Posted on 24 December 2009
Tags: acupuncture, laser, nicotine, quit smoking cold turkey, quit smoking support, smoking cessation, stop smoking, tobacco, zyban
If you don’t want a cigarette help quit smoking is what you need. Many people are tired of smoking and do not want to continue it. But their addiction drives them to continue to buy cigarettes. The nicotine in there blood stream will not let them just give up it grabs them with constant cravings until the person finally gives in.
Smokers often fight daily with their cravings for more and more nicotine. It is a substance that once in the body has an extremely difficult time letting go. People who have only smoked for a couple of months can still find quitting smoking to be extremely difficult. For those that have smoked for years and year, the idea of quitting smoking is two fold.
Heavy smokers have to fight against the nicotine addiction and try to become smoke-free over time. It is difficult for the body to rely on nicotine and then have to start functioning on less and less of it. But most heavy smokers find that a gradual cessation from the nicotine or tobacco works best for them. Becoming totally smokeless can often take several months.
The second part of quitting for, people who have smoked for several years, is the lifestyle changes that it will bring. For years the person has spent hundreds of dollars on cigarettes every month. They are now faced with a surplus of cash that can be hard to handle productively. Smokers also have developed habits or rituals that surround their smoking habit. These may include meeting friends at work during smoke breaks or going to a favorite bar to smoke and have a drink.
When the smoker is finally able to quit smoking their trigger spots will still be there. If there was a certain restaurant that they always smoked at it may be hard to eat there and not have a cigarette. These responses are normal and it does not matter if you quit smoking cold turkey or did it over a long period of time. The craving for nicotine can last years after a person has quit smoking.
It is important for a person who is trying to quit smoking to incorporate other lifestyle changes into their lives. If they normally meet for a smoking break twice a day it may be helpful to use that time to go for a walk. Smokers need to recognize their triggers and learn to avoid situations that are tempting to them.
Through monitoring of their environment and adjusting their quitting techniques it is possible for people at all smoking levels to quit. Quitting smoking may take a different amount of time for each individual and there is not RIGHT or specific program that can guarantee success.
A smoker that is aware of their triggers and is able to avoid them when necessary will have a better probability of quitting smoking and sticking to it. Millions of people every year try to quit smoking; it is a difficult thing to do. But extremely worth it for the people who do it.
Posted on 20 December 2009
Tags: acupuncture, back ache, nausea and vomiting, pregnancy
The drama of childbirth has been immortalized in media through scenes full of mixed emotions where the mother experiences labor pains as each contraction brings the child closer and closer to a new world outside the womb. Like those movie scenes, many women go through a difficult pregnancy which makes childbirth a complicated procedure.
Each pregnant woman’s labor pains is unique. No one can really tell what triggers it but knowing labor symptoms will help you understand what is to be expected. Having more information about giving birth will help the mother to better prepare herself psychologically and physically. Here are some important phrases and terminology related to labor and childbirth that every woman should know
Lightening when the baby settles deeper into the pelvis
Effacement – softening and thinning of cervix
Dilation – opening of the cervix
Vaginal spotting losing of mucus plug with bloody discharge
Nesting energetic urge to clean and organize baby’s things
Membrane rupture amniotic sac leaks or breaks before labor
Contractions – a sensation that your uterus is tightening and relaxing
Signs and symptoms are the woman’s body’s preparation for labor. But there is no clear-cut boundary between the body’s preparation and the actual labor process. Some women may have painful contractions for days without cervical changes while others feel only a little pressure or a back ache as the cervix gradually dilates.
Pre-term labor may be difficult to detect. Any signs or symptoms of labor before 36 weeks, especially if they’re accompanied by vaginal spotting, needs consultation with a physician. At term, labor will nearly always make itself apparent. However, if you arrive at the hospital in false labor, don’t feel embarrassed or frustrated. Just think of it as a practice run for the real thing is definitely on its way.
Most women consider relaxation exercises, breathing techniques or medication to manage the pains of labor. Some women want to give birth without the aid of drugs and consider complementary and alternative medicine to help them through the labor pain and delivery. Still, there are other choices which are non-traditional methods such as hypnosis, acupuncture, and reflexology.
Hypnosis is considered to be a focused state of concentration that allows the body to relax and helps guide one’s thoughts and control breathing. Hypnosis will not stop the pain of contractions but it will condition your mind to help you ride the wave of each contraction and trust in your body’s ability to give birth.
Learning self-hypnosis techniques, such as repeating positive statements to yourself, concentrating on vivid imagery or listening to a recording of verbal affirmations, may be acquired through private lessons or specialized childbirth classes.
Acupuncture is an ancient chinese practice based on the theory that energy flows through the body in channels known as meridians. Stimulating specific areas close to the skin, also known as acupuncture points, with hair-thin needles is thought to correct imbalances or disruptions in this energy flow. There’s a possibility that it may help treat nausea and vomiting of pregnant women as well as reducing labor pains depending on how the labor is progressing and the type of pain being experienced.
The practice of reflexology can be traced back to Egypt, China and India thousands of years ago. This method applies pressure to specific parts of the body, usually the soles of the feet, for an intended therapeutic effect on other parts of the body. Though scientists haven’t found evidence to support the theories of reflexology, some women find it helpful in relieving muscle tension and promoting relaxation during pregnancy.
It is said that applying pressure or strokes to specific points on the feet during labor somehow stimulates the pituitary gland to release hormones that speed labor and reduce pain.
Hypnosis, acupuncture, and reflexology may be promising methods to relieve pain during labor and delivery, but there is little scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of these approaches and more research is needed to determine whether these techniques can actually relieve labor pains and provide relief in childbirth.
Working with professional health care provider may help if any of these methods can be right for you. Combining complementary treatments with other methods of pain relief and medication should always be consulted with your doctor.
Posted on 06 December 2009
Tags: acupuncture, Edmonton, Edmonton yoga classes, homeopathy, iridology, massage, reflexology, weight control workshop
Albertas one of a kind wellness center featuring 7 therapeutic studios, an infrared sauna, healthy coffee and smoothie bar, storefront, classes, workshops and a beautiful, fully appointed seminar room. The system reduce Cellulite, improve skin tone and elasticity. Burn 600 or more calories per 30 minute session, cardiovascular support; Detoxify and cleanse your body.
Iridology iridodiagnosis is an alternative medicine method whose proponents believe that patterns, colors, and other characteristics of the iris can be examined to determine information about a patient’s systemic health. Practitioners match their observations to iris charts which divide the iris into zones which they correspond to specific parts of the human body. Iridologists see into your eyes, the body’s state of health.
Edmonton Reflexology is the physical act of applying pressure to the feet and hand with specific thumb, finger and hand reflexology techniques without the use of oil or lotion. It is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands with a premise that such work effects a physical change to the body
Albertas Zone therapy is the practice of massaging, squeezing, or pushing on parts of the feet, or sometimes the hands and ears, with the goal of encouraging a beneficial effect on other parts of the body, or to improve general health.
Edmonton Acupuncture has been a major part of primary healthcare in China for the last 5,000 years. It is used extensively for a variety of medical purposes ranging from the prevention and treatment of disease, to relieving pain and anesthetizing patients for surgery. As in many oriental medicine practices, the emphasis of acupuncture is on prevention. The highest form of acupuncture was given to enable you to live a long, healthy life.
You can attend in order to train both spiritual and physical human sides so you can be more satisfied and is also a perfect method of living a long, healthy, and happy life. Edmonton yoga classes means simultaneously healing, prevention, and maintenance and the essence is to control yourself.
Learn how to lose weight effectively and easily by using weight control workshop in order to eat what your body needs. Forget the fad diets This program will help you reprogram your behavior so you’ll maintain healthy habits for life. Expert advice from a nutritionist will guide you in choosing foods that satisfy both your mind and body. It can be done Find out how to eat well while eating healthfully.
Posted on 25 November 2009
Tags: acupuncture, low back pain, migraine headahces
For Mrs. Cooper, life in sunny California in her modest home has become a tug-of-war of aches and pains for this housewife of forty. A mother of five and at the same time managing a home business, she found it very challenging to keep a home and manage a business at the same time while suffering from lower back pains and migraine headaches. She tried using the traditional medicines prescribed by her doctor but it seems that these only provided temporary relief. One day, her cousin Meredith recommended that she try other alternative medicines to cure her ailments.
At first, Mrs. Cooper was skeptical since she knew that Meredith was into new age stuff like meditation, yoga, organics, herbal medicines, and vegetarianism. She felt she was entering into new, unfamiliar territory. But upon her cousin’s insistence, she tried this ancient Chinese practice called acupuncture.
Acupuncture is a procedure that treats illness through the insertion of needles at specific points in the body. This process is said to alter the body’s energy flow into healthier patterns and used to treat a variety of illnesses and heath conditions. According to the World Health Organization who acupuncture is an effective treatment for over forty medical problems such as chronic pain, headaches and those associated with problems like back injuries and arthritis. But it is limited in treating conditions like broken bones or that requires surgery.
IS ACUPUNCTURE SAFE?
Just make sure youre getting this treatment from a well-trained acupuncturist and that the acupuncture needles are sterile and disposable. Undergoing this kind of treatment is like receiving an injection. You only feel pain from injections if it is larger diameter and it is a hollow needle. While acupuncture needles are very fine and about the diameter of human hair. When properly inserted by a skilled practitioner, you won’t feel pain. However, you may experience a sense of electricity in the area of insertion. This kind of treatment for most patients find it relaxing and more often they fall asleep during treatment.
THE BASIC PHILOSOPHY OF CHINESE MEDICINE
Alternative Chinese medicine like acupuncture views the body as tiny part of the universe, and subject to universal laws of harmony and balance. The Chinese believe that emotions and mental states play a role in causing diseases. Illnesses are also affected by other factors like the environment, lifestyle, and relationships. Acupuncture is based on the Taoist philosophy of yin and yang and the chi. The chi, or cosmic energy, is an invisible force found in the air, water, food and sunlight. In the body, it is a vital force that creates and animates life.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN VISITING ACUPUNCTURIST
Like a Western medical practitioner, the first thing an acupuncturist will do is to get the patient’s medical history and symptoms. This will be followed by a physical examination. He or she will be looking closely at the patient’s tongue, pulse, complexion, general behavior, and other signs like coughs or pains. From this, the acupuncturist will be able to determine patterns of symptoms indicating which organs are imbalanced. Acupuncture needles are always sterilized and it is a safe procedure.
In most cases, acupuncture does work ad relieves pain by helping stimulate the release endorphins into the bloodstream.
Posted on 20 November 2009
Tags: acupressure, acupuncture, cravings, eft, emotional freedom techniques, energy, stimulants, sugar
Are you a sugar user? More and more people are resorting to high sugar drinks and snacks for a quick jolt of energy. But the trouble with using sugar for an energy boost, is that it sets up a roller-coaster effect that can soon become addictive and lead to health problems down the line. Recent research has revealed an acupressure point that boosts energy and alertness naturally and with no come down.
The Highs & Lows of using Sugar for Energy
Soon after a sugar fix you start buzzing with energy, but it’s a short lived boost that soon swings sharply the other way with an energy slump. If you address that slump by eating or drinking something else high in sugar, you’ll get that energy rush again, followed by another slump.
Using sugar for energy gives sporadic results at best, but there are health dangers too. Diabetes II is an ever increasing risk in a world where we’re rushing to get more done and fighting daily battles with stress and fatigue. Sugar increases insulin levels and raises blood triglycerides which increases the risk of developing late onset Diabetes.
Acupressure Energy Boost
Acupuncture and Acupressure share a network of vital energy points situated along meridian channels throughout the body. For thousands of years these points have been used to influence qi chi, the body’s subtle energy force, for a wide variety of physical and emotional benefits.
The University of Michigan recently finished an intensive study that set out to prove that acupressure can provide an effective natural energy boost. Lead researcher, Dr Richard Harris, explains “it acupressure seems to stimulate the nerves that moderate attention and alertness”.
Tapping the Sweet Spot
Students in the trial experimented with massaging five acupressure points for three minutes each. The most effective and stimulating point was the Si Shen Chong point, known to acupuncturists as one of the extraordinary acupoints HN1, and found right in the centre of the top of the head.
Participants in the trial found the most effective way to get a sugar-free energy boost, was to tap this point lightly with the fingertips for two or three minutes.
The point used in this trial is one of the extra energy points sometimes used in the EFT meridian points tapping sequence. The beauty of EFT Emotional Freedom Techniques is that it uses a series of potent acupuncture and acupressure points that not only give the body a natural energy boost, but can also be used to control addictive cravings for sugar and popular stimulants like caffeine.
EFT uses a set sequence of 12 acupuncture points known to give relief from a wide range of emotional and physical symptoms. As found in the University of Michigan study, results are easily and reliably achieved by tapping lightly on the acupuncture points with the fingertips.
Posted on 20 November 2009
Tags: acupuncture, angina, blood, cardiology, cardiovascular, chinese, cholesterol, circulation, hawthorn, herb, herbalist, high, hypertension, Medicine, point, pressure, prunella, stroke
In Chinese Medicine, many of the symptoms of high blood pressure, such as pounding headaches, dizziness, and pressure behind the eyes are often related to a pattern of Liver Yang Rising or Liver Heat. It is important to see a physician for proper diagnosis and supervision of high blood pressure, but acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine may also be useful for managing your condition. Certain herbs have been shown to have an anti-hypertensive effect. Certain other herbs have been shown to be useful for controlling cholesterol levels and improving cardiovascular function. Acupuncture has been shown to have a general relaxing effect which can be useful in stress related or essential hypertension. In addition, certain points are commonly used in the treatment of patterns that relate to high blood pressure.
One commonly used herb for symptoms and patterns related to high blood pressure is Tian Ma or gastrodia rhizome. Research in China has shown it to be useful in the treatment of symptoms related to high blood pressure such as dizziness, numbness of extremities, tinnitus, headaches, and pain behind the eyes. It may have a sedative and tranquillizing effect. It has been shown to have usefulness for renal hypertension and essential hypertension. Another useful herb is Ye Ju Hua or chrysanthemum flower, which has been shown to have a prolonged effect of lowering blood pressure through peripheral vessel dilation. It has also been shown to increase blood flow to the heart. Another herb that is used to clear Liver Heat and is commonly used to treat eye problems that may be beneficial for high blood pressure is Xia Ku Cao or prunella. Chinese research has shown that it has a moderate vasodilating effect. These herbs are often used in combination by practitioners of Oriental Medicine in the treatment of patterns related to high blood pressure.
Other herbs may be useful for improving heart and circulatory function. They may also help reduce cholesterol. Shan Zha, or hawthorn berries, have been shown to reduce cholesterol when taken for six weeks or more. It is often used in China to improve circulation and to treat angina pectoris. Another herb that is commonly used in China for cardiovascular problems is Dan Shen, or Salvia. It has also been shown to reduce cholesterol. It also may improve microcirculation in the body. In China, pills of Dan Shen are used in the treatment of angina and in the treatment of coronary heart disease. It also may help promote repair and regeneration of tissues by increasing the bodys metabolism.
Certain acupuncture points are also known to be useful in the treatment of patterns related to high blood pressure. Large Intestine 4 is a point that many people know can help to control headaches. It is on the back side of the hand in between the thumb and index finger. It is also commonly used point for blood pressure related patterns. Another point at the vertex of the head, Du 20, is also commonly used. An acupuncturist or Chinese herbalist always takes an inventory of symptoms, along with looking at a persons tongue and feeling a persons pulse in order to determine the specific combination of points and herbs that a person needs. Different people with high blood pressure are treated differently depending on the pattern they present.
During my time in China, I did clinical rounds in the cardiology department at the Chengdu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Modern drugs and diagnostic equipment were used hand in hand with Chinese herbs and acupuncture in order to treat conditions such as high blood pressure, angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmias, heart enlargement, and stroke. I even saw Chinese herbs, such as Dan Shen, being given in intravenous and in injectable form. The conditions were diagnosed using modern science and traditional Chinese diagnosis. Drugs were used for symptom control and for emergencies. As peoples condition improved with the use of Chinese herbs and acupuncture, their doctors slowly adjusted the dosage of drugs that they received. The results I saw were better than either form of medicine could have achieved alone. We do not have the benefit of experiencing such a deep synthesis of modern medicine and ancient techniques yet in the West. Nevertheless, I believe that as people learn more about the benefits of Asian medicine, we may someday come close to achieving a more integrated system of care in the West that will be more clinically effective, more cost effective, and result in fewer side effects.