, look into a different formulation and balance of hormones. If you're terrible about remembering to take the pill on schedule, ask about the new, virtually goof-proof contraceptive patch.

3. Should I have a prescription for the "morning-after pill"?

"Having either an undated prescription or the actual medication on hand for emergency contraception is an excellent idea," Davis suggests. Note, however, that this is a lousy choice as a regular contraceptive method, cautions Gerald F. Joseph Jr., M.D., medical director for women's services at St. John's Regional Health Center in Springfield, Mo. But for unanticipated encounters it can be one huge headache-saver. And in cases of rape (date, spousal or other), while the ideal is for a woman to go to an emergency room for help and to call the police, not every woman in fact does, and either way, knowing you have the means to prevent a resultant pregnancy can eliminate at least one worry, Joseph notes.

4. What can I do about incontinence?

"One thing we know young women are not bringing up is incontinence," Davis reports. Up to 20 percent of women experience urinary incontinence at some point in their teens, 20s and 30s, according to Rabin. But only about half of women of any age with the problem raise the issue with their doctors.

Childbirth, and the weakening of the urethra's sphincter muscles that can result, accounts for some stress incontinence, where external pressure on the bladder (such as with a sneeze or cough) causes a little leakage. But more common among young women is urge incontinence, where one feels the need to urinate even though the bladder isn't full. The problem can stem from a complex process in which artificial sweeteners, stress, caffeine, iced drinks, hot peppers or other triggers cause nerves governing the bladder to set off a spasm, making it contract. Treatment -- avoiding triggers, "retraining" your bladder, Kegel exercises, medication and other approaches -- works 80 percent of the time, so it's definitely worth putting shyness aside to ask.

5. Why are my periods irregular?

It's perfectly normal for a woman's cycle to fluctuate occasionally: Stress -- even small changes in routine, diet and exercise -- can throw a minor monkey wrench into the works. "Menstrual irregularity is something young women tend not to pay much attention to beyond making sure they're not pregnant," Joseph says. "But even with a negative pregnancy test, a missed period or spotting could indicate a dangerous ectopic pregnancy."

Irregular bleeding -- what you might mistake for an out-of-sync or especially light period -- also can signal infections or cancer of the cervix or uterus, or a panoply of other problems including thyroid disease, endometriosis, fibroids and hormonal disorders. "Furthermore," Joseph notes, "if you're going along hardly ever ovulating or having periods, we're concerned not only because this could be a symptom of anorexia or polycystic ovary syndrome, but also because the lack of estrogen could be impairing your ability to store up the bone mass that will be crucial later in life, or you could even be losing bone already." Don't panic -- most of these symptoms usually mean nothing -- but do ask.

6. What can I do about sexual problems?

Hard to imagine a bigger squirm factor, for patients and some physicians, than with this question. But it's precisely because your gynecologist is a good bet to have some answers that it's worth asking. "A lot of women are reticent to bring up sexual difficulties, which I certainly can understand, but most problems can be answered or at least addressed by an OB/GYN," Joseph says.

The culprits easiest to identify for low libido among young women are medications -- for instance, many of the most widely used anti-depression and anti-anxiety drugs can chill sexual response, and some women report decreased libido from oral contraceptives. Discomfort or pain during intercourse can lead to sexual problems, and the underlying cause can range from serious medical issues such as endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease to something as simple as a yeast infection, sensitivity to spermicide or cyclic fluctuations in vaginal lubrication. And if he or she can't find a physical cause, your gynecologist is a smart choice to initiate a referral to a sex therapist.

7. Can I talk to the nurse?

Your gynecologist is not the only one in the office of whom it's worth asking questions. "One of the best resources, and one that patients don't utilize well, is the office nurse," Davis observes. "Office nurses are usually very experienced, and a lot can be handled directly through them."

The best case is when your doctor has his or her own nurse or two, with whom you develop a good relationship and who knows that if you say it's a urinary-tract infection that cannot wait, it's a urinary-tract infection that cannot wait. With a less simpatico nurse, or a more anonymous one from a larger practice, you can still get valuable advice about how concerned to be about a certain symptom, how to treat run-of-the-mill ills (menstrual cramps, morning sickness), what the standard instructions are for medications and to which specialists your doctor usually refers patients. Nurses often can take care of pregnancy tests or UTI screens without your spending the time or money for a doctor's visit. And if you have a long laundry list of concerns, the preliminary chat with the nurse is an ideal time to go over them and winnow them down to the most important to bring into the examining room.

8. I was abused or assaulted (sexually or otherwise) in the past -- what effect does that have on my health?

source!

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0846/is_9_22/ai_100106682/

health conditions that cause weight gain

If the needle on your bathroom scale starts creeping upward, or refuses to head downward, you'll probably suspect the cause is too many doughnuts, not diseases or drugs. But while the usual culprits -- too much food, too little exercise -- do account for most excess poundage, there are some surprisingly common medical conditions and widely used prescriptions that can add anywhere from a little to a lot -- a whole lot -- of excess weight. Here is a checklist of what to watch for if you inexplicably find fat either packing on or unwilling to pack up and go.

1. Hormonal havoc

You'd think 40 or more extra pounds would be a clue that something's amiss. Yet many of the 7-10 percent of pre-menopausal women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often go for years unaware that their weight gain is in part due to this underdiagnosed condition, in which the ovaries and sometimes the adrenal glands, for unknown reasons, pump out too much male hormone, according to Andrea Dunaif, M.D., chief of endocrinology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and professor of metabolism and molecular medicine at Northwestern university Medical School. Because the pounds typically pile on gradually beginning around puberty, or sometimes don't surface until post-pregnancy weight refuses to budge, it's frequently not obvious to PCOS sufferers, or their doctors, that there's a medical trigger. Possible tip-offs: thinning hair, excess facial hair, severe acne, irregular periods, impaired fertility -- all hallmarks of excess male hormone.

It's not the extra male hormone that triggers the weight gain, though. So what does? Short answer: Nobody knows, Dunaif says. While there seems to be a genetic component to PCOS -- it runs in families -- and a genetic component to the associated weight gain, there's little to explain why some of those diagnosed develop weight problems while others do not. It is clear that cultural and environmental factors play a part because Europeans, and Americans on the coasts, who may feel more social pressure to be skinny, gain much less weight on average than do their (sometimes literal) sisters in middle America. The encouraging side of this is that while many women with PCOS feel like their weight is an immovable number (and treatment for PCOS does not help with weight loss), studies show that almost any woman with PCOS, treated or not, can, if put on a supervised diet and exercise program, lose 10 percent or more of body weight, Dunaif notes. Dropping such a moderate amount of weight often will, in turn, push male hormone levels down, leading to a resumption of regular periods and improved chances of conception.

2. Thicker from thyroid?

For the most part, blaming a sluggish thyroid for excess weight falls in the "you wish" category. "A lot of overweight people sort of hope they have hypothyroidism because it's treatable," comments Howard Eisensen, M.D., director of Duke University's Diet and Fitness Center. "But it's rare to find someone who's significantly overweight because of an underactive thyroid. Even if there is decreased thyroid function, correcting it doesn't do much to correct overweight because it doesn't cause much gain to begin with." If weight creep is on a small scale -- in the 5- to 10-pound ballpark -- it's possible that hypothyroidism is behind it, though. If you have other telltale symptoms, such as brittle hair and nails, dry skin and a tendency to feel cold, definitely get checked out. If your thyroid is to blame, treatment should shrink you a bit, but not because of much fat loss.

Another name for hypothyroidism is "myxedema," which describes a kind of swelling from thick fluidlike tissue that is a hallmark of chronic low thyroid, explains George Bray, M.D., Boyd Professor at Louisiana State University. Most of thyroid-prompted weight gain, therefore, is actually due to excess fluid, not fat; correcting the thyroid problem banishes soggy tissue, along with its poundage, pretty effectively.

3. The weight of water

As Bray points out, extra pounds don't always equal fat, but are sometimes due to fluid retention -- familiar to most women from premenstrual symptoms. If puffiness isn't related to the menstrual cycle, though, it shouldn't be ignored. "If someone's retaining a lot of water -- enough to add more than a couple of pounds -- they'd better get to their physician very quickly to make sure they don't have heart or kidney failure, both of which can cause edema, or swelling," cautions Robert Berkowitz, M.D., medical director of the university of Pennsylvania Weight and Eating Disorders Program, though he adds that such problems are much more likely to afflict older women. "If you push a fingertip into your skin and it leaves a real indentation rather than springing back, that's a tip-off that it's fluid, not fat." Other symptoms include shortness of breath (congestive heart disease), decreased urine output and loss of appetite (kidney failure), and fatigue and increased abdominal girth even without weight gain, for b oth. Liver disease and certain cancers can cause abnormal fluid accumulation in the abdomen as well, so any big boost in your waist size, with or without weight gain, warrants a look by your doctor, Eisensen advises.

4. A knot in your stomach

Unlikely, but worth mentioning: "If women have rapid, unexplained weight gain, it's possible, though rare, that they have a tumor," Eisensen reports. One example: ovarian tumors, some of which are benign, such as a dermoid tumor, a weird conglomeration of various body tissues (sometimes including teeth) that grow in the abdomen. "We've had patients gain over 100 pounds because of a huge ovarian tumor in their belly," he adds. Again, don't ignore any disproportionate expansion of your middle -- check it with a physician.

5. Rx that rounds you up

Do you take any medicines on a regular basis? Then there's a chance that one of them may be nudging your figure toward the fuller side. "It may be medications, more than diseases, that tend to contribute to weight problems," Eisensen says, "and it's helpful for people to know that there may be alternatives." Some medicines that commonly cause weight gain:

* Anti-depressants are probably the most common weight-gain agents. Of the widely prescribed SSRls (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), many researchers and clinicians believe that paroxetine tends to produce the most weight gain, though typically not more than several pounds. Other antidepressants, like fluoxetine, sertraline and venlafaxine also may lead to weight gain, especially if used long term. "Short-term use of most SSRls and SNRls is not associated with weight gain," Eisensen says, "but if people are on them a year or longer, they can gain a few pounds or more."

One of the most popular mood stabilizers is bupropion, which if anything, often helps patients drop a few pounds (but side effects may not make it a good choice for all overweight people with depression, Eisensen says). The point is that within each class of anti-depressants are some that tend to produce more weight gain, and some that tend to produce less, Bray explains.

* Anti-diabetes drugs Ironically, medications for Type II diabetes -- the kind caused primarily by obesity -- are often responsible for further weight gain, creating a vicious cycle. Although it's not suitable for everyone, one effective anti-diabetes drug called Glucophage does not increase weight, says Berkowitz. And, he says, even some patients on other anti-diabetes drugs may be able to lose weight, under their doctor's supervision, by scaling back on their dosage or adding a weight-loss drug such as orlistat, which partially blocks fat absorption.

* Oral contraceptives may plump you up a bit, Dunaif says. But the low-dose pills commonly prescribed now won't add more than a few extra pounds, according to Berkowitz.

* Steroids are among the literal heaviest hitters. The most commonly prescribed are adrenocorticoids, used to control severe autoimmune problems, including asthma, arthritis, lupus and inflammatory bowel disease. Long-term use can increase appetite and hike weight by 20 pounds or more, Berkowitz says, but because the symptoms these steroids alleviate are potentially life-threatening, you don't have much choice but to be on them when you need to be. However, doctors should be vigilant about cycling patients off medication when they don't need it, which can help them lose some of the weight they have accumulated, he says.

colon therapy

This article is about the alternative medicine technique. For the process to clean the colon before medical




Colon cleansing (also known as colon therapy) encompasses a number of alternative medical therapies intended to remove feces and nonspecific toxins from the colon and intestinal tract. Colon cleansing may take the form of colon hydrotherapy (also called a colonic or colonic irrigation) or oral cleansing regimens such as dietary supplements. During the 2000s internet marketing and infomercials of colon supplements increased.

Some forms of colon hydrotherapy use tubes to inject water, sometimes mixed with herbs or with other liquids, into the colon via the rectum using special equipment. Oral cleaning regimes use dietary fiber, herbs, dietary supplements, or laxatives. People who practice colon cleansing believe that accumulations of putrefied feces line the walls of the large intestine and that these accumulations harbor parasites or pathogenic gut flora, causing nonspecific symptoms and general ill-health. This "auto-intoxication" hypothesis is based on medical beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks and was discredited in the early 20th century.

No scientific evidence supports the alleged benefits of colon cleansing. The bowel itself is not dirty and barring drugs, disease or mechanical blockage, cleans itself naturally without assistance. Certain enema preparations have been associated with heart attacks and electrolyte imbalances, and improperly prepared or used equipment can cause infection or damage to the bowel. Frequent colon cleansing can lead to dependence on enemas to defecate and some herbs may reduce the effectiveness of prescription drugs.

Journals dedicated to alternative medicine research

Journals dedicated to alternative medicine research

• Alternative therapies in health and medicine. Aliso Viejo, CA : InnoVision Communications, c1995- NLM ID: 9502013
• Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic. Sandpoint, Idaho : Thorne Research, Inc., c1996- NLM ID: 9705340
• BMC complementary and alternative medicine. London : BioMed Central, 2001- NLM ID: 101088661
• Complementary therapies in medicine. Edinburgh ; New York : Churchill Livingstone, c1993- NLM ID: 9308777
• Evidence based complementary and alternative medicine
• Evidence Based journal of Integrative medicine
• Forschende Komplementärmedizin / Research in Complementary Medicine
• Journal of Integrative medicine.
• Journal for Alternative and Complementary Medicine New York, NY : Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., c1995
• Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine (SRAM)
• Journal Of Dietary Supplements

Integrative medicine, complementary medicine, fringe medicine

Integrative medicine, complementary medicine, fringe medicine

Integrative medicine is the combination of the practices and methods of alternative/complementary medicine with conventional medicine. It may include preventive medicine and patient-centered medicine. It may also include practices not normally referred to as medicine, such as using prayer, meditation, socializing, and recreation as therapies. Its academic proponents sometimes recommend misleading patients by using known placebo treatments in order to achieve a placebo effect. However, a 2010 survey of family physicians found that 56% of respondents said they had used a placebo in clinical practice as well. Eighty-five percent of respondents believed placebos can have both psychological and physical benefits. A number of universities and hospitals have departments of integrative medicine.

Criticism of integrative medicine includes about proposing to lie to patients about alternative medicines known to be no more than a placebo in order to achieve a placebo effect, and “diverting research time, money, and other resources from more fruitful lines of investigation in order to pursue a theory that has no basis in biology”.

"Quackademic medicine" is a pejorative term used for “integrative medicine”, when considered to be an infiltration of quackery into academic science-based medicine, and was picked up by science-based medicine anti-ACM critics.

History

Fueled by a nationwide survey published in 1993 by David Eisenberg, which revealed that in 1990 approximately 60 million Americans had used one or more complementary or alternative therapies to address health issues. A study published in the November 11, 1998 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that 42% of Americans had used complementary and alternative therapies, up from 34% in 1990. However, despite the growth in patient demand for complementary medicine, most of the early alternative/complementary medical centers failed.

alternative medicine definition

Alternative medicine is any healing practice "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence.

A 1998 systematic review of studies assessing its prevalence in 13 countries concluded that about 31% of cancer patients use some form of complementary and alternative medicine. Alternative medicine varies from country to country. Jurisdictions where alternative medical practices are sufficiently widespread may license and regulate them. Edzard Ernst has said that in Austria and Germany complementary and alternative medicine is mainly in the hands of physicians, while some estimates suggest that at least half of American alternative practitioners are physicians. In Germany herbs are tightly regulated: half are prescribed by doctors and covered by health insurance based on their Commission E legislation.

Alternative medicine is frequently grouped with complementary medicine or integrative medicine, which, in general, refers to the same interventions when used in conjunction with mainstream techniques, under the umbrella term complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM. Some researchers in alternative medicine object to this categorization, preferring to emphasize differences of approach, but nevertheless use the term CAM, which has become standard. Critics maintain that the terms “complementary” and “alternative medicine” are deceptive euphemisms meant to give an impression of medical authority.

Alternative medicine methods are diverse in their foundations and methodologies. Methods may incorporate or base themselves on traditional medicine, folk knowledge, spiritual beliefs, or newly conceived approaches to healing. "Although heterogeneous, the major CAM systems have many common characteristics, including a focus on individualizing treatments, treating the whole person, promoting self-care and self-healing, and recognizing the spiritual nature of each individual. In addition, many CAM systems have characteristics commonly found in mainstream healthcare, such as a focus on good nutrition and preventive practices. Unlike mainstream medicine, CAM often lacks or has only limited experimental and clinical study; however, scientific investigation of CAM is beginning to address this knowledge gap. Thus, boundaries between CAM and mainstream medicine, as well as among different CAM systems, are often blurred and are constantly changing." Claims about the efficacy of alternative medicine tend to lack evidence, and have been shown to repeatedly fail during testing. Some researchers state that the evidence-based approach to defining CAM is problematic because some CAM is tested, and research suggests that many mainstream medical techniques lack solid evidence.

The term 'alternative medicine' is generally used to describe practices used independently or in place of conventional medicine.Term 'complementary medicine' is primarily used to describe practices used in conjunction with or to complement conventional medical treatments. NCCAM suggests "using aromatherapy therapy in which the scent of essential oils from flowers, herbs, and trees is inhaled in an attempt to promote health and well-being and to help lessen a patient's discomfort following surgery" as an example of complementary medicine. The terms 'integrative' or 'integrated medicine' indicate combinations of conventional and alternative medical treatments that have some scientific proof of efficacy; such practices are viewed by advocates as the best examples of complementary medicine.

Ralph Snyderman and Andrew Weil state that "integrative medicine is not synonymous with complementary and alternative medicine. It has a far larger meaning and mission in that it calls for restoration of the focus of medicine on health and healing and emphasizes the centrality of the patient-physician relationship." The combination of orthodox and complementary medicine with an emphasis on prevention and lifestyle changes is known as integrated medicine.

Herbal Plant Remedies : Herbs: Ginger & Milk Thistle

Ginger and milk thistle are herbs that treat depression and food poisoning. Use ginger and milk thistle herbs for depression with tips from a nutraceutical supervisor in this free video on herbal remedies.

Expert: Miss Dimple Singh Bindra
Bio: Miss Dimple Singh Bindra is a nutraceutical supervisor in Bio Neutrix, N. Y. She has done clinical studies in herbs from Micro Logix Lab, New York.
Filmmaker: babai das

Types of Alternative Health

Alternative health is becoming more and more popular as more and more people look for other solutions to their health problems than the use of traditional medicine. There are many methods of alternative health that focus on different parts of your body, mind, and spirit. If you are looking for alternative health practices to incorporate into your life take the time to research and see what alternatives exist, such as unconventional Western healing practices and Chinese medicines.

One type of alternative health is traditional Chinese medicine. This type of alternative health is based on the theory that sickness is the result of an improper flow of the natural life force throughout the body. This life force is called the “qi”. This alternative health method of Chinese medicine originated in China thousands of years ago. This type of alternate health believes that the qi can be restored by balancing the forces of yin and yang, which can also be looked at as hot and cold, or abundance and deficiency. The alternative health practice of Chinese medicine attempts to restore this balance with use of meditation, acupuncture, massage, and herbal medicines.

Acupuncture is a popular form of alternative health that is practiced widely around the world. Acupuncture is the practice of stimulating certain parts of the body by inserting very small needles into the skin and tissues. Sometimes added stimulation is achieved by the addition of a low voltage electrical current. It is believed that the sites of the body that are stimulated by the needles will be unblocked and the energy of qi will flow once again along the proper pathways, restoring the natural yin and yang in the body. This type of alternative health has become very popular in the western world. Another form of acupuncture is known as acupressure and uses massage to stimulate the body rather than needles.

If you choose acupuncture as an alternative health method make sure that you get as much information as possible before finding a qualified doctor to perform the procedure on you. The more information you have about any type of alternative health the more successful you will be with the results.

Disability Management: Its Definitions and Benefits

At first consideration, the term disability management might be confusing at best, given how it can mean many different things to different people. But disability management is not only fairly simple to define and understand but it brings numerous benefits to all concerned.

First, disability in the workplace is what is involved here. And a disability is defined in these terms: as “an impairment that restricts the ability to perform normal daily activities—one of which is work—where impairment is any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function” (according to ceiu.org).

So those in charge of disability management will 1) strive to provide accommodations that keep impairment incidents from becoming disability circumstances; and will 2) work to provide such accommodations that contribute to employees timely (or quicker) return to the workplace.

In the same respect, disability management specialists will train, establish programs for, and find the best possible tools for disability management personnel, employers, or others in the business of keeping workers healthy, motivated, and productive.

These special disability management services and tools have an increasingly positive impact on the workforce environment and the people therein: with such things as a) absence reporting, b) disability evaluations, c) independent medical examinations, d) integrated reporting programs, and e) coordination efforts for the return to work stage(s), disability management services help to facilitate the disabled and/or impaired return and/or continued work presence.

And while integration plans like these do not always feature such plans as a) absence recertification programs; b) early assessment of disability claims measures; c)disability-length certifying; d) medical treatment plan reviewing; e) channel-networking to preferred providers; or even administrative support for STD claims, many disability management services do give disability managers/employers benefits to look forward to.

And those concerned with disability management appreciate such benefits, especially when they help save on what could be costly absences, medical care, and direct or indirect disability expenditures.

Disability Management Information

Disability management is important if you have any sort of disability. If your disability came on suddenly it may be difficult to deal with at first, but through disability management you should be able to regain movement, mobility, and a sense of freedom. You should always discuss different disability management options with your doctor before starting any type of fitness programs or any other type of programs.

If you are living with a disability or know someone who is, you know how important proper disability management is. One of the most important factors of disability management is maintaining some sort of exercise program. It is important for not only your body’s health, but for vitality and a healthy mind as well. Your doctor will probably advise you to see a physiotherapist to deal with fitness disability management. You want to strengthen your muscles but avoid injury. You should see a professional before embarking on any new fitness program as it may actually hinder disability management if done improperly.

Disability management also includes making adjustments in your day to day life. Someone should assist you with making sure that all your daily tasks can still be done with ease. This may take some getting used to, but with proper disability management you should be able to maintain independence and go through your daily routines with little upset. There are many professionals that your doctor may refer you to that can assist you with disability management in your home and work area. They can make helpful suggestions and also help loved ones to understand the changes that may need to be made.

If you are dealing with any sort of disability, disability management is key to your quality of life. If you have any concerns or questions about disability management you should see your doctor immediately. They are the best person to help you with any disability management questions you may have. Being referred to a specialist is not uncommon. These specialists have often deal with various disability management issues for many years.

Disabilities Don’t Have to be a Death Sentence

There are two ways that you can look at your disabilities. You can either look at it through a “half-empty” glass, whereby your whole life seems to be over. Or you can view it through a “half-full” glass, and see that your life is changed, but that you will continue to live, cope, and adjust.

People with multiple sclerosis face this decision every day. Depending on what type of multiple sclerosis, or MS, that they have, every day could offer new challenges. Some MS patients get progressively, and inexorably, worse, leading to increased levels of disabilities and dependence.

Other face spells where they seem normal, followed by relapses that take them out of the normal everyday rhythms and activities. Days, or weeks later, the MS subsides, but the person is a little worse the wear for it.

Who is to say which kind of MS is worse? For the person with MS, it is a unique struggle that offers unique moments of dismay, depression, hope, and redemption.

The DL on MS

The DL, or down-low and truthful, information on MS shows that the disease attacks a person’s central nervous system. This is the part of your body that includes your brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord. It is essentially the wiring of the body, in charge of motion, senses, and thoughts.

Around all of the tissues in the central nervous system is a layer of protection, fatty cells called myelin. This material not only buffers the nerves, it also helps them conduct the electrical signals necessary for the nerves’ function.

MS destroys this myelin. Where it hits, the MS leaves behind damaged myelin called sclerosis, hence the name of the condition. Sclerosis patches are more like plaque or lesions, which is essentially useless scar tissue.

MS can be as bad to actually attack the nerves underneath the myelin. In these two ways, MS affects how the nerves function in your body. Not only may the nerves be broken, but their conductive material, the myelin, is gone, making it more difficult for them to relay their messages.
Essentially the hard wiring to your brain is broken down, which results in all of the symptoms of MS that can be so debilitating, such as slurred speech, blurry vision, trouble moving, and pain.
The Many Forms of MSThe extent of disabilities associated with MS depends on the exact kind of the condition that a person has. There are four different types of MS, each of which can range in severity from mild to debilitating.
Relapsing-RemittingThis first kind of MS comes and goes. Its relapses, or flare ups, ignite the symptoms of MS. The MS becomes severe and leads to disabilities during the attacks.
However, they tend to pass and are followed by periods of remission. During this lulls, the MS symptoms can completely or partially disappear, leaving the person on a yo-yo of problems and emotions.
Primary-ProgressivePrimary-progressive MS poses the most disabilities over the long run possibly for people with it. Once this form of MS begins, its progresses gradually but continuously over time.
There are no remissions. The symptoms only get worse and worse. For some people, problems build up slowly over time. For others, however, the MS can come on fast. Some others even experience plateaus, when their MS symptoms seem to stabilize for a time.
Secondary-ProgressiveThis type of MS is a mix of the two types of primary MS. It begins with a form of relapse-remitting pattern, whereby the symptoms come and go in waves,
At a certain point, though, the disease takes a turn for the worse and strictly becomes progressive. There may be an occasional remission, flare up, or plateau, but for the most part, the disease stays its course toward further disabilities.
Progressive-RelapsingPossibly the most dramatic form of MS, progressive-relapsing begins as a steady drumbeat of increasing symptoms and disabilities. Instead of experiencing brief respites from the condition, as in remitting MS, these people only have periods where the MS gets drastically worse.
Once these bad spells pass, there still is no break from the disease. It continues to progress over time.
A Hopeless Case?MS may seem like a death sentence to a person’s old way of life. Where once they could walk and work and play, they may become confined to a walker, a wheelchair, or a bed.
There is no cure for MS at the moment. There are many treatments, though, some of which seem helpful for some patients. Some MS victims may even show improvement without any treatment at all.
The disease is so personal, in both its symptoms and its effects upon a person’s psyche, that it is hard to predict what treatment will work for a person. Doctors can offer steroids, physical therapy, hormones, and a host of other medicines and physical treatments to help an MS sufferer.
The best treatment, nevertheless, is a good attitude. No matter how dark the condition seems, and can be, the best way to cope and recover is for the MS patients themselves to treat the condition with a positive mindset, hope, and strength.

Learning disabilities

Learning disabilities are disabilities that affect the way that a person learns and processes information. Some people may have very mild disabilities ranging to severe learning disabilities. In some cases people may trouble interpreting just what it is that they hear and see. Other times an individual can understand the information but will have trouble making mental connections between that information and what is seen and heard. Spoken or written language can sometimes be affected with learning disabilities or sometimes it is a difficulty in doing any type of math problems. Most times people with learning disabilities can lead normal lives and their learning disabilities only appear when they are trying to read, write, to comprehend.
One type of learning disabilities is dyslexia. Dyslexia is a one of the disabilities which is language oriented. People with dyslexia have problems with words and decoding the phonological order that the words are presented. Sometimes there is only a problem with a single word here and there and other times a person will have difficulty with most of the words that they read. People who have these types of language disabilities have trouble reading and attending school and will often need to relearn the way that they interpret language.

There are many other types of learning disabilities that can cause problems for people while they are writing, reading, or understanding. Another one of these disabilities is ADHD ( attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Some specialists do not consider ADHD to be one of the learning disabilities, however people who suffer from ADHD will have a very distinct problem with learning some things due to their inability to concentrate. Another of the learning disabilities that not all experts consider a true learning disability is people who have had a brain injury. There are some genetic diseases that are also considered learning disabilities. These include autism, Down's syndrome, and dementia. No matter what the cause or the origin of learning disabilities they need to be treated under the care of a doctor who can determine what is best and what measures can be taken to improve the ways the individual learns.

Visual disabilities

Visual disabilities can range from moderate to severe, including low vision all the way to blindness. Someone who has a visual disabilities is considered to need some type of a visual correction aid. There are several things that can cause vision loss and lead to visual disabilities. Some of these causes include:

** Macular degeneration - This is leading cause of vision loss in people over 50. This type of vision loss affects a person central vision since the center of the retina, the macula, and degenerates and causes visual disabilities. A person with this type of vision loss will have problems reading, driving, and doing small handwork. There are two types of macular degeneration: the “dry” form and the “wet” form. The dry form of this disease is a slow process of this disease and is the most common occurrence. The wet form of this disease will rarely cause blindness.

** Diabetic retinopathy - These types of visual disabilities are caused by diabetes, both Type I and II. Vision loss occurs when the blood vessels in the retina are damaged by diabetes. If detected early enough surgical procedures such as laser surgery can treat diabetic retinopathy. If not detected early enough blindness will occur resulting in visual disabilities.

** Glaucoma - Glaucoma is the buildup of pressure within the eye for several reasons. Once the optic nerve is damaged the end result is lost or distorted peripheral vision. Although there is no cure for glaucoma early detection can slow or halt some of the vision loss.

** Cataracts - A cataract is the clouding over of the eye by the eye’s natural lens. This allows less light to flow through to the eye. This is a common medical condition in people over 55 and can be successfully treated by surgery.


Approximately 85% of macular degeneration cases are the "dry" form, characterized by a slow and gradual breakdown of the macular cells. If blood vessels grow behind the macula in an effort to provide more oxygen and they burst and bleed, this is referred to as the "wet" form. It is experienced by about 15% of macular degeneration patients. On a positive note, the wet form almost never results in total blindness. It does, however, cause severe vision loss, sometimes resulting in legal blindness (20/200 or worse in both eyes).

Caregivers and Disabilities 2

There are many different types of disabilities that can affect the way that a person lives and the way that they view life. There are some medical disabilities that can be acute and will require that the individual with the disability have some type of assistance both in and out of the home. Acute or chronic types may not be visible to anyone else but may still require the need of a caregiver in the home.

There are some disabilities and medical conditions that have an impact on the educational goals of an individual. People with these types of disabilities may find it difficult to attend school without the help of a caregiver. Some of these types of disabilities include chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, kidney disease, fibromyalgia, allergies, cancer, diabetes, heart conditions, HIV infections, and respiratory problems. With the help of a competent caregiver people with these types of disabilities can still attend school and gain a valuable education that will enhance their life.

A caregiver is there to help the person with disabilities in a variety of ways. A caregiver can be there to take notes or to help the student with disabilities use an alternate form of taking notes, such as a laptop or recording device. Many educational institutions will made some academic allowances for persons with disabilities. Many times there will already be adjusted seating arrangements if this is needed. If a person with a disability needs to be tested the school may provide an alternate method of testing if needed. Persons with disabilities will often be given longer periods of rest between classes so that can be in class on time or so that they can take a physical or mental break if needed.

The important thing to remember is that people with disabilities have just as much success attending school as people without disabilities. Educational institutions are required to be as accommodating as possible to allow for the success of people with disabilities.

Caregivers and Disabilities

There are many different types of disabilities that can affect the way that a person lives and the way that they view life. There are some medical disabilities that can be acute and will require that the individual with the disability have some type of assistance both in and out of the home. Acute or chronic types may not be visible to anyone else but may still require the need of a caregiver in the home.

There are some disabilities and medical conditions that have an impact on the educational goals of an individual. People with these types of disabilities may find it difficult to attend school without the help of a caregiver. Some of these types of disabilities include chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, kidney disease, fibromyalgia, allergies, cancer, diabetes, heart conditions, HIV infections, and respiratory problems. With the help of a competent caregiver people with these types of disabilities can still attend school and gain a valuable education that will enhance their life.

A caregiver is there to help the person with disabilities in a variety of ways. A caregiver can be there to take notes or to help the student with disabilities use an alternate form of taking notes, such as a laptop or recording device. Many educational institutions will made some academic allowances for persons with disabilities. Many times there will already be adjusted seating arrangements if this is needed. If a person with a disability needs to be tested the school may provide an alternate method of testing if needed. Persons with disabilities will often be given longer periods of rest between classes so that can be in class on time or so that they can take a physical or mental break if needed.

The important thing to remember is that people with disabilities have just as much success attending school as people without disabilities. Educational institutions are required to be as accommodating as possible to allow for the success of people with disabilities.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient form of alternative health that originated in the Orient. This healing method is based on the concept that there is a physical energy force that exists in all living things. Known as Chi or Qi, this force flows through the body and can be manipulated using thin needles places at appropriate points in the body. Needles inserted at acupoints are used to rebalance a body’s Chi, thus restoring health.

Acupuncture involves inserting thin stainless steel needles into the body at depths ranging from 1/5 of an inch to three inches, depending on the specific treatment. The procedure is not completely painless, but any minor pain that arises typically goes away in a matter of seconds. A slight heating sensation may be experienced after the slight pain dissipates. Needles may be inserted into the legs, arms, scalp, or in the ears.

Acupuncture is good alternative method for healing respiratory ailments such as sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, rhinitis and the common cold. Eye problems such as pinkeye and cataracts are also treated with this alternative health method. Toothaches and gingivitis, as well diarrhea, ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders are also treated with acupuncture. Headaches, migraines, sciatica, osteoarthritis and low back pain can also benefit from acupuncture therapy. Modern applications of the healing method include smoking cessation, and treatment of alcoholism and eating disorders.

Activating acupoints on the body has been shown to stimulate the immune system and it has positive affects on circulation, blood pressure and production of red and white blood cells. It also stimulates release of hormones that help the body repair itself. In the treatment of chronic pain, acupuncture can block flow of pain signals to the brain. Working with the body’s electromagnetic fields, applying pressure to acupoints alters chemical neurotransmitters in the body resulting in effective alternative healing of a multitude of ailments.

Patients seeking alternative health can utilize acupuncture to treat minor aches and pains, organ problems, or for problems with depression or for general well being. Treatment of chronic illnesses typically takes one month of acupuncture therapy for each year that one has been sick. More acute diseases can be treated in three or four sessions. Acupuncture can also be used to maintain one’s good health.

Though still considered an alternative health practice, acupuncture has been the subject of many clinical studies. Research has proven its effectiveness in the treatment of painful menstrual cycles, migraine headaches, pain management and management of drug addiction. Scientific research continues to show that acupuncture is a viable alternative to modern Western medicine.

Alternative Treatments for Asthmatics

It is not safe to completely substitute alternative forms of treatment for conventional forms of treatment necessary for asthmatics. The alternative treatment options for asthmatics listed in this article are options intended to be used in tandem with a physician’s recommended treatment plan. It is best to discuss all alternative plans with your physician.
An incredibly simple and obvious way to help decrease the amount of asthma attacks and to improve one’s breathing in general is an extremely clean house. Who knew that an extremely clean home could be an alternative treatment plan? Many asthmatics are allergic to dust mites.

Dust mites are mean little things that live off of dead skin cells and that go unseen. There are special dust mite cleaning products that a physician or specialist should be able to recommend. If you are asthmatic and if you are one doing the cleaning it is important to wear a mask while doing the cleaning.

If you are asthmatic and just too darn busy to deep clean your home on a regular basis, there are dehumidifiers designed to kill dust mites. Be sure to have your physician recommend a dehumidifier. After all, dehumidifiers are costly and not all of them that make claims to be helpful actually are.

When dusting, it is best to use a damp cloth. Even better is using eucalyptus oil on a damp cloth. Eucalyptus oil helps keep dust mites away.

Vacuuming with a powerful allergen reducing vacuum can help. Not all vacuums that make the claim to reduce allergens do. Vacuuming with an inferior vacuum frequently is more detrimental than helpful as it will pull allergens up out of the carpet and send them flying into the air.

It may be better to simply eliminate carpeting in the home. Dust mites have a difficult time hiding out on regularly cleaned wood, laminate or tile. It is best for an asthmatic to not be around while the remodeling is being done.

Another alternative treatment for asthma is yoga. Hatha Yoga is the most effective in improving one’s breathing and some may feel that Hatha Yoga is the most challenging form of yoga. Hatha Yoga is helpful because of the breathing techniques used, the calm concentration required while executing a pose which can be extremely strenuous. This combination creates a deep sense of relaxation once complete and helps one to focus on controlling one’s muscles and breath. Since yoga is not a cardio exercise it will not bring on an asthma attack. Yoga is an empowering form of exercise.

The Buteyko Method is an alternative treatment plan for asthmatics developed by Professor Konstantin Buteyko. It is absolutely imperative to talk to your physician and to receive permission from your physician before beginning the Buteyko Method. When the Buteyko Method first came out, the medical community was extremely skeptical.

Despite this initial skepticism, this alternative to mainstream medicines has proven itself to be quite helpful. The two main parts of this alternative treatment are the unblocking of the nose so that an asthmatic can stop breathing through his or her mouth and the training of an asthmatic of how not to hyperventilate. Although the Buteyko Method has proven to be effective, some of the practitioners have made harmful alternative treatment recommendations. If a questionable recommendation is made, be sure to double check it with your physician.

Men’s Health Supplements

Men’s health supplements should be tucked into soft loaves of homemade bread and slipped to them when they are—as usual—preoccupied. If only more men would read up on the risks they take by not getting health checkups, not taking any preventative measures, and not taking any health supplements to make up for the deficit behavior…. But since they don’t do any of these (a great portion of them don’t, anyway) we are going to have to nudge them a bit.

Clearly, their health is as important women’s, yet the general consensus has it that they too often neglect themselves, especially when they do not have someone to nudge them, nurture them, care for or care about them. Men’s health supplements are a harmless—once a day--nudge. And for now, so am I. This article (as well as a number of other articles) will focus on men as they should be focused on—will give them attention and will give attention to the health concerns they should have in ways they might not care to.



Prioritization is something most of us are naturally good at. But since what we prioritize is just as important as how we do it, it must be noted that when anyone puts his own well-being last on the list, it might eventually be the top-listed items and people that suffer. Men’s health supplements is trying to undo this likelihood, but working to make ends meet, working to support a family, entertaining and dedicating time to family and friends, and then working some more…. Is what most men choose, thereby challenging the probabilities that these activities might eventually negatively contribute to the need for a man to at some point cry out that he needs time to himself.

Yes! He needs to know that taking time for selfish things is taking time for selfless things. His health in tact will ensure he can go on entertaining, providing, nurturing, and partying. His health in tact means he will not suffer and will not have to share his suffering by being (begrudgingly dependent upon others because he neglected his health, failed to even glance at the Men’s health supplements his friend snuck into his briefcase or lunchbox and now is helpless.



For instance, the number of areas covered that should get attention (and that would do quite a bit better with simple men’s health supplements)--weight, liver, vision, teeth, heart, prostrate, bone joints and muscles, sexual equipment, stomach--are, sadly, neglected. Is it because men feel selfish if they take time out to attend regularly scheduled appointments? Is it because men get wrapped up in enjoying or consumed by doing the twelve hundred other daily duties that the last thing they would remember is a dental cleaning or a blood pressure check?

Men’s health supplements would replace some of the missing nutrients, would prevent some of the risks, ones that are revealed—in general terms—in the statistics: men are four times less likely to see a doctor than women. This is according to Dr. Hilary Jones at netdoctor.co.uk. At the same time, however, 45% of all men are overweight, and one third of them are termed clinically obese; 7 out of 8 carry at least one risk toward heart disease and/or stroke; and of all men with high blood pressure, only 25% use a medication to control it.

So it is shame? Control? Or is it the invincibility syndrome at any age that takes over and prevents men from preventing such health problems, illness, disorders, and diseases as hypertension, peptic ulcer, heart attack, cancer…. I will ask this again, in the next ten articles, hoping to get a response. And I will work on ways to sneak men’s health supplements into their beer bottles without them knowing.

Colonic Irrigation and Colon Hydrotherapy helps Cleanse Your Colon to improve Colon Health ...

Alternative therapies like Colonic Irrigation, Colon Hydrotherapy, Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Chelation therapy and Massage therapy — just to name a few — can bring you tremendous health benefits.

While not as well known or understood... Colon Hydrotherapy — also referred to as Colonic Irrigation — can provide you with unique health benefits and help you to restore and maintain optimum health...

So if you're looking for alternative ways to avoid many of today's common diseases and health dysfunctions, then review our colon hydrotherapy articles to find out everything you can about the health benefits of Colon Hydrotherapy... And learn how Colonic Irrigation can be beneficial to your colon health and your life!

One of the HOT topics in the health world today... is the connection between good colon health and successful weight loss!

To learn more about the secret to dramatic weight loss and colon health... go to our Weight Loss Center and find some of the articles we've discovered recently.

Many weight loss specialists now believe that our ability to lose weight, is directly related to maintaining good colon health. People with healthy colons generally maintain normal body weight... While those with low or poor colon function gain excess pounds and inches, making it difficult or impossible to lose weight.

What's the answer? Could losing weight really be as simple as improving your colon health? Apparently the answer is YES!

We've also found a great series of Free Health Reports discussing a variety of cutting-edge health and wellness issues. Please feel free to review any and all that interest you... We think you'll find these informative reports especially helpful if you're looking for common sense health solutions, without resorting to drugs or surgery.

Why use Colon Hydrotherapy and Colonic Irrigation?

The foundational principal of all alternative health therapy is that the human body has a natural pre-disposition to be balanced and totally healthy. In fact, your body has within itself, the power of self-healing.

By assisting your body to overcome a particular dysregulation, the self-healing process can be facilitated. If you're suffering with a degenerative disease, chronic illness or general health imbalance... You can become well again!

But first you must identify the root-cause of your ill-health...

Alternative therapies like colon hydrotherapy and colonic irrigation are not just for detoxification, rejuvenation and restoration of good colon health. They also may be instrumental in preventing the occurrence of disease... and when combined with a powerful group of natural health products you may expect to live a long, healthy life!

Conventional Medicine or Alternative Health Therapy...
Who decides what's right for you?

No doubt conventional medicine excels in the areas of trauma treatment and extraordinary life-saving medical procedures... But the prevention of chronic health problems is more often accomplished through the primary application of alternative therapy, or as a compliment to traditional therapeutics.

If you're looking for an alternative health solution, you're not alone...

According to a 1993 New England Journal of Medicine study — of those people seeking all various health treatments — over one-third elected to have alternative therapy, versus conventional medicine!

What was the primary reason given for choosing alternative health therapy?

“A strong desire to avoid traditional medicines' diagnostic
testing and drug treatment regimen.”

Clearly many people have a strong preference towards using alternative healthcare services... Especially when you consider alternative therapy costs are not generally covered by health insurance plans.

Now more than ever... People continue to use alternative therapy services — including Colon Hydrotherapy and Colonic Irrigation — and they're paying directly out-of-pocket up to... Billions of dollars per year!

Apparently, millions of people believe the results they get are worth the cost and...

Alternative Health Solutions Work!

Spend a little time looking around this Web site... You just might find something that changes your life!

Colon Hydrotherapy or Colonic Irrigation is an alternative therapy used to cleanse, maintain and restore optimum colon health.

Colon Hydrotherapy and colonic irrigation offer you an excellent opportunity to restore and maintain optimum colon health in your life.

The colon hydrotherapy articles give you a good introduction to the practice and health benefits associated with the practice of Colon Hydrotherapy... and a basis for determining if colonic irrigation could be of any benefit to you.

The practice of cleansing ones colon (upper and lower bowel) is by no means a new idea, and when you discover some of its many health benefits, you may be encouraged to pursue this further... either by obtaining a colonic (enema) kit, or by engaging the services of a professional colon hydrotherapist.

Just for clarification... You may find this type of alternative therapy referred to by different names, depending on the area of the country you live, and the type of apparatus being employed to effect the colon cleanse.

Colonic irrigation, colon hydrotherapy, high colonic generally involve the use of low-pressure water — created mechanically or by gravity — and administered in the presence of, and with the assistance of, a professionally trained colon therapist.

Enema, colon lavage, clysters are generally self-administered and only involve the cleansing and evacuation of the lower sigmoid colon and rectum. Not as thorough a cleanse, but still of some benefit.

If you wish to consult with a colon hydrotherapist... Try looking in your local yellow pages directory under the listings Colonic Irrigation, Colon Hydrotherapy, Colon Therapy, Colon Irrigation or use our colon therapist search to find a colon hydrotherapy practitioner in your area

Colon Hydrotherapy or Colon Cleansers?

Colon Hydrotherapy or Colon Cleansers?

Frequently we are asked, “Do you use an intestinal colon cleanser to prepare for colon therapy... to relieve constipation... or to maintain good colon health?”

The answer is . . . Yes!

We've tried many different colon cleansers over the years and the effectiveness of each varies greatly. Colon cleansing success is dependent on pre-existing colon health and the amount of water you consume on a daily basis. The use of a colon cleanse product may not be appropriate for those with particularly sensitive or diseased colons... But for the vast majority, there are exceptionally good reasons to use an all natural colon cleanser!

For more information about excellent colon cleansers that work for the majority of our clientele... Take a look at the colon cleansing health products we feature in the HealthShop.

And take some time to learn all the benefits of colonic irrigation using Colon Hydrotherapy and why maintaining good colon health could be the smartest thing you do to stay healthy...

An Introduction to Colon Hydrotherapy

Colon Hydrotherapy is a very safe and effective way to cleanse and detoxify the body. 

Not everyone will be open to getting a colonic. For those people there are some great products to maintain colon health. 

Jim Foleys Colon Pills and Colon Cleanse. 100% Herbal capsules guaranteed to maintain a healthy colon. We also suggest adding Living Streams Liquid Probiotic and Mullzyme Mucus Dissolver.

Cancer and Supplements: What Vitamins, Herbs, and Botanicals Can (and Can't) Do

Cancer and Supplements:

What Vitamins, Herbs, and Botanicals Can (and Can't) Do.

Few things in medicine get simpler the more you investigate them, and the use of vitamins, minerals, and herbal and botanical supplements to prevent or treat cancer is no exception. Recent clinical trials, for example, suggest that supplements of single nutrients like vitamins B, C, and E and the mineral selenium do not, as once thought, prevent chronic or age-related diseases including prostate and other kinds of cancer. Some substances, like green tea and ginger, seem to have potential in preventing or helping to treat cancer, but they may also actually interfere with treatment or have other serious side effects. Meantime, countless substances that kill or slow the growth of cancer cells in a test tube have not shown that same success in human beings.

What's going on? As it turns out, the question of whether—and in what form—nutrients can be extracted from food or plants and used to fight cancer is quite complex. Researchers in this young field are probing the connections and contradictions but have not yet found answers to the question of what vitamins, herbs, or botanicals may help prevent, treat, or ameliorate symptoms of cancer. Here are a few reasons—plus guidance on what to do in the face of incomplete information.

It's hard to know what to study. You'd think it would be easy to test whether, say, something as straightforward as vitamin E has a role in cancer prevention. But the difficulties begin at once: Which form do you use? Should a study use supplements of alpha-tocopherol, the form most easily absorbed by humans? Or a mixture of the vitamin's eight forms? It gets even more difficult to identify the best component—or components—to study in herbals and botanicals, which contain many different compounds.

And if you want to study supplements together for cancer prevention, what might work best with what? "Unless we have a very clear idea of the pathways and mechanisms that cancer is using, it's hard to have a very strong, rational basis for choosing combinations" of antioxidants or other nutrients, says Peter Gann, director of pathology research at the University of Illinois in Chicago. The problem exists in treatment, too. With so many chemotherapy regimens and so many herbs or botanicals that might theoretically aid their action, what combinations should be studied?

Clinical trials in humans often turn up results different from what happens in the lab.Curcumin (derived from the spice turmeric), quercetin (a kind of plant pigment), and a host of other food-derived chemicals, vitamins, and herbal products have been shown to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells in a lab. Whether these positive results translate to human beings is an entirely different question—as with drugs, many things that are promising in a test tube or in animals fail miserably when studied in the complexity of a human being.

In addition, those human studies are particularly tough to fund and pull off. Supplement makers rarely have an incentive to support research, since it's already legal for their products to be on the shelves. That same availability also means that people assigned to the no-supplement control group may opt to take the supplement under study on their own, contaminating the results. Work is being done, but drawing conclusions will take time. "It's very important that people understand there's research going on but that not all the answers are in," says David Rosenthal, medical director of the Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies at Dana-Farber Cancer Center in Boston.

Your supplements may vary. The pills and capsules you pick up off the shelf of a health-food store can vary enormously in quality and dose. About 25 percent of supplements tested fail when evaluated by whether they contain the claimed amount of a key ingredient, can be readily absorbed by the body, and are free of harmful contaminants, says Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com, an independent lab that tests supplements. When his lab tested five green tea products, for example, two failed. (One brand contained as much caffeine as two cans of cola despite saying otherwise, and it had half the active ingredients it claimed.)

Moreover, the botanical—and then how it acts in the body—can vary depending on where it's grown, how much sunlight it receives, the soil, and other factors, says Jeffrey White, director of the National Cancer Institute's Office of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. That can make botanicals tough to standardize, which is essential in order to study and take advantage of their effects.

Effects are complicated and change depending on the circumstances. A rose is a rose is a rose, but that doesn't hold for antioxidants. Beta carotene in the diet, for example, is associated with a lower risk of lung cancer. But when studied as a supplement, it actually increased the incidence of the disease among smokers. The thought is that under certain circumstances, its action changes, and it has damaging effects. "A single nutrient can shift from Jekyll to Hyde," says Keith Block, cofounder and medical director of the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care in Chicago.

An earlier version of this article misstated Peter Gann's title. He is director of the division of pathology research, not director of pathology.

Vitamins and Cancer: What about taking diet supplements and vitamins

Vitamins and Cancer: What about taking diet supplements and vitamins
Should I consider taking vitamins and nutritional supplements before, after, or during chemotherapy?

Ask your physician, nurse, or dietitian about using nutritional supplements such as Boost, Ensure, and Carnation Instant Breakfast to help meet nutritional needs and maintain or gain weight. There are many products available that can't be purchased at the grocery store. Call 1-877-4WebMed to order products for home including those that are found at the grocery store. A dietitian can help you add commercial supplements to your current diet, or if necessary, comprise your entire diet to meet all your estimated nutritional needs.

Will taking vitamins during chemotherapy help?
Diet vs. supplements - the preferred choice to meet nutritional needs is from the diet. The vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (a variety of compounds produced by plants) needed to help our bodies fight cancer are found in a well-balanced diet emphasizing plant-based foods. According to the nutrition-based literature available, an inverse association has been noted between fruit and vegetable consumption and cancer risk. In other words, eating more fruits and vegetables may lower your cancer risk.

It is difficult to determine if a specific nutrient is protective, or a specific combination and ratio of phytochemicals. The ultimate goal is to maintain a well-balanced, plant-based diet, low in fats and sugars to help lower the risk of cancer. Recommendations include at least 5 servings per day of a variety of fruits and vegetables with breads and starch consumption including 2-3 servings of whole grains.

In cancer research, the intake of individual vitamin supplements, as opposed to consuming fruits and vegetables, has not shown increased protection from these supplements. In fact, three clinical studies were done examining the protective effects of beta-carotene and lung cancer, two of which found a higher association among cigarette smokers when beta-carotene was supplemented. The third study showed neither benefit nor harm from the beta-carotene.

Phytochemicals refer to a wide variety of compounds produced by plants. They are found in fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, and other plants. There are thousands of phytochemicals and they fall into groups such as the polyphenols (subgroup flavonoids), antioxidants (including carotenoids), and sulfides. Phytochemicals have either antioxidant or hormone-like actions.

Flavonoids are found in soy beans, soy products, garbanzo beans, chickpeas, licorice, and tea. These are estrogen-like substances from plants called phytoestrogens.

Antioxidants are commonly found in vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower. There are many phytochemicals that fall into this category including carotenoids which are founds in carrots, yams, cantaloupe, butternut squash, and apricots. The term antioxidant is often associated with vitamins and cancer protection. Antioxidants include vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and carotenoids. These nutrients are associated with a reduced cancer risk due to their ability to scavenge free radicals from our body. Free radicals are reactive compounds that can damage normal cells.

Sulfides are found in garlic and onions and may have a role in reducing risk of stomach cancer. These nutrients are found naturally in many fruits and vegetables. Due to their protective association in food, researchers are trying to determine if this benefit exists with supplemental phytochemicals.

Herbs have been used for hundreds of years to treat disease. Many are safe, and others may have severe and harmful side effects, and possibly interfere with cancer therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and recovery from surgery. A recent example has been the discovery that levels of chemotherapy were reduced in the body in people who were using the herb St. John's Wort.

Safety considerations are to tell your health care team about any herbal products you are using or are planning to use before, during, or after chemotherapy. Ask your physician, nurse, or dietitian for reliable information about dietary supplements. Stop taking the products immediately and contact your physician if you experience side effects such as wheezing, itching, numbness, or tingling in limbs.

The jury is still out regarding supplementation of various phytochemicals and herbs to help prevent or fight cancer. There are many studies being conducted regarding supplementing and/or megadosing different phytochemicals or herbs. It appears that much of the encouraging herb / vitamin / cancer data has been seen in animal studies, which do not necessarily cross over to human studies. There isn't enough consistent and significant data at this point to draw any strong conclusions or associations to recommend the use of supplements.

Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs and Chemotherapy / Radiation Therapy for Cancer

Research is underway to determine the safety and possible benefits in using herbs, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals during treatments.

Megadoses - The literature available has not proven that taking vitamins in small or large doses helps to prevent or reverse cancer. Megadoses of vitamins can prove to be toxic or harmful in some instances.

Water-soluble vitamins are generally harmless due to our body's ability to excrete the excess vitamins as waste. In some instances there can be negative effects, for example, high doses of Vitamin C can increase the risk of oxalate kidney stones, posing an increased risk for individuals with renal failure. B6 (pyridoxine), even in moderate dosages, could result in nerve damage.

Quite the opposite of fighting diseases such as cancer, fat-soluble vitamins in large doses can become toxic, because they are stored in the body. Vitamin A toxicity can lead to changes in bone development, an enlarged liver, anemia, and loss of hair. High doses of Vitamin D can produce high calcium levels with calcifications in the kidney and blood vessels, and possibly result in osteoporosis.

Note: We strongly encourage you to talk with your health care professional about your specific medical condition and treatments. The information contained in this website is meant to be helpful and educational, but is not a substitute for medical advice.