The Many Uses of Essential Oils
Essential oils extracted for therapeutic aromatherapy are potent natural remedies. These natural plant oils represent the life force of the plant. These extracted oils and aromatherapy can be very effective for many alternative medicine applications. Many common essential oils have medicinal properties that have been applied in folk medicine since ancient times and are still widely used today.
The oil is located in tiny secretory structures found in various parts of plants; leaves (eucalyptus), berries (juniper), grasses (palmarosa), flowering tops (lavender), petals (rose), roots (angelica), zest of fruit (orange), resins (frankincense) and wood (cedar).
The oils are captured by steam distillation, cold pressed or an alternative method called absolute. After the extractions, the oil is a highly concentrated liquid that contains the aroma and therapeutic properties if it’s source. The best essential oils are made up only of this oil extraction and nothing should be removed or added, especially if to be used for aromatherapy.
The chemistry of an essential oil is extremely complex This complex mixture of natural chemicals is what makes these oils such effective healing agents; for example eucalyptus oil is refreshing and invigorating – plus it is a very powerful antiseptic agent. This combination produces a unique set of therapeutic qualities.
The special oils have a wide range of healing properties that can be used effectively to keep you in the best of health as well as looking good. These health-giving benefits include improving the complexion of your skin by stimulating cellular renewal, fighting bacteria, fungi and other forms of infection and balancing your emotions. They re-establish harmony, revitalize systems and organs where there is a malfunction or lack of balance. They boost the immune system, making it strong enough to fight off the diseases attacking every day.
Essential Oils are absorbed into the body a couple of ways:
- When massaged into the skin, the aromatic oils are absorbed into the hair follicles and mix with sebum at the base. They are then diffused into the bloodstream.
- When the scent is inhaled, it enters the nose, moves to the lining of the lungs and is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.
Aromatherapy has an almost endless list of therapeutic uses. The essential oils can be applied by massaging or rolling onto the skin, diffused into the air, sprayed onto oneself or in the air or through candles or air fresheners.
There is a wide source of essential oils available. When purchasing look for organic oil product and ensure there are no additives to the product.
Stress and Acupuncture – How Does It Work?
Feeling stressed is very common but sometimes we are not consciously aware that we are stressed. However, if we listen to our bodies it is giving us very clear signals that it is under too much stress.
* Feeling angry, irritable, or easily frustrated
* Feeling overwhelmed
* Change in eating habits
* Problems concentrating
* Feeling nervous or anxious
* Trouble sleeping
* Problems with memory
* Feeling burned out
* Having trouble functioning in your job or personal life
If you are experiencing any of the following, it could be a sign that your body is under stress. Stress has been linked to health problems, including heart attacks and strokes. Being over-stressed can also lead to poor work performance, sleep issues, absent-mindedness and decreased interest in life.
In Chinese medicine, stress, anxiety and depression interrupt the smooth flow of Qi or energy throughout the body. According to Chinese medicine, our Qi flows through our body through meridians. Meridians can be thought of as a network of roads, almost like a highway system. Stress, anger or any intense emotions acts like a traffic jam, blocking the free flow of Qi or energy in the body. When our Qi is blocked, it can cause tension in the body because the blood is not able to flow smoothly. For example, many people complain of upper back, shoulder and neck pain when they are experiencing stress. This is because stress is blocking the flow of blood and energy to these areas which often leads to tension headaches in the back of the head.
Like a highway system, when there is construction or an accident, traffic gets back up on other secondary roads that feed into or out of the affected area. This is also true of our body as well. Stress can affect many other parts of the body and aggravate other health conditions. Acupuncture works to unblock areas of congestion so that your energy can flow smoothly and freely. Acupuncture points serve as on and off ramps to the energy highway and can help alleviate not only the symptoms of stress and anxiety but the actual stress and anxiety itself.
From a conventional viewpoint, acupuncture alleviates stress by releasing natural pain killers, endorphins, as well as oxytocin. Oxytocin signals the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest mode). In addition, acupuncture improves the circulation of blood throughout the body, which oxygenates the tissues and cycles out cortisol and other waste chemicals. The calming nature of acupuncture also decreases the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and relaxes the muscles. Sounds wonderful right? If you are going through a stressful time in your life and are looking for other ways to de-stress, acupuncture is a safe, effective and natural approach that can help you find that balance you so desperately need.
Can Acupuncture Help to Stop Overeating?
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment technique that involves the insertion of thin, sterile needles into particular points on the body. It has been used to provide individuals with relief from a number of ailments such as pain, stress and others. One area in which may also prove helpful is in helping individuals to stop overeating. Obesity has been on an upward trend in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC reports that “in 2009, only Colorado and the District of Columbia had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%.” When such a large portion of the population is struggling with obesity, finding ways to combat it is important.
Those who are struggling with obesity or other weight issues should first see their doctor to discuss their condition or problem. A recommended diet and exercise regimen may be provided, as these are some of the best ways to lose weight. There are plenty of diet scams and programs out there promising unrealistic results, so it is often best to thoroughly check into any program or pills by speaking with your doctor first. Also be sure to ask about how acupuncture may help with overeating. A treatment that has been in existence for thousands of years is hardly a fad, and it’s worth looking into for those who have a problem with overeating.
When used to help patients stop overeating, acupuncture may target the endocrine system to help metabolism. This system includes glands and organs aiding in the digestion of food, and through acupuncture, patients may see improved digestion. What’s more, acupuncture may be a great way to relieve stress. Some patients even go the extra mile and adopt a yoga routine as well. Simply exercising may be a good way to reduce stress, too.
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For some, stress may lead to overeating, and finding ways of managing stress or relieving it may be helpful. Those who are more relaxed may be less inclined to turn to ‘comfort foods’ after a stressful day at work or at home. Acupuncture involves restoring a balance to the body by targeting certain points. The idea is that by releasing positive energy, negative energy may be pushed out in the process. Poor diet, lack of exercise and stress may block energy according to practitioners of acupuncture, which may manifest in a number of ways. By releasing this blocked energy, the belief is that it will help patients relieve stress and overcome what is ailing them.
Acupuncture and Meridian Circuit Systems
A meridian based approach to acupuncture therapy seems like a standard necessity; however, the most common forms of pattern identification are not based on methods that emphasize the associations between the channels. While selecting meridians and points are part of any treatment strategy, emphasis is first placed on syndrome differentiation, and secondly on determining appropriate channels and points. This is a core foundation of Chinese medicine that allows acupuncturists to address root imbalances that underlie symptomatic expressions.
If we examine the most popular methods of syndrome differentiation we will find that they are based on symptoms that are grouped according to exogenous factors, the 5-elements, or the zang-fu organs. Although it is common to identify symptoms along meridians, it is less common to actually base pattern identification on a method that works almost exclusively with the relationships that exist between the channels. For instance, if a patient suffers from a headache in the temples one may conclude that the GB meridian is involved. After this it is common for the clinician to think in terms of zang-fu or 5-element imbalances; the headache may be identified as a liver yang pattern, or an excess of fire or wind, and this depends on what other symptoms are present. It is less common for the clinician to think in terms of the temple headache as being a symptomatic expression in the foot shao yang channel, and then arriving at a treatment strategy that is based on the GB meridians connection to the SJ, LV, and HT channels.
Though a clinician that uses zang-fu or 5-element methods of differentiation may ultimately use some of the same channels, their process of determining these meridians is different than someone that uses a channel based approach to pattern identification. The meridian based approaches that I speak of have been cited by several sources including the Nei Jing, the Shang Han Lun, Dr. Richard Tan, Master Tung, and Dr. Wei-Chei Young.
A channel based approach to acupuncture takes as its starting point the relationships that exist between the meridians according to their classical Chinese names, such as the connection between the hand and foot tai yang channels. Meridian based approaches also utilize the horary cycle, and recognize not only the time designations, but also the way in which qi moves sequentially through the circuit of the twelve regular meridians.
As we progress through the pages of the book we shall learn how a meridian based approach to syndrome differentiation coincides with conventional methods of pattern identification, and is grounded in the same theory that applies to the whole of Chinese medicine. We shall also find in this analysis that meridian systems theory is able to account for many of the enigmas in Chinese medicine, as well as offer solutions to some of the most challenging cases we encounter in clinic.
One such challenge is the frequency of patients with complex patterns. Unraveling the all too common cases that simultaneously have three or more patterns presents the clinician with many technical difficulties; namely, getting the client results before they give up on the treatments. With cases that present with multiple patterns it can be extremely difficult to determine the best course of action to take. Do we treat the root, the branch, or both, and how do we get the patient the quickest and most long lasting results?
After using a meridian based approach to syndrome differentiation and treatment for many years, I have found that this method helps to clearly define the most pertinent patterns of disharmony that are present.
As clinicians our primary responsibility is getting the patient results. As we progress through our diagnostic procedures we should remember that our client did not come in to be treated for liver qi stagnation overacting on the spleen and causing dampness and blood deficiency. They came in to be treated for their condition. Though it is vitally important to do proper pattern identification, the clinician must be careful not to be overly subjective in their analysis and questioning of the patient. For it is all too common for doctors to fall into their own subjective patterns, and arrive at a conclusion of ‘liver qi stagnation,’ without adequately understanding what is really going on.
The clinician’s inherent subjectivity often first reveals itself during the intake, and this often occurs by the way in which patients are questioned. As a result the clinician may actually unconsciously end up leading the patient into the doctor’s personal favorite box of pattern identification. I don’t know how many knees have been identified and treated as a kidney deficiency, yet left the patient still hobbling off with knee pain, but I can assure you this is all too common.
To assist the clinician in overcoming their own subjective tendencies I have found it crucial to ask the patient to prioritize their symptoms. A precise method for this has been developed and elaborated upon in chapter four, and it fits perfectly with the meridian based approach to pattern identification and treatment we will be discussing. When this system is employed it greatly assist in identifying patterns and developing precise treatment strategies.
Lastly, the techniques presented here are easily incorporated into all the common methods of syndrome differentiation that are used throughout the large body of Oriental medicine. Meridian systems theory integrates precisely with zang-fu, 5-elements, 8 principles, and all the other conventional methods of pattern identification. In addition, and more importantly, these methods will help any clinician to achieve greater clinical results and efficiency with fewer needles.
It is my greatest pleasure to present you with material that will better serve you and your clients needs.
What You Need To Know About UTI An Antibiotics
If you’ll indulge me for just a minute, I think it’s important to consider why we would want to look for a UTI home remedy in the first place. I mean what’s the big deal about doing to see a Dr.? Get a load of this. Below is the typical treatment for a UTI if you go to a doctor:
First choice is typically a single dose, three day course, or 7 day course of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, commonly called TMP-SMX (Bactrim, Cotrim, Septra). TMP-SMX combines an antibiotic with a sulfa drug. A single dose of TMP-SMX is sometimes prescribed in mild cases, but cure rates are generally lower than with 3-day regimens. Allergies to sulfa are common and may be serious. Uhh.. what? Seriously?
Second choice is Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, also called quinolones. However, in geographic areas that have a high resistance to TMP-SMX, quinolones are now the first-line treatment for UTIs. Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) is the quinolone antibiotic most commonly prescribed. Quinolones are usually given over a 3-day period. Pregnant women should not take these drugs.
Nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrodantin) is a third option. This drug must be given for longer than 3 days.
The problem with going to the Dr., is that they’ve been trained by an establishment.. a machine, that is programmed to think that popping a pill or getting a shot iis the only answer, that antibiotics are always the best answer. Well, antibiotics aren’t for everyone, and may not be the best treatment for a UTI.
One of the biggest problems with antibiotics (and there are a lot of problems with antibiotics) is that they’re non-discriminatory. Your body is a spectacular work of art suspended in a miraculous balance. Antibiotics frequently are like taking a wrecking ball to your body’s natural balance. There are LOTS of bacteria in your body and not all of it is bad. You may have heard the phrase “intestinal flora” which refers to the balance of natural bacteria in your stomach, digestive tract, and generally, your gut.
When you take antibiotics you really foul up your intestinal flora. You may have temporarily gotten rid of your urinary tract infection, but chances are you have introduced a whole host of new problems. Maybe the most relevant to your UTI is that diarrhea is one of the most common side effects of antibiotics. Why? Because the antibiotics have killed all the good bacteria that live in your stomach and aid in digestion along with the E. Coli you were trying to get rid of. What happens when you have diarrhea? You increase the presence of fecal matter and E. Coli!
Sounds like a vicious cycle huh? It sounds that way because it IS that way. Did you know that over 10% of the women who have a UTI will have a second within 6 months of treatment for the first UTI? The key is to find a natural, UTI home remedy.
Where Do Essential Oils Come From?
Where do all the essential oils come from? The simple answer is everywhere in the world. From around the corner to the a field in India and everyplace in between is where you will find the thousands of the essential oils available on the market.
Many of the essential oils which come from plants, trees, roots or types of grasses have a wide distribution across many continents. This is true with caraway, lemon balm, calendula, white birch, tarragon, celery, dill, cumin, lemongrass and hundreds of other essential oils.Then there are those other oils which are found only in a few areas such as sandalwood, lingonberry, cedarwood atlas, rosewood, citronella, peppermint eucalyptus, texas cedarwood, sweet birch, tea tree and hundreds more found all over the world.
All the essential oils that are cultivated such as lavender, rose, lemon, orange, ylang ylang, elemi, marigold, tarragon, parsley, dill and more than can be listed here were at one time wild harvested. Then when the demand increased for a particular plant and that type of plant was easily cultivated people began to grow the plants in large fields or groves.
There are some plant oils that do not do well being cultivated due to the growing cycle, slowness of growth or the susceptibility to pest infestation. These include rosewood, snakeroot, cajeput, peru balsam, myrrh and again many other plants & plant parts.
Except for the Antarctica essential oil plants are found on every continent on earth. The original uses of the essential oils throughout the world mainly had to do with health issues. The medicine man, shaman or healer did & still does use these indigenous plants to help heal and treat people of the tribe, town or general surrounding area.
In modern times there are the holistic practitioners, alternative Md’s and aromatherapists that utilize various essential oils to treat ailments from depression to gout and everything in between. Obviously you must do your own homework before relying on someone else to cure you. Look at the credentials of the practitioner before your entrust your future health to him or her.
Before you use an botanical oil please do careful research on the particular oil and it’s possible harmful effects. Just because it is natural does not mean it is safe! Two good reference books to use are “Essential Oil Safety by Tony Balacs & Robert Tisserand” and The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless”.
It is imperative that do careful research to ascertain which distilled botanical oils are beneficial and which may be potentially harmful. All people will not react the same to the various essential oils but the extremely dangerous oils should be avoided at all costs.
All the hype on the internet should be looked at with the eye of a skeptic because either the ads and sites are just plain wrong and are recycling old information or they are just trying to separate you from your money. Aromatherapy seems harmless enough but when these scents are released into the ambient air it goes into your lungs and throughout your body. Nothing is totally harmless especially compounds that enter the body.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
As we have discussed in the precious article, Jingluos are the energy pathways inside our body. Jingluos are Jings and Luos. Jings are meridians, they run longitudinally along the body, Luos are networks, they are the branches and sub branches. Since Jings are mostly discussed for general information, as a convenient term, we use meridians when we talk about Jingluos.
There are twelve main meridians (Jings). Each one belongs to one of the organs as their names indicated. They are: the heart, pericardium, lungs, stomach, spleen, kidneys, liver, large intestine, small intestine, bladder, gall bladder, and SanJiao. In Chinese medicine, Sanjiao is the container for all the organs. The names of them are very significant. Each contains four pieces of information: where, the nature (Yin or Yang), how much Yin or Yang, and which organ each belongs to. The twelve main meridians exist in pairs, symmetric about the centerline of the body.
They are:
1. Tai Yin lung meridian of the hands
2. Yang Ming large intestine meridian of the hands
3. Yang Ming stomach meridian of the feet
4. Tai Yin spleen meridian of the feet
5. Shao Yin heart meridian of the hands
6. Tai Yang small intestine meridian of the hands
7. Tai Yang bladder meridian of the feet
8. Shao Yin kidney meridian of the feet
9. Jue Yin pericardium meridian of the hands
10. Shao Yang Sanjiao meridian of the hands
11. Shao Yang gallbladder meridian of the feet
12. Jue Yin liver meridian of the feet
13. Conception vessel
14. Governor vessel
(13 and 14 are extraordinary meridians as introduced below)
Hands and Feet indicate the locations. Hand refers to the upper body and runs into the arm and hand. Foot refers to the lower body and runs from the upper body into the leg and foot. The Yin/Yang relationships between them can be complicated. But for common knowledge, we can have a general view like this: the amount of Yin/Yang ranges from large to small: Tai Yin larger than Shao Yin larger than Jue Yin; Yang Ming larger than Tai Yang larger than Shao Yang.
There are eight extraordinary meridians. Unlike the main meridians, they do not belong to any specific organs, but rather play very important roles in connecting the 12 main meridians. They support the main ones to help them realize their functionalities and regulate and balance energy and blood flows.
The centerlines of the body are the locations of the conception vessel and governor vessel. Their roles in regulating the energy flows are so critical that, they are grouped with the other 12 main ones and described as the 14 main meridians.
Each meridian has two hours of the most active time every day (only the 12 main ones). The hours are listed in the chart for each meridian. Theoretically, in most cases, it is best to work on it during its most active time, but this is not practical for those ones with an active time in the middle of the night. Therefore, for daily health care, you can do the work whenever you have the chance. For medical treatment purpose, follow your doctor’s advice.
A Natural Treatment For Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
This is one of a series of articles which discuss to what extent the human body can cure itself of serious illnesses, and how one can boost the immune system to aid this process. As I pointed out in another article, I am not a doctor and have no medical training. However, I am a patient with experience of serious illness and I, on the advice of my medical advisors, treated that illness by boosting my immune system in order that my body could fight off both the symptoms and cause of the illness.
Read my other articles for an account of how I conquered pancreatitis by drinking aloe vera juice. This drink helps in two ways: it is anti-inflammatory; and it has been proven to boost the body’s immune system.
Many digestive problems are the result of inflammation. One example is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) which affects 10-20% of the population. IBS is not a life-threatening illness, but the symptoms can force the sufferer into a change of life style. The symptoms are pains in the stomach; flatulence; an urgent need to use the toilet; and changing bowel habits, fluctuating between constipation and diarrhea. The need to use the toilet at short notice can lead to incontinence at worst, and will often mean that the person with irritable bowel syndrome will be reluctant to leave the house for fear that a toilet may not be available when needed. This can lead to depression. So, although the condition may not be life threatening, it can and does have a major impact on the patient’s life.
Diet can have an effect on IBS. It is recommended that those with IBS reduce their intake of insoluble fibre by cutting down on whole grains like brown rice and wholemeal bread; while at the same time increasing their intake of soluble fibre by eating more oats, barley, fruit such as apples and bananas, and root vegetables like potatoes and carrots.
Some foods can trigger an attack of irritable bowel syndrome. Eat less chocolate (sorry!); cut down on drinks containing caffeine; and drink more water – this will help if you have constipation. If you have bouts of diarrhea then avoid the artificial sweetener ‘sorbitol’. Eating more oats should help if flatulence is a problem.
Whilst individual doctors have met with success when recommending that a patient drinks aloe vera juice to combat IBS; a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial is needed before the medical profession generally accepts that aloe vera is a proven remedy to IBS. Such a trial is taking place at a hospital in Swansea, Wales. The trial is not yet complete and it will be a while before results are to hand. In the meantime, if you suffer from IBS you have nothing to lose by drinking aloe vera juice; there are no reported side effects.
New Research Shows Honey Fights Drug-Resistant Germs
Herbal ingredients and natural nutrients are often capable of supporting different functions within the body, and current research is showing that a certain kind of honey may be useful in fighting drug-resistant germs.
Honey has been used for thousands of years, but its medicinal popularity fell when antibiotics became the go-to treatment. Raw, natural honey contains a variety of antioxidants and enzymes, and also has antibacterial properties, which can be effective both internally and externally. Raw honey has historically been used on the skin because it contains an antiseptic substance called inhibine which may prevent infection. Manuka honey is a specific kind of honey cultivated from the Manuka tree (or tea tree), which is native to New Zealand. Tea trees have long been revered for their oil, which has anti-bacterial properties often used for skin conditions.
Microbiologist Rose Cooper of the University of Wales Institute recently studied the effects of Manuka honey on drug-resistant germs. The laboratory results showed that the honey fought off certain germs, including drug-resistant Staph, commonly referred to as MRSA.
MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a highly resistant form of Staph. Staph (Staphylococcus aureus) is a common germ found on the skin of most people and common surfaces. For those with weakened immune systems, Staph can cause serious infections such as skin or wound infections, pneumonia, or infections of the blood. The wide use of antibiotics has helped create MRSA, which is now harder to kill.
Previous studies have shown that Manuka honey decreases the surface pH of wounds (so germs can’t survive) and can help keep bacteria out. While all honey does contain anti-bacterial properties, commercial honey is usually pasteurized and processed, which decreases its beneficial properties. Manuka honey is special because it produces a different substance called methylglyoxal, which has unique antibacterial activity.
“The work in our lab has shown that honey can make MRSA more sensitive to antibiotics such as oxacillin – effectively reversing antibiotic resistance. This indicates that existing antibiotics may be more effective against drug-resistant infections if used in combination with Manuka honey,” says Cooper, who hopes to use her research in clinical trials and test other kinds of honey.
It’s so exciting to see research from around the world validating the use of integrative medicine — combining natural health solutions, such as honey, with traditional treatment, such as antibiotics. Substantiating a product’s health claims is the foundation for creating effective natural supplements.
Ways To Afford Holistic Care For Little To No Money
There’s no shame in being poor…I should know, I spent most of my life that way. However, lack of funds does make it more difficult to have access to self-care. More difficult, but not impossible. As an acupuncturist, I spend a lot of time talking about how we should all take care of ourselves, and how we are worth every penny it takes to maintain the mind, body, and spirit. And I mean every word I say, but I do realize that a $90 massage is not a priority when you need to clip coupons to afford the groceries this month. That massage might do you a world of good, but only if it is within financial reach.
What most people don’t realize is that therapies such as acupuncture and massage are no longer only accessible to those with expendable income. All you need to do is a little research to find these services at a fraction of the price.
The first thing you should do is sign up for coupon sites online, such as Groupon, Tippr, LivingSocial, Bloomspot, and Yipit….and these are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head! There are a ton of these sites out there, and they are a great way to experience services that might ordinarily be out of reach. When you sign up for these sites, there are daily deals sent to you which are a fraction of the regular cost. Just this week I found an acupuncturist offering a $70 treatment for $25, and a $110 facial for $35. You can also get huge discounts on restaurants, fitness classes, and almost any form of entertainment imaginable. It’s a great way to try something new for a minimal amount of money.
Another way to save money is to check out local schools. NESA, the acupuncture school I graduated from, charges much less because the treatments are done by interns (although they are all supervised by practitioners with years of experience). Cortiva is a massage school in Watertown where you can get a massage for around $25. They are also always running discounts, so you can keep checking their site for even cheaper massages.
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Community-style acupuncture seems to be cropping up everywhere now, and it’s a wonderful option for those who don’t mind being treated with other people around. In this set-up, rather than being treated individually, you are treated in a room with a number of other patients. Since you are in a chair, you won’t get extra adjuncts like cupping or moxa…but you will still get an effective treatment for minimal cost. Usually there is a sliding scale where you pick your own price (generally this scale ranges from $15-$40).
Lastly, practitioners in my field tend to do work gratis on a regular basis, so keep your eyes and ears open. Check the internet, look at the New England School of Acupuncture website, read the papers (especially the ones that are focused on holistic care). Many acupuncturists will host events where they give free treatments to teach the public about acupuncture. Be vigilant, and you will find ample opportunities to maintain your health and well-being in affordable ways.