Can You Cure Cancer With Holistic Treatments?

Cancer is a big problem for society. It’s one of those words that has been engrained in our subconscious – it puts us on edge just hearing it. That’s probably because it is responsible for the death of so many people every year. Just think about your own life if you are looking for confirming of that fact, if you don’t know someone who is either suffering from cancer or someone who has passed away because of the condition, you’re probably in the minority. Almost everyone knows someone who’s suffered from cancer, and the problem appears to be only getting worse.

 

But what can we do about cancer given the fact that it is a real issue. So many people have it and incidents are on the rise. We do have a number of effective treatments that can help to fight cancer once you have been diagnosed with the condition, but for some people the treatments are almost as bad as the disease. Chemotherapy is probably the most famous of all of the cancer treatments and the issue that many people have with it is the side-effects are well known to be very serious and can cause real issues for your wellness and wellbeing.

 

Chemotherapy is actually a very effective way of treating cancer and it can help to shrink tumours and make them very small. It can also help to stop the spread of cancer. But it is also well known as a having very drastic effects on the health of a person who has it. That’s the strange thing, people have chemotherapy to make them feel better, but in the short term it actually makes them far more ill. Chemotherapy patients generally lose their hair, have dry and sore skin and are prone to vomiting. This is generally because the therapy has trouble identifying the difference between fast-growing cancer cells and other fast growing cells such as those of your hair and skin.

 

So due to the problems that many people suffer with when they have chemotherapy, there is a large and growing number of people in society who are looking for alternative treatments for cancer, hoping that it can do the same good as chemotherapy does with the difficulties that come along with it. Many believe that there are holistic treatments and therapies that can do this job perfectly well. But this is where rational science has to disagree with them.

 

The truth is that almost all the current major holistic therapies that some people believe can help in the fight against cancer have been shown to have no measurable effect. This means that any benefit that people are getting out of them purely comes as placebo and only makes them feel better rather than making any difference in their illness. The number of people who use them merely get the feeling that they are improving because that it what they want to believe. The problem is that the cancer is still very much inside them, and the fact that they aren’t using standard treatments has only made the problem get worse more quickly.

 

The more that people are willing to believe these kinds of lies, the more people will get sucked in and have their lives shortened because they are denying themselves the proper treatment. It is very important to speak to your doctor before you attempt to fight cancer using any prospective treatments. They will be able to explain to you what you need to do and how the process needs to go if you are to fight cancer correctly.

Categories: cancer, chemotherapy, fight cancer, holistic, holistic treatments, nbsp, people, Treatments

Can Naturopathy Or Herbal Medicine Beat Cancer?

When we think about cancer and the ways to treat it, perhaps our first thought centres around chemotherapy and what it can do to help you fight off the disease. But in trying to resist cancer there are a number of different treatments that can be used. The problem that many people have is that they are highly damaging to you – in trying to battle the cancer inside of us we have to do serious damage to our bodies. This is generally because the medications and therapies used to fight cancer can’t tell the difference between the fast-growing cancer cells and other fast-growing cells of the body such as skin and hair cells. This is why so many cancer patients lose their hair or become even more ill during treatment.

 

So given that cancer treatments can be so bad for us, are there some other methods that we can use to help to fight off this terrible affliction that won’t be quite so harmful to us? The problem is that many therapies that claim to be able to help you fight cancer might seem like a good idea and sound reasonable from their marketing approaches, but the fact is that if they are not offered by doctors or hospitals, that means they have not stood up to science testing. In other words, there is no proof that they actually work.

 

There are a number of so-called holistic treatments that many people like to use in their attempts to get rid of their cancer. Many of these treatments do not claim to be able to beat cancer or even fight it by themselves, but they can supposedly help your body to deal with other treatments and recover more quickly. One of the most commonly used and popular of these is naturopathy. Clearly the human body has its own natural defences so it does make sense that if we can improve our own natural defences it will make us better equipped to deal with cancer.

 

In this sense, naturopathy could be very useful and may show us a way to better deal with the health problems that we have. Diet is an absolutely essential part of naturopathy. And the most critical aspect of the diet is cutting out any bad habits that you may have. This can include the excessive consumption of sweets or fizzy drinks. Indeed anything that is putting a large amount of fat or sugar into your body is naturally going to be bad for you and should be removed from your diet to give your body the best chance of fighting off this very serious disease.

 

Of course, the other aspect of cancer treatment that we might not immediately think about is prevention. Of course this is no good for people who already suffer from cancer, but for those people for whom cancer could always creep up on, it’s worth cutting out any of the potential risks to your health. Just ask anyone who is currently suffering from cancer and they will be able to tell you exactly why you shouldn’t take the risk.

 

There are many things that can put you at a greater risk of developing cancer and sometimes it can be hard to keep track of exactly what you should be doing and what you should be avoiding. Nevertheless there are some clear things that have been shown to put you at a much higher risk of cancer. These include smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol and a putting any other toxins into your body such as drugs. Avoid these and you’ll be in a much better position.

Categories: beat cancer, body, cancer, excessive consumption, Fight, fight cancer, holistic, natural defences, naturopathy, nbsp, Treatments

IV Vitamin Therapy: Is It Really Necessary For Our Health?

In the world of health and fitness, there seems to be a new craze every other day. But how many of them do we really need, and are they doing our health any good? The latest to join the ranks is IV Vitamin Therapy in which vitamins and nutrients are quite literally fed through to the body via an IV drip. The practice itself isn’t anything new – it was developed around 50 years ago by a Baltimore Doctor naked John Myers for treating fatigue and depression. But in modern day medicine, the popularity has increased and seen a resurgence of late in people creating their own cocktail of nutrients to drip feed into their bodies. Wellness enthusiasts claim that the procedure delivers nutrients directly into the bloodstream and supercharges your energy levels and immune system. Whatever ails you can supposedly be treated with this practice, from digestive complaints or sleep problems, with everything from vitamin D and folic acid flooding your veins to injectable vitamin C. But one of the main reasons why it has become so popular of late is the rumour that it could be a fantastic anti-ageing weapon.

 

There have even been reports by some people that, in place of Western medicines, this works as a way of improving the success rate in couples conceiving. In fact, IV drips are so ubiquitous in Los Angeles that you can get one along with your facial. But is this simply a holistic fad that joins the pile with crazy diets and anti-ageing remedies we now balk at? It seems that this is something altogether different from such magazine fodder.

The process is incredibly high tech, using equipment that measures bone density and takes ultrasounds. Your initial visit will require a look at the body as a collection of parts rather than one machine, making the treatments tailored to your specific needs. Most doctors will need to get a comprehensive look at your body and ailments before going straight in with the needle. Everything from your family history to your sex life will be included so that the physician can get a thorough look at your health as it currently stands. Including the initial consultation and then regular weekly injections, this isn’t a cheap service, heading well into the hundreds for this health-boosting therapy. From the first go, you may feel slightly groggy which your physician will warn you of, rather than the bolt of energy you may be expecting. But that will change – after a couple of hours, when you begin to exercise, work or go about your daily tasks, you’ll notice that you have far more energy than you usually do.

You’re able to go that extra mile without feeling drained because of it. And as you get more of this vitamin-rich therapy, the benefits improve all the while. Your fatigue levels will drop, you’ll have boundless energy and you’ll notice your skin becomes more plump and glowing. This isn’t vitamin popping in the same way that you do when you purchase a pot of multivitamins in the supermarket. These are pure grade vitamins which really make a difference. You’ll be more alert, your concentration levels will go through the roof and your appearance will really benefit. If the reviews are to be believed, then you’ll find that IV Vitamin Therapy becomes more popular by far – time will tell if it catches on in other parts of the world, following the example of top LA medical centres.

Categories: anti ageing, energy, health, holistic, iv vitamin, ll notice, New Treatment, nutrients, therapy, vitamin, vitamin therapy, vitamins

What Is Holistic Therapy And Can You Try It At Home?

Complementary therapy is usually used to treat people who are suffering from a medical condition. They may or may not also be receiving traditional medical treatment in a hospital at the same time. Complementary therapy usually focuses on treating the patient in a holistic way, that is treating the whole body and soul of the person rather than focusing on the specific area that is giving concern.

 

Often these therapies have the added benefit of being relaxing, and can help to reduce stress and improve wellbeing at the same time as treating any specific wellness issue. Aromatherapy can be part of this, as the oils used in the process can serve the dual purpose of treating the ailment with their chemical properties and making the person feel relaxed, too. For example, lavender oil is often used to help people sleep, because it contains high levels of esters, which are used as sedatives. What most people don’t know, however, is that they also can be used as a pain reliever due to their analgesic properties. There are also different qualities and strengths of lavender oil, and therapists will use different ones depending on your specific health complaint.

 

This is different to beauty therapies, which are not carried out in a clinical environment and are mainly used to help people look better or simply for relaxation, without any tailoring to make them specific to any health conditions.

 

Therapeutic massage is also often used in complementary therapies, and these involve specific techniques such as deep tissue massage or other types such as lymphatic drainage massage, to help with specific medical conditions.

 

These hands-on techniques vary from a gentle and relaxing massage to a deep and thorough massage, which treats specific muscle problems and tightness, and may be less relaxing and more invigorating.

Categories: complementary therapy, conditions nbsp, holistic, Home, lavender oil, massage, nbsp, people, specific, therapy, treating

The Best Holistic Ways to Help You Beat Your Depression

Depression is a serious mental/emotional health condition, which leaves the sufferers unable to lead a normal lifestyle and maintain good levels of wellness. It occurs when the human brain is unable to produce enough of a hormone called serotonin, which is the hormone responsible for keeping your mood elevated and maintaining your sense of wellbeing. When this hormone is lacking, the sufferer can be plunged into depression, leading to symptoms such as appetite changes, fatigue, inability to relax, insomnia and suicidal tendencies. This condition can be hereditary or it can result from a time of trauma or tragedy.

 

The holistic approach to curing depression involves various forms such as oils, herb supplements, teas and tinctures. As with all alternative forms of medicine, however, you should consult your doctor for standard medical advice too, and make sure that whatever you are taking complements your medication.

 

One example of a complementary depression medication is 5-HTP or hydroxytryptophan, which is extracted from a plant called griffonia simplicifolia. This helps to produce extra serotonin in the brain, and improves mood, appetite and sleep. This is a very common herbal way of treating depression and is thought to be very effective. A dose of around 50mg is normally taken up to three times per day, but it cannot be taken with other antidepressant medications or medication for migraines, blood pressure or Parkinson’s.

 

St John’s Wort is also used in the treatment of depression, and the extracts are used in antidepressant drugs. There are ten active ingredients in the herb, which work on the neurotransmitters in the brain to stimulate them to produce the ‘feel good’ hormones. It is most effective for treating mild to moderate depression, and the usual dose is 300mg three times per day. There are some side effects associated with this one, however, such as weight gain and a reduction in sex drive.

Categories: Brain, cures, depression, holistic, hormone, nbsp, produce

How Does Traditional Chinese Medicine Differ from the West?

The problem with the term “complementary wellness” is that it implies a certain “add-on” element to health practices; sure, they may help, but only on top of proper Western medicine. However, there are several ways in which the Eastern view on medicine is completely different to the way that, here in the UK, we look at the subjects of health and wellbeing. This is certainly the case when it comes to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

 

According to the tradition, diseases and unbalances within your body are connected to its energetic patterns and features. In most cases, a disease is seen as directly related to a disturbance in one of your vital organs. A traditional Chinese doctor will take a holistic approach to diagnosis, taking into account every aspect of you as a person. This means analysing your emotional patterns, activity levels, nutritional intake and lifestyle. As you can see, there’s no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” treatment in Oriental Medicine.

 

The same can be said of Chinese Dietary therapy; everyone is different, and so in order to use nutrition to restore your wellness, your TCM doctor will have to look at your specific condition and constitution in order to determine the foods that will work the most effectively. Whereas a Western doctor or wellness expert will evaluate foods for proteins, calories, carbohydrates, vitamins, and other nutritional contents, in TCM takes this one step further; analysing the energetic properties of food like energy, flavour and movement.

 

Chinese Dietary therapy is seen as the primary solution for disease prevention, as well as restoring your body’s vitality and general wellbeing. However, while TCM principles are based on the inner workings of individuals, there are a few basic Eastern principles and recommendations that you can apply to your lifestyle, no matter who you are:

 

1. When possible, eat local and organic food.

 

2. Eat according to your constitution, i.e. don’t eat really cold foods if you’re always cold.

 

3. Avoid processed foods and try to eat foods in their whole form.

 

4. Don’t deprive yourself of a nice treat, but try to maintain a healthy wholesome diet most of the time.

Categories: chinese dietary, Chinese Dietary Therapy, Chinese medicine, dietary therapy, holistic, Individual Treatment, nbsp, traditional chinese

How Food Affects Your Wellness: The Basis of Naturopathy

No matter how much faith you place in Western medicine, sometimes it just fails to get the job done. After a while of syrups and pills, you may find yourself turning to alternative or complementary wellness, and this is where naturopathy comes in. This is a completely natural and holistic approach to your health and wellbeing, without the dangerous side effects of constant drug use.

 

Naturopathy has been around for hundreds of years and was first introduced here in Europe in the 19^th century. It works on the basic thinking that your body has everything it needs to heal itself, such as your immune system and disease-fighting fluids. According to naturopathy, the foods you eat pollute an otherwise healthy and safe environment – your body – and this is when your wellness starts going haywire. However, naturopathy tackles this discord with a combination of herbal medicine, homeopathy, nutrition, hydrotherapy, exercise therapy, physical therapy, lifestyle and counselling.

 

There are several diseases and ailments that naturopathy can deal with, including headaches, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, weight problems, arthritis and menstrual disorders. Let’s look at how it works in just three of these conditions:

 

1. Cholesterol – An increase in cholesterol is recognised by naturopathy as the culprit behind cardiovascular diseases, and so practitioners target this by offering a programme of dietary modification. This means you are advised on what foods to eat and avoid.

 

2. Abdominal diseases – Again, this is where a natural nutritional programme can lead to a solution, under the beliefs of naturopathy. Whether you suffer from constipation, obesity, piles, hernia, appendicitis or ulcers, practitioners believe that these disorders are linked to your body’s intake of fat and fibre content, and so will aim to treat all abdominal diseases in this way.

 

3. Headaches – Everyone gets the odd headache now and again, but the reasons behind them (and their severity) have a wide range. It could be something as simple as bad food and drink habits, anaemia or a lack of sleep, or there may be a bigger underlying problem involved, such as a tumour. However, naturopathy will often turn to digestive disturbances as a major cause of headaches, and so will concentrate on bowel elimination, stomach wash and hot compresses on your neck and feet. According to naturopathy, you’ll automatically find relief if you rest in a quiet and dark room, and fast with only fruit juices for two to three days.

Categories: abdominal diseases, diseases, Food, headaches, holistic, naturopathy, nbsp

Could You Find Balance with an Ayurvedic Massage?

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian holistic medical system based on achieving physical and mental harmony with nature. The 5,000-year-old complementary wellness therapy is made up of different things to improve your health, wellbeing, behaviour and state of mind, including diet, Yoga, massage, detoxification, herbal remedies, meditation and daily lifestyle. So Ayurveda, then, isn’t just a therapy; it’s a way of life.

 

This is according to the award-winning Ayurveda Pura in North Greenwich, where journalist Martha De Lacey recently visited for the first time. According to De Lacey, ‘Some two-thirds of the way into my decadent session on her massage table, my consciousness suddenly plummeted into the most delicious state of sleep, prompting my leg (as body-parts are prone to do when slipping out of wakefulness) to involuntarily spasm… kicking the good doctor in the face. It is testament to the power of her soothing hands and flawless technique that I managed so completely to leave life’s stresses at the door of her North Greenwich day spa and drift off.’

 

De Lacey explained, ‘Unlike a deep tissue massage, a Swedish massage or a sports massage, an Ayurvedic massage is a gentler, smoother, more sensory experience. Instead of pumelling knots, cracking joints and bending elbows the way they aren’t meant to bend, Dr Deepa slathered my whole body in comestible, herb-infused oils (in Ayurveda nothing is put on your skin that cannot be put in your mouth) and swept her palms over me, her hands never leaving my skin. Her touch – coupled with the soft, plinky-plunky music, the warm, dark room and the soft bed – sent me drifting off into sleep. Hence all the kicking.’

 

But what’s the point of it all? In Ayurveda, everything in the universe – including humans – are seen as composed of five basic elements: space, air, fire, water and earth. Ayurveda combines these elements into Vatta (air and space), Pitta (fire and water) and Kapha (water and earth) and while you have all three forces within you, the concentration of each force makes up your Prakriti, or your constitution. Illness is therefore seen as an imbalance of your elements, and Ayurveda aims to restore balance and reinstate health through massage. As De Lacey commented, ‘In other words: massages are essential. This is my kind of belief system.’

Categories: holistic, massage, Prakriti

Could You Find Balance with an Ayurvedic Massage?

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian holistic medical system based on achieving physical and mental harmony with nature. The 5,000-year-old complementary wellness therapy is made up of different things to improve your health, wellbeing, behaviour and state of mind, including diet, Yoga, massage, detoxification, herbal remedies, meditation and daily lifestyle. So Ayurveda, then, isn’t just a therapy; it’s a way of life.

 

This is according to the award-winning Ayurveda Pura in North Greenwich, where journalist Martha De Lacey recently visited for the first time. According to De Lacey, ‘Some two-thirds of the way into my decadent session on her massage table, my consciousness suddenly plummeted into the most delicious state of sleep, prompting my leg (as body-parts are prone to do when slipping out of wakefulness) to involuntarily spasm… kicking the good doctor in the face. It is testament to the power of her soothing hands and flawless technique that I managed so completely to leave life’s stresses at the door of her North Greenwich day spa and drift off.’

 

De Lacey explained, ‘Unlike a deep tissue massage, a Swedish massage or a sports massage, an Ayurvedic massage is a gentler, smoother, more sensory experience. Instead of pumelling knots, cracking joints and bending elbows the way they aren’t meant to bend, Dr Deepa slathered my whole body in comestible, herb-infused oils (in Ayurveda nothing is put on your skin that cannot be put in your mouth) and swept her palms over me, her hands never leaving my skin. Her touch – coupled with the soft, plinky-plunky music, the warm, dark room and the soft bed – sent me drifting off into sleep. Hence all the kicking.’

 

But what’s the point of it all? In Ayurveda, everything in the universe – including humans – are seen as composed of five basic elements: space, air, fire, water and earth. Ayurveda combines these elements into Vatta (air and space), Pitta (fire and water) and Kapha (water and earth) and while you have all three forces within you, the concentration of each force makes up your Prakriti, or your constitution. Illness is therefore seen as an imbalance of your elements, and Ayurveda aims to restore balance and reinstate health through massage. As De Lacey commented, ‘In other words: massages are essential. This is my kind of belief system.’

Categories: holistic, massage, Prakriti

How Yoga and Panchakarma Can Give You Inner-Peace

We have all heard of the idea of medical schools, but for a course based in California, something new has recently shifted its way into the scope of medicine. Established in 1995, The Ayuvedic Training School, known for its practice in massage and body therapy, is a training programme for students who are studying the arts of panchakarma, who want to delve a little deeper into the ways of bodily, mental and spiritual stimulation.

Panchakarma, also known as “five actions”, is a holistic cleansing and rejuvenating program that reverses the negative effects of daily life. Furthermore, it attempts to act as a mental and physical detox that leaks away potential causes of stress and chronic diseases later in life. Overall, it acts like a lubricant for bodily functionality. It is apparently one of the few treatments that cover the levels of mind, body and consciousness that approaches the individual in a unique method, of which is tailored specifically for their own, personal treatment.

Ayurveda takes this one step forward and partners itself alongside traditional methods such as Yoga. Yoga provides an equal balance of deep-mind relaxation whilst providing an excellent foundation for physical exercise. The hands-on lesson teaches and enhances the use of techniques such as abhyanga (Ayurvedic massage), shirodara, svedana (herbal steam treatment), basti (enema) and nasya treatments as well as discuss issues related to the daily practice of panchakarma.

Supposedly, this natural, safe technique is entirely under the patient’s control, whether it is a lifestyle adjustment, a type of healing process or a new method in Yoga.

It advertises a complete state of well-being, with vitality and mental clarity at your every whim. The advanced, 45-hour panchakarma program is a lasting experience, with the extra session behaving as a complimentary add-on in order to enhance the healing process to cope with the stresses and anxieties of daily life.

The only side-effects, they reassure, will be positive ones.

Categories: holistic, mental, physical, spiritual, yoga

Mind and Spirit: The Erotically-Charged Journey of the Body

The carnal aspects of life are as natural to us as food and breathing, but few realise that our emotions and even our spirits are reliant on our sensuality. For this reason, a set of daily meditations can be beneficial for you and your partner to set you on a path to spiritual and sexual enlightenment whilst forming a psychological pattern that you can sink comfortably into.

Sensations

You are born with 5 senses – in sex, the most prominent one will be touch; but where do the rest fit in? If you have ever sat back and enjoyed an erotic novel, then the senses of touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight all seem to be embraced by the main character. There is more truth in those trashy tales than you may think and it can help to boost your sex life to new, daring extremes. The more that you practice, the less fearful you will feel:

• Familiarise yourself and your partner with your erogenous zones.

• Use all five senses during sex.

• Pick one of your senses to focus on during sex – introduce a new fragrance or discover your lover’s scents.

Security

We have all heard the tragic tales of the people that seem to have everything going for them, only for them to casually throw it away. Whether we feel anger, disgust, jealousy or insecurity, feeling self-confident is one of the greatest feats that you can accomplish. We feel the discomforts that we may be forgotten, abandoned or treated indifferently before, during or after your relationship, but this never has to be the case. During sex, feeling safe within yourself and in the course of your relationship is important.

• Are you the damsel in distress or the one in control? Do others give you security? In what form? Does this devalue either of you?

• Release yourself from the bondage of using others to feel safe. Write an inventory of all the ways you seek out security, and how each has worked out for you.

• What makes you face each day? What are your strengths? Use them to find your way towards inner-peace. Self-reflection is an excellent motivator in sex, relationships and spiritual life.

Health

It’s not uncommon that any sexual health issue is treated singularly, rather than across any other bodily category, but the truth is that any health problem can impact on your sex life. Those that have health issues should not restricted sexually, regardless if it’s psychological, genetic or otherwise – everyone deserves a deep, sexual connection with those that they care about.

• We can express deep sexual energy with a partner without getting physical. If your partner has health issues or is ill, you can still radiate erotic energy toward their inner being. Affirm sexual health regardless of the external circumstances.

• Restoring your sexual health might include examining your sexual history, as you would review your medical history for a physician. Twelve-step programs often require a sexual inventory as part of the healing process. An online search will guide you to complete your own version of a sexual inventory.

• For medical problems, you find the right specialist. What sexual issues recur in your life today, and where would it be most sensible to go for help?

Mind and Spirit: The Erotically-Charged Journey of the Body

Categories: healthy sex life, holistic, meditation, sex life, spiritual

Vinyasa Yoga and Health: The Subtler Side

Ten years ago, the practice of yoga tumbled into my life and never left. I had already spent years modifying my diet and performing cardiovascular exercise from an initial desire to be thinner; over time, I learned that there were other valuable benefits to exercise that I came to want even more. Energy! Focus! Mood boosting! And above all, the power to fight stress of all kinds – work; family and friends; anxiety and depression; major life decisions and changes.

 

Yoga took this revelation to a new level; I gained a deeper, more subtle, and more powerful experience of improving my own health. It brought together an awareness of the body and the mind, something I knew I loved – but also introduced the heart. Pattabhi Jois said that “Vinyasa” means “to place in a special way.” This can be attributed not only to careful alignment of our bodies on the mat, but to exploring our thoughts and the effects they have on us; choosing carefully when we express how we feel. With careful attention to the movements of our mind and heart via linking breath to asana, we can explore and refine how we see and hold ourselves, as well as how we relate to the world. As we learn to become more easeful in postures, we also develop an internal capacity for comfort with our external lives and who we are in them.

 

I would like to highlight three ways in which I’ve found Vinyasa yoga can become a playground for well-rounded, healthful living:

 

Strength. We learn to specifically align our bones so that we can derive optimal use of our muscles. We pull energy into our bodies to stabilize, ground, and center. This helps us endure longer holds, as well as retain our focus when we’d much rather leave the pose. This training in endurance can further allow us to diligently stay with feelings that are uncomfortable. Instead of pushing them away, we courageously “stay in the fire,” diving deeper into what is scary, and get to understand our fears better. Creating a solid, secure center is the foundation for developing receptivity to exactly how we show up, in all our forms, light and dark. We have to practice in order to build our mental and emotional “muscles” as much as the ones just below our skin.

 

Flexibility. The most commonly accepted reason to practice asana today is to find more physical flexibility. We make our muscles more pliable so that we can move through our daily tasks with ease and comfort. The same is true for softening our rigid thinking about “right” and “wrong” ways to tackle problems. We can get creative and find more nuanced, unique, and appropriate ways of handling life. We practice a sense of grace as we flow from one posture to the next, without holding on to how it should feel or look, and in the same way we can find a fluidity in our response when the universe hands us something we wouldn’t have chosen for ourselves – a sudden financial struggle, an unexpected death of someone near to us, an illness that prevents us from carrying on as we’d planned. We find acceptance – whether it be of the uncooperative body part or the emotionally taxing family member – and soften into the truth that we must relinquish control where it cannot be held, that our own response is where the work belongs.

 

Connection. One definition of yoga is to “yoke.” This can be thought of in a few ways, one being a relationship between our bodies, our thinking, and how we feel. On a gross level we may realize that sitting in a slouched position at work reduces our physical capacity to breathe and subsequently drains us of our energy and motivation. We are left feeling sluggish and foggy, or over longer periods even depressed. On a subtler level, yoga shows us that we often round the shoulders down and forward as a way of shielding the heart from pain. Opening and lifting the chest, allowing space for our breath and life force to flood and move us, can ultimately be the path to shedding our armor, healing our wounds.

 

Another way to think of connection is in the context of our relationships. The internal work we do to become stronger, softer, and more responsive to ourselves translates directly to treating others with the same love-filled respect. We extend a sensitivity and empathy to others. And when others hurt us, we can retain our stability and fluidity in the face of pain. This is where we practice yoga off the mat – through the repeated experiences of relating, loving, and being hurt. We are patient and willing, but know when to firmly, courageously put ourselves first. We are vulnerable and intimate, bringing richness to our relationships. We give equal space to sadness or anger as we do to joy and love. We become resilient. We grow. Sounds like health to me.

 

Yoga helps us step into a deeper listening, to ourselves and others, so that we may be more efficient with our energy and relaxed in our experience. After some time spent with the practice, a lithe body, improved heart function, and injury prevention (among a host of other benefits) seem to be the cherry on top.

Categories: complementary wellness, energy, holistic, nbsp, nbsp yoga, practice, vinyasa yoga, ways, yoga

How to Grab Those Early Mornings

If you have seen and scowled at films and television shows that show Disney-esque characters jumping out of bed (or, annoyingly, into song), then it may have passed as something of a curiosity. How do they manage it? For night owls and night-walkers alike, the concept of an early morning is as familiar to us as a steak is to a vegetable.

For the early starters in the morning, the ball game is even harder as the snooze button goes and your inner-zombie emerges, hung over from the consistent moonlighting.

So if you have to be an early starter, how can you throw out the night-walking zombie and embrace our overtly cheerful Snow White side?

Grab some Sleep: It’s not as simple as it sounds, but set up a time and the number of hours that you need to sleep. It’s your body’s time to rest and your brain’s moment to grab oxygen – you can’t live without either, so look after it! Whilst there is a lot of information online about sleeping, the recommended time to rest is between roughly 9 p.m and midnight. Depending on your schedule, build up a routine around those times.

Don’t Hit the Snooze Button. Stand up: The inner-zombie comes out when the loud noises happen. One tap on the snooze alarm, roll over. Bang goes your day. Instead, put your alarm clock away from you – stick it on the other side of the room if you can to encourage you to pull yourself out of bed and onto your feet. Don’t delay what is inevitable.

Pick Out a Motivating Sound for Your Alarm: Your day doesn’t have to be greeted by the inane sound of beeping. Let it be a sound that you will enjoy, something that will motivate you, whether it’s a pleasant sound, your favourite music or hey, just the radio. Wake yourself up with something that you like, rather than hate.

The Power of Gratitude: When your feet settle on the floor, think of what you’re grateful for. It could be something simple, to something profound – switch your attitude from resentment to content in one fell swoop.

Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To: Whilst it’s true that your day can’t be made out of champagne and red carpets, there will always be something in your day that can make you smile. Maybe it’s that long-planned date or something that you’re planning to buy – maybe it’s that film that you’ve always wanted to see. Either way, make it something to work towards and energise you – it’s going to make you happy!

Plan Your Clothes Before Bedtime: Being prepared always leads to confidence and comfort. There’s nothing worse than tumbling into a closet looking for a missing sock.

Have a Routine: Structure your mornings to reduce stress. Think of what you need to do the day before. You’ll be out of the door, ready and prepared before you’ve even realised.

Drishti: In Yoga, the term “drishti” means “eyes at one point”. Use your gaze to keep yourself calm and focused, without attempting to multitask. More haste, less speed.

Whilst in reality, these tips may not be your goblet of earl grey, you can definitely attune them to your lifestyle or situation. The simplest actions tend to be the most effective – and whilst they seem troublesome initially, it becomes surprisingly easy. Give it a try – you might surprise the dreaded inner-zombie or more importantly, yourself.

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How to Grab Those Early Mornings

Categories: complementary, early mornings, holistic

Complementary Medicines Make A Comeback

Traditional and complementary medicines are becoming more and more popular in the world today. The fact is that a lot of them really do show benefits to patients. These benefits tend to come without the crippling side affects which can accompany pharmaceutical treatments. Quite often a patient would rather take a slight change on a treatment not working, then try again. This is because a lot of the more powerful treatments on the market today have symptoms which are on par or actually a lot worse than the conditions which they treat!

A lot of people are pro one thing or against the other. There are people who believe totally in the more holistic and alternative methods and will shun medicinal treatments. There are others who scoff at the benefits of traditional treatments and only ever take the pharmaceutical option.

As with all things in life, moderation is key here at Yourwellness we’re committed to being your unbiased and informative friend in health and wellbeing. We’re not here to talk you into what’s best for us, we’re here to work out what’s best for you and your health. When you’re dealing with chronic or potentially deadly conditions then a dual treatment of medicinal and alternative therapies may be your best option.

Arthritis has a wide array of alternative treatments which should be tried for their effectiveness on you. While you’re trying these you should take whatever drug your doctor prescribes you. This way you’re getting all you can on the holistic side and looking at making your body stronger and less susceptible to your condition. But you can also get all the benefits of the medicines which have been tested and shown to be effective.

Never consign yourself to just one thing when it comes to treating yourself. Your health will always need more than just one thing to ensure its safety. It’s up to you to find a balance between the options and pursue it for your own benefit.

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Complementary Medicines Make A Comeback

Categories: Alternative, complementary, holistic

If you are really ill, the first thing you do is go to your Doctor or straight to hospital. No-one should doubt the benefits of modern medicine; we are all living longer, healthier lives and the risk of dying from major illnesses has lessened considerably over the years. Modern medicine is excellent at treating the problem, stopping the pain, removing the malfunctioning organ or killing bacteria. In many of these cases modern medicine really saves lives. However, it tends to isolate the problem and treat it, rather than looking at the body as a whole system. “Holistic Healing” looks at the body as a whole rather than a combination of separate parts. This type of complementary therapy looks at treating the whole body to stop the root cause of an illness. Modern medicine can sometimes be limited to the symptoms of illness rather than the cause. Holistic healing takes a fuller approach by treating the core reason that the illness came along in the first place. This might be something outside of physiology; for example, a traumatic psychological experience can lead to physical illness and this is something that modern physiological medicine does not take into consideration. Holistic healing is widely used as a preventative medicine, thereby stopping the need for invasive action such as surgery. It is desirable to avoid such invasive methods, as further complications can result. The following are some of the more popular holistic healing therapies: Acupuncture – a Chinese therapy which involves healing your body’s energy system and nervous system by putting pins around specific pressure points and nerve endings. Massage – great for reducing stress, back-pain, toxins and many other problems. Massage helps you increase circulation and releases tense muscles. Reiki – a Japanese art of energy healing where the healer channels life force into you through their hands. You can expect to experience a feeling of warmth and a great release of tension. Some patients have even reported blissful, enlightening experiences. Ancient holistic arts of therapy should complement modern medicine to ensure you have the best possibility of all round wellness. There are many more holistic healing arts available to help you improve your wellbeing, simply seek and ye shall find. Why Holistic Healing is a good Complement to Modern Medicine

If you are really ill, the first thing you do is go to your Doctor or straight to hospital. No-one should doubt the benefits of modern medicine; we are all living longer, healthier lives and the risk of dying from major illnesses has lessened considerably over the years. Modern medicine is excellent at treating the problem, stopping the pain, removing the malfunctioning organ or killing bacteria. In many of these cases modern medicine really saves lives. However, it tends to isolate the problem and treat it, rather than looking at the body as a whole system.

“Holistic Healing” looks at the body as a whole rather than a combination of separate parts. This type of complementary therapy looks at treating the whole body to stop the root cause of an illness. Modern medicine can sometimes be limited to the symptoms of illness rather than the cause. Holistic healing takes a fuller approach by treating the core reason that the illness came along in the first place. This might be something outside of physiology; for example, a traumatic psychological experience can lead to physical illness and this is something that modern physiological medicine does not take into consideration.

Holistic healing is widely used as a preventative medicine, thereby stopping the need for invasive action such as surgery. It is desirable to avoid such invasive methods, as further complications can result.

The following are some of the more popular holistic healing therapies:

Acupuncture – a Chinese therapy which involves healing your body’s energy system and nervous system by putting pins around specific pressure points and nerve endings.

Massage – great for reducing stress, back-pain, toxins and many other problems. Massage helps you increase circulation and releases tense muscles.

Reiki – a Japanese art of energy healing where the healer channels life force into you through their hands. You can expect to experience a feeling of warmth and a great release of tension. Some patients have even reported blissful, enlightening experiences.

Ancient holistic arts of therapy should complement modern medicine to ensure you have the best possibility of all round wellness. There are many more holistic healing arts available to help you improve your wellbeing, simply seek and ye shall find.

Why Holistic Healing is a good Complement to Modern Medicine

Categories: complementary, holistic, medicine