Holistic Holidays

‘Health’

In today’s society where everyone has a hectic work schedule full of pressure, it becomes difficult to maintain a good physical workout schedule and look after daily health care. This is a common scenario seen where people get exhausted after their routine work that they neglect to take care of their bodies and become affected with illness, disease, aches and pains.

With time, the pain starts to build, causing uneasiness to the person and oftentimes debilitating them living a normal life. When it comes to relieving pain, recovering and rejuvenating body, no option is better than healing through Science of therapy.

Physical therapy treats various injuries, pain and diseases with targeted physical workouts to fit your daily schedule. Under physical therapy treatment, a patient is made to enhance his lifestyle management by involving exercises, massages or acupuncture. In some instances, ultrasound, heat or cold therapy and electrical stimulation can be part of the therapy. Physical therapy patients are instructed to develop proper postures and range of motion to overcome pain or injuries.

There are number of natural physical therapy centers in Buena Park which provide a holistic approach to physical therapy. Physical Therapists and assistants at the therapy centers are highly experienced, and they try to emphasize self management of the therapy to ensure speedy recovery and long lasting result.

Acupuncture is another form of natural healing art. The procedure of inserting needles into the specific points of the body is a healing medical treatment which balances mind and body to relieve the person from any pain or injury. Acupuncture has been a remarkable form of treatment for many years, originally started by the Chinese.  Acupuncture has become increasingly popular in the U.S., which has led to the opening of many Acupuncture centers in Orange County and Norwalk and many other Southern California locations. One of the reasons why acupuncture is in great demand is is because of its undeniable results in healing pain, illness and disease.  Acupuncture for infertility, pregnant women, and children is also very popular due to the fact that it is the least invasive form of treatment.

In addition to physical therapy and acupuncture, massage therapy is an important form of natural therapy that has been widely practiced for centuries.  Like acupuncture, massage therapy aims to balance the mind and body.   Originally stemming from some of the oldest civilizations of India and China, massage therapy has evolved to include  various therapies such as aromatherapy, reiki, reflexology, amma therapy, Rolfing and osteopathy.

Various types of massages have been used to treat several health problems, such as lower back pain, work injuries, stress, nerve damages, premature birth and Osteoarthritis. Serious diseases like heart attack, paralysis and various types of cancers have been successfully treated through messages.

Many health care providers recommend massage therapy as part of a daily routine for people who suffer from recurring pains such as lower back pain. Aromatherapy is a great way to relieve not only your mind but soul too. With the use of oil and natural ingredients for the treatment, Aromatherapy lets you feel relaxed and alter your mood. With today’s modern science of therapy, it has become easier to find a natural treatment for ailments rather than turning to invasive procedures.

As a busy homeopath and mother, my time is valuable. After detours, mistakes and years of searching for the healthiest ways of living, I’ve boiled down my research and time tested tips to a simple seventeen. Here are my top all-time favorites:

1. Stay calm. The world is not as scary a place as the media and other self serving concerns might lead us to believe. When I’m anxious or worried I repeat “Be still and know that I am God”. This gives me inner peace to know that God is protecting all of us. No matter who you believe God to be, pray or study daily. If you’re Catholic, say your rosary. If you’re protestant, read your bible. If you’re Jewish study your teachings. Don’t miss out on the importance of faith.

2. Don’t watch TV, or spend unproductive time on the Internet. After working in the field of media, I learned that it is not in our best interest to be subjected to most forms of media as a steady diet. Protect your children from it as well.

3. Eat like your great grandparents did. Eat whole, real and “untampered-with” foods. Make your meals yourself. It takes longer, but the rewards are worth the effort. There is something therapeutic about chopping fresh vegetables and creating soup from homemade stock. And you’ll earn a reputation as a good cook!

4. Learn enough homeopathy to be able to treat yourself and family for life’s little unknowns. The more you know, the more you’ll want to know. Homeopathy is timeless and enduring. At the very least, find yourself a credentialed, experienced homeopath and use his/her services liberally.

5. Stay away from conventional medications as much as possible. Most meds are dangerous and at best superfluous. Every drug has a healthy counterpart either homeopathically, as a kitchen cure or an herb. (My CD “Homeopathy First Aid; Perform in the Storm” is available my homeopathy website.) Learn the safe alternatives and use them with confidence. Save the use of modern drugs for life threatening situations only.

6. Get fresh air and direct sunshine at least 30 minutes daily. Throw out the sun screen. Have you read the ingredients? It inhibits vitamin D and is loaded with chemicals not meant to be slathered on skin. Instead, if needed, protect your skin the old fashioned way: a hat, cover-up and common sense when in the sun.

7. Get daily exercise. I realize how trite this statement sounds, but after years of resisting exercise myself because of time constraints, I’ve come to learn that I’m more productive and happier when I work out. Even a short walk is good enough.

8. If possible, keep a garden and animals. A flower or vegetable garden can be a sight for emotionally sore eyes. They keep us closer to what is important in life; simple pleasures.

9. Protect your family and the integrity of the family in our society. That means your marriage and the marriages of those around you. A unified family is the basis of a healthy, prosperous and creative society.

10. Keep your exposure to electromagnetic fields to a minimum. Use a cell phone directly at the ear only when absolutely necessary.

11. Expose yourself and family to the intelligent, creative and lofty of our society by listening to classical music, reading fine literature, viewing fine art, we are inspired to greatness ourselves. Then emulate and study those who have had successful and creative lives: Mother Teresa, Benjamin Franklin, Gandhi, Churchill, Beethoven.

12. Drink fresh, raw milk. If it’s available in your part of the world, take advantage of it. If not, find a farmer who will sell this to you on a regular basis. Most people who believe they are lactose intolerant are actually intolerant of pasteurized, homogenized, ultra-pasteurized milk. These products are a paltry resemblance of real milk. The changes you’ll see in imbibing this elixir may amaze you.

13. Eat raw dairy products from animals that are pasture fed and preferably organic. Raw sheep’s milk cheese from Italy, raw goat and cow’s milk from France, Denmark, Ireland and sometimes the US.

14. Eat organic. At least as much as possible, buy or grow your own vegetables and eat meat from pasture fed animals. In other words, support local, organic, family farms.

15. Include some fermented food or drink with every meal. Old fashioned sauerkraut, pickles, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, fermented carrots, etc. They provide live enzymes that allow us to break down the cooked foods we eat. They are excellent for intestinal disorders and are utilized by the healthiest people on the earth.

16. Try to eat as close to 80% raw foods daily. This is not as difficult as one would imagine when drinking raw milk, eating fermented and fresh vegetables, and incorporating raw yogurt, cheeses and butter.

17. Do good work. Prepare your food and nurse your family with love. Whatever it is you choose to do, do it with aplomb, commitment and joy.

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and may not be construed as medical advice. The reader is encouraged to make independent inquires and to seek the advice of a licensed health care provider.

Did you know that most vitamins sold on the market are isolated synthetic chemicals? Did you know that vitamin C exists nowhere in nature as ascorbic acid? If you want to get your hands on real vitamin and mineral nutrients – read on.

IT’S TIME TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

• Vitamin C is not Ascorbic Acid
• Vitamin E is not Alpha Tocopherol
• Vitamin A is not Retinoic Acid

What you believe are vitamins, are in fact synthetic chemicals, this is one of the reasons, why you should be enhancing your health through the consumption of a multivitamin and mineral in a food matrix.

Mutivitamins

Most of us need to be taking a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement to ensure your health is at an optimum level. Many of the essential nutrients our bodies need cannot be made internally and can no longer be found in most of the foods we are eating. In particular our soils are quite depleted of minerals which can be seen in scientific studies carried out over decades.

The intake of vitamins and minerals varies from person to person, but there are some groups who are more nutrient-lacking than others. New scientific studies are seeing that we even have a genetic code that tells what nutrients we need more of as individuals.

Disease Linked To Vitamin Deficiency

All disease on some level is nutrient deficiency disease. When you are low in nutrients disease will arise. You will have immune problems if you are low in zinc, diabetes if low in chromium and cancer if selenium is lacking. These are just a few examples. Therefore taking vitamin and mineral supplements can safeguard your health. However they have to be real ones and not chemicals.

The fastest and quickest way to ensure your health is protected is by taking a daily multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. Supplementing makes up for the nutrients you are losing by skipping meals and depending on convenience foods. Taking them in one pill is most efficient especially if you are in good health generally. One in three people are now regularly taking nutrient supplements. They need to know not to be taking chemicals so pass this info on.

The best types of multi-vitamin and mineral supplements to use are products made to a “food state” standard. With these products you can be guaranteed that your body will absorb them. If you are taking any other multi-supplement make sure it has the minerals selenium and chromium in its formula.

Isolated Synthetic Chemicals

Many of the supplements available are in fact synthetic chemicals masquerading as vitamins, hyped by marketing people to be something they are truly not. Many companies do not supply vitamins in a form that the body recognizes. They are supplying the active ingredients of a vitamin – not the vitamin itself. For example, what claims to be vitamin C in many supplements is actually ascorbic acid, the active component of vitamin C. But the body only recognises the vitamin not the active compound.

These companies either break the food down, isolate the active chemical from the vitamin complex and mass produce it, or grind up rock and tablet the powder for human consumption. These isolates no longer have what the body needs to deliver the benefits. Without these co-factors, taking them is like sending a letter without an address. We need minerals that have been phosphorylated by plants into a food structure.

Demand for extra nutrients can be greater if you fall into any of the groups below. Many diseases can be traced to nutrient deficiency. In particular, type two diabetes has been linked to chromium deficiency. If we are not eating organic food which is high in minerals, we might be deficient and compromising our health.

StarGate Nutrition Vitamin

StarGate Nutrition nutrient material has been designed to be 16 times more effective, 5 times more utilised and 6 times more retained than the vast majority (99%) of nutrient material on the nutrition market. They have studied our material through independent laboratories using a number of biological studies to see its effectiveness over a number of development years. Their technology is based and confirmed by over 77 scientific papers and by a number of medical and nutrition Professors and prestigious institutions.They use 100% natural and totally allergen free.

Regular dieters

People who regularly diet generally have a healthy intake of vitamin C, beta-carotene, folates, magnesium and potassium. They are, however, very commonly lacking in zinc, riboflavin, iodine and calcium. They should incorporate fresh juice from organic vegetables into their diet. These will also help take any toxins out of the body and deliver nutrients quickly.

Vegetarians and Vegans

Vegetarian diets contain more micronutrients than non-vegetarian diet. But vegetarians have difficulty with their intake of vitamin B12 as that is mostly derived from animal foods. Most female vegetarians are at increased risk of anemia as iron from meat is more easily absorbed than iron from plant sources. Frozen peas and green vegetables will increase your iron levels, which is why many people crave these foods at such a time.

Children

Any supplement they take should be ‘nutrient dense’, with a lot of nutritional value in small quantities. Most kids nowadays are consuming lots of convenience foods and eating between meals. In fact some researchers are attributing increased sugar consumption to conditions such as ADD. Children should be consuming a kids’ multi-vitamin and mineral that contains chromium (glucose tolerance factor) to balance the sugar in their blood stream.

Stress

People who suffer from prolonged periods of stress have a higher requirement for B vitamins as these are required to boost the nervous an immune systems. Vitamin C is required to stop recurrent colds or flus. If a person is snacking due to lack of time for food preparation or appetite, sodium levels in the blood stream will increase, resulting in increased blood pressure which will exacerbate the problem. They should also increase their essential fatty acid intake through supplementation of omega 3.

Smokers

Smoking creates what are called free radicals which take the form of ions and charged particles that cause damage to cells. In fact every inhalation from a cigarette is reputed to bring 1200 free radicals into the body. By ensuring your vitamin C and antioxidant levels are up, von can decrease their effect, although the best thing is to give up smoking altogether. Studies have shown that even though smokers’ nutrient requirements such as vitamin Care higher, their intake is less than that of non-smokers. Orange fingers are better than yellow ones.

Heavy drinkers

If alcohol replaces food in the diet, nutritional imbalances occur, especially with B vitamins, so drinkers should supplement their diet appropriately. Even though studies have shown that red wine decreases the risk of heart disease, those studies were carried out on men and women over 40. Despite this, in France certain doctors prescribe wines for their health giving benefits.

Pregnancy

Here the requirement for extra nutrients is essential as they become the key factors in metabolism and creation of the baby’s body. In particular optimum levels of vitamin B have been shown to reduce the baby having neural tube defects. A supplement of vitamin B a day is recommended prior to conception and up to the 12th week of pregnancy. To get that amount from food you would have to eat four bowls of fortified cereals or drink 6.5 glasses of orange juice a day.

Anyway make sure you are taking vitamins and minerals in the form nature intended.

Ralph Quinlan Forde – Holistic Medicine Consultant – Author of The Book of Tibetan Medicine now in 11 languages worldwide. Founder of The Medicine Buddha Foundation. Ralph was awarded Biotechnology BSc (Hons) from The University of Reading. He was an entrepreneur at an early age and set up his first company Nephra Biotechnologies after just leaving University. He was awarded by the Department of Enterprise for this project and Shell LiveWire. He has written for over eight publications over 10 years and has specialised a great deal on health.The Independent on Sunday, The Sunday Herald, Tescos Magazine and The Irish Examiner are some examples. He is now the CEO of StarGate Nutrition Vitamin

His health and well being workshops have received great reviews and the participants have said that they really benefited from these courses. His first book The Book of Tibetan Medicine is being published worldwide in March 2008. His latest project StarGate Nutrition is about the promotion and sale of real nutrients in order to prevent disease. He is very excited about The Medicine Buddha Foundation and what it may be able to do to alleviate human suffering over the coming decades. The foundation also aims to conserve and preserve healing medical systems for future generations. He wants to harness peoples talents and direct them under this umbrella to benefit people world wide. He is a regular speaker on BBC radio.

This interview is an excerpt from Kevin Gianni’s The Healthiest Year of Your Life Program which can be found at http://thehealthiestyearofyourlife.com. In this excerpt, Dr. Mark Hyman, M.D. shares on the Functional Medicine Model and his experiences as a doctor and a patient that led him to embrace it.

The Healthiest Year of Your Life Excerpt with Dr. Mark Hyman, M.D., a best-selling author, a respected medical consultant and a leader in the field of functional medicine.

Kevin: Welcome, everyone, to this first installment of The Healthiest Year of Your Life Program. You’re in for a treat tonight, I promise. My guest is Dr. Mark Hyman, M.D., who is a respected medical consultant, New York Times best-selling author and a leader in the emerging field of functional medicine. Functional medicine is ideal medicine made real. It is a new medical model, a more successful way of treating human illness and disease born of recent technological and clinical advances applied in a fresh methodology. As Dr. Hyman says, “the future of medicine available now.” Functional medicine moves beyond diagnosis-based medicine to allow treatment of the underlying causes of disease. It works with the body’s natural forces to achieve what Dr. Hyman calls ultra wellness, lifelong good health and vitality. Doesn’t that sound good?

So what I want to do now is welcome Dr. Hyman to the program. This is exciting. You’re one of my own personal heroes in terms of medicine and I’ve read all your books and I’m really excited to have you here.

Mark: Well, it’s a great opportunity to be able to talk about the work I do and it’s really grown out of my own experience of being sick and my own patients and learning a whole new field, called functional medicine.

Kevin: Well, why don’t you talk a little bit about how you got here and your story from when you first started and now, how it’s developed into functional medicine?

Mark: Well, actually my original development started way back when I was in college where I was very interested in Chinese and Asian studies and actually the ancient healing systems of China. I learned Chinese and then I actually became a yoga teacher and way before I went to medical school I was very interested in health and was a vegetarian and actually thought I was going to go into medicine to do this kind of work in the first place.

So I had this sort of in my mind right from the beginning and then I slowly got into medical school and sort of got brainwashed little bit and took on the medical model fairly strongly, because it was pretty convincing model. Over the years, I began to realize that even if I was doing a great job with this model I could only do so much for people. It was kind of like I was putting my finger in the dam. In about my mid 30s, I went to China and actually I was there doing a project there, but I got sick. I got mercury poisoning. I got back to the states and a number of different things happened and my whole body collapsed and I developed chronic fatigue syndrome. It was through the process of my own illness and recovery and through my work as the medical director at Canyon Ranch that I discovered a new way of treating and diagnosing illness that was based not on symptoms, but based on the causes of illness. It was based on the underlying issues that are really at the root of why we get sick and I realized that with putting your finger in the dam and simply treating symptoms you may quiet them down briefly, but the disease, or the processes that are causing the disease still are going on.

So for example, if you take a high blood pressure pill your blood pressure normalizes, but if you stop the pill your blood pressure goes up. So you really haven’t done anything to treat the high blood pressure. All you’ve done is suppress the symptoms. So I began to have to understand this not in sort of an academic way, but in a very real way to my own process of detoxification and healing, because I had no other way to get better. Conventional medicine didn’t offer me any solutions other than here take some Prozac, or take some drugs that deal with this or that, that were really not helpful anyway and so I got very lucky at the time and I was working at Canyon Ranch and I was introduced to the work of Jeffrey Bland, who is a nutritional biochemist, student of Linus Pauling, who’s been working over the last 35 years really reframing our medical science in a way that allows us to understand things and how they work together.

This is called systems biology and it’s an understanding that there are thousands and thousands of diseases, but there are really only about seven underlying systems in the body that has to function in order for you to be healthy and those things, when they’re not functioning create illness and the treatment and the diagnosis has to be focused on those seven things. So the rest of the names in the things we call diseases really become more irrelevant as we understand those seven causes. So you can have migraines, or depression, or Alzheimer’s disease, or heart disease, or diabetes or irritable bowel, or whatever. Those are just names for collections of symptoms and that any two people with exactly the same named disease can totally different problems. We have no way of knowing that if you have depression, one person might have mercury poisoning. Another person might be severely folate deficient, or B12 deficient. Another person might be hypothyroid and you can’t treat them all with Prozac. They’re not suffering from a Prozac deficiency. They are suffering from some fundamental, underlying imbalance that has to be addressed in order for them to get better and the body has to get the things it needs to function and thrive properly.

So this is sort of the evolution of functional medicine which has happened over the last 15 years and we have just recently published a textbook of functional medicine that lays out this paradigm in great detail. For those who are health practitioners, it’s a wonderful resource, with over 20,000 scientific references. I contributed a couple of chapters to that. Mine was very large chapter on influence of diet on health, which is a big topic. It’s a really exciting model, because it’s not just an idea. I’m a practicing physician and every day I see patients in my office and I always say I get to be a witness to miracles.

Kevin: Wow. What’s the difference between integrative medicine and alternative medicine, as opposed to functional medicine?

Mark: Great question. That’s a great question and I think it’s an important question. Let me just go through the history of how we got to where we are. We had conventional medicine, which is basically a reductionistic science. It breaks things down into component points, component parts. We have organ systems. We have various diseases. Then came along holistic health, which said we should pay attention to some other things, like mind-body effect and we should use some other treatments that help the body heal, like meditation, or yoga, or massage, or energy healing and then there was sort of a movement in awareness of other modalities, called alternative medicine, which included things like Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, which unto themselves are entire, whole healing systems with their own philosophy and methodologies that are very different from conventional medicine. Then Andy Wilde came along and he said there’s all these great things out there that we’re really not paying attention to that have been around for centuries or even some newer techniques that can really help the body heal, whether it’s osteopathy, or acupuncture, or herbs and we should integrate those treatments with conventional approaches to kind of have the better outcome. So what that does is that it says well, here are the conventional diagnoses; migraine, irritable bowel, depression, arthritis, whatever. We’re going to use these treatments, these alternative therapies and integrate them with conventional therapies.

Now, I think that’s a good advance, but I also think it’s very limited, because we’re simply doing what I call, green medicine, in the sense where we’re simply applying an herb instead of a drug. Someone that has a migraine headache, you give them feverfew instead of Imitrex. Maybe that’ll work and maybe it won’t. Maybe it’s a less toxic therapy, but it does nothing to help us figure out if that person has a migraine, because they have a gluten allergy, or because their estrogen levels are imbalanced, or because they have a mitochondrial defect and need high doses of riboflavin. The feverfew is not going to work. So you have to have a way of thinking to understand the architecture, so functional medicine is the next step. It’s the next evolution and it’s a way of using all therapies, whether they be conventional, or alternative, in a way that allows you to think about things differently and allows you to get to the problem, deal with the causes and help the body regain balance and it’s a really informational architectural of a model of a philosophy, or a theory basically, of how things work. It’s based on systems biology and allows us to understand how things relate and connect. So it’s not exclusive or inclusive of any particular treatment, modality, test, anything, so surgery could be functional medicine. It’s really, what is the best treatment for this particular problem and how do we find that out, because in conventional medicine, or integrative medicine we don’t have that opportunity.

I’ve seen in case conferences with patients in integrative medicine and you take someone, for example, with migraine and you’ll sit around the table with various modalities like acupuncturists, say well, they have a spleen chi deficiency and they need acupuncture and an herbalist says they need this herb, feverfew. A nutritionist may say they shouldn’t eat aspartame, because that can cause headaches. The other one says maybe they’re just really stressed out and need some mind-body therapies and spiritual healing. So you’re sort of getting a smorgasbord of choices, but no organized way of how to use them and you can’t use everything on everybody. So you have to figure out what is the root and you have to figure out how to navigate to that problem.

Kevin: You say there are seven causes of disease, or illness. Are those the basis of the functional medicine?

Mark: Absolutely. Those are what I call the seven keys to ultra wellness, but they’re also called the seven core imbalances of functional medicine. So I simply borrowed them and made them accessible to lay people, because it’s very hard for people to understand mitochondrial and oxidative redox imbalances, or biotransformational dysfunction, but I try to translate these concepts into things that people can actually get and understand and do something about.

Everybody gets that there’s some nutritional imbalances. Everybody gets that you can get inflammation. Everybody gets they might have detox issues. Everybody gets that you might have trouble making energy in your body. Everybody gets the might have stress and mind-body imbalances. Everybody gets that you can have hormonal problems. So these are the base end, or digestive problems. These are the basic systems and if those are not in balance, your body can’t be healthy.

National Smile Month runs simultaneously in both the UK and USA from 17th May to 16th June 2009. In the UK it is promoted by the British Dental Health Foundation while in the USA Oral Health America is co-ordinating the thirty day event. This is the first time that National smile Month will take place across the UK and the USA.

National Smile Month takes a very holistic approach to dental health. In fact, one of the main thrusts of the month’s event is to explain to the general public in simple terms the links that exist between good oral health and overall body health. Most of the population of the UK and the USA would be very surprised indeed to learn that there are strong links that exist between gum disease and the following health conditions:

heart disease strokes diabetes premature and low birth weight babies

National Smile Month is encouraging Brits and Americans on both sides of the pond to make the connection between a healthy mouth and a healthy body. Recently conducted medical research has shown that bacteria or infections in the mouth impact overall health. The research has also shown that systemic diseases affect the gums and teeth.

The disease that causes cavities or tooth decay is actually known as Caries. This disease is a transmissible infection but the good news is that it can be managed through proper oral hygiene. Management of Caries includes:

brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and flossing access to appropriate levels of fluoride in drinking water a carbohydrate-regulated diet that cuts down on sugary foods and drinks proper salivary function regular visits to your dentist

Periodontal disease is a disease of the gums that affects more than 30% of the adult population. Periodontal disease is often under diagnosed and undertreated, despite mounting evidence of its relationship to systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and pre-term, low-birth weight babies. A key theme of National Smile Month is to urge people to ask their dentists, dental hygienists, and health care providers about periodontal disease and how it can affect overall health.

Another publicised technique is the use of dental sealants which are a thin plastic coating placed over the chewing surfaces of molar teeth. These sealants are effective in preventing and even reversing tooth decay. Dental sealants are most commonly used on children, especially at the ages when new permanent teeth erupt.

Oral Health America has released the staggering statistic that each year in the USA over 51 million school hours are lost as a result of problems related to tooth decay. Oral Health America has taken the issue directly to schools and is active in leading proper oral hygiene demonstrations for school children.

The state of Kansas has realised that oral health problems in children are a precursor for more serious health problems as children reach adulthood. Kansas has been a leader in making oral health a priority. In a multi faceted campaign that has been in place since 2004 the southern state has improved its overall ratings from a “D+” to a “B”. Kansas’ strategies to improve oral health care included:

Expansion of oral disease prevention measures, especially school-linked oral health programs, use of fluoride varnish and dental sealants, and community water fluoridation Education of those in a position to stop the cycle of oral disease, including pregnant women, parents of young children, and caregivers of vulnerable populations Promotion of healthy childhood nutrition, especially pre-school and school nutrition programs Reduction of tobacco use

The British Dental Health Foundation is a registered charity in the UK and has been established for over 38 years. The Foundation’s key messages have been at the heart of its charity work for many years and the 3 decades since the inception of National Smile Week. It’s Chief Executive, Dr Nigel Carter stated:

“it is vital that we use National Smile Month to educate the public on the often underestimated importance of good oral healthcare.”

This article is free to republish provided the authors resource box below remains intact.

Yoga is “preventative medicine” for children and adults. Yet the world does not often embrace preventative action. Just look at hunger, global warming, health care, and poverty. Now you see that some people do take action, but many do not.

Educating the public about the many benefits, which children experience from Yoga practice, is a full-time job for some Yoga teachers. Although most of the public thinks of Yoga postures as a “mild” form of exercise; there are many more different aspects to Yoga practice.

Yoga is a complete holistic approach to health. Yoga teaches proper breathing, dieting, exercise, meditation, relaxation techniques, and many more natural solutions to health problems.

Yoga and Ayurvedic medicine have dieting practices based upon a person’s constitution or dosha. This same classification can be made for exercise routines. An Ayurvedic doctor will, most likely, recommend specific exercises based upon a patient’s dosha.

The entire approach of Yoga and Ayurveda is based upon preventative measures. There are also solutions for “damage control,” when a person has an existing ailment, but any doctor can agree that many of today’s health problems are preventable.

Let’s look at global obesity. The public is very tired of hearing about obesity. Your spam filters are working overtime to pull all of the “Instant weight loss” methods out of your Email box. If you read through the spam, you will notice that spammers want to sell you pills, not permanent solutions to obesity. The spammer’s approach is to make quick money off the public.

When the majority of our population refuses to exercise, the easy money is in selling pills, instant weight loss, and “snake oil.” There is a solution, but most of us will not like it. Yogic diets are full of fruit, vegetables, and natural food. Even in India, it can be observed that diabetes is on the rise, when people eat “junk food.”

As the Indian economy has improved, so has the “middle class appetite” for processed food. This runs parallel to western social and economic patterns.

What does this have to do with Yoga for kids? Yoga is a lifestyle and the earlier you expose children to good health habits, the better your child’s health will be.

As parents, we have many choices, but establishing good health habits, within our children, is an obligation. We also have to eat properly, and exercise, with our children. If you cannot go to a Yoga class, you can always take your child out for a walk. Parents are role models, and any child will copy the image, which you create for him or her.

Yoga classes for children are a parent’s gift of good health. Yoga gives kids a better chance to develop good habits, handle stress, find natural solutions to good health, and live a quality life.

Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

The purpose of nursing is to support people in getting and staying well through educating, collaborating with and advocating for the health of the public.  This definition covers a variety of roles from health education, consultation and screening (community, workplace) to primary (schools, clinics), secondary (long-term, clinic) and tertiary (institutional) care.  Nearly everyone at some time in their life needs and can be served well by consulting a professional nurse.

Registered nurses (RNs) make up the largest health care occupation.  There are about 2.6 million nursing jobs (US Dept Labor) in the US and 14.5 million worldwide (WHO).

Even though ninety seven percent of the population, who can effectively use nursing expertise, is not in an institution; sixty percent of nurses work in tertiary institutional nursing roles. This is why when people think of nurses, they think of hospital care.

Thirty percent of nurses work in areas at the cutting edge of the future of health care.  They are in independent practice, homes, community clinics, schools, work settings, and provide information via the internet or phone.

Health reform is shifting the perspective for overall health care from illness treatment to health promotion.  Health improvement, promotion and wellness are the primary focus of professional nursing.

The demand for nursing is growing.  Yet, I propose to you that the largest area of growth or shortage is not in institutional settings. There is an increasing public demand for non-medical, holistic health strategies that can be appropriately and effectively filled by nurses.

The largest expanding need for nurses is not in hospitals. It is in the community.

Health care trends indicate that the aging population desires more knowledge on how to stay or become well, continue to live independently and use less restrictive or expensive health treatment.  Increasingly people are paying out of pocket for alternative solutions to get and stay healthy.

As the allopathic health care system becomes more diverse, specialized and costly; people are turning to the internet for knowledgeable guidance to navigate the myriad of options, treatment approaches and costs.  The internet is a poor substitute for quality nursing assessment and guidance.  Some nurses are becoming Nurse Navigators to address this expanding need.

The emerging trends foretell an environment that is ripe for experienced nurses, who are willing to shift their old hospital based paradigm toward creating new caring delivery models for direct service to clients and patients seeking improved quality of health throughout the life span.

From prenatal care to hospice care, demand for the (he)art and science of nursing is increasing.  The door of opportunity is wide open for nurses in health reform.

The 20th century has registered a veritable explosive development of alternative medicine. Defined as any health practice which takes the place of, or is not compatible with conventional medicine, alternative medicine differentiates itself from complementary medicine because it uses only nontraditional methods.

Alternative medicine features a very broad range of practices. While some of the healing therapies come from Ancient Chinese principles, like acupuncture, and the use of herbal compounds, others are based on Ayurvedic or Hindu therapies. The latter include some of the most well-known therapies, such as the practice of yoga, diet changes and cultivating the connection between mind, body, and spirit.

The emphasis on mind, body, and spirit also constitutes the landmark of holistic health, which can be both alternative and complementary. One of the popular figures of this kind of medicine is Dr. Deepak Chopra, who leans toward alternative rather than medical thinking. Despite the fact that he is a graduate of a Western medical university, his teachings are largely contested by the medical community.

Massage, chiropractic techniques and practice, meditation, spiritual healing, aromatherapy and exercise practices such as Tai Chi are some other examples of popular alternative therapies. However, there is an almost inexhaustible list of alternative practices. In fact, many people use different forms of alternative medicine, sometimes even without realizing it, for example when they take herbal supplements or vitamins without seeing the doctor first. As such, using the natural supplement Airborne when having a cold instead of consulting the doctor means that alternative medicine is practiced rather than traditional medicine. Studies have showed that over 70 percent of adults over 50 years of age use some kind of alternative therapy in order to treat illness and disease and to maintain a good health.

Although the Western medical community strongly opposes these practices, the ascension of alternative practices continues. This happens mainly because alternative practitioners often point to millenary traditions, although few clinical trials have proved their efficiency. However, given the advancement of complementary medicine there is now an entire host of medical schools where alternative methods are taught. Moreover, many physicians are now keen on learning about alternative medicine, as it offers more options in dealing with a medical condition.

More and more people now turn to alternative medicine because the traditional medicine can not provide them the means to cure when experiencing a certain condition. In fact, many Western physicians acknowledge the already established practices of alternative medicine and even recommend these therapies for patients whom they cannot help otherwise. Although a large range of physicians still remain skeptical, alternative medicine appears to many as a last resort solution.

Despite its popularity, alternative medicine is generally not covered by health insurance companies. Sometimes chiropractics may be part of a health plan, but otherwise nutritional supplements, acupuncture, yoga classes, or other alternative therapies must all be paid for by the beneficiary. However, alternative methods are increasingly popular because they pay attention not just to the physical body, but also to the spiritual, emotional and mental aspects of one’s health.

As the field of natural healing therapies continues to grow, so does the demand for alternative health careers. Some of the diverse healthcare occupations that alternative and complementary medicine offer prospective students include healing arts disciplines in massage therapy, homeopathy, herbal medicine, natural health, and acupuncture, among many others.

Today’s alternative health careers like massage therapy require specific training and education; including an expanding minimum standard of 500 instructional hours comprised of basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and pathology), Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, and sports massage. Other related studies like CPR and first aid, as well as business management and client communications are commonly integrated into this program of study.

Homeopathy is also a unique option to those seeking alternative health careers. Similar to most medical programs, homeopathic courses require rigorous educational studies like anatomy, biochemistry, homeopathic philosophy, physiology, materia medica, and other comprehensive coursework. To successfully acquire alternative health careers in homeopathy, individuals should review educational prerequisites as most homeopathic colleges and schools typically require some formal training and education prior to enrollment.

If you’re drawn to alternative health careers that involve herbal medicine, a number of holistic education programs including Chinese medicine, naturopathy, homeopathy and natural health commonly offer herbology and aromatherapy as part of their curricula. Choose from beginner classes to more advanced training options like earning your degree in herbal sciences.

Natural health professions are also part of the vast array of alternative health careers. Earn your diploma or certificate as a natural health practitioner after you’ve completed an in-depth course in natural healing therapies like massage, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, Reiki, and reflexology. Healing arts schools vary in subject matter, so check with prospective schools prior to applying.

Of these alternative health careers, acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners probably have one of the most unique educational foundations. In addition to learning both Eastern and Western medicine philosophies, acupuncture education offers a rare look into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles and theories; including needling techniques, Tai Chi, moxibustion, Chinese herbal medicine, Tuina, Qi gong, and even Chinese medical language, among others. Prospective students should be aware, however, that alternative health careers in acupuncture do require several years of dedication.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in learning more about these and other alternative health career options, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore training programs for alternative health careers near you.

Alternative Health Careers – Five Occupational Options

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Imagine that you are an average middle class Joe. Wait, most of you don’t have to because you are one. Because of that, you’ll understand what I have to say here. It’s hard trying to keep your job, afford new and increasing taxes, pay your bills on time, and constantly combat the ever inflating price of health insurance.

In order for businesses to survive in the current economy, they need to take steps to reduce costs any way they can. Unfortunately for many of us this means layoffs, plant closings, and benefits being cut. So the people that are now looking for new employment are forced to pay for a supplementary health insurance plan. Meanwhile, those lucky enough to keep their jobs are forced to pay more for new health insurance plans that have fewer benefits or have no benefits available to them anymore. The question you need to be asking yourself at this point is:

How much health insurance do I need?

Take a little time and go back through your medical bills from the last year. I’m guessing that more than 80% of you spent at least twice as much on your health insurance premiums than you did in actual medical bills. So ask yourself again. How much health insurance do I need?

At this point I want to say that I realize everyone’s situation is different and that some people are stuck with what they have for many reasons. The following are a few ideas I had on comparison shopping to survive.

1.  Most people see the doctor 2-3 times a year and have maybe 1 daily prescription. Those are the people that are going to be in that 80% I talked about earlier. If you are one of those people, a good way to save some money is taking a health plan with a higher deductable and co-pay. There is more out of pocket expense this way but lower premiums and you still have coverage in the case of a serious illness or injury.  Insurance companies make most their money off the people in that 80% group, which is why they have office buildings roughly the size of Rhode Island.  By comparing what you currently have you could save some money to help pay other bills or find a plan that is affordable if you have none at all.

Don’t assume what your employer gives you for options is all you have to pick from. Due to company down sizing’s and new plans offering fewer benefits, group health insurance isn’t what it used to be. There are hundreds of company’s on the internet that are desperately looking for your business. Take the time to comparison shop. Even for those of you not in the 80%, what’s the harm in taking a few minutes to get a few free quotes? You might be pleasantly surprised.  Again, I realize that different people have different situations. So you need to do what you’re most comfortable with.

2.  Another way to save money is to buy your prescription drugs from an online service. This is especially beneficial to those who cannot afford any health insurance and also ties into the above method of having a high co-pay or no co-pay on prescriptions. Buy using an online prescription company you are saving on the inflated prices of your local pharmacy and effectively cutting out the middle man. Many of the online services have free shipping standard or free shipping on orders over “x” dollar amount and you can order three months supply at a time to get the free shipping. They ship right to your door saving you time and gas money.

3.  There are several holistic (natural) home remedies for common ailments on the web. I realize many of you may see this as a stretch, but there are quite a few of these that have been seen on various morning shows, newspapers, and other media sources as of late. Obviously these are for non serious, more annoying type of ailments people have such as eczema, acne, athlete’s foot, ect.  From what I have seen you can save some money here though because they cost about as much as your average co-pay to see the doctor and there’s no drugs or cremes to buy afterwards. The best part is, most of the ones I’ve seen come with a  30 to 60  day money back guarantee. So there’s really no risk in trying them.

4.  I have recently read that 65% of American’s do not have a dental plan of any kind. I don’t know whether this is due to the current economy, the rising cost of health insurance, or the common belief that dental plans are expensive. In any case, preventative maintenance for your teeth is vital. Take it from some one who after years of neglect now needs thousands of dollars of painful work done. Bi-yearly cleanings and early prevention are the key to saving money on dental care. There are some basic dental plans out there that are surprisingly inexpensive that can help you get the basic preventative dental care you need.

In summary: Being in the middle class is no easy task. With poverty always nipping at your heels and wealth so far out of reach, you need to be diligent and practical to survive. Comparing health insurance, ordering meds from presciption rx medication websites, looking into holistic health remedies, and preventative maintenance via an inexpensive dental plan are just a few ways to save money.

We all need to stand back and look at what we really need to get by right now. For most of us that means giving up the small luxuries we have come to forget we even have and saving every penny we can. I hope this article was helpful and to all you people out there just trying to survive, I wish you the very best of luck!