Posts Tagged ‘Medicine’

Diabetics should look after their feet ( Alternative Medicine )

It is confirmed that the health of diabetic patient’s feet is very important and any injury or bruise, the size of a spot may cause problems right down to the bone and cause gangrene, so diabetics should take care of their feet from shoes to socks and nails to heels. Experts stated at a press conference that for diabetics the most vulnerable organ is their feet. The feet are the organs which are most exposed so when the flow of blood slows at the feet they start to lose sensitivity. An expert claims that even a little bruise might leave the feet more vulnerable to future injuries so diabetics should protect their feet:

”Your feet should be washed every night with warm water, be dried thoroughly and moisturised. After sports and walking, the underside of the feet should be checked with a mirror to ensure there are no bruises. Socks musn’t be too big or too small, musn’t be scrunched up or torn. Shoes should be made from soft leather, with smooth inside and not pointed or tapered at the front. Toe nails should be cut short. Nails should be cut straight across, not rounded.” ( Alternative Medicine ) Read the rest of this entry »

The basis behind alternative herbal remedies is to combine a series of herbs in order to bring about the desired effect.  Commonly, there will be a formula of four herbs used in combination and harmony with each other.  This is done in order to treat secondary illnesses that may have been affected by the primary illness.  This also helps to balance and strengthen the body while it is healing.

As Chinese medicine begins to divide the various natural herbal remedies, they will do so by a hierarchy.  On the top of this hierarchy is the emperor herb.  This will be used to cure the major illness that is taking place.  Beneath this is the ‘ministers’ of the alternative herbal remedy.  This is used to treat any secondary illnesses that are taking place.  After this, herbal ‘assistants’ will be used to support the other two herbs.  The last set of herbs will be the messenger herbs, which will tell the primary and secondary herbs where to go and how much of an effect to take on the body.   Read the rest of this entry »

Basic Principles of Complementary/ Alternative Therapies

JUST AS MAINSTREAM MEDICINE has a fairly consistent approach to illness, so does al-ternative medicine. Most prevalent in alternative medicine are the six naturopathic principles. In one form or another, these principles are revisited again and again throughout Section Two of this text. The following principles are described by Dr. Catherine Downey and excerpted from her chapter on naturopathic medicine.

1. The Healing Power of Nature (Vis medicatix naturae)

The body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain and restore health. The healing process is ordered and intelligent: nature heals through the response of the life force. The physician’s role is to facilitate and augment this process, to act to identify and remove obstacles to health and recovery, and to support the creation of a healthy internal and external environment. In short, give the body the appropriate tools and it will heal itself. Read the rest of this entry »

Depression- The naturopathic Medicine Approach

I suffer from severe depression- Can Naturopathic Medicine help me?

How is it possible that someone that has been suffering for years and, taken a myriad of prescription medicines, would respond to something as simple as natural medicines?

The main differentiation between treating depression with holistic medicine versus prescription drugs is actually not in the medicines themselves, but in the approach to diagnosis.  At any given time we may see ten different patients labeled as suffering from Depression and yet our treatment approach will radically differ from one to the next.

During the last decade, the media and health food industry have presented a number of natural substances as great “holistic remedies” for depression.   Some examples are St John’s Wort, SAM-E and B Vitamins.  While the motivation is sincere, they missed the point of what true healing (cure) entails.

The role of a good naturopathic physician is that of a ‘Medical Sherlock Holmes’:  to investigate hidden clues for the imbalances in the individual’s body chemistry.  Just like the famous detective, we find subtle clues that guide us to a proper diagnosis and the “right treatment”, which is always highly individualized for each patient. Read the rest of this entry »