Hair Transplant Surgeons Florida

Alan J. Bauman MD

6861 SW 18th Street Suite 102, Boca Raton, FL, USA, 33433

www.baumanmedical.com

Dr. Alan J. Bauman is the Founder and Medical Director of the Bauman Medical Group, P.A. located in Wharfside at Boca Pointe in Boca Raton, Florida. His practice is dedicated exclusively to treating hair loss in both men and women.  

Bernard Nusbaum MD

4425 Ponce De Leon Blvd. Suite 230, Coral Gables, FL, USA, 33146

www.miamihair.com/

Dr. Nusbaum has been treating patients suffering with hair loss for 23 years. In 1980 he began experimenting with hair transplants and started performing Follicular Unit Transplantation in 1996, a technique he demonstrated on the Discovery Channel. 

Glenn Charles DO

200 Glades Road Suite 2, Boca Raton, FL, USA, 33432

www.charleshair.com

Dr. Charles received his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University, medical degree from Nova Southeastern University School of medicine in North Miami Beach, Fl. Completed his internship and residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Michigan State University

Jeffrey Epstein MD

6280 S.W. 72nd Street Sunset Drive Suite 504, Miami, FL, USA, 33143

www.foundhair.com

Dr. Epstein is considered one of the country's leading experts in hair restoration surgery by the plastic surgery community. A board certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Epstein has been specializing in hair transplantation since 1993. Widely published 

Hair Transplant Surgeons California

Brandon Ross MD

4150 Regents Park Row Suite #245, La Jolla, CA, USA, 92037

www.rmhri.com

Dr. Brandon M. Ross is the president and cofounder of La Jolla’s Ross Medical Hair Restoration, Inc. He serves as the only physician in this practice, which ensures that his expertise will serve every patient who enters his door.  

Craig Ziering DO

9201 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 305, West Hollywood, CA, 90069

www.zieringmedical.com

Dr. Craig L. Ziering is the Founder and Medical Director of Ziering Medical with surgical facilities in Beverly Hills, Newport Beach and Las Vegas. His hair restoration practice is dedicated to providing men and women an in-depth education of all the safe

James DeYarman DO

3252 Holiday Court Suite 204, La Jolla, CA, USA, 92037-1808

www.deyarmanmedical.com

Since 1974, Dr. DeYarman has studied and developed new techniques for hair restoration such as transposing of a one-centimeter grid to the area of transplanting for both calculation of density and distribution, intra-operative digital photos

Marc Dauer MD

11645 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA, 90025

mdnewhair.com

Dr. Dauer is an internationally recognized Hair Restoration Surgeon and a published author of numerous medical and consumer publications. Dr. Dauer is also a faculty member of the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, where he routinely conducts teaching

Paul McAndews MD

50 Alessandro Pl. Suite #115, Pasadena, CA, USA, 91105

www.hairgrowthdoctor.com

Paul J. McAndrews, M.D. is a Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at the USC School of Medicine, teaching the residents the latest advances in hair loss and transplantations. Dr. McAndrews also lectures extensively to other physicians throughout the USA

Paul Straub MD

23326 Hawthorne Blvd Skypark 10, Torrance, CA, USA, 90505

www.straubmedicalcenter.com

Dr. Straub has written many scientific articles appearing in the Hair Transplant Forum and other scientific journals. He has contributed three chapters to two textbooks on hair restoration surgery. He has been a lecturer on hair surgery at medical meetings

Peter Panagotacos MD

2001 Union, Street Suite 520, San Francisco, CA, USA, 94123

www.hairdoc.com/

Assistant clinical professor, Department of Dermatology at the University of San Francisco, California from 1975 to Present Chief of Dermatology, St. Mary’s Hospital, San Francisco, California from 1985 to Present. On Editorial Board of Hellenic Dermato

Sara Wasserbauer MD

1299 Newell Hill PL. Suite 200, Walnut Creek, CA, USA, 94596-5292

www.californiahairsurgeon.com/

Dr. Sara Wasserbauer is Board Certified by the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery and is currently located in the Bay Area, outside of San Francisco, in Walnut Creek, California. She completed her undergraduate studies with a B.A.

William Reed MD

6515 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla, CA, USA, 92307

www.ljhr.com/

Dr. Reed is board certified in emergency medicine. He has served on executive committees and primary care advisory committees of different IPAs (Independent Physician Associations). He is an active member of the International Society of Hair Restoration

Hair Transplants Canada

Dr. Victor Hasson exclusively performs Ultra Refined Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation with outstanding results.
Hasson & Wong     Surgical Facility

Dr. Jerry Wong exclusively performs Ultra Refined Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation with outstanding results.
Hasson & Wong     Surgical Facility

Hasson & Wong, Vancouver - Head Office & Surgical Center
Suite 600 - 1001 West Broadway
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada, V6H 4B1
U.S. & Canada Toll-Free: 1-800-859-2266
Local: (604) 739-4247
Fax: (604) 739-4244
Email: info@hassonandwong.com
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H Rahal MD

1883 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1V 7Z9

www.rahalhairtransplant.com/ Rahal Hair Transplant Institute’s founder and Medical Director is Dr. H. Rahal – a man singularly committed to delivering outstanding hair transplant procedures that make a positive difference in the lives of his patients. 

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Mark McKenzie MD

Suite 418, The Court Centenary Site, Rouge Valley Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada, M1E 5E9

www.seagerhairtransplant.com

Dr. Mark McKenzie graduated from the University of Edinburgh Medical School in 1985 and became licensed to practice medicine in Canada in 1986. While researching hair loss in the early 1990s, he became aware of the significant advance 

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SIR 101, The Hair Restoration Specialists

#400 - 1401 West Broadway

Vancouver, BC  V6H 1H6

(604) 734-2285 

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Eva & Co Wigs

107-950 West Broadway Unit 107
Vancouver, BC  V5Z 1K7

(604) 684-2917

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Panorama Hairstylists of Canada Ltd

1128 Hornby St
Vancouver, BC  V6Z 2L4

(604) 684-4125

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Biothera Clinics

1308 8th Ave W
Vancouver, BC  V6H 4A6

(604) 675-2030 

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Carruthers Dermatology Centre Inc

943 W Broadway
Vancouver, BC  V5Z 4E1

(604) 714-0222

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Follicles Hair Rejuvenation Centre

4255 Arbutus St
Vancouver, BC  V6J 4R1

(604) 732-1183

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Top Ten Reasons to Go Gluten Free Diet

Even if you do not have an intolerance or allergy to gluten, giving up gluten
filled foods can do wonders for your health. Below are ten reasons why
anyone should consider going gluten free.
If you can get nutrition from gluten, you can get it from other sources as
well.
Most gluten filled grains are high in dietary fiber and various types of
B vitamins. This is why so many people believe it is so important to
eat these foods. What most people do not know is that if you can
get this nutrition from gluten based grains, you can get it in other
foods.
For example, one hundred grams of whole wheat flour provides
thirty percent of the recommended allowance of niacin, and thirty
two percent of the recommended allowance of thiamin. Eating
sesame seeds or flaxseeds provides even more of these nutrients,
while being completely gluten free.

Many foods containing gluten are also touted as being fiber rich.
This too is an issue that can easily be remedied with other foods. For
example, one hundred grams of brown rice has just under two grams
of fiber. In comparison, collard greens have nearly three grams of
fiber, and green peas have nearly five grams of fiber.
Grains containing gluten are not good for your stomach.

When your stomach is not healthy, the rest of your body will not feel
healthy because you will not be able to absorb all of the necessary
nutrients from food. This in turn makes your body more prone to
illness, and even at risk for becoming malnourished. Gluten filled
foods have been linked to a condition known as “leaky gut
syndrome”.

This means that tiny pieces of the foods are leaked out of the
intestinal walls causing the body to react with an immune response.
When the immune system is taxed in this way it cannot effectively
fight of illnesses.

You may be unable to process gluten properly.
Many Caucasian people have a higher risk for being unable to
properly digest gluten rich foods. While research has estimated that
about one percent of the population has celiac disease, the numbers
may actually be quite a bit higher. Some studies have estimated that
nearly thirty to forty percent of people of European descent have
some form or degree of gluten allergy.

Gluten causes inflammation.
Because these types of grain are high in starch, they tend to be
inflammatory. The more refined grains you eat, the more
inflammation is possible. Take unbleached white flour for example.
This ingredient is much more inflammatory than even whole wheat
flour.

That being said, foods that are gluten free such as fresh vegetables
and healthy fats have been shown to reduce inflammation. People
who suffer with chronic inflammation have been subjected to many
different conditions such as allergies, bone loss, arthritis, asthma,
cardiovascular disease, and even some types of cancer.
Gluten grains are fairly new types of food.
Even though grains containing gluten are considered to be whole
foods, and nutritious, they are still relatively new to the human diet.
Before the birth of agriculture, human beings simply hunted and
gathered their foods. This meant eating animal protein, fish, wild
berries, fruits, wild greens, nuts, and the like. Our ancestors did not
plant gardens, they did not harvest grains, and they did not drink
dairy products.
Humans survived on this diet for a great many years, before grains
ever became introduced. Today, grains now account for the bulk of
our modern diet, which has led to a variety of new health conditions.

Gluten grains can harm your joints.
As previously explained, gluten filled grains are quite inflammatory.
This also wreaks havoc on your joints, leading to painful conditions

A Link Between Gluten and Autism?

Autism is a disorder that is becoming a major concern amongst parents,
pediatricians, and even educators. Because this disorder seems to be
becoming more common, it has sparked a great deal of debate and
research into the reason behind its development. New studies, especially
those that have been based in the alternative medicine field, have found
that there could be a potential link between food allergies and autism,
especially a link between gluten and the condition.
This new data suggest that gluten may create allergies that either cause or
worsen autism.

Autism is a disorder that affects children’s cognitive development and
cognitive function. This can cause problems with communication abilities,
behavior, and social interaction. While it was thought that autism may be
genetic, recent studies have found that environmental factors may actually
be cause of, or influence the disorder.

The studies that tracked autism with gluten allergies found that the food
proteins in these foods were broken down into small proteins known as
peptides. This then functioned as a narcotic would in autistic children,
causing outward symptoms to worsen.

Since allergic responses to gluten can affect the body on the whole, causing
a variety of mental and physical symptoms, the consequences can be far
reaching. “Brain fog” is considered to be a mental symptom of autism, but
is also often mistaken for other psychiatric conditions.

Gluten intolerant adults are often plagued by physical symptoms of
consuming gluten foods, while children tend to suffer more from mental
side effects, such as brain fog.

Just as the remedy for a gluten intolerant adult is a gluten free diet, parents
with children showing symptoms of mental impairment may want to
consider eliminating gluten in the daily diet. Once parents cut out gluten,
mental changes are often reported in a very short period of time. Cognitive
problems, abnormal behavior, antisocial tendencies, and problems with
communication have completely disappeared in many cases.

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is a type of autoimmune disease that is inherited, and causes
damage to the small intestine when gluten and other forms of proteins that
is found in wheat, rye, barley, and in some cases, oats, is eaten.

Since symptoms of celiac disease can vary a great deal from patient to
patient, a delay in a proper diagnosis is quite common. While many cases
of celiac disease go undiagnosed, it is estimated that nearly one in one
hundred thirty three people suffer with the condition. In some people,
constipation may be the main symptom, while in others diarrhea is, and yet
in many others, there is no stool irregularity.

Other common symptoms of celiac disease include: abdominal pain, gas,
bloating, indigestion, a distended stomach, nausea, vomiting, a decrease in
appetite, an intolerance to lactose, weight loss that cannot be explained,
and stools that float, have blood in them, appear fatty, or are quite foul
smelling.

Other non digestive related symptoms include: bruising easily, pain in the
joints or bones, depression, children with growth delays, hair loss, fatigue,
malnutrition, changes in behavior, anemia, irritability, skin problems,
seizures, ulcers in the mouth, decrease in bone density, muscle cramps,
 swelling, hypoglycemia, nose bleeds, difficulty breathing or catching the breath,
defects in tooth enamel or discolorations, and deficiencies in
vitamins or minerals such as folate, vitamin K, or iron.

Why Go Gluten Free Diet?

There are many a variety of health issues that
make it necessary for some people to begin a gluten free diet. For these
people, eating bread, or even having a beer can cause severe pain in the
abdominal area, bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

In more serious cases, such as for those who suffer with celiac disease,
eating foods that contain gluten can trigger a response by the autoimmune
system that actually causes damage to the small intestine and prevents
proper absorption of certain nutrients.

While these medical issues can be quite serious, and cause severe allergies
for some, why on earth would anyone opt for this type of diet and give up
all of their favorite foods in their traditional forms if they do not have to?

Many Hollywood stars, personal trainers, and fitness gurus are going the
gluten free route, so there must be something to this mysterious diet. This
section will explain some of the most common and important reasons to
eliminate gluten, as well as other positive benefits for those without
allergies.

Water Best Friend for Weigthloss

It's been suggested by research that you require at least 8 glasses of water daily, but it can depend on your weight regarding how much you actually require. You would need to divide your weight by 2 so as an example, a man weighing 180lbs would need 60 ounces of water in a day.

So why do experts suggest that we drink lots of water and why is it considered so essential to a healthy life? Well first off it helps to avoid dehydration and it keeps the kidneys functioning well by assisting in the elimination of waste products plus it helps to increase your metabolism which helps you to lose weight.
But aside from listening to what experts tell you, you should make it a priority to listen to your body first and foremost. When you are thirsty, then naturally you will drink water to replenish yourself. Depending on the kind of work that you do, you should try to get into the habit of drinking water regularly or even better, keeping a water bottle handy, especially on really hot days since the heat causes you to sweat and your body loses water and thus you will need to replenish yourself.

This is why water is so important in our lives. Not only is it zero calories, it is basically the best source for quenching your thirst AND the healthiest. You may consider adding water to all of your meals over time and doing away with fruit drinks and sodas ultimately as it will help reduce your caloric intake and you'll also feel much better without the added sugar that comes with the other drinks.

Reducing Your Portions for Fat Loss

Spreading out meals into smaller portions as opposed to eating enormous meals at any one time is a major factor in losing weight. It's been proven that rationing your meals not only reduces your caloric intake throughout the day but it also helps to steady your metabolism. If you're in the habit of eating 2-3 massive meals daily, consider eating 6-7 smaller meals which are spread out throughout your day.

One thing people enjoy doing is eating right from the packet as opposed to taking out what they need and putting the packet away. Such an example is eating out of a mega-sized packet of potato chips. Not only do you have no idea how much you are consuming, but typically you're satisfying a craving by eating more than you really need until you are completely satisfied when instead you could pour a small portion into a bowl and add a piece of fruit to get the amount of food you actually need.

Super-sized packets are more commonplace now than before. More items are sold in bulk and more foods are served at restaurants with the option to super-size for a few extra cents. Increased portions are a factor in the rising statistics for obesity. There is always a cause but people put enjoyment ahead of anything else which naturally leads to a health risk. This is why rationing meals are a handy way to take control of your bad habits. It takes discipline to make adjustments and there's really no reason why people must feel they should eat until they're full. As always, tiny servings are fine and if still peckish, add a tiny bit more as opposed to loading your plate and trying to finish it all. Rather than sit around feeling stuffed and undoing your belt buckle, leaving some room so that you can have another small meal a few hours later while still feeling good enough to mix in a little bit of exercise is a good balance which leads to improved results. Doing this helps control the weight and slowly it begins to come down which is a marvellous feeling when you experience it, motivating you to work a little harder as you become confident in your ability to take control of your own body as opposed to allowing your cravings to take control for you.

A Healthier Choice for Weight Loss

Once you've discovered the amount of unnecessary calories you are consuming on average, you will then need to decide where to make adjustments in your diet so that healthier foods will prevail over fatty foods.

If you were to take the example of McDonalds' Big Mac which packs not only a ton of calories but a lot of bad ingredients with it, you may consider downsizing to a hamburger which, although still not a healthy food by any means, is much lower in calories and easier on the health.

Let's also take the example of a flame-broiled Whopper at Burger King which is actually bigger than the Big Mac. A single Whopper with cheese contains over 750 calories and almost 50 grams of fat. One could save 480 calories and about 36 grams of fat simply by downsizing to a mayo-free junior-sized Whopper. Discard the larger-sized fries for a smaller portion and you will have saved yourself from consuming a lot of excess calories. If you're still feeling a little bit hungry, why not go for a bowl of grapes or an apple instead of a second burger?

Some fast-food restaurants have been making an attempt to offer healthier food including KFC which offers not only fried chicken but also grilled chicken. A KFC grilled chicken breast and drumstick mixed with mashed potatoes and gravy can go for well under 400 calories and just over 12 grams of fat. On the flip side, the extra crispy chicken breast which taste-wise is not particularly better than the regular fried chicken according to some, goes for nearly 500 calories and over 30 grams of fat after having sat in the deep fryer for a longer amount of time.

If you need a quick fix but also something tasty and you find pizza as a very pleasing convenience, try a thin-crust at Domino's with ham and pineapple instead of pepperoni. That will be around 200 calories you'll have just saved from entering your body.
One must also not disregard the joy of quenching thirst with a massively-calorie-ridden milkshake! It tastes amazingly good but thankfully they are offered at different sizes which means despite the fact that you can still enjoy your favourite milkshake, you can also go for a smaller sized cup. For example, a triple-thick strawberry shake at the king size goes for over 1000 calories! A small-size goes for 420 calories. If you need your shake, go for the small size. If you want to trim your waistline then discard the shake and order an orange juice!

Let's also not forget breakfast! People during the early-morning rush hour need a decent breakfast to energize themselves and gather their bearings for another long day in the office mixed with a tedious commute back and forth. The very popular Egg McMuffin is a popular breakfast amongst Americans but it also contains 300 calories. On the other hand, the English Muffin is half that. This is when you make the choice of going for the relatively less-fattening order. Despite the fact that none of it is healthy, even making a choice of down-sizing your portion or going for the healthier dish can make all the difference on the road to losing weight.
Americans have a deep fascination with fast-food. Fast-food means not just food on the go but also convenience because it's much easier to go into a drive thru as opposed to rummaging through the fridge and trying to put together a decent meal. So why go to the trouble of cooking your own food when fast-food is so easy to get access to considering it's all around you, wherever you go.
As before, even if fast-food is convenient, one can still pick out healthier foods on the menu. Much like downsizing portions from large-sized to small-sized, you can slowly pick out healthier foods or mix your usual choices up from time to time.

Every food contains the nutritional value on the package so it's always best to analyze what you are putting into your body. When you keep a close eye on what you eat, there is really no excuse for blaming the fast-food industry or anybody else for your unhealthy shape or inability to lose weight. Fast-food is a convenience but you alone are responsible for what you eat and you have a choice which is why it's best when starting off on the path to a healthier lifestyle to keep a close watch on the foods you eat

Furthermore, losing weight is only the beginning. Weight can creep back up if you neglect your improved eating habits after a while. Snacking on junk food is ok if it's limited while you still maintain a quality healthy diet. Satisfying a craving is not at all a bad thing but making sure you stick to a reasonably healthy diet while doing some exercise daily is essential to improving your shape on the road to ultimately a healthier body and a healthier lifestyle.

How Much Food Do You Need?

How much food are you consuming daily? How much high-calorie or fatty foods are you eating without truly knowing it? The best way to identify where things are going wrong in your eating habits is to begin looking at the nutrition facts on the packages of the food you're eating and to record them in a daily log for about a week. By doing this, you will be able to analyze where you are going wrong and where you will need to improve to get the results you want.
The unfortunate reality is that we cater to our taste buds instead of worrying about proper nutrition. This is what leads to weight gain and ultimately, obesity. What's worse is that fast-food is far more convenient for most people than spending time in the kitchen cooking up a good dish. Society's need for convenience is a big reason for the growing statistics of obesity which is still rising.
This is why it's so important as a first step to take note of the foods you are putting into your body so that you can analyze the areas which require the most attention. You will discover by observing the nutritional value of the foods you are consuming exactly what is causing you to pack on the pounds. From there, it means you can then begin diminishing your fat intake and replacing the fatty foods with slightly healthier foods.
A pound of fat consists of 3500 calories so in order to lose a pound of fat weekly, you would need to cut off 500 calories from your diet. If you are eating approximately 3000 calories per day, you could lose weight by wiping out 500 calories from the 3000 which you are consuming by either replacing your unhealthy meals with healthier meals and/or incorporating some exercise into your daily regime. By taking out those 500 unhealthy calories, you are then down to 2500 and on top of that, you decide to put in a half hour or 45 minutes of running, biking or an elliptical. Another 500 calories off puts you down to 2000 calories for the day just with less than an hour of cardio-training and a healthier choice of meal. At the end of the week, that will be 2 lbs of unnecessary weight off your body…and chances are you'll be feeling much better both mentally and physically.

Not only do you build up a great sweat during your training, your heart and entire body gets a great workout in the process which means heading toward a healthier lifestyle. As always, eating less or picking out a healthier choice of foods crossed with a bit of exercise can get you some seriously good results which not only gives you more self-confidence but also a vote of confidence from your family and friends.

The worst thing you can do is crash diet which is the drastic measure of going on a food strike in hopes that you'll drop excessive weight quickly! This only leads to disaster as you experience hunger pains, causing your body to feast off your muscle tissue and then eventually, you go into a serious eating binge.

The tried and tested method of eating healthier foods and incorporating exercise into your day will always guarantee results for the better.

DEFINING ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

When something new enters into the medical field, it can be a difficult to find
a reasonable definition that everyone can agree to.
Such is the case with alternative medicine.

At its simplest, alternative medicine is a therapy of medicine which is
considered to be an alternative to the regularly prescribed treatment
therapies. This can range from therapies that aren't prescribed often or
simply therapies that haven't been studied intensively and gotten approval
for use.
Also called complementary medicine, alternative medicine practices allow
patients to have addition treatment options when they are faced with a
disease.
But working not only with the body, but also with the mind and spirit,
alternative medicine approaches more of a 'healing' methodology rather than
a 'fixing' approach, as conventional medicine tends to favor.
Within alternative medicine are many different systems:
• Ayurveda
An ancient Indian practice of learning your specific body dosha in order
to make the best choices for your health. Your food choices and even
your recommended exercises can be based on the knowledge of what
dosha you are.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
Combining everything from acupuncture to herbal supplements,
Traditional Chinese Medicine can help treat number conditions by
looking at the meridians of the body and whether they are blocked or
free flowing.
• Chiropractic work
By manipulating the spine and the way the body is aligned, you can
help to help release muscular tension that might be building up and
causing the body to release feel good chemicals.
• Osteopathy
Like a chiropractor, this specialty works to realign the body through
spinal adjustments, but also has a medical background to work to
diagnose the patient's condition.
• Homeopathy
The use of minute amounts of symptom causing ingredients in order to
stimulate the healing response of the body.
And if you were to break down each of these systems, you would find more
and more approaches to healing with can allow a patient to be more
comfortable in their lives.
It's interesting too to note that when alternative medicine practices are seen
to be effective that they move into the practices of conventional medicine
practitioners. Such has been the case with acupuncture. With more and
more studies supporting its use, it's hard for doctors to deny that it's not an
effective form of treatment.
But while some therapies are given the name of 'alternative' and others are
not, it's still a fuzzy distinction between what is considered legitimate by your
general practitioner and what is not.
The good news is that if you are interested in alternative medicine therapies,
you will be able to find a doctor who can help you get the treatment you
need – even if you need to go to another doctor.

FINDING LICENSED PRACTITIONERS

When it comes to alternative medicine, it used to be that you would have to
go to some dark alley or know someone in order to find an actual
practitioner.

And even then, their training was a bit questionable.
In today's times of alternative medicine acceptance, there are numerous
schools who offer degree programs for those interested in studying
everything from massage to aromatherapy and homeopathy.
This is good news for you: you're going to be able to find someone who's
actually been tested and trained to help you.

However, since regulation of alternative medicine can be a bit sketchy, you
will want to make sure to ask the following questions of the practitioners you
do find:
• Where did you go to school?
• What licenses/certificates do you have?
• Are your certifications current?
• How much experience have you had?
• How many people have you treated?
• Have you attended any additional training courses?
• Do you update your training?
• How do you keep up with current alternative medicine research?

By taking the time to listen to what the practitioner has to offer, you will get
a better sense as to whether they can help you.

In many instances, the rapport you have with someone is just as helpful as
the skills they have. Of course, you will want to double check to see if any
training they say they have is legitimate.

The first person you will want to ask about alternative medicine practitioners
is your regular doctor.

And if they don't know of any, talk to your insurance company.
Very often, you will simply be able to look in your local phone book or online
address directory to find who you need.

The only thing you need to keep in mind is that if you're not comfortable wit
the person you're going to or how they practice their form of healing, you
should try to find someone else.

You need to be comfortable with how you are treating your body – or letting
someone else treat it, as the case may be.

YOUR INSURANCE MAY COVER THE TAB

Gone are the days when your insurance company would give you grief if you
tried anything that was slightly unconventional.
Insurance companies are listening to the science and seeing that things like
massage and acupuncture do really work – so they're beginning to pay for
these treatments.
In addition, since these alternative therapies are much cheaper than
traditional drugs, they're making more of a profit than they might have
paying for the high dose pain killers for your back pain.
Plus, since alternative care is focused on prevention, they might have fewer
things to pay in the future for your medical care – and that's a wise
investment for them and you.
While it's true they could do a lot more in order to get more natural healings
methods covered, there are ways to handle these bills too.
First of all, take some time to look over your health insurance policy –
especially if you've just signed up in the past few years. Chances are good
that some complementary therapies are covered – even if only at a reduced
percentage.
Some of the most common covered therapies are:
• Massage
• Art therapy
• Acupuncture
• Osteopathy
• Naturopathy
• Chiropractic care

But you may be able to argue your practices with an insurance company if
you can show that you will be using these practices to prevent future
problems.
Ask the insurance company if they can consider covering certain alternative
therapies and then show how they have helped you. While this might not get
your bills covered today, it might help in getting future bills covered.
You can also find health insurance companies who wholly support the use of
alternative medicine. You might pay a little more for these policies, but
getting to have any complementary care that you want is surely worth the
price.
You might also want to look into starting a health savings account which can
be used toward any medical expenses you might incur.
By taking out money from your paycheck before taxes and putting this
money into this tax deferred account, you can have the money on hand to
head to the herbalists office.
Many alternative care specialists will also have a sliding scale payment
system for those who can not afford the prices of the care. Check to see if
any practitioners in your area offer this possibility.

THE PLACEBO EFFECT AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

The reason why many people don't believe in alternative medicine is because
study after study seems to show that these therapies are only have a placebo
effect.
This means they are not actually healing the problem, but since the mind
thinks they are, it heals the problem on its own.
To a scientist, this is a worthless therapy then.
But if you are the patient who is feeing better, do you really care how you
might be feeling better?
The mind works in ways we still do not understand. For example, when you
close your eyes and picture a certain thing, your brain's receptors and nerves
light up as though that thing is in the room with you – even if it isn't.
This simple fact illustrates the idea that your mind is capable of believing in
something that is not true – and then creating its own reality in which it
becomes true.
You mind is capable too of creating the right antibodies and other disease
fighting chemicals if it thinks that it can.
Without becoming too New Age-y, if you were to put into your mind the
thought that going to yoga everyday was going to help you reduce your back
pain, chances are good that you will reduce your back pain. If you sincerely
believe that yoga will help, it will.
Now, whether this is because you believe and thus you go to yoga religiously,
that's anyone's guess.

In order to make any medicine work, you do need to have a little faith that it
will because the body can work in the opposite direction too. If you were to
believe that something was a bunch of hogwash, chances are pretty high that
nothing would happen and your brain would make sure of it.
Does creating the placebo effect really diminish the power of alternative
medicine? Hardly.
While the ingredients themselves or the healing process itself might not be
directly causing the body to become healed, the fact that these therapies
allow the mind to take over the healing process is a pretty compelling
argument for using the alternative medicine in the first place.
Results are what matter when you are sick and feelings awful. And so long
as the therapy isn't making you sicker, perhaps alternative medicine is just
what your body (and mind) really need.

MASSAGE

Few people in the world would turn down a massage, if offered to them.
The gentle or firm caress of the skin helps to release muscular tension while
also helping to realign the body so that it is free of pain and tightness.

Unlike rolfing, massage is focused on the release of stress within the muscles
– not necessarily helping the body balance itself.
Of course, this can be a welcome 'side effect.'
Massage works through the direct manipulation of the muscles with the
hands and body weight.
A masseuse will push into the layers of muscle until they feel them release.
By using a number of techniques, the massage therapist can attack various
tense spots and help them loosen up.
They aren't using their hands to push the muscles either, but rather they are
using their body weight to help the hands sink into the muscle layers.
For example, on your back near the shoulders, there are several layers of
muscles that can be stimulated. Some massage practitioners will start by
relaxing the outer muscles, allowing the inner muscles to become exposed
and accessible for more stimulation.
It's a long and drawn out process, but since much muscle tension is deeper
than the surface, it's necessary for getting the full benefits of the massage.
These techniques include:
• Kneading
taking pieces of flesh or muscle into the hands and rubbing
• Tapping
using the tips of the fingers to tap at the muscles
• Cupping
cupping the hands to help release muscular tension
• Stroking
using a lighter touch to sooth the outer muscles

These techniques are aided with a specially designed massage table that will
support the body and place it in the proper position for the masseuse to
access the muscles they need to touch.
The massage therapist will also use massage oils, lotions, or gels to help the
hands move easily along the skin.
This helps the pressure be even on the muscles that are being manipulated,
plus it soothes the client and helps them relax into the massage session.
Massage can take on many different forms:
• Deep tissue massage
This massage is best for those with extreme muscular tension. For
those who sit at their desks all day or those who workout regularly,
deep tissue massage will work hard to soothe sore muscles. While this
can be too painful for some people, it's certainly going to reduce your
tension.
• Swedish massage
The most often taught and used massage, Swedish massage uses long
strokes to help release tension in the body.
• Sports massage
This is used on professional athletes when they are injured or after an
intense workout, but it can also be used on average runners and
aerobic fanatics. By working on the muscles, the massage therapist
helps to break up the lactic acid that builds up and causes soreness.
• Myofascial release
By working on the face, the therapist helps to relieve tension that
surrounds the shoulders and the neck. This helps to realign the spinal
column in order to promote health.
But there are also Hellerwork, barefoot, craniosacral, neuromuscular, shiatsu,
hot stone massage and many others.
Just as everyone likes a certain favorite food, there will probably be one type
of massage that works better for you than any other one. Make sure to try
out several different kinds of massage when you're first trying out massage
for your aches and pains.
The benefits of massage include:
• Reduced pain
• Less muscle tension
• Fewer headaches
• More flexibility
• Less soreness after a workout
• Increased circulation
• Improved lymphatic system function
Not that you needed any more reasons to schedule a massage.
Massage should be done on a regular basis in order to reap the most
benefits. Once to twice a week is a good suggestion for the beginner to
massage.
You can find massage therapist at some chiropractic offices, spas, and
massage therapy offices.
After you have a massage, it's a good idea to drink plenty of water in order
to flush out any toxins that may have accumulated as the tissues of your
body are stimulated.

IRIDOLOGY

If you've ever looked into someone else's eyes to see if they were lying to
you, you were practicing a rudimentary form of iridology.
This alternative medicine practice is not widely known, but it entails the
study of the iris of the eye (the colored part) to see what kinds of illnesses
may be present in the body.
By comparing the iris coloring to a particular iridology chart, the practitioner
can help to find a potential problem and begin to formulate a treatment plan.
On these iris charts are a sort of map of the body in relation to features that
show up in the iris. For example, if you have a certain fleck in one part of
your eye, it's thought that you might have more problems with your
digestion, etc.
But this does not mean that iridology is something that can diagnose an
illness or a disease.
Instead, the patterns and the colors of the eye are meant to help the
practitioner determine whether a patient needs further testing and
treatment.
Iridology is used in the following way:
• The practitioner employs a flashlight, a magnifying glass and some
sort of recording device that allows them to take a picture of the iris.
• Over time, the practitioner watches for changes in the iris.
• By comparing the changes to an iridology chart, the practitioner can
help the patient see what might be going on in their body.
But understandably, there is a lot of skepticism about this form of alternative
medicine.
Since everyone's eyes vary during their lives, it seems like every trip to get
them checked out would yield a new finding and potentially a new disease
and need for treatment.

But physicians – naturopaths, for example, who use iridology as just another
tool in their assessment of a patient - find that it helps to guide them to
areas of the body to check in testing.
And since the process is painless and risk free, there's no side effects.

ART THERAPY

While doing therapy on your own is always your first choice, there may be
times when a specialist is required.
A medical professional like an art therapist is going to be able to work with
you through emotional problems and help you learn how to cope with your
concerns.
While this doesn't seem like it would be something which would affect your
health directly, sorting out your emotional health often leads to health in
other areas.
But many people aren't interested in going to a shrink and talking about their
problems – and this is fine.
In the art therapy sessions, you can focus more on expressing those feelings
and problems in another way. Whether by drawing, sculpting or simply
sketching your ideas, you can begin to understand how your mind is
processing the world around you.
The therapist can then work to figure out what the real problems are and
help you to change your thought process through other pieces of art.
And don't worry: you don't need to be a professional artist for this to work.
Art therapy is defined as a form of expressive therapy. Therapists offer
another way of conversing with their patients through the use of paints,
chalks, or other types of media.
The main thought process behind art therapy is that there is healing in the
way that the brain changes when it does something artistic. Thus, when
someone creates a painting of their illness, they might be igniting the centers
of the brain that can activate a healing response.
But it's not just the artistic process that allows the client to reap health
benefits – within the art itself are answers to the problems of the person who
is creating the art.
Certain symbols and images will repeat themselves in the art therapy process
and signify different issues.
For example, repeated pictures of the family can tell the therapist that there
is something to explore in relation to the family dynamics. Pictures of the
client by themselves might indicate the fact that they are lonely, etc.

While art therapy is mainly used in psychological settings, patients benefit in
numerous ways:
• Increased confidence
• Lowered stress
• Reduced anxiety
• Less chance of depression
• Enhanced communication skills
• Better social skills
• Potential for a stronger immune system
The art process taps a different part of the brain than logical thinking and
discussion. In that way, the patient is able to tap into the creative aspects of
'solving' their disease.
Related to art therapy are numerous other expressive forms of therapy:
• Dance therapy
• Music therapy
• Drama therapy
• Inscape therapy
When you are in an art therapy session, you might begin by talking about the
issues you are having. As you are talking, the therapist is looking for clues
as to how you might feel more comfortable getting to the root of your
troubles.
They might have art tools set up around the office which might call to you
and then you might be asked to create an image or a form that represents
the way you feel about your particular issues.
After you are done creating, you and your therapist would talk about what it
means. Having the outside opinion of your art helps you focus in on details
that you hadn't even thought of – but that are relevant to the healing
process.
For example, recognizing that you picture yourself as much larger than you
actually are will show you the differences between your reality and actual
reality. In cases of eating disorders, art therapy that entails drawing an
outline of the body help the patient see how their actual body shape
compares to their drawing of what they feel their body looks like.
Art therapy is a way to express your feelings so that you're not holding them
in and causing your body to become sick.
You can find numerous art therapists in day care centers, rehabilitation clinics
as well as in nursing homes and traditional therapy offices. Each art
therapist has a specialty or certain mediums that they like to use in their
sessions, so if a particular art style appeals to you, try to find a therapist that
practices with that style.

NATURAL HEALING AIDS

If you want to practice alternative medicine at home, you have a few other
options as well:
• Visualization
By taking some time each day to visualize your body in good health,
you can increase the chances that your body will remain in good
health. Start by picturing your body without any sickness or disease
and then continue to visualize yourself living each day with lots of
energy. When you are sick, focus on visualizing your body getting
better.
• Detoxification
There are some who believe that giving your body a rest from time to
time can help it repair damage and disease more easily. By taking a
day each month (with your doctor's permission) to fast, either by
drinking only juice for a day or just water, your digestive system can
work on any remaining food that is trapped in your intestine and start
to be more balanced.
• Feng Shui
By learning how energy moves through your environment, you can
begin to change your home into a healing space instead of a space
which causes you to grow sicker. Remove excess clutter from your
home as well as anything that might be dead or dying as this
cultivates energy of death and disease.

LIGHT THERAPY

If you put a plant next to a window, you will notice something interesting. As
the plant grows, it will grow toward the light instead of away from it. Also
known as phototropism, this phenomenon seems to work for humans too – in
a different way.
Light therapy is an alternative therapy that focuses on the idea that exposure
to certain wavelengths of light can affect the body in numerous ways.
For example, when you are out in the sun for too long without protection,
you will get burned by harmful UV rays. If this happens too often, you might
be damaging your skin at a cellular level and wind up with skin cancer.
On the healing side of light therapy, exposing the body to particular lights
can help to:
• Boost mood
• Clear up acne
• Enhance the immune system
• Help moods
• Increase wound healing speeds
• Reduce skin rash severity
• Minimize jet lag
• Lower the risk of cancer
Since light is what helps everything else grow on the Earth, it only seems
natural that we would get some sort of healing from it too.
When your skin is exposed to light, the body is able to produce Vitamin D, for
example. Without that sun exposure, we need to take Vitamin D into
ourselves through our diet. Just fifteen minutes of sunlight (without
sunscreen) each day will give your body the proper levels it needs.
If you have troubles adapting to the change of seasons, you might be
suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). By undergoing light
therapy, you can boost your moods and have more energy.

To practice light therapy on your own, you will need to look for special lights
that mimic the rays of the sun. You can find these lights at specialty health
retailers or also at your local art supply stores (as these make great lights for
painters and other visual media artists).
You can also buy more natural light bulbs which help to mimic the effect of
the sun.

Look for lights that advertise 'full spectrum' in order to get the lights you
need for the most benefits to your health.
You can also head to a doctor's office to be exposed to red, blue, and even
UV light if it's recommended. But sometimes, just pulling open the shades
and the blinds once in a while is all your body needs to feel better.

AROMATHERAPY

When you walk into a grocery store or past a bakery, the scents of the
cookies and cakes are probably going to make you hungry and they will often
make you feel happy.

This is just a simple example of what aromatherapy is.
Developed over the years, beginning with the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and
Romans, aromatherapy takes into consideration one of our primary senses –
smell – and uses it to affect other parts of our lives and health.
Aromatherapy is thought to help with these conditions:
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Pain
• Infections
• Nausea
The principle behind aromatherapy is that the use of smells helps to
'communicate' with the brain's various regions. When you stimulate these
regions, it can cause your body to respond in different ways.
Aromatherapy can also work when the essential oils are applied directly to
certain parts of your body to affect the body in various ways.
The brain controls everything that happens in your body, so when you affect
the brain, you affect the body – to put it more simply. And while there are
those who believe that aromatherapy is baseless, the growing number of
aromatherapy products on the market begs to differ.

There are a variety of things that go into the aromatherapy treatments for a
patient:
• Essential oils
naturally derived from plants, herbs and flowers
• Carrier oils
essential oils need to be placed into carrier oils (almond, grapeseed,
etc.) in order to dilute them so that they can't hurt the skin
Oils may also contain the actual pieces of the herbs and flowers for
decoration or to add to the long term concentration of the preparation.
You might use aromatherapy solutions in a number of manners:
• Concentrated essential oils
These would be oils that are not directly applied to the skin, but rather
are used in an oil burner or applied to another material to be smelled.
• Diffusion
You might find essential oils in an atomizer or an aerosol canister that
can be sprayed into a room or onto clothing for enjoyment.
• Topical
Other essential oils can be applied directly to the skin to help with
infection or rashes. (This is very rare so never apply undiluted
essential oil to the skin unless you know this is safe. Safe for direct
skin application are very few oils only such as lavender, chamomile and
tea tree – but never on broken skin)
• Candles and incense

By lighting a candle or a stick of incense that has been scented with a
particular oil, you can spread the healing effects around a larger area.
Aromatherapy is a very convenient form of alternative medicine because
anyone can use it at any time. While there are aromatherapy professionals
who are trained in making specific preparations for clients and who also can
advise clients as to what oils to use, at home use is still the most popular
choice.
Applying essential oils to your pulse points will help to radiate the scents in
your environment while spraying your clothing or a piece of fabric with an
essential oil allows you to have an item to sniff whenever you feel the
therapeutic preparation is necessary.
You can use aromatherapy in a variety of ways:
• During a headache or other pain
• To prevent stress and anxiety
• As a topical ointment to prevent infection after you've been cut

Here are some of the most popular aromatherapy essential oils:
• Lavender
works well for anxiety and stress relief
• Rose
helps enhance mood and romantic feelings
• Clove
works on the skin to help prevent pain
• Tea tree
works as an antiseptic, can also help reduce acne as it is anti-bacterial
• Basil
works for depression
• Sandalwood and Ylang Ylang
aphrodisiacs
• Eucalyptus
works for colds and upper respiratory infections; boosts energy levels
• Mint
energizing
• Yarrow
joint pain
But there are plenty of other oils you can use as well. It might help to find a
book that described the various uses of particular essential oils to help guide
you to the ones which are right for you.

Aromatherapy has a number of benefits:
• No side effects
• The more you use, the better
• Can be used to prevent or to treat
• Can be used by all ages
• Even works on animals
It will also help you to know that aromatherapy items can be made from
things you already own. Try adding a few drops of essential oil to your
favorite body lotion, for example. Or you might want to soak in a tub with a
few drops of essential oils.

YOGA

Many people don't realize that their weekly yoga class is not only helping to
reshape their bodies, but also to reshape their health.

This meditative practice of positioning your body allows for proper alignment,
which can help in a number of ways:
• Reduced anxiety
• Reduced aches and pains
• Improved concentration
• Better complexion
• Healthier weight
• More muscle tone
• Fewer headaches
• Better balance
• Higher bone density
• Quieter mind
Yoga was developed many thousands of years ago around the area of India.
Developed as a spiritual practice, yoga was thought to help the practitioner
become closer to spiritual enlightenment.
In fact, in the Bhagavad Gita, there are three different types of yoga: the
yoga of knowledge, devotion, and action. By balancing these areas of your
life, it was thought that not only would your health be at its highest levels,
but that your mind would be in tune with the energy of the world.
But what does this mean in modern times?
It's no secret that yoga is used to help people stay flexible and in shape, but
it can also help with health related matters.
When you practice yoga, you are learning to first control your mind.
By focusing only on the postures you are doing, you can not think about the
long To Do list that you have or what you're making for dinner. You can only

think about staying in the position and trying to bend deeper and for longer
with each session you attend.
In doing so, yoga becomes an extended type of meditation.
You clear your mind in order to make room for the posture to become a part
of you.
In longer yoga routines, you need to flow in and out of each pose gracefully
and slowly. Your muscles tense and you have to push from one pose to the
next.
Since your mind is focused on the move you are doing as well as
transitioning into the next movement, you are quiet in your mind and
completely focused on the present.
This meditation allows your mind to still as your body becomes the center of
attention. When this happens, the cells in your body can relax and begin to
focus more on cellular repair and healing.
Not only are you engaging your meditative mind, but you are also adding
breathing to your poses as well.

Most yoga types will teach that you need to breathe in and out with certain
movements so that your body can relax and fall into the posture. Not only
does this help with your meditation, but it also helps to oxygenate your blood
cells so that you have more energy.
The breathing helps your body learn to take in more air with each breath,
which helps you in your everyday life.
Instead of keeping your chest tight and your breath shallow – as so many of
us do – you learn to expand your chest and breathe deeply into your belly.
This allows you to maximize each inhalation.
Yoga also helps you with your mental difficulties by constantly challenging
you and asking for more of you.

Each time you learn a new pose, you need to figure out how your body can
handle this pose. It's not just about being the most flexible; it's about
listening to your body and moving in the way that is most natural to it.
While it would be great to learn how to bend yourself into a pretzel – it's not
necessary.
All you need to do is to push yourself a little further with each yoga class or
workout. The only person you need to 'beat' is yourself.

You can find yoga classes at nearly every gym and community center in the
country. There are also many good yoga books and DVDs available for
purchase. Try out a few different kinds of yoga before you settle on the one
that suits your temperament.
Some of the yoga types include:
• Bikram yoga
Also known as hot yoga. This yoga is done in a room that's very hot
with the idea that if your muscles are warmed up more, you will be
able to deepen each pose more as well as sweat out any toxins.
Intermediate levels and Advanced levels only.
• Hatha yoga
This is a slow moving yoga that is perfect for beginners to the yoga
scene. Each pose is slow and deliberate, helping you learn the form
before you speed up.
• Ashtanga yoga
One of the more athletic types of yoga. You will find yourself doing
long series of poses which will get your heart rate up and help you
burn fat. Beginners who are already in shape and Intermediate levels.
• Vinyasa
The focus on the breathing in this type of yoga helps with anxiety and
muscle tension reduction. All levels.
• Iyengar
In this form of yoga, you will need to hold poses for long periods of
time. This requires some muscle stamina and endurance. All levels.
It will help if you take a few different kinds of yoga when you're first testing
out what yoga can do for you. Or you can watch a few classes to see if that
type might be a good match for your fitness level and temperament.

Yoga is something that you can practice on your own, but every practice
should begin with basic instruction. Many poses can be dangerous if you
don't know how to do them properly, so you want to learn the basics before
launching into your own personal yoga plan.

REIKI

One of the more common New Age treatments that you may have heard of is
Reiki.

But while many people have heard of it, fewer people have a clear
understanding of what Reiki does and how Reiki works.

Reiki's history is a bit vague, but the overwhelmingly agreed upon story is
that a man named Mikao Usui developed the practice in Japan in the late 19th
century.

The process involves the channeling of healing energy through one person
and into the patient. Usui is said to have undergone a strict fasting and
meditation regimen after which he was given this healing power.
Because the healing powers are not coming from the person directly, Reiki
does not deplete the practitioner who is practicing. This allows the person to
continue to do Reiki treatment after Reiki treatment – so long as they can
access the source of the healing.

Where is the source of the healing then?
Depending on who you ask, Reiki's energy seems to come from something
called the universal life force. Some like to call it chi, while others just call it
by the name of their chosen deity. In any case, it is the energy that is all
around us and just waiting to be harnessed for a good use.

A practitioner of Reiki undergoes an extensive training process in which he or
she receives an attunement. Easily put, this is a process in which they learn
to access the universal life energy and then transfer that energy into the
patient.
With a clear intention in mind, the Reiki practitioner will lay their hands on
the client and focus the energy into the client's body. In doing so, it is
thought that the body then receives the healing energy in whatever manner
will help it best.

The client's body then uses that energy to heal itself.
The practitioner is no more than a conduit of the healing energy, but since so
many of us are far removed from the idea that we can heal ourselves, they
help to arrange the healing we need by acting as the go between – the
middleman, if you will.
Within a Reiki session, you will be asked to lay down on a table (in most
cases). If you have troubles lying down, Reiki can also be done on someone
who is sitting up or standing.

At that point, the Reiki practitioner may say a few things to themselves in
order to attune themselves to the energy they will be using in the session.
As a client, you may be asked to specify a certain complaint in order to
facilitate the Reiki session.
If you don't have any complaints, that's okay too. It is thought that the
healing energy goes to wherever it is needed.
The Reiki practitioner will then lay their hands on several parts of the body,
generally starting at the head and the neck. They will not be massaging
these areas, but rather they will be placing their hands there in order to
direct the energy.
You might feel heat radiating from their hands as they do this.
You can remain completely clothed during this process, though you might
want a blanket over you as the body can become cold when this amount of
energy is coursing through your veins.
The process takes as long as the practitioner feels is necessary, though for
most people, it's no longer than an hour.
At the end of the session, you might talk with the Reiki practitioner about the
feelings you had and they might share with you any visions they had as they
were touching certain parts of your body.
Some Reiki practitioners are so tuned into the client that they can talk about
problems they sensed in the energy as well as messages that they felt the
energy might have been trying to relay to the client.
When the session is over, you might feel lightheaded and tired. It will help if
you drink a few glasses of water to help you settle back into your body
before you get up to leave.
It may take a few hours before you begin to feel like yourself again, but this
is completely normal.
Over the next few days, some clients will experience shifts in their energy –
sometimes resulting in colds or other illnesses. As your body realigns itself,
it is thought that it may be weaker for a while before becoming stronger than
ever.

Reiki has a number of benefits and conditions it can help:
• Stress reduction
• Relaxation
• Detoxification of the body
• Improved sleep
• Lower heart rate
• Lower blood pressure
• Pain relief
• Restores energy to the body
• Improves immune system function
• Helps assist with difficult decisions or memories

By helping the body with energy, Reiki is thought to be able to affect not only
the physical body, but also the emotional and spiritual bodies.
Reiki practitioners can have three different levels of expertise:
• First degree
After the students receive their first attunement and learn the basic
hand positions, they need to practice Reiki on a certain number of
people before they can move up to the next level of practice.
• Second degree
The student then learns the symbols associated with Reiki energy that
can aid in distance treatment. Another attunement is given at this
stage.
• Third degree
At this stage, another attunement is given and the student is now
considered a master level Reiki practitioner. They can teach others to
perform Reiki as well as attune others.
There are many benefits to Reiki as an alternative medicine practice:
• No side effects
• Can work for all ages
• Can be done over great distances
• Can be focused on a certain ailing part of the body
• Works on children
• Works on pets and animals
• Can also be done on food before it is prepared
• Anyone can learn
• Those who learn Reiki can perform it on themselves
• Group treatments are possible
You can find a local Reiki practitioner by looking in your local yellow pages or
by talking to the sales clerk at a New Age retailer. Check the credentials of
the practitioner before you make an appointment to be sure that they are
well-trained.

You might also be able to find Reiki healers online who are willing to do long
distance treatments. Be wary of these as they can also be scam artists who
just want your money.
Reiki needs to be repeated on a regular basis for the maximum benefits or it
may just be a one time thing if you had a specific problem that needed ot be
addressed.

MEDITATION

Most of us limit our definitions of health to two categories – health and
illness. These terms focus specifically on the state of our body, which is a
limited definition in the eyes of alternative medicine practitioners.
To those who practice natural healing and alternative medicine, there are
several different aspects of your life that need to be in balance in order to
help you maintain your ideal state of wellness.

• Physical health
• Mental health
• Spiritual health

We realize that we need to exercise more and stress less in order to stay fit
and healthy, but what have you done for your soul lately?

Cultivating spirituality isn't just about following a specific religion or set of
rules, but rather learning more about who we are and what we believe when
all is quiet and still.
This is where meditation can step in.
By not stepping on any spiritual practices you may already have, meditation
can help you cultivate a sense of spiritual well-being as well as inner peace.
Many people have scoffed at meditation, thinking it's a practice of sitting
cross legged and chanting to themselves. This is far from the truth. When
you take a deeper look into this many thousand of years old practice, you will
find that meditation is actually quite simple – and easy to do anywhere.
Meditation involves the training of your mind to release the excessive
thoughts we all hold inside.

Right now, you're probably not just reading this book, but also thinking about
what your next meal is going to be, how you're going to plan your next
vacation, etc.
Our minds are always working overtime, which is causing a strain on our
bodies.

We know that doing too much is stressful for our bodies, but when it comes
to our busy minds, we don't seem to apply the same knowledge. With
meditation, you will be able to quiet things down in your brain and help it get
a much needed rest in order to process things that are happening and that
have happened.
This allows us to learn from our experiences and to retain memories more
easily as well.

In terms of medicine, meditation allows the body to rest so that it can relax
and repair any damage that we may have caused. Your body's cells will be
able to turnover more easily, which allows us to have brighter skin and even
a stronger immune system.
By teaching our brains to slow down and to be quiet, we are teaching our
bodies to run at a lower speed. This lessens the damage that our busy lives
might be doing to us and it can help us maintain perspective, even when it
seems like we're overwhelmed.

Meditation has been linked to:
• Lower blood pressure
• Lessened anxiety
• Slower heartbeat
• Less muscular tension
• Fewer illnesses

And these benefits have been proven by science again and again.
In order to start your own meditation practice, it will help to keep in mind
that only ten minutes a day will help you reap the benefits. So you don't
have to worry about meditation taking up a lot of your time.

Here are the steps to creating your own meditation practice:
• Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed.
• Wear loose fitting clothing that doesn't restrict you in any way.
• Find a place where you can sit upright without becoming fatigued – it's
generally not a good idea to lay down as many people can fall asleep
in doing that.
• Close your eyes and breathe normally.
• Sit like this for a few minutes until you settle into your body.
• Once you are calm, try to let go of any thoughts you have in your
mind.
• If any new thoughts enter in (and they will), just dismiss them from
your mind and try to focus on your breathing.
• Some people find that counting their breaths in and out helps them
keep their attention away from new thoughts.
• Or you can choose a one syllable word to repeat with each breath.
• Continue this for as long as you can.
• Once you are done, slowly open up your eyes and come back to the
room.

At first, you will have troubles letting go of your thoughts. Think of this
process as any other workout you might do.
You can't simply lift 100 pounds at once, you need to slowly build up your
strength until your muscles are ready. You might want to approach
meditation in the same fashion.
Start by doing just five minutes a day, then ten, then fifteen, etc.
Each time, it will become easier to mediate and to let go of intrusive
thoughts.
But meditation isn't limited to being quiet and keeping your mind still by
simply focusing on your breathing. You can also help quiet your mind by
creating another place upon which to focus your thoughts.
Here are some ideas:
• Walking meditation
Focus on each step, what it feels like, what the moment is like. In
doing so, you will make your mind still. Move slowly with each step,
pushing off with the ball of your feet and rolling to the heel.
Everything You Need to Know about Alternative Medicine - Page 20
• Think about the present
Stop every few hours to notice the world around you. Just look around
you and think about nothing but what is happening right then. Don't
worry about the future or the past, just focus on the right now.
• Shower meditation
When you're in the shower, focus on the water and how it feels as it
hits your skin. Think only about the process of showering and
cleansing yourself. Allow yourself to focus on each movement you
make, how it makes you feel, etc.
• Slow down everything
For one day or even one hour, make sure to do everything more slowly
than you usually do. This will cause you to slow down and take notice
of everything around you. In addition, you will slow your mind down
at the same time.
• Attend a meditation class
Many community centers are now offering free or low cost classes in
meditation that you can take. These can help you learn more about
how to settle your mind in a supportive setting.
• Purchase or borrow a guided meditation CD
For some people, they need more guidance when it comes to
meditation. You might need to be guided into a more relaxed state
and that's what these CDs do. By giving you things to think about and
visualize, you can slowly learn to settle your thoughts.
• Direct your attention to a picture or an object

If you still find that your mind is wandering, it can help you to have a
focus point. Some people like to look at the flickering flame of a
candle or at a picture to help them concentrate. In time, you might
not even need that item – you can simply picture it in your mind when
your thoughts return.

Whatever helps you clear your mind can be considered a part of your
meditation practice. And since the effects of meditation are cumulative, you
can slowly add more minutes of meditation to your day in order to reap all
the benefits.

REFLEXOLOGY

When you have a headache, your first response might be to reach for your
head in order to quell the pain. By pressing on your temples, you are helping
to slow the blood flow to your brain and thus reducing the pain you feel.
In a sense, this is a simple form of acupressure.

However, in reflexology, the idea of pressure is extended to the feet, the
hands and the ears.

As noted in many alternative medicine practices, the body's systems re all
connected. Whether you believe this to be the result of meridians or simply
due to the nervous system and circulatory system – this is not necessarily
the most important thing to know.

What is important is realizing that when you touch one part of your body, it is
thought, you can affect other parts of your body.
And that's reflexology.
Within each hand and foot, there are a number of specific points where you
can apply pressure and thus help a certain condition or organ system. If you

rub the inside web of your hand between the thumb and the pointer finger,
you can help to ease a headache, for example.

Even if you're not sure about the idea of the body's energy system, you can
understand how reflexology could help the body release tension. When too
much tension builds up, you can feel pain and pressure while also slowing
down certain systems in your body – leading to illness and disease.
There are other purported effects of reflexology for your body too.
Some claim that rubbing the feet in a harsh manner can help to break up uric
acid crystals that may accumulate there. If you were to reach down to your
feet right now and use your knuckles to rub the bottoms of your feet, you
might feet some crunchy areas – this is where the crystals are thought to
reside.

By breaking these crystals up, it is thought that you can help expedite the
detoxification processes in your body.
It is also thought that be pushing on certain points of the body you can begin
to release the natural pain killers of the body – endorphins.
There are several ways to look into reflexology for your specific medical
concerns. Many books and videos are available that can teach you how to
practice reflexology on yourself. But if this is the case, you might also want
to invest in some handy socks or gloves that allow you to immediately see a
'map' of the specifics areas you need to target for certain concerns.

When you find the appropriate spots that you need to apply pressure to, you
will need to use forceful pressure on the spot for up to one minute, release,
and then apply again until you feel the relief you want.
You can also massage the areas a few times a day if you have a larger or
chronic problem you need help with.
But for the best reflexology treatment, it's best to head to a licensed
practitioner. They will have gone through a training program and will have
been tested on their knowledge prior to receiving their certificate.

There are other benefits that you can have with reflexology:
• No side effects with medications
• No drug interactions
• Can be done on anyone
• Can be used on pets as well
• Can reduce stress and muscular tension
• Can help to reduce nagging symptoms of chronic diseases

With reflexology, the next time your head begins to ache, you can do
something to prevent it from turning into a life stopping even – by rubbing
away the pain.

HOMEOPATHY

As one of the more controversial practices of alternative medicine,
homeopathy may be getting a bad rep because its methodology isn't quite
understood.

Homeopathy began in the late 18th century through the research and trials of
a German physician named Samuel Hahnemann.

By taking the idea of symptoms and finding ingredients that caused these
symptoms and diluting them into alcohol. In doing so, it is thought that your
body could react favorably to the diluted form of the ingredients, which would
build up an immune response in your body.

This caused you to not only get rid of the symptoms that you were
experiencing, but you could also build up a tolerance to the intruder.

The benefits of homeopathy include:
• Simple to take
• Low risk of side effects
• No drug interactions
• Widespread availability
• Low cost

The dilution point of these substances and remedies is so low – millionths of
the original amount of the substance in some cases.
In taking in these ingredients, you are stimulating a response from your body
and helping your body heal itself.

Homeopathy is also known as the law of similars. Hahnemann actually
figured out the concept of homeopathy by noticing that some people who
took medications for certain diseases, but who were healthy when they took
the medication, experienced the same symptoms as though they had the
disease in the first place.

Knowing this, he recognized the possibility that by causing symptoms in
people (or at least in small amounts) would actually help to treat disease as
that's what the standard forms of medication would do anyway.
But understandably, many people do not believe that this could actually
work.

And many people still don't believe these remedies can work.
Helpful substances in such small amounts could not actually do any good or
bad to the body, it is often thought. And many studies are backing this up,
noting that homeopathic remedies seem to use the placebo effect more than
they actually stimulate any healing response.

Whether or not this is actually the case is still being studied. People have
been used homeopathic remedies for many decades and continue to do so
today, so it's likely that they are able to help some patients.

Flower remedies, for example, are homeopathic type remedies that use
flowers that have been soaked in water and then diluted to miniscule
amounts. Useful for everything from anxiety to headaches, these remedies
are found on retail store shelves and are still in hot demand.

Homeopathy is actually more popular in Europe, as that's where it originated.
Schools in homeopathy educated new homeopaths each year and practices
begin with these remedies as the sole source of treatment.

It's interesting to note that Hahnemann himself was the main subject in the
trials for the practice of homeopathy. Since he needed to find out which
substances caused certain symptoms, he needed to ingest a variety of items
until he found the symptoms that he was trying to cure with his formulas.
When you first talk to a homeopath, you will be asked about your medical
history – both present and past – as well as your current habits and
concerns. This will help the homeopath narrow down the symptoms that
might be most concerning and will help the practitioner choose the right
formula.

Formulas now come with the name of the main ingredient on the bottle, but
also the symptoms they address, making it simple for anyone to choose the
proper formula for their concerns.

The ingredients in homeopathic remedies include natural animal, plant, and
minerals as well as other synthetic substances.

To take these homeopathic medications, you simply place the prescribed
number of pellets or the number of drops underneath your tongue. You
should not eat or drink anything for about thirty minutes after letting these
solutions dissolve there