Health Pixie » Medicine

How to lose fat fast?

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:04:16 +0000

Want to get that hour glass figure without hitting the Gym? Not an impossible wish anymore!! With the advent of weight loss pills you can lose weight thick and fast. And with Lipovox, one of the best weight loss pills you not only get into shape. Your skin becomes flawless and you get to feel much younger.

What makes this magic work?? Well, it’s all natural products. One can very well prefer to take these products as their daily meal in its natural form. But just imagine how tough it will for you to cook barley, wheatgrass, garlic twice every other day. Leave the inconvenience who would wish to invest an extra amount of $100 every month? Lipovox thus scores as the best alternative which contains the extract of all the ten super foods.

Weight Loss as incredible as 2 pounds a day has been recorded. Such a tremendous figure should arise second thoughts in you but lipovox is completely deprived of appetite suppressants and that makes the Pill harmless. Thus it eats no health, only the acne and the Excess blood sugar and the cholesterol levels in your blood. What more? It even raises the energy levels in you.

Herbal Medicine Schools

hanun — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:33:03 +0000

Find Herbal Medicine Schools in the United States and Canada. Herbal medicine schools instruct students in the essentials of herbalism and botanical medicine. Students who opt to enroll in herbal medicine schools will learn that this form of medicine is one of the oldest healthcare systems known to mankind.

Typically, students who possess an interest in participating in herbal studies at one of several herbal medicine schools should have attained some education in physiology and/or anatomy prior to enrollment. This is important, as it lends to the student?s ability to better understand the philosophy and theories behind herbal medicine therapies.

While some herbal medicine schools focus primarily on traditional Chinese medicine, other herbal medicine schools may provide a wider array of classes that encompass studies in botany, botanical terminology, phytochemistry (of medicinal plants), cell chemistry, medicinal plant compounds, Ayurvedic medicine, Native American plant medicine, herbal pharmacy, diagnosis, clinic and case history; among other related topics.

Students enrolled in herbal medicine schools will gain an overall understanding of how herbal medicine is facilitated for spices, therapy and/or medicinal purposes. In addition, students will learn from which plants herbs are derived, and how to use those herbs for not only medicinal purposes, but for nutritional additives and aromatherapy. Because herb plants produce and comprise a myriad of chemical substances, students participating in studies at herbal medicine schools will also learn that 25% of prescription drugs in the US contain at least one active plant material ingredient.

Successful candidates, who have completed all course requirements through one of many herbal medicine schools can go onto achieve varying levels of herbal medicine certifications. Many of these certified herbal medicine therapists can enter the healthcare fields of Ayurvedic practitioners, homeopathic practitioners, natural health practitioners, Chinese medicine practitioners and other holistic health practitioners. In addition, astute candidates who have completed advanced training courses at one of many herbal medicine schools may utilize their knowledge and skills to help develop plant medicines for pharmaceutical researchers.

Because herbal medicine schools vary in course length, tuition costs and curriculum, it is always wise for prospective students to carefully review course outlines, prerequisites (if any) and if financial aid options are available. Generally speaking, herbal medicine schools are growing in quantity because the demand for alternative and natural medicine is concurrently on the rise. Students and even current health professionals who are seeking a rewarding alternative in health care will find that gaining a comprehensive education through any one of numerous herbal medicine schools can only benefit one?s personal and professional growth.

To learn more about the benefits of herbal medicine or to locate herbal medicine schools near you, feel free to peruse our healing arts schools and holistic health practitioners’ directories. Find your dream job! Let education within fast-growing industries like herbal medicine, massage therapy, acupuncture, oriental medicine, natural healing, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you now!

Herbal Medicine Schools

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Alternative Medicine – Avenue for Medical Tourism

hanun — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:11:15 +0000

The history of alternative medicine is a rather interesting one, and has its

origins in traditional methods of medicine. Alternative medicine has been

in existence since time immemorial. Being a primeval science, this medicinal

system has been known to man since the early days of his time on Earth. Using

natural ingredients to prevent and cure most illnesses has perhaps been man’s greatest foray into medical science. Traditional medical practitioners aimed at prevention of diseases associated with an increase in resistance of the human body. As an expert rightly pointed out, “The study of the history of alternative medicine is fascinating on a variety of levels, not just concerning other and often better ways of preserving and restoring health.”

Practised for thousands of years, alternative medicine includes systems like

Acupuncture, Ayurveda and traditional Asian medicine. Alternative medicine branches

out from the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatments and

therapies. CAM is often combined with formal, conventional medicine, integrating

both medical practices, in order to give the best results to patients. It can be said that

the earlier methods of medicine were attempted at achieving a balance between bodily

and natural energy. Energies were sought as positive and negative energies, where

positive energies were to bring in happiness and health and negative energies an

incapacitation of resistance to face any ailments. Matters of utmost importance in

deciding therapies or treatments in these earlier medical systems were factors like

one’s lifestyle, one’s habits of eating and one’s occupational pressures.

The earliest use of traditional remedies dates back to 2800 BC in China.

Practised all over the world in more than a hundred disciplines, alternative medicine

has aided medical tourism in an unprecedented manner. Using alternative medicine

and following alternative medical practices not only removes any possible additional

affects of the illness but also increases the resilience of the body. It is generally

claimed that natural remedies are not only less inimical to human physiology

but they also help in retaining body pliancy. Systems of natural, traditional

medicines use a combination of ingredients to restore the bodily constituents. In

fact, natural remedies are considered more as food, given their natural constituents.

Since alternative medicine is based on completely natural methods and there is

no usage of any chemicals, there is no danger of any interference with the organic

system. A holistic approach as opposed to looking at a set of symptoms and a

treatment that delves into the root-cause of an illness are some of the distinct and

highly acknowledged features of alternative medicine. It is also opined that

widespread use of modern medicine has deteriorated the immune system in the

human physiology and has resulted in these modern medicines becoming less

effective. It is also often said that alternative medicine is the only way to cure

some incurable diseases.

A Brief History of Alternative Medicine

The history of alternative medicine can be traced back to some 5000 years, when the Chinese and Indians discovered traditional and Ayurvedic therapies to heal the body and the mind. The real objective was to identify the deterrents in the body system which caused ailments, and

strengthened the body’s immunity. The therapies mainly incorporated self-care, lifestyle

changes and various preventive measures. The normal practices that were followed in the early stages of the history of alternative medicine include the extractions of the bark of willow trees. Many kitchen ingredients were also used for treating patients. The treatments were considered as the blessings of God, as it brought immense relief to the writhing bodies and prayer was considered as one of the strongest weapons in waging war against ailments.

Source: “A Brief History of Alternative Medicine”, http://www.med-help.net/med-history-of-alternativemedicine.

html

Alternative Medicine and Medical Tourism

Today, alternative medicine holds out immense potential in attracting medical

tourists. For example, India is likely to become a major hub for medical tourism,

with revenues from the industry estimated to grow from US$333 million in 2007

to US$2.2 billion by 2012, says a study by the Confederation of Indian Industry

(CII) and McKinsey.3 The major competitive advantages that India faces are cost

effectiveness and traditional medical systems like Ayurveda and Naturopathy.

The world has witnessed the development of many traditional as well as modern

systems of medicine in the 20th century. Path-breaking discoveries like penicillin,

technological advancements in modern surgery, major research advancement in stem

cell research and genetic structure, and the development of traditional medical systems

like traditional Chinese system of medicine, Acupuncture, Osteopathy, Homeopathy,

Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani and others have all been a part of developments in the

omnipotent territory of global medicine. The major competitive advantages that India

has are cost effectiveness and traditional medical systems like Ayurveda and Naturopathy.

The last few years have seen countries with their own individual expertise attracting

tourists from all over the world and promoting medical tourism like never before.

India

In India, medical tourism in alternative medicine has its ancestry in South India

and some places in North-Eastern India. Internationally famed for its natural remedies and therapies, Kerala’s schools of medicine have embraced Siddha,

Naturopathy and Ayurveda in treating their patients. These traditional medical

practices are estimated to attract high-end medical tourists from Europe and

Middle Eastern countries. The vital advantages that a country like India faces

with regard to medical tourism are its traditional therapies like yoga and Ayurveda

combined with tourist attractions in states like Kerala and north-eastern states.

Naturopathy, a therapeutic system based on natural remedies, trusts natural

elements like air, water and sunlight, combined with therapeutic massages and

conditioning and toning of the human body. Naturopathy believes that the human

body has the capacity to heal on its own, provided it is in a healthy environment.

With a holistic approach to well-being, Naturopathy believes that the three

physical entities – the physical body, the supernatural soul and the mind – must

be integrated through natural energies. “A recent survey shows that 76% of global

drugs are consumed by USA and European countries. We believe that freedom

from diseases and drugs can only be achieved by living a natural life style.”4

Ayurveda, the most ancient health care system, takes its ingredients from nature.

The use of herbs, materials like gold and mercury and many household ingredients

make this science easily accessible to common man. Ayurveda claims to cure diseases

like diabetes with the aid of nature. The Siddha medical system, which is a part of

Ayurveda, employs herbs, minerals and advanced scientific techniques under ancient

principles of medical science to cure many chronic diseases. It is named as one of

the most complicated and intricate forms of medicine. Siddha considers nature

and
man as one essential entity. It claims that physiological characteristics like

human aging can itself be arrested with natural remedies.

Naturopathy has evolved medical tourism in India in more than one ways.

With its systems of medication using all natural ingredients to restore the holistic

disease-fighting nature of the human body, the medicine has created increased

chances of its own survival through tourists from all parts of the world visiting

India to reap its benefits. As Vitthal Kamat of the Kamat Group of Hotels says,

“With Naturopathy and Ayurveda along with the world renowned tourist attractions

and heritage places, the tourism sector can grow in leaps and bounds.”5 Naturopathy

in “KayaKalp”, a naturopathy centre in Himachal Pradesh, run by the Vivekananda Medical Research Trust in India has served medical tourists in detoxifying, immunizing and rejuvenating through Yoga, Pranayama, Panchkarma, Meditation and Naturopathy. Its therapies are claimed to be drug-less and extremely natural. Naturopathy takes the help of Ayurvedic preparations for healing processes like Panchkarma and improvement of blood circulation.

India’s pioneer in alternative therapy – medical tourism, Kerala, has visitors

from all over the world in the months of June, July and August. These months are

looked upon as the best period for cure of bodily ailments through Ayurveda.

High quality medical facilities provided at low prices are the main tourist attraction

in Kerala. Mr. M Narayanan, head of Poovar Island Resort says that there are

tourists from countries like Australia, Europe and Germany. The packages offered

in these Ayurvedic spas include services like Ayurvedic oil massages, powder

massages, vegetarian diets, detoxification programs and a lifestyle change. In fact

it is little known that Ayurveda includes not just massages, but a whole gamut of

services like herbal and natural diet plans, natural healing therapies, and therefore

a full-fledged medical system.

Ayurveda Gram, a unique Ayurvedic Institution in Bangalore offers Ayurveda

in its wellness form to medical tourists. It offers services like Customized Yoga,

Pranayama, Meditation, and a vegetarian diet to boost metabolism. Its sprawling

campus full of medicinal herbs and natural surrounds helps in the processes of

cure for specific ailments like Arthiritis, Spondilytis, Cholesterol, Sinusitis, Peptic

Ulcer and Obesity. Other therapies by Ayurveda Gram include Stress Management

therapies, Panchkarma and rejuvenation therapies.

AYUSH, the department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha

and Homeopathy was formed under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act,

1970. One of the most recent awareness activities undertaken by AYUSH was a

health fair organized in parts of Hyderabad, Chennai, Indore and New Delhi.

AYUSH ensured that the major Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha manufacturers in

India participated in this health fair.

Another famous Ayurvedic centre in India is the C V N Kalari Centre for

Ayurveda. Kalari is one of the approved Ayurvedic centres recognized by the

Kerala Tourism Department.6 Kalari has its customers from many foreign countries. The centre specializes in Marma Chikitsa (the application of pressure on specific

nerve points) and other special practices of healing. Having both therapeutic and

rejuvenative aspects in them, these specialized healing procedures take extensive help

of Ayurveda to treat the ailing.

Some Ayurvedic resorts have formulated Ayurvedic kitchens that help improve

the effectiveness of oil treatments. Diet regimens, detoxification programs and other

processes that give a glowing skin to the customer are very popular. Some of these

Ayurvedic resorts also arrange for cooking classes to help their customers acquire

and maintain the lifestyle that they are introduced to in these spas and resorts.

Ananda, an Ayurvedic Spa in the Himalayas is one of the most famous destination

resorts in India. It offers specialty Ayurvedic packages like Aroma therapy massages,

reflexology programs for rejuvenation, stress release programs, personalized Yoga

sessions, body composition analysis and weight reduction programs through Yoga

and Ayurveda. Ananda claims that its packages and therapies cure many ailments

like headaches, nausea, climatic disorders, facial paralysis, insomnia, asthma, neuralgia

and does general improvement of metabolism.

China

The 3000 year-old method of traditional medicine in China has gained popularity

as the world’s most popular medicine, being used by more than a quarter of the

world in treating even chronic diseases like cancer, AIDS, allergies and heart diseases.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses medicinal herbs, therapeutic exercises

and acupuncture to cure ailments. TCM diagnoses illnesses based on the five elements

theory and the yin-yang theory. The five elements theory base their evaluation on the

five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water to establish a connection between

human physiology and pathology and the natural environment.7 The movement of

these five elements constantly rules the functioning of the human body and thus

establishes the interdependence of both.

The yin-yang theory calls for comprehending the bright and dark sides of

the universe, in other words, the opposite properties of the universe.8 The relative

nature of yin and yang represents the interrelationship between substance and function. As traditional chinese medical practitioners say “Only with ample

substance can the human body function in a healthy way; and only when the

functional processes are in good condition, can the essential substances be

appropriately refreshed.”

Chinese herbal medicine is more known as Chinese materia medica. This includes

Chinese crude medicine, prepared drugs in pieces, traditional Chinese patented

medicines and simplified Chinese medicinal preparations. Chinese herbology, a major

aspect of TCM addresses the art of combining medicinal herbs.10 It visualizes the

entire human body’s balance of energies and spirit to treat a medical condition.

Herbs are combined into different potions of various characteristics for the sake of

different individuals being treated by TCM practitioners. Herbs like Astragalus,

Ginkgo, Ginger, Green Tea, Siberian Ginseng and Garlic are used to treat several

ailments. Around 300 mineral and animal extracts and 400 formulae are used to

cure diseases, in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Acupuncture, as part of TCM is used to unblock the flow of vital energy through

the human body.11 One of the oldest healing techniques in the world, this traditional

method aims at “restoring health through simulation of specific points on the body.”12

Ailments like nausea, addictions and some kinds of pains are claimed to be treated

with the help of acupuncture.

Taking advantage of its abundant human resources, China is luring medical tourists

into its web of alternative medical therapies. Wellness packages in China come at

low costs and without any side-effects, thanks to proliferated Traditional Chinese

Medicine. Several massages and spas have been set up in recent times that provide

mental health and physical well-being to medical tourists with the help of Chinese

medicinal herbs. Wellness apartments are established for the purpose of serving

senior medical tourists. These well
ness apartments facilitate these tourists in

practising their own hobbies and also conducting medical activities like Taiji.

Germany

Germany’s alternative medical practices have their origins in Homeopathy, a

medical system that was developed by Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician.

Homeopathy considers symptoms as disturbances of vital forces that have

connection with the human body. Homeopathic advocators believe that this

medical system has the ability to cure acute diseases like flu, cold, pains, depression

and fatigue, constipation, irritability other than chronic diseases. It is claimed to

cure allergies and allergic disorders like Eczema and Asthma. Moreover, this

medical system is child friendly, in the sense, that the medication given by

homeopaths is sweet to the tooth and therefore acceptable. Homeopaths are known

for debonair and their hands free treatment of patients. They concentrate more

on the patient’s state of mind and attitude towards life. The preparation of different

potions in Homeopathy is done mostly with the help of herbs, minerals and

animal extracts. Also, it is often reasoned that since the dosage that homeopaths

prescribe is in such minute constitutions and because they come in dilutions of

substances like water and alcohol there is no chance of any side-effects.

Germany also stands famous for its herbal remedies. Regulated by Commission

E14 on the purity and pharmaceutical activity, these herbal medicines in Germany

have come a long way in preventing and curing many diseases like cancer, AIDS and

other serious ailments. Most physicians in Germany are required to be educated in

Alternative therapies, so that it serves complimentary to modern medical treatments.

As Mark Blumenthal, chairman of the American Botanical Council points out, “Most

of the clinical research that’s conducted on the leading herbal medicines in the United

States comes from Germany.”15

With more than 300 spa towns, Germany has become the premier destination

for health and wellness in Europe.16 One of the most famous resorts in Germany

is the Baltic Spa Resort in Warnemunde. Situated on the shore of the Baltic Sea,

it idealizes the sea as a “homeopathic pharmacy” and claims that “it contains all

important trace elements and has a similar composition to human blood”17 Sea water is said to have revitalizing effects in treating bodily ailments like respiratory

illnesses, sleep disorders and obesity. Other than these, mental disorders like

depression, anxiety and agony are claimed to be cured with the help of the sea.

Sea breeze is said to be specifically effective in treating cardio-vascular as well as

dermatological conditions. Major advantages that Germany faces are in terms of

both cost and quality. As Axel Steller, the CEO of the Arab German Health

Foundation points out, “In the US, operations are four to five times more expensive

as they are in Germany”.

Japan

Japanese medicine is known as Kanpo or Kampo, a herbal medicine that forms part

of well-researched modern clinical methods and also traditional methods of

medicine. A Japanese variant of the traditional Chinese medicine or the Oriental

medicine, Kanpo adheres to the body’s natural instincts and natural mechanism

of healing. For this purpose, medical treatment involves diagnosis of the tongue,

abdomen and pulse. At each stage of the treatment, different formulae that are

necessary to bring the body back to normalcy, are prepared by the physician.

These herbal medicines are regulated by the Japanese Government. Kanpo

medicine is used to cure many acute and chronic ailments like cardio-vascular,

respiratory, digestive, reproductive and dermatological conditions and immune

system corrections and even disorders like bedwetting, high cholesterol and

hepatitis. Though Kanpo therapies take longer than usual to work, this medical

system uses some very natural diagnosis and treatment methods and concepts

like water, blood and air to identify bodily symptoms. Also, it is claimed that

these herbal medicines produce no side-effects because of their natural

compositions. Japanese therapists of Anma visit countries like India and Singapore

to help in promotion of health tourism. Anma, a traditional Japanese massage, is

said to be a complete form of Shiastu19 that treats the body to release blood flow

in a proper manner to rejuvenate the body.

Apart from attracting tourists for its natural herbal medical treatments, Medical

tourism in Japan has become popular thanks to its volcanic areas that have allowed

the formation of some hot mineral water springs called Onsen. Japanese Onsen serve as places where the ailing can get alternative treatments to modern medical

practices. These have medicinal properties that heal wounds, alleviate pains and

replenish energy levels. Senior tourists and people suffering from many kinds of

aches and pains come flocking to these mineral water springs. The healing

properties of these springs are accentuated by the surrounding volcanic soil that

is composed of many minerals and curative elements.

Outlook of Medical Tourism in Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine is here to stay, claim some traditional medical practitioners.

Given its perceived advantages over the modern medical techniques and the expensive

western medicines, alternative medical therapy is gaining ground in many developing

as well as developed countries. Practices like Ayurveda and Homeopathy claim that

surgery may always be the last option in case of treatment of an ailment. Natural

medicines like herbs and minerals can all be partaken as food and not medicines as

such, since their composition is all natural. Alternative medicine is used in conjunction

with modern medicine to treat many chronic ailments like diabetes and AIDS. This

helps modern medical practitioners to evolve a closer relationship with the patient

and cure him to a greater extent, thus giving him a new perspective to life. It follows

that one should never overlook the disposition of the traditional cures suggested by

our ancestors. These provide a standpoint from where one can comprehend the

profundity of traditional and alternative medicine, and gauge the tremendous potential

of alternative medicine in medical tourism.

Please seek author’s permission for reprint. Send a reprint request to kirrti82@gmail.com.

References

1. www.hinduonnet.com

2. “Kerala”, www.takekerala.com

3. “Prospects of Medical Tourism in India”, www.mpiweb.org

4. “Medical Tourism push for Penang and Langkawi”, http://thestar.com.my

5. www.wikipedia.com