Using our mobile app? Be sure to check for any new app updates to receive any enhancements.
Logo

Get Healthy!

49 Results for search "Alternative Medicine: Misc.".

Wellness Library Results

What is valerian? Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) is an herb that has been used as a sleeping aid for more than 1,000 years. Many people (especially in Europe) still take it before going to bed. It's also an ingredient in many over-the-counter sleep products in this country. Does it really help promote sleep? Several small human studies have found that valerian root extract reduced the time...

What herb-drug combinations should I avoid? Herbal supplements are popular these days, but very few people have given up on mainstream medicine. Most of us still pop aspirin, see our physicians regularly, and pick up prescriptions from the pharmacy. Mixing herbs with traditional medicines can be the best of two worlds -- as long as you mix wisely. Many popular natural remedies can clash with pres...

What is biofeedback? Biofeedback is a tool that helps people gain more control over their bodies. It works by translating subtle physical changes into easy-to-read signals. Through biofeedback, patients can learn how their state of mind affects their circulation, tension, and pain. In the end, they often feel more relaxed and more in control. Biofeedback is often used in combination with other rel...

What is biofeedback? Biofeedback is a tool that helps sufferers alleviate their own pain. By means of devices sensitive to very small changes in bodily conditions, it allows the user to monitor and fine-tune the connections between emotions and health. The mind can play an important role in treating headaches and other types of chronic pain. Biofeedback helps people recognize and control the tens...

From an early age, we learn that the touch of a hand can ease pain. When a toddler bangs his knee in a tricycle accident, he'll instinctively rub the sore spot. Likewise, an office worker with stiff shoulders will probably try to knead them. And if a dancer can't shake the throbbing pain in her back, she just might schedule an appointment with a massage therapist. The healing power of a well-place...

Terrence Auyeung wasn't prepared for the unexpected during the morning commute to his Redwood City, California, office. But suddenly his Subaru began to fishtail on a winding mountain road, and he narrowly avoided skidding off a steep hill. It was a close call, and Auyeung counted his blessings. Three days later, however, he began feeling excruciating shoulder pain, probably from slamming into the...

At this point, no one would dispute the link between growth hormone and aging. It's a fact that as we age, our bodies produce less of this important hormone. "It's natural human physiology to have a decline in the amount of growth hormone we produce as we get older," says Mary Lee Vance, an endocrinologist in Virginia who specializes in growth disorders. Youth at any price Since the link between ...

Not long ago, the number one treatment for chronic back pain was rest and more rest. Today, people are more active in the recovery process -- and open-minded about the methods used. While a few days of rest are a key step in recovering from pain and injury, modern medicine emphasizes getting back in motion sooner rather than later. This "use it or lose it" approach is right in line with yoga, an a...

What is milk thistle? Milk thistle (Silybum marianum ), a common herb with spiny white-veined leaves and pink flowers, has been used as a liver tonic for at least 2,000 years. In this case, the ancients may have been on to something. Milk thistle seed extract contains a group of substances called silymarin that may help protect the liver. Some human studies suggest that milk thistle seed extract ...

What is art therapy? From sketches of cave bears to children's drawings on a refrigerator, art has always been an integral part of humanity. Art therapy uses art and the creative process to help us:

  • reconcile emotional conflicts
  • reduce anxiety
  • build self-awareness
  • solve problems and
  • increase self-esteem
Drawing on dance, drama, and photograp...

What is ayurveda? Ayurveda, which means "life wisdom" in Sanskrit, is one of the oldest medical systems still in use. Developed in India thousands of years ago and promoted in the U.S. today by alternative-medicine guru Deepak Chopra, it is based (in the simplest terms) on the idea that each person's metabolism and personality are influenced by three main doshas, or forces. These are pitta, which...

What is bee venom therapy? If you've ever been stung by a bee, you already have firsthand experience of the basics of bee-venom therapy (also called apitherapy). The only technical difference between the sting you got and the therapeutic kind is that yours was probably accidental. People who use bee venom for medicinal purposes don't wait around for random insect attacks. Using long tweezers, th...

What is cranial therapy? Cranial therapy (also called cranial osteopathy and craniosacral therapy) is based on the theory, developed by a 1930s osteopathic physician, that the bones of the skull never fully fuse and can be delicately manipulated to treat illness. The idea is that trauma, such as a blow to the head or back, extensive dental work, or even a habit of clenching your teeth, can subtly...

What is the Feldenkrais Method? It's a therapy to reeducate the body so that you move with less discomfort and greater ease. If you're recovering from a strain or sprain, or if you have a condition that limits you physically, you may find it valuable. The concept behind the method is basically this: Your body tends to fall into habitual ways of doing everything from looking down when you tie you...

What is guided imagery? Guided imagery (also called guided visualization) is a therapy that harnesses your imagination to help you handle stress and illness. With the assistance of a psychotherapist, nurse, or doctor, patients visualize positive images that can lift their mood and reduce their stress. If they can picture themselves in a mountain meadow or on a beach instead of in a hospital bed or...

Here's a joke: A man tells his friend about a dinner party he had at his house the night before. "I made a real Freudian slip," he says. "I meant to tell my mother-in-law to pass the butter, and instead I said, "You silly cow, you ruined my life!" Is humor good for my health? You've probably heard countless warnings about the dangers of negative emotions. Stress, anger, and depression can sap yo...

What is magnet therapy? It's a therapeutic technique based on the idea that magnets can reduce pain and speed the natural healing process by manipulating your body's own natural magnetic energy. The practice has been traced back to ancient times in places like Egypt, Greece, and China, and it continues to enjoy a loyal following today, particularly among athletes and musicians who use magnets to ...

Swedish Massage Swedish massage is the kind you're most likely to encounter at the gym or at a spa. You lie unclothed on a padded table, draped with a sheet, while the therapist applies oil or lotion to his hands or your skin and then uses gliding and kneading strokes and even tapping or shaking to relax your muscles and loosen your joints. All this rubbing and kneading can really boost your circ...

Movement therapies are techniques aimed at "retraining" your body to move in a healthy way to relieve chronic pain and muscular tension. During a session, you may wear loose, comfortable clothing (except for Hellerwork massage, when you will want to strip to your underwear). Most of these techniques are quite gentle and accessible to beginners, and some are more widely available than others. Some ...

What is power yoga? Power yoga is essentially yoga with brawn. It's the American interpretation of ashtanga yoga, a discipline that combines stretching, strength training, and meditative breathing. But power yoga takes ashtanga one step further. Many of the poses (also called postures or their Sanskrit name, asanas) resemble basic calisthenics -- push-ups and handstands, toe touches and side bend...

Most people are familiar with the concept of massage, even if they have never had one. But reiki, a complementary medicine technique that involves a 'healing touch' or sometimes simply holding the hands over the body, is much less well-known. What is reiki? Reiki is an ancient Japanese method of healing illness and reducing stress through touch or, often enough, hand positions that stop short ...

A few days after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003, Lynne Greabell got another surprise: She was also pregnant. Carrying a baby can be stressful business, especially when you're 38, hold down a full-time job, and already have a toddler at home. But carrying a baby while fighting cancer -- that's a challenge not everyone can handle. At least one doctor encouraged her to terminate the preg...

The first time Heidi Powers saw Shadow, she never envisioned taking the beautiful Weimaraner home. "I took one look at him and thought to myself, 'You're setting yourself up for heartache. You'd better walk away right now,'" the Petaluma, California, resident recalls of her visit to an animal rescue facility in 2003. One of Shadow's hind legs was frozen in position and sticking straight out, and ...

What are cold sores? Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are small red sores that occur occasionally on or near your lips or in your mouth. They actually have nothing to do with colds or with fevers; they're caused by a virus called herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). How do you get cold sores? Nearly nine out of 10 Americans are infected with the cold sore virus at some point in their liv...

Kava (Piper methysticum ) is a plant from the pepper family native to the South Pacific islands. The herbal remedy, also known as kava kava, is derived from the root of the flowering shrub. For centuries, this root was chewed or mashed into a pulp and then mixed with water or coconut milk -- and sometimes fermented -- to make a pungent drink used for ceremonial and spiritual purposes. Even today, ...

Devil's claw, skullcap, and stinging nettle: They may sound like the ingredients of a witch's brew, but many herbal remedies are gaining acceptance in the world of mainstream medicine. How much do you know about herbs and their uses? 1. Herbal remedies may be helpful in relieving which of the following ailments? a. Migraines b. Enlarged prostate c. Cold and flu d. All of the above 2...

Can herbs help fight cancer? As many as 88 percent of all cancer patients seek help from herbs and other alternative therapies. It's easy to see why. Certain herbal remedies appear to work -- after all, the potent anticancer drug taxol comes from the bark of the yew tree -- and compared with nauseating, painful, expensive, and sometimes ineffective conventional treatments, taking herbs or drinkin...

Echinacea (Echinacea purpura ) is a medicinal herb originally used by North American Plains Indians. In the 1870s, an enterprising Nebraska doctor began touting it as a blood purifier capable of curing everything from headache and rheumatism to syphilis and hemorrhoids. Commonly known as the purple coneflower after the large purple blossom that crowns its three-foot stalk, this member of the daisy...

Are all herbal remedies safe? No. Many herbal remedies can improve your health when used wisely. But even some of these have the potential for harm, especially if you're taking large doses or a synthetic version. You should know that most herbal remedies and "natural" supplements have not been thoroughly tested, a fact that hasn't prevented some companies from putting exaggerated claims on the lab...

Can dietary supplements help me lose weight? "Eat! Eat! Eat! And Always Stay Thin! No Diet, No Exercise!" Sounds great, doesn't it? Unfortunately, you'll have a hard time responding to this particular ad. For one thing, it dates to the early 1900's. And, to make matters worse, pharmacies no longer sell the miracle product: sanitized tape worms. Weight loss products have changed in the last centur...

What is shark cartilage? Just what its name implies: Shark cartilage is simply the skeletal material of a shark. But many people believe this substance does far more than keep ocean creatures together. Ever since the book Sharks Don't Get Cancer hit the market, shark cartilage has been touted as a powerful cancer fighter in human beings. People also take cartilage in hopes it will relieve the pain...

What is DHEA? DHEA is the most abundant steroid hormone in our bodies. (Hormones in this category include estrogen, testosterone, and cortisone.) DHEA, short for dehydroepiandrosterone, can convert to either testosterone or estrogen; it reaches its peak when we're in our 20's and then performs a dramatic disappearing act as we age. After we hit 30, our DHEA levels drop about 10 percent every 10 ye...

What is blue-green algae? Before the time of coral or starfish or bugs or birds, blue-green alga was practically the only living thing on earth. More than 1,500 species of the primitive single-celled organism are still around, mostly floating in stagnant ponds and growing on algae farms. That's right: algae farms. This ancient plantlike creature has become a cash crop. Web sites and health food st...

For many years, veterinarians routinely gave glucosamine to racehorses to help preserve their joints over years of pounding the track. Now scientists are studying whether glucosamine, a compound that your body uses to make cartilage, can help people as well. For 40 years, European researchers have been studying whether taking glucosamine in supplement form can help relieve arthritis pain and rebui...

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, also called ubiquinone) is a vitamin-like substance that's present in foods and is also produced by your cells to help convert food into energy. The Japanese were the first to start taking it in supplement form, and it's still commonly used in Japan to treat heart-failure patients. During the 1980s, CoQ10 gained popularity in this country as an energy-booster; it's now touted ...

What natural alternatives to hormone replacement therapy are there? Women who decide not to supplement their declining levels of estrogen with prescription hormones may want to choose from a variety of "natural" remedies that may help relieve their menopausal symptoms. Black cohosh root may bring some relief from hot flashes, with potentially fewer side effects than estrogen. Creams made from wild...

What is licorice? First of all, if you're looking for the kind of licorice that serves as an herbal medicine, forget about the red and black sticks in the candy aisle. In the United States, so-called licorice candy is almost always flavored with anise and contains no actual licorice. Real licorice, which comes from the root of the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, tastes just as sweet as the impostors bu...

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis ) is a perennial plant that grows deep in the woods from Vermont to Arkansas. Cherokee Indians used its golden roots as a yellow dye, for skin problems, and as an eyewash. After the Civil War it was such a popular ingredient in medicines that it nearly became extinct. Today it's still quite rare and expensive, and many herbalists discourage its use because of the l...

You may think of flax as a source of fine linens, but the plant's greatest value may well lie in its small, dark seeds. As far back as the 700s, King Charlemagne ordered every loyal Roman to eat flaxseed for health, and today many alternative medicine gurus echo that decree to all who will listen. Flaxseed is more than just nutritious -- health experts believe the seed can actually help prevent he...

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba ) is the only remaining member of a family of trees that flourished centuries ago in ancient China. Dubbed a living fossil, ginkgo today thrives worldwide in parks and gardens, and in plantations where leaves of carefully pruned ginkgo shrubs are harvested and processed into supplements. Although the people of China have been using the fruits and seeds since 2800 BC, only dur...

The knotty, twisted underground stem of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale ) has been used as a spice and a drug in China for the last 25 centuries. Chinese sailors chewed pieces of it to relieve their seasickness thousands of years ago. Today ginger is a leading folk remedy for nausea and digestive problems as well as a flavoring for food and drinks throughout the world. What is it good for? ...

Garlic (Allium sativum ) reigns as a powerful -- and pungent -- leader among herbal remedies. A close cousin of onions, leeks, and shallots, garlic has traditionally been used to fight off everything from colds and infections to vampires and evil spirits. It's also one of the most intensely studied herbs; over the last 20 years, more than a thousand papers have been written about the "stinking ros...

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium ) is a relative of the daisy, marigold, and dandelion. The name is derived from the Latin word febrifugia, or fever reducer, and feverfew has been used for that purpose since the first century. Historically, the herb has also been used to treat headache, arthritis, menstrual irregularity, and stomachache. What is it good for? Some studies indicate that feverfew may...

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus ), the European blueberry, first caught the attention of the medical community during World War II, when British Royal Air Force pilots who snacked on bread and bilberry jam before their night missions started hitting their targets more often. Today, the fruit is widely used in Europe to relieve eyestrain. What is it good for? It may be good for your eyes. Researchers...

What is aloe vera? The aloe vera plant (Aloe barbadensis) is the source of two very different herbal products: aloe gel and aloe juice (also called aloe latex). Although you may hear the terms juice and gel used interchangeably, it's important to know the difference. Aloe gel, the clear, jellylike stuff that oozes from a torn leaf, is renowned as a salve for burns and wounds and is also the key in...

Yoga is a movement technique -- a series of poses (called asanas) that emphasize stretching, attentive breathing, and relaxation. The poses are part of a spiritual discipline and belief system from India. The exercises promote physical and mental well-being; some improve flexibility and strength as well. What is Iyengar yoga? Iyengar yoga, developed by yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar more than 60 years...

If you're tense, sore, or generally stressed out --in other words, if you feel pretty much like everyone else these days -- it might be time to put yourself in the hands of a professional massage therapist. Research shows that therapeutic massage can be a boon for both your mental and physical health. A single session can relax your body and help you sleep better at night. Go more often, and you j...

What are the benefits of peppermint? You already know about peppermint as a flavoring for candy and cookies. The oils from the peppermint (Mentha piperita ) have an unmistakable icy-cool flavor and smell. But peppermint oil seems to do more than freshen breath. It's a time honored remedy for sore throats. And in Germany, it's approved it as an aid to improve digestion and reduce bloating. Human ...

Green tea smells different from black tea. And it tastes different, too. You might call it "fresh" or even "grassy." And if you drink it regularly, you can also call it good for you. Packed with antioxidants, green tea may be one of the healthiest things you could ever put in a mug. What is green tea? Like black tea, green tea comes from the tea plant Camellia sinensis, a fragrant evergreen shru...