In our earlier post about Urine therapy the question about urine therapy being a possible cure for chronic pain was raised.

When such a question is raised there is perhaps irresistibly recalled to mind a hilarious sequence from the popular sitcom Friends, when Chandler was required to pee on Monica’s foot to give her ‘urine therapy’ because of a jelly fish sting which caused her to be in great pain.

The explanation offered in the sitcom was that the ammonia in the urine is supposed to take away the pain of the sting.

There is some anecdotal evidence to suggest that some people with pain have benefited from urine therapy, however there is little consistent evidence to support a claim that chronic pain could benefit from urine therapy.

Urine therapy or Uropathy as it is also known can cure a range of problems, even supposedly incurable ones, ranging from allergies, colitis, gangrene, fungus, dermatitis to constipation, fatigue, infection etc.

Rather in the way that the characters in Friends used urine as a disinfectant and as pain medication, it has been seen that applying one’s urine to minor skin problems and wounds can speed up healing and reduce chances of infection by acting as a disinfectant.

Urine Therapy and Chronic Pain

This article talks about a growing trend among veterinarians: that of using alternative therapies to heal pets.

This is something that reflects a growing desire among the pet owners to seek alternative remedies for their own ills that leads them to seek remedies other than conventional medicine for their beloved pets as well.

One example is that of Maggie the herding dog who received acupuncture for her irritable bowel syndrome. Apart from acupuncture every two weeks (which has ‘done wonders’ for the animal), she also has a restricted diet and herbs to treat her condition.

As many as 38% of Americans have used alternative therapies in some or other form in the year 2007 and it is hardly surprising that remedies such as homeopathy, acupuncture and natural remedies are now being tried out for pets as well.

The accent is on holistic treatment that emphasizes nutrition (raw food diet for the pet for example) supplements and preventive care. Some prefer to use alternative therapies in conjunction with Western medicine.

There is still some way to go however for alternative therapies being used on pets; this is still something that is being viewed as a little unreliable and non scientific.

Vets Now Examining Alternative Therapy For Pets

Want to be healthy without any medications? Then follow the nutrition and diet therapy for your healthier life.

Nutrition and diet therapy is the most commonly used form of complementary and alternative medicine in the United States.

Most of the US population has been at least taken vitamins at some point in their life.

Your body must need nutritional and diet therapy in order to function properly. Because of the diet, lifestyle and changes in the environment, you can get all the nutrients that you need in proper balance, making nutritional supplements a very important part of maintaining health.

In some conditions, nutrition and diet therapy is often integrated into conventional medical treatment. For instance, pregnant women are prescribed with vitamin B and folates to help prevent neural tube defects in their unborn child.

In most of the conditions if you encounter a deficiency of a particular nutrient, the treatment includes supplementation with that nutrient.

Many practitioners said that, you must follow proper nutrition and diet therapy for optimum health. It is impossible for you to consume a diet that provides all the necessary nutrients.

This case is due to environmental contaminants, soil depletion, pollution, and modern processing methods.

Super supplementation can act as a treatment for illness. Supplementation can include recommendations of megadoses of antioxidant vitamins and minerals for prevention of cancer, treatment of diabetes or asthma or other chronic conditions.

Benefits of nutrition and diet therapy:

Nutrition and diet therapy plays a significant role in your health. Due to the nutritional deficiency many diseases have been discovered. Due to the deficiency of vitamins [Importance of Vitamins], you can observe the diseases like scurvy and rickets.

If you are experiencing the symptoms of depression then it can be beneficial for you if you take fish oil supplements. These supplements can increase your intake of omega 3 fatty acids and from vitamin B supplements without any other prescription drugs.

Calcium can be used to prevent osteoporosis and other bone diseases.

Potassium supplements can be helpful for heart conditions.

If you follow proper nutrition and diet therapy, it is helpful to create new cells and repair old ones. If you do not provide enough of needed nutrients, the result is substandard functioning.

According to nutrition and diet therapy many of the diseases that are on the US to killers list are simply the result of poor nutrition and improper diet.

Criticisms for nutrition and diet therapy:

There are two criticisms for nutritional therapy. One is nutritional supplements are not needed or are ineffective. The other is nutritional supplements are unsafe because they are untested and unregulated.

Some dishonest advertisers make wild claims for some nutritional supplements with an eye on your wallet rather than on your health. Since nutritional supplements are considered as food rather than medicine.

There is little attention or testing is required unless a product proves to be unsafe after it is released.

The supplements of nutrition and diet therapy can interfere with medications and treatments for illness and infections. So it is very important to discuss everything that you are taking with your doctor.

Nutrition And Diet Therapy For Better Health!

The vitamin B1 is extremely important especially for the metabolism of the sugars and proteins and after that for the normal functioning of thecentral nervous system especially the one from the peripheral area.

It plays a vital role in the activity of the digestive system and helps the proper functioning of the glands encouraging the growth process and the intestinal absorption of fat.

The Thiamine aka B1 vitamin facilitates the liver deposit of glycogen and accelerates the process of urine disposal, playing a crucial role in the transformation of the carbohydrates in fat facilitating the body a supplemental source of energy.

It is also responsible for keeping the entire nervous system healthy, improving the muscular tonus and aiding the body defence against infections.

The actual result of the vitamin B1 intake is visible while treating a large number of diseases and health conditions like, anorexia, growth delays, slow digestion, pregnancy and breast feeding disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, burns, neurosis and polyneuritis, stress, irritability, anaemia.

It comes as a trusted aid in convalescence, arteriosclerosis, and irregular heart beat, pain, beriberi disease, cerebral haemorrhage, and thrombosis, infection diseases of the nervous system, heart insufficiency, liver failure, hepatitis, gout, and rheumatism and skin problems.

It is good to know that the thiamine is compatible and synergetic with the rest of the B complex but unfortunately it is not stored in the body so it needs to be replaced daily.

For the healthy grownups, the daily necessary intake of Vitamin B1 is of 1.7(1-2 mg) reported to the intensity of the daily activity, the nature and qualities of the nutrition factors they get from the ingested food, the physiology and the age. For women, during pregnancy, it is necessary about 2.5 mg of thiamine daily.

The children under a year need about 1 mg of thiamine daily, this necessary quantity grows as they grow up and get closer and closer to the one of the grownups.

In some pathological conditions of the nervous system, it is necessary the correspondent supplementation of the B1 vitamin intake.

The intake of an overdose of thiamine can cause severe deficiencies of B6 vitamin, as well as important loss from the quantity of the other vitamins from the B complex. They all function very well together and this interaction does not happen when they are administrated in the same time.

It is very important to know that a feeding routine rich in food items rich in sugar combined with the presence of alcohol increases the necessity of B1 vitamin as a diet rich in proteins and fats keeps it constant.

The Importance Of Vitamin B1

We have spoken about Urine therapy before and this attracted a considerable amount of interest including some readers who wanted to know more about urine therapy.

One of our readers posed a very pertinent question about urine therapy; about whether it was possible to use this therapy in conjunction with or at the same time as taking prescription medications.

The short answer to this is that any medication that you may be taking, should be used with caution when one also practices urine therapy, it is generally discouraged.

The simple reason for this is that since you are taking in your own urine, there is a chance that you are getting more than the required dosage of the medication since it is being recycled: what is excreted by way of urine is again entering the body.

So while there may not be grave danger from urine therapy being practiced in conjunction with otherallopathic remedies caution is necessary.

The proportion or dosage of the medication could be adjusted or reduced if required, however what is important is that one must clear with one’s physician what is safe to take and what is not safe to take when one is undergoing urine therapy.

Urine Therapy And Medication

Harvard Medical School Doctors JoAnn Manson and Jule Buring are launching a study with 20,000 test subjects that aim to explain why African Americans have higher occurrence rates of cancer, strokes, and heart disease when compared to people with pale skin.

Researchers currently think the explanation may lay in skin color, due to the fact that darker skin is not able to absorb as much Vitamin D from natural sunlight.

Thus, the study will include a trial of Vitamin D and fish oil to see if dietary D supplements can help alleviate the problem.

The study will include 5,000 African Americans and 15,000 white skinned individuals all of which will be women over 65 and men over 60 who do not have any past history of cancer or heart disease.

Participants will be split into four groups in which some are given placebos, some are given Vitamin D, and the remaining two groups will be given half of a real supplement and half placebos together.

Manson said that the information needs to be approached with caution and a final word from the test trials as many other Vitamins that were thought to be wonderful disease preventers did not pan out according to plan including Vitamin E, C, and folic acid.

Vitamin D has been tested in a large control group of women previously but it was at a much lower dose and was combined with calcium instead of fish oil.

Fish oil has also been tested previous to this study, but it was in a control group of those who already had a history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

Can Vitamin D Cure African American Ailments?

Urine therapy is the alternate medicine which is used for various applications such as application of urine for medicinal or cosmetic purposes; it includes the drinking of urine and massaging of skin with urine.

Medically urine therapy is referred as the plasma ultra filtrate.

You should not think about the hardness of stomach while taking treatment with urine therapy; you have to think only about the fact that, it is the incredible natural substance that will help you in many health aspects.

Healing of diseases with the help of urine therapy:

You think that urine is the dirty and toxic, but it is not right. It consists of 95 percent of water, 2.5 percent of urea and remaining 2.5 percent is the mixture of minerals, salt, hormones and enzymes.

It is the byproduct obtained from blood during blood filtration. It is not the excretion; it helps in regulating the elements and concentrations in the blood.

By using urine therapy, you will get relief from many ailments. The ailments relieved due to urine therapy are multiple sclerosis, colitis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, hepatitis, hyperactivity, pancreatic insufficiency, psoriasis, eczema, diabetes; herpes, mono nucleosis, adrenal failure, and so many allergies are treated using urine therapy.

Urine therapy is effective against the flu, common cold, broken bones, tooth ache and dry skin. Urine therapy is used to prevent sickness, to enhance beauty and to cleanse your bowels. To improve your skin quality, you can wash with your own golden fluid (urine). There are no intoxicating side effects.

Urine therapy is helpful in the treatment of AIDS, animal and snake bites, asthma, heart disease, hypertension, burns, cancer, chemical intoxication, chicken pox, enteritis, constipation and pneumonia.

Urine therapy is effective in treating against the dysentery, edema, eye irritation, fatigue, fever, gonorrhea, gout, bloody urine, small pox, immunological disorders, infections, infertility, baldness, insomnia, jaundice, leprosy, lymphatic disorder, urticaria, morning sick ness, hang over, obesity, gastric ulcer, rheumatism, birthmarks, stroke, congestion, tuberculosis, tetanus and other endocrine related diseases.

The mixture of sulphur powder and potato mixed with old and heated urine helps you against hair loss. If you rub your own warm urine to the trembling (shaky) hands and knees, this massage will help you. If you wash ears with urine it acts against the deafness noises and other ailments in the ear.

It is helpful in treating all the illnesses, even though other treatments failed in curing. Urine therapy is best. When lack of medication act as disinfectant for surgery instruments, you can use urine therapy.

It is a treatment without any side effects and it is a treatment with less cost. This is the good treatment when other treatments fail for curing any type of illness.

According to urine therapy, if you drink your own urine in the morning, it will prevent you from many diseases and provides good health. Although it is difficult for you to drink, you don’t think about that just you have to think only its benefits.

Urine Therapy – A Cure for Many Ailments!

Have you tried all the fitness equipment and still you didn’t lose weight?

Till now you have tried all the medications and some other things to loose weight.

Once try for a holistic health care method which helps you a lot to lose your weight.

If the pills that you have used to lose weight do really works, America wouldn’t be the top over weight country in the world.

There are different types of holistic health care systems which can help with weight loss and with great results.

Whereas no holistic health care is a magical solution, only by practicing these principles can help you become more limber, feel energetic, and the end result that you will acquire is weight loss.

Holistic health care systems to lose weight:

Acupuncture:

Acupuncture works as an effective alternative medicine. It has exact pressure points in the ear which helps in reducing cravings and detoxifying teas and herbs can help you feel healthier.

Most of the holistic health care systems for weight loss come in the form of detoxifying teas, energy supplements and vitamins. Acupuncture stimulates your body to release endorphins which helps to control your appetite resulting in weight loss.

Exercise and diet plans are the basis and are safe and effective for long-tern weight loss. Regular exercise and a change in your eating habits help in dropping pounds and keeping them off.

Hypnosis:

The most accepted form of holistic health care for weight loss is not really medicine at all. It is somewhat a behavioral modification through hypnosis. Hypnosis as an holistic health care doesn’t make you to depend on will power. This is the reason why hypnosis is so popular.

Hypnosis investigates what is subconsciously holding you to the thinking and eating habits that keep you overweight. Once the root cause of overweight can be alleviated then you will naturally begin to lose weight.

It is the most effective from of holistic health care and also cost much less to day spas and expensive over the counter weight loss pills. You can eat healthily by following hypnosis, and allows a positive energy flow through you which keeps you to stick to the new way of eating and exercising.

Yoga:

It is the low impact stretching exercise that will help you feel less stressed and anxious as a result anxious eating also reduced. Different asana of yoga helps in weight loss.

The deep breathing exercises help in increasing the oxygen intake to the body cells, including the fat cells. This results in burning up of fat cells.

Holistic health care detoxifying teas and supplements to lose weight:

Take half teaspoon of turmeric and ginger and the juice of half a lemon and boil the mixture in 2 cups of water. Drink this liquid every morning as a detoxifier before you start your diet.

All the diet should consists of fresh fruits and vegetables. Make sure that you must visit your doctor before starting any kind of diet plan. Omega 3 is a well known source of nutrient and helps you great when you added to any smoothie or juice that you are drinking.

Bovine and shark cartilage are two dietary supplements to hit the holistic health care market. Both of them are being used by many people for years outside of the United States and Britain.

Visit your local food herbalist to suggest you with all sorts of alternative teas and nutrition.

Searching For a Magical Weight Loss Cure? Holistic Health Care Is A New Way!

Holistic health is a broad subject, usually referred to as practices and applications that are not taught by conventional or western medical schools as treatment for illness.

This practice is not covered by health insurance.

If you are interested to become an holistic health provider then the practice is mainly divided into seven major categories.

The seven major categories include:

• Bioelectromagnetic application such as diet, lifestyle changes, magnetic therapy, and nutrition
• Herbal medicine
• Manual healing
• Biological treatments

Holistic health is a holistic treatment which means that it treats your body holistically including body, mind and spirit. It is highly based on preventative practices. Only 30 percent of the people in the world use western or modern medicine and the remaining 70 percent use holistic health cures.

Most of the American doctors are beginning to see the benefits of the holistic forms of therapy and most of them are beginning to add some form of holistic health medicine to their practice.

Conventional doctors are suggesting their patients for massage therapy, surgeons are referring to chiropractors. Hence the two terms conventional and holistic are beginning to blur.

Most of the holistic medicines are being used along with the therapies of holistic health or traditional therapies. If the alternative medicine is used in conjunction with conventional methods of treatment rather than as an alternative then most of you will accept it.

The practitioners of holistic health are trained by recognized schools and practice in established locations. You must meet all the entry requirements of the holistic medicine schools and maintain excellent skills to become qualified.

Each health care system has its own qualifications and includes acupuncture, anthroposophy, ayurvedic medicine, homeopathy, naturopathy, and traditional oriental medicine.

Each system has its own theory of illness, an education plan to teach theory and practice, a support system and a legal and ethical committee to answer to.

Now homeopathy medicines become popular throughout the world. Practitioners of homeopathy medicine are also certified as acupuncturist and are regulated by the food and drug administration.

This type of holistic health providers can cure acute and chronic diseases and into preventative therapies and promoting good health in order to prevent sickness. This alternative treatment is able to combine modern medicine with natural and herbal care.

Native American holistic health medicine involves much sweating and expelling toxins which cause imbalance and disease. This is achieved by the use of herbs, teas, and lot of heat. Ceremonial dances and chants add to the mystical properties of the healing.

Some of you are interested in working in the bioelectromagnetic field of holistic health. Working with magnets is growing in popularity. This is because most of you discover the benefits of wearing magnetic insoles in their shoes and sleeping on magnetically charged mattress pads.

There are huge benefits with this type of holistic health treatment such as magnets will increase the blood flow and bring about circulatory health which in turn lessens back pain and headaches.

Once you decided to enter into the field of holistic health, you can take help from your health care provider and he will give you advice as to how to proceed.

Is There A Way To Enter Into The World Of Holistic Health? If So, in What Way?

In times past, it used to be that Holistic Treatment was thought of as alternative mumbo jumbo that was best reserved for those who were little out there.

However as those of the scientific community have started to understand more and more about how the body works and the value of prevention and balance over that of cure, holistic treatment has come be more widely accepted and respected.

Call it holistic healing, integrative medicine or anything else, but it is a fact that holistic treatment, with its emphasis on prevention and achievement of balance, can be the most natural and obvious way to defeat disease and achieve good health.

Balance in Holistic treatment: Balance is desirable in everything – in what you eat, in your physical activities and in your lifestyle. If there is proper balance in what you eat and how much you exercise, your body weight will be normal and healthy.

If you have a balanced work life, with sufficient stimulation but also enough leisure and also adequate quality rest, then you will be less likely to be stressed or depressed and to have any of the lifestyle diseases that are connected to this. This is the reason why balance of such importance in holistic healing.

Prevention is another key factor in this form of healing. Rather than allow infection, illness, disease and infirmity to attack the body and gain a foothold and then try and get rid of it, the attempt is to strengthen the body from within, in such as way that it is able to resist these and become impervious to such attack.

When there is a disorder, infection or disease in the body it will debilitate the body, and in many cases this debility may be irreversible.

Also in the quest to rid the body of these problems, various chemicals and pharmaceuticals are pumped into the body which may get rid of symptoms but which do, in the end, pollute the body with their residue.

For this reason the emphasis is on creating resistance and strengthening the immune system to enable it to resist and spurn external attack.

Holistic is also ‘Whole’istic – The whole being is important just symptoms of an illness or indeed even the physical aspects of the person.

The aim is to cure the person and that includes mental illnesses and imbalances as well as the physical. The aim of holistic treatment is not to offer a band aid fix.

Owing to this, the treatment may be longer drawn out and may also appear not to offer results or relief immediately. However it will offer a more effective and long lasting solution, because it is an ongoing process.

The orientation of holistic healing is towards striving for wholeness, for balance and a better healthier life.

It involves the entire lifestyle, and tries to bring about a mind and body connection in which we learn to listen to our bodies and what it tries to say to us and ultimately achieving our own best potential.

Why Holistic Treatment Is The Best Option?

Millions of people go through different types of medical procedures to help cure their physical and emotional illnesses. Although it is true that there are multiple ways to address the needs for different ailments, there are quite a few who undergo treatments from holistic healing.

The term holistic means that an individual’s health is based on the concept of “ones self” which comprises of his physical, spiritual, and mental well being to come up with cures and resistance to sicknesses.

Holistic healing practitioners believe that the inner self is highly capable of combating illnesses from further stimulating the body to act upon irregularities whether it is physical, mental, or spiritual in nature.

It is no surprise that people all over the world see this as a natural healing process in comparison to conventional healing procedures available.

Holistic healing has been a part of human society for as long as at least 3000 years ago. It is believed to have been practiced by the ancient Chinese and Indians to help cure illnesses by stimulating the inner self with the help of other natural sources.

They believed that holistic healing is a natural way of healing that focuses more on the body itself, and not segregated to its different part in general. Holistic healing is further applied to today’s customs while more people flock to its healing capabilities that also promote harmony not only in the physical form, but also in accordance with mental and spiritual factors of oneself.

Today, there are numerous health centers that promote holistic healing to all those who are interested. The most common of the holistic healing processes are those that involve the physical aspect of a person’s body. Here are some holistic healing treatments people uses today:

1. Holistic Massage

Practitioners believe that holistic massage allows the body to excrete unwanted toxins in the body. The toxins that are released from the body promote stress that, not only affect the physical body, but also the spiritual and mental aspect.

This holistic healing is administered by full body massages with the use of natural extracts from plants and herbs. Aromatic scents and oils are also used in the process to further enhance the body’s senses.

2. Holistic Acupuncture

This holistic healing process was first practiced by the ancient Chinese. They believe that there are millions of energy lines that are associated with the different organs and systems in our body.

They believe that healing can be done if the acupuncture points can be stimulated by using acupuncture needles that will help stimulate these energy lines connected to the organs to help stimulate healing.

3. Yoga therapy

This is a holistic healing practice, first originated in India, which involves physical breathing exercising and stretching, which in turn helps the mental and spiritual aspect of an individual. It promotes a relaxing state of mind that helps reduce stress and body tensions.

Truly, our body’s physical, mental, and emotional aspects should not be left unnoticed. In general, they are all inter-related to one another and cannot be separated from each other; to do so would lower the chances of our body to fight and prevent diseases from coming our way. Inquiring about holistic healing is the first step; the rest that follows would entail personal discipline and responsibility.

3 Major Types Of Holistic Healing

In the end of the 19^th century and early 20^th century, apothecary Émile Coué developed a psychological technique that he thought could help to amplify the impact of medication on a person and make any therapy more effective.

The idea behind autosuggestion is that the mind is able to affect the bodily state and help by making a person believing that they are becoming healed; thereby helping them to heal. A mantra such as “Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better” is an example of autosuggestion.

Coué found that when his patients used this mantra along with their medication plan, they could replace their thoughts of illness and being ill with healthier thoughts of healing and getting cured.

This happened because the subconscious mind was absorbing the words of the mantra and this caused the medicines to work better for the patients.

By praising the medication, it was seen to work better for a person, because their power of imagination was being tapped into.

Coué claimed that organic changes could be made by the power of autosuggestion even though his theories have been disputed; with many challenging the existence of the ‘subconscious’ itself. Coué was able to ‘cure’ problems relating to diabetes, kidney ailments, stammering, memory problems, atrophy, weakness and many different mental illnesses.

You could call it merely the power of positive thinking, or enhanced confidence in one’s own self or external treatments, or the power of affirmation, but this is now seen as a tool not just for healing but motivation in other spheres such as one’s professional life, management and so on.

Certainly the practical aspects of the principles are plain to see – if you are unwell and keep thinking that you are unwell, you are likely to feel worse. If on the other hand you tell yourself that you are overcoming that illness, and that you’re not feeling as awful anymore, you are likelier to feel less weakness and greater vigor.

What is known as the Coué Method is sought to be employed in many different ways today – books, CDs, MP3 tracks available online can all help a person tap into their subconscious and its power. While the power of autosuggestion may be deputed or even mocked by some, there is reason to believe that there are though who find it useful.

What is Autosuggestion and How Can It help in Healing?

Meditation is the simple process of letting go of the outside world and focusing inward. Some may say this is easier said than done. Life presents many distractions. One method of drawing your attention inward and letting go for a while is to practice Third Eye Meditation.

In yogic terms, the third eye, also known as the ajna chakra, is the seat of consciousness. This is your window to the soul, the point at which inspiration and creativity begins.

Some use this type of meditation to get their creative juices flowing. Others feel it helps develop will powerand better mental focus. But, it is also a way to go deep within yourself and leave the world behind.

So, how do you do it? Here are the steps involved:

Step 1

Find a quiet place to be alone. Make sure you are free from all distractions. Turn off the television, radios and telephones.

It is best to do this meditation either first thing in the morning before others are awake or in the evening after they have retired to ensure you will not be interrupted.

Step 2

Sit up in a comfortable cross-legged position with the spine erect. If this is uncomfortable, try sitting on a sofa pillow or in a chair.

Do not meditate lying down as this can cause you to fall asleep. Allow your hands to rest on your knees, with your arms outstretched, but relaxed.

Step 3

Practice pranayama, or breathing exercises. Exhale all the air from the body. Inhale slowly, first allowing the stomach to fill like a balloon, then receiving the air into the chest.

Exhale slowly, first relaxing the chest, then squeezing the air from the stomach. This is one complete breath. The exhalation should be twice as long as the inhalation. Repeat this process for ten to twenty breaths.

Step 4

Empty your mind. Let go of all thoughts, worries and stresses. If you notice your mind begin to wonder, redirect your attention back to your breath.  Some find it helpful to count the breathing.

Try counting to 6 on the inhalation and to 12 on the exhalation. In time this will not be necessary and you will be able to completely let go of all thoughts and empty your mind effortlessly.

Step 5

Focus your attention on the ajna chakra, or the third eye. This is the spot between and just above your eyes, in the center of the forehead.  Look up and inward slightly with your eyes as if you are looking at the ajna chakra from the inside. Do not force or strain the eyes.

Hold this position throughout your meditation. It will help to direct your focus inward and clear your mind of external thoughts.

Step 6

Chant Om silently to your self. Om is known as the universal sound. Yogis believe it was the first sound ever created. Chanting this sound helps create a connection between you and the Divine and enhances spirituality. It also helps to quiet the mind and direct your focus inward.

Ending the third eye Meditation

After 10 to 20 minutes, bring your chanting to an end. Slowly bring your attention back to the present. Return your breathing to normal. Start to move your fingers and toes. You are now ready to take on the challenges of the day!

Don’t Give Up

Practice third eye meditation at least once a day. Remember that mastering any meditation takes time and patience. If you are unable to sit quietly for long periods of time, do not get frustrated and give up. Start by practicing the meditation for 5 or 10 minutes, and then work your way up to 20 minutes or half an hour. In time you will see the benefits of regular, consistent practice.

A Step by Step Guide to Third Eye Meditation

In short, Holotropic Breathwork uses a combination of accelerated breathing and music to achieve a deep state of meditation and relaxation.  It is used as an alternative therapeutic approach in the treatment of stress and anxiety, addiction, trauma recovery and depression, among other things. It is also used to help deepen spirituality and the mystical experience.

History of Holotropic Breathwork

HB was originally developed by StanislavGrof, M.D. and his wife, Christina Grof in the 1970’s. Dr. Grof is a psychiatrist, researcher, and former professor from Johns Hopkins University in Marlyand. He was initially interested in psychedelic medications and their effects on various aspects of mental health.

However, after the banning of LSD, he began looking for alternative and drug-free methods to reach altered states of consciousness and enhance the human experience.

Christina Grofassisted her husband in his work and research. She has also authored or co-authored two books, “The Thirst for Wholeness” and “The Stormy Search for the Self”.

The Technique

To achieve the state of deep relaxation and heightened consciousness brought about by this technique, you must first come into a safe, quiet place and completely relax.

Two people are required, one “breather”, and one “sitter”. The breather is the patient in the session and the sitter is there only to assist in the process. The breather lies down on a mat while the assistant sits nearby.

Evocative music is played in the background. This is usually rhythmic or relaxing new age music designed to enhance, but not overpower the experience. The music is played for as much as 2 or 3 hours.

The breathing is quick and accelerated throughout the duration of the session. The sitter is there to monitor the breather for safety, but not to force the breathing.

What to Expect

Experiences with HB are as individual as those practicing the technique. Because it is designed to help facilitate healing, strong emotions may be emitted. These can include crying, re-living past experiences and trauma, insightful thought and even deep sleep.

The sitter is only there to guide, but not coach or control the session. It is also important to remember that these emotions are part of the healing process and should not be hindered in anyway.

Following the session, you should feel a release and feeling of euphoria and relaxation. They may be repeated as often as necessary, but there is no minimum requirement.

Benefits of Holotropic Breathwork

Proponents of HB claim it is beneficial the following:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma and loss
• Self-discovery
• Past-life experiences
• Spark Creativity
• Develop Intuition

Precautions

Because this is vigorous form of breath work, it is not advisable for individuals with asthma or respiratory problems. Strong emotional responses are typical and sometimes manifest themselves physically in the form of rocking or sudden movements.

Those with high blood pressure, previous heart attacks, seizure disorders and pregnant women should not practice HB without their doctor’s consent.

The Research

There is ongoing research in the area of Holotropic Breathwork. Current studies include:

1. Long-term Abstinence Following Holotropic Breathwork as Adjunctive Treatment of Substance Dependence by Timothy Brewerton, MD of the Medical University of South Carolina,

2. A PhD study by Iker Puente of theSociety of Applied Ethnopsychology and Cognitive Studies in Barcelona, Spain,

3. Birth Trauma and Beyond, by Gregg Lahood and Judy Cottrell of New Zealand’sNationalWomen’s Hospital, and

4. Intuitive Study with Holotropic Breathwork Mandalas by RubyeCervelli of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, California.

Considerations

As with any complementary therapy, always consult a healthcare practitioner before trying this technique. HB should be practiced under the supervision of a trained professional. Be sure the practitioner is licensed and certified specifically in Holotropic Breathwork.

Although HB can have powerful healing benefits, it is important to remember that complementary therapies should be used in conjunction with, and not in place of conventional medical care. Talk to your health care provider about the benefits of HB.

What Exactly is Holotropic Breathwork?

Meditation is simply the practice of focusing the mind. This can mean focusing on a repeated thought, or just emptying the mind of all thoughts and focusing on a sound or the breath.

The goal is to achieve peace and tranquility, both mentally and physically. Meditation is beneficial for stress, anxiety as well as sleep disorders such as insomnia.

The following exercise allows you to achieve a deep level of meditation.

STEP 1

Turn off the television, phones, radio and any other distractions.Come to a comfortable sitting position.

Do not lie down as this may cause you to fall asleep.

Either sit upright in a chair, with your arms at your sides, or on a pillow on the floor in a simple cross-legged position with your hands resting on your lap.

Make sure the spine is erect, with the chin dropped down slightly. You may close your eyes, or just keep them half open while focusing on one particular spot.

Make sure you are comfortable enough that you can sit still for at least 20 minutes.

STEP 2

Begin to relax. Try to clear the mind of all thoughts. Ignore any external distractions.Allow your breath to be deep and slow.

Begin by emptying the lungs of all air, squeezing the belly button back toward the spine, then compressing the chest. As you inhale, first fill the belly with air and allow the diaphragm to expand, then open the chest and allow the body to fill like a balloon.

This is one breath. Repeat for as many as 20 full breaths. This may take as long as 5 minutes or more.

STEP 3

Relax the entire body, beginning with the toes and working your way up to your head. This exercise allows all the muscles in the body to completely relax.

Begin by focusing your attention on your toes. Inhale and tighten the toes. Exhale and allow them to completely relax. Repeat this process exactly for the feet, ankles, calves, thighs, buttocks, low back and abdomen, chest and upper back, hands, arms, shoulders, neck, face and scalp.

The entire process will take around 10 to 15 minutes.

STEP 4

Focus the mind on the breath, and the breath alone. Allow it to be deep and slow, but not forced. To further calm the heart and mind, try chanting the word “Om” softly to yourself over and over. Do not count, just chant. Om is a yogic chant, also known as the universal vibration.

This process helps to quiet the mind and push out any distracting thoughts. Chant softly or silently for 5 to 10 minutes.

STEP 5 (optional)

If you have difficulty emptying the mind completely, use imagery to detach from the present. Imagine yourself lying on a beach in the warm sand, floating in a raft on a gentle stream, or lying in a meadow of sweet wild flowers. Use an image that helps you feel totally at peace.

For example, if you are afraid of water, do not imagine yourself floating in a stream! That would only cause more anxiety and stress. Sit quietly for about another 5 minutes, longer if you have time.

STEP 6

Begin to bring your attention back to the present.Gently wiggle your fingers and toes. Bring your attention there. Take one last deep breath, and then return your breathing to normal.

Lastly, open your eyes. Help yourself back up to a standing position. You are now prepared to deal with the stresses of the day!

Meditation not only provides relaxation during the session, but helps you handle everyday challenges with peaceful detachment.

The more regularly you practice deep meditation, the more you will gain control over your emotional responses to life.

TIPS

1) Make sure you can meditate undisturbed. This may mean practicing early in the morning before others are awake, or late in the evening after the noise of the day has ended. Find a quiet time that works best for you.

2) It may take time to work up to a full session of deep meditation. Do not get discouraged if you can only sit for a few minutes at a time initially. Set goals and use a timer to lengthen the session each day.

Many practitioners enjoy meditation for as much as an hour in one sitting. Find a set time that works for you and your schedule.

How to Practice Deep Meditation