Alternative Therapies In Health

Are you frustrated with the way ADHD medications work?  The dose needs adjusting; then it wears off before it is time for the next pill; the symptoms in between seem more pronounced than ever, and a few minutes can seem like an eternity.  So, why are you not using ADHD alternative therapy?

Medications are not the only answer available to help control the symptoms of ADHD.  In addition, it is not a disorder that only affects the individual.  It is a family issue.  Are you doing anything to help yourself and the other members of the family, in addition to the loved one who daily exhibits the symptoms of hyperactivity and inattention?

With all the daily challenges, why not give ADHD alternative therapy a chance to help everyone in the house live with the disorder and face any problems with better understanding and the confidence to cope?  Consider the following:

• Parent Training
• Family Therapy
• Support Group
• Behavioral Therapy
• Social Skills
• Psychotherapy

It may surprise you to discover that the first 4 therapies on the list are for family members and caregivers.  Everyone understands the challenges of living with someone who has ADHD can be exhausting, frustrating, and disheartening.  Thus, everyone in the family needs to understand that ADHD alternative therapy is necessary for the entire household.

Parent Training

Any good ADHD therapy program must include parent training.  Even under the best of circumstances, raising children can be a challenge.  Add a special needs child to the mix, and anyone will naturally be overwhelmed.  With better understanding of the disorder and the skills to handle those situations that will inevitably come up, parents can have the tools to help their child live a more normal life, as well as maintain their own sanity.

Family Therapy

Family therapy is vital, especially when siblings are involved.  Not only do they have to live with a brother or sister exhibiting behaviors that make their life miserable, their parents have less time for them. ADHD alternative therapy is designed to help give everyone in the family the necessary coping skills, and maybe permission to ask for help when a break is needed.

Support Group

A good support group is another essential ADHD alternative therapy.  No one is perfect.  No one has superhuman strengths.  Living with a special needs child has challenges that the average parent cannot truly understand.  So, when the going gets tough, it is really helpful to talk to other people who live with the consequences of the disorder every day.

Behavioral Therapy

When first introduced to behavioral therapy, it is probably assumed it is to help the ADHD child or adult learn how to act properly in social situations.  However, it is actually for the caregivers who will play a significant role in the life of an ADHD child.  When the behavior reaches an unacceptable level, parents, teachers and health care professionals will have the skills needed to defuse a situation and enforce the consequences of misdeeds.

Alternatively, this ADHD alternative therapy helps parents and others know how to reward excellent behavior, in addition to understanding the emotional needs of an individual who must live with the knowledge that he or she does not fit in, due to a chemical imbalance in the brain.

Social Skills

Now, this ADHD therapy is specifically designed for the person who suffers with the disorder.  While he or she may understand the behavior is not what is expected in social situations, it is important to provide the skills necessary to recognize them.  Then, give them the skills to have a sense of control over their own actions and check the behavior before it gets totally out of control.

Psychotherapy

Finally, the most important ADHD alternative therapy for the individual is probably psychotherapy.  Understandably, children and adults who suffer from the disorder are probably also experiencing depression and other problems. The emotional toll of ADHD must be immense.  They do not fit in at school; they are more likely to get into trouble; and they are constantly reminded to take their meds or behave in a certain way.

Psychotherapy is the one time it is okay to talk about how they feel, without fear of judgment.  It is the place to vent the frustration that accompanies the disorder. In addition, people can talk about any concerns, at home or anywhere else, in confidence.

So, do yourself a favor and check out any ADHD alternative therapy available to everyone in the family.  Do not just muddle through each day.  Learn how to control the disorder, and not let it control you or the ones you love.

There are many alternative therapies for Fibromyalgia and each individual may be affected differently by each therapy. A therapy that works well for one may not benefit another as much or at all. It is important to know what is available to you that can help better your quality of life and help you manage your pain.

I have tried several different therapies and there are a few that really helped and one in particular, was a life-saver! My hope is that you can find a therapy that you can add to your conventional treatment and gain freedom of movement and freedom from the stress and depression that are caused by Fibromyalgia.

Integrative Medicine: The idea was developed to help medical and other health professionals to expand their practices by and integrating accessible effective Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM) protocols for the treatment of their patients. This would bring patients more complete care and give them all the help that is available to improve their overall health. Some of the therapies included are: Energy Therapies (including CMU Technology), Herbs and Supplements, Nutrition, Lifestyle Strategies, Biochemical Approaches and Structural, Movement and Mind-Body Therapies.

In this article, I will cover two structural, movement and mind-body therapies: Myofascial Release Therapy & Massage Therapy.

Massage therapy helps with Fibromyalgia because it gently works on the soft tissues (muscles, tendons, fascia and ligaments). Massage increases circulation of blood to tight, sore muscles and increases muscle tone. It is sometimes used in conjunction with ultrasound or with the application of heat and/or cold packs. Massage is also often helpful in removing built-up toxins such as lactic acid, and to help re-educate muscles and joints that have become misaligned.

Massage also helps the movement of lymphatic fluid (removes body wastes, toxins, pathogens), to release muscular tension, maintain proper musculoskeletal structure and function, internal organs, the central nervous system, the immune system, the endocrine system, mind/body integration, and energy flow to promote healing and emotional well-being.

Myofascial Release is a very effective hands-on technique that provides sustained pressure into myofascial knots to eliminate pain and restore motion. To understand what Myofascial Release is and why it works, you need to know what fascia is. Fascia is a thin tissue that covers all the organs of the body. It is actually one structure that exists from head to foot without disconnection. Myofascial Release treats taut bands in the muscle by releasing the uneven tightness in injured fascia. I was treated with the John Barnes method of Myofascial Release after a car accident that inflamed my Fibromyalgia symptoms and led to the discovery of myofascial trigger points. Even if you do not have Chronic Myofascial Pain, you can still benefit greatly from this therapy.

There are many more alternative therapy options out there and I will continue to provide information about them in hopes of giving you and your doctor the ability to make an informed decision about what therapies might work for you.

Insomnia or sleeplessness is a common disorder people are facing. This disorder came into existence in the modern world and was not even known in the ancient times. Physicians and scientists believe that this disorder is created through an individual behavior and eating habits. In medical terms Insomnia is a condition when a person is unable to attain full sleep and practices partial sleep. In case of partial sleep, an individual feels drowsy and even sleep but his or her sleep is disturbed in the middle and he /she is awake leading to sleeplessness. Insomnia is hazardous situation in which an individual is unable to get sound sleep and this leads to mental degradation and tiredness. The problem is mainly found in people with ages between 30-50 and mostly the working professionals and businessmen who are always surrounded with several responsibilities which most of them considered as "Tensions". Health Stats have shown that developed nations like USA, Europe & Australia have shown high rise in insomnia / sleeplessness cases.

So what are the causes of Insomnia? There are several causes the main ones are as follows:

- Mental Tension

- Depression

- Frustration

- Anxiety

- Indigestion (improper working of digestive system)

- High intake of caffeine (Coffee, Cold drinks, drugs)

- Irregular diet (eating frequent meals randomly throughout the day)

- Sitting or lying idle all the time and practicing no physical exercises

- Psychological problem (in this person considers himself awake all the time and so induces insomnia symptoms)

- Sleeping place is noisy and lighted all the time degrading sleep etc.

All these factors in one way or the other causes insomnia though there are several medical factors too. As a result the insomnia patient feels tired and mental fatigue throughout the day; also the patient may feel drowsy which could lead to accident if the victim is driving. If the person does not start up any treatment he / she may acquire chronic insomnia which leads to disease cropping in the body, and it becomes very difficult to cure.

Now the burning questions - Is there any treatment for Insomnia? Off course there is. Modern physicians usually prefer in prescribing sleeping pills, sedatives and even tranquilizers to make the patient sleep but it is a known fact that they are not the permanent treatment for Insomnia and if these medicines are practiced for a long time may cause other problems like hormonal disturbance, Hypertension etc. (I am not totally rejecting the Western medicine but emphasizing that their long term intake might cause harm).

Alternative therapies like Yoga, magneto therapy and acupressure instruments, Indian head massage too help to some extent for the Insomnia Treatment.
There is one remedy to treat insomnia which is called "YOGA". Yoga's meditation technique is considered one of the best tools in fighting against insomnia. As we know that Insomnia is caused due to mental stress and depression hence practicing meditation thoroughly helps in getting rid of the problem and ultimately the sleepless ness. The major posture for medication is like lying idle over the floor (place a cloth / carpet over the floor as it reduces magnetic behavior of earth which detracts mental nerves) and put your body in full relaxation along with your mind, until you feel that you are in neutral phase of your mind unable to think or do any activity, over that state concentrate on any of your body part and start analyzing not through your eyes but through your mind - a virtual world, this ultimately calms the mind and help in taming your mental activities. Practicing meditation for a long time really helps in getting rid of sleeplessness or insomnia.

According to Webster's Dictionary magnetotherapy is the treatment of disease by the application of magnets to the surface of the body. Now a days different magneto therapy and acupressure instruments are available in markets, like E.N.T. Magnet Pair, Power Mat, and Magnetic Pillow with Pyramid etc. Magnets have the power to promote the growth of cells and they increase the number of healthy red blood corpuscles (RBC). The RBC contains hemoglobin and the hemoglobin contains iron. The magnets influence the iron in the blood through which it reaches every part of the body. Thus, it removes calcium, cholesterol and other minerals that get deposited. This therapy has no side effects but there are some guidelines that need to be considered.

Indian head massage is a relaxing treatment, which as the name suggests, concentrates on the head, neck, and shoulders. It is an extremely safe form of massage that can promote stress relief, healthy hair and relief from general tension and aches and pains. It improves blood circulation to the head and neck area, therefore speeding up the disposal of waste products. It helps to improve the mobility of the head and neck area which gives relieves in mental and physical strain. It also helps in relieving eyestrain, headaches, congestion and Insomnia. It balances the Charkas (energy centers) therefore helping the body to work in a more harmonious manner.

Thus, combining the alternative therapy with the modern therapy, and the love and support of family members can help in the treatment of not only Insomnia but all the stress and mental related diseases.

As much as Conventional Medicine could not resolve many medical conditions, Alternative or Natural Therapy also does not have the answer for everything. Each has it's own sphere of effectiveness and in certain cases, they overlap.

Here are some of my thoughts on when to consider Alternative/Natural Treatments over Conventional Medicine.

a) When it's not an emergency situation, when the person's life is not in immediate danger. Many Alternative Therapies requires a period of time for results to appear. In times of life-threatening situations, stay smart and go for the Emergency Room.

b) When there is no known solution in Conventional Medicine for that condition or when the doctors cannot figure out what is wrong with you. For example, Mercury poisoning from Dental amalgams - it takes a certain amount of detective work to pinpoint this problem, and it's very likely that you have to be the detective.

c) When the alternative or natural solution had proven to work more effectively without side-effects over the Conventional Approach. Yes, you would have to study and compare, then you can make an informed decision. There is so much information available today, so all you have to do is look for it.

d) As Preventive Medicine. In this age of much exposure to stress, toxic substances and the consumption of food with low nutritive value, the probability of developing serious medical conditions is heightened. In my opinion, Preventive Medicine is a much better insurance to life-long health. There are numerous Natural Therapies available today to detoxify the body, build up the body's resistance to disease and also to strengthen our emotional health (which has a direct impact on a person's well-being). There is so much that we can do to keep ourselves at optimum performance that it becomes very difficult for disease to set in.

So remember, keep an open mind and study the options you have with regards to the medical conditions. I myself, turn to Conventional Medicine when that is the wiser choice. At other times, I use Natural Healing approaches when I know it can help me more. We can be independent-minded but we don't have to be stubborn when our health is jeopardised. What's important is to remain alive and be fully functional, therefore take advantage of the good in each sphere of medicine.

Back pain, most prevalently lower one is one of the common medical complaints, affecting almost eighty percent of the total population. Most of us suffer from an episode of this type of pain during our life span, but sometimes after an incident, the probability of experiencing pain might become episodic. This type of pain can vary from slight, constant pain to an unforeseen, severe pain. If it occurs suddenly and lasts from a few days to few weeks then it is called, acute back pain. But if it persists for more than a three months then it is considered as chronic.

In this regard, it is indispensable to take the help of a professional health care practitioner. The popularity of alternative therapy has progressively increased, and now it is considered as the most reliable pain management treatment for lower back pain.

Pain Management for Lower Back

Lower back pain occurs due to muscle strain that can be prevented by altering lifestyle values, including weight control and most importantly regular physical exercises, staying away from smoking and opting for alternative therapy as the preferred way for coping with this type of pain. Alternative therapy is a holistic approach towards better health and includes various techniques like physical therapy, integrative manual therapy, craniosacral therapy and so on. Physical therapy is often prescribed to the sufferers of this kind of pain and a well designed treatment of it works best and can aid in speeding a patients recovery.

Alternative Therapy - Innovative Hands-on Technique

Hands-on techniques are the featured aspect of an alternative therapy that plays a key role in the management of lower back pain. It helps prevent long-term back problems by providing ease to muscle tension, relieving pain and improving muscle strength. Physical therapists provide special exercises that are specifically designed to strengthen back muscles, lowering pain and making your back fit and strong.

Massage Therapy - Effective Pain Management

Generally, the main purpose of physical therapy and hand-on therapies is pain management. Back message therapy is a satisfying experience for the sufferers of this type of pain. According to most of the health care practitioners, massage therapy is a legitimate and genuine aid for lower back treatments. A massage therapist provides gentle body movements that make you feel good and relaxed. Message therapy offers the following optimum health benefits:

• Helps improve blood circulation which in turn helps relieve muscle soreness from intense physical activity.
• Relaxes muscles which lead to an improved range of motion.
• Results in increased levels of a hormone endorphin, triggering the production of certain chemicals that help in pain management of the lower back pain.

Those who are suffering from back pain and seek pain relief should try alternative therapy for pain management. Its various techniques and therapies help minimize this pain, increase flexibility, strengthen muscles and improve body posture. A physical therapist can provide you with various hand-on therapies and describe various ways to cope with your back pain.