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
 ***********************************************************

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. 

************************************************************

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 

************************************************************

SIR 101, The Hair Restoration Specialists

#400 - 1401 West Broadway

Vancouver, BC  V6H 1H6

(604) 734-2285 

 ***********************************************

Eva & Co Wigs

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

(604) 684-2917

 ***************************************************

 

Panorama Hairstylists of Canada Ltd

1128 Hornby St
Vancouver, BC  V6Z 2L4

(604) 684-4125

 *****************************************************

Biothera Clinics

1308 8th Ave W
Vancouver, BC  V6H 4A6

(604) 675-2030 

************************************************

 

Carruthers Dermatology Centre Inc

943 W Broadway
Vancouver, BC  V5Z 4E1

(604) 714-0222

 ***********************************************

 

Follicles Hair Rejuvenation Centre

4255 Arbutus St
Vancouver, BC  V6J 4R1

(604) 732-1183

 ***********************************************

 

 

 

 

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.