July 27, 2009
Alternative Medicine for Hemorrhoids: What Works?
How can anyone looking for hemorrhoid relief tell the difference between an alternative medication that might actually help and a total waste of time, money, and suffering?
There are several different classifications of alternative medicine, each of which is unique. It is actually quite a mistake to lump them all in under one umbrella term like “alternative medicine” but we have to call it all something. Taking the time to comprehend the various forms of alternative medicine today can yield some very productive treatment options.
The oldest and probably most efficacious form of alternative medicine is herbal treatment. Most of the prescription medications we use today have their roots in plants. In fact, plants are such a good source of new medications that there is an entire branch of pharmaceutical education and research devoted to it, called pharmocognosy. Herbal remedies effective for hemorrhoid relief are witch hazel cream, ointment or extract, aloe vera gel or cream, horse chestnut tea, butcher’s broom tea, and Japanese Pagoda Tree extract. Be aware that herbs are just another form of medication. Some of these, horse chestnut and butcher’s broom in particular, affect the entire circulatory system and may interact badly with your current health conditions or any current medication regime. In addition, find a reputable supplier for any herbal medications. Herbal supplements are not governed or tested under the same rules and supervision as medications, so checking for quality becomes much more important. Herbs grown under sub-standard conditions, such as next to a road or with polluted water, can actually do more harm as they carry detrimental chemicals into your body.
Acupuncture, surprisingly enough, has been approved by the World Health Organization for the treatment of several diseases, including pain relief. Several rigorously controlled studies have been performed on the pain-treatment capacity of acupuncture, particularly for such chronic conditions as migranes. While these tests have shown acupuncture to have a measureable effect on patients, no clinical trials have been performed to date specifically on acupuncture’s effectiveness regarding hemorrhoids. If you feel that the research that has been done is validation enough for acupuncture’s use, do find an acupuncturist accredited by the appropriate medical association for your country.
There is a branch of medicine called evolutionary medicine that seeks to understand and recreate the conditions that the human animal evolved for. Evolutionary medicine is firmly grounded in the findings of physical anthropologists who study the entire course of our evolution to date. One of the more valuable findings of evolutionary medicine for hemorrhoid patients is that we, as a species, did not evolve to sit on toilets but rather to squat for our toileting. Many hemorrhoid sufferers have found that raising their feet on a small stool while toileting relieves and may even banish their hemorrhoids. If this works for you, and you believe that fully squatting might be even more beneficial, toilets that allow you to take a full squatting position are available on the market today.
Holistic medicine is a reasonable approach for many people to solving a health condition. A holistic practitioner will take the whole person into account for healing purposes, instead of treating a human like a machine with parts to be fixed. However, any holistic practitioner worth your time should use the best that mainstream medicine has to offer in addition to any herbal medications or psychological aids he or she feels is necessary. If you’re going to pay for this treatment, do find a holistic practitioner who is also has their M.D., it will save you a lot in both foolishness and time.
Homeopathy has not been shown to have any appreciable effect, and in fact defies several laws of modern chemistry and physics. Homeopathic remedies are so diluted that no molecules of the supposedly therapeutic substance can reliably be found in any given dose of the remedy. Repeated scientific tests and clinical trials have been performed on homeopathy for many decades now, and homeopathy shows no benefit above the placebo effect.
In conclusion, Use this information, like any other, to find the best treatment options for you. If you are going to use one of the above alternative medicine options, remember that no alternative medicine is an appropriate substitute for sound, well researched medical advice. However, some forms of alternative medicine make wonderful complements to mainstream medicine, capable of shortening recovery times and improving overall quality of life.
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Filed under Homeopathy by Dr. Waqas Yousaf
June 24, 2009
Homeopathic Schools: Teaching Innovative Ways to Heal
Samuel Hahnemann, known as the father of homeopathy, first coined the term, “homeopathy” in 1807. Little did he know that his theories on medical similars would still be taught in homeopathic schools centuries later.
If we track back in history, we find that conventional medicine in the 19th century incorporated barbaric and sometimes lethal healthcare treatments like blood-letting. In other words, what may be accepted as “traditional medicine” today proves to be a constantly-evolving cycle of treatment credibility. It was through Hahnemann’s teachings at homeopathic schools that taught individuals that there were more efficient and often natural ways to achieving health and healing.
Since that time, homeopathic schools have been teaching a system of natural health care both here in the United States and across International borders throughout the world. In Belgium, for example, 59 percent of alternative and complementary medicine practitioners provide homeopathy* as a form of treatment; but that number could inevitably grow worldwide as public demand for alternative and complementary medicine continues to expand. (*World Health Organization – Regional Committee for the Easter Mediterranean Region)
The aim of homeopathic schools is to teach students and future practitioners the principles of “like curing like,” and the “minimum dose” necessary for treatment. Because homeopathic medicine works with self-healing powers of the body to restore health and to promote wellbeing, teachers at homeopathic schools instruct students in treating individuals as a whole, and not just for specific “diseases.” Primary homeopathic treatment focuses on all aspects of the healing process, including emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing.
Homeopathic schools vary in prerequisite requirements; however a typical educational program is comprised of up to four years of in-depth studies. In the first year, students gain a foundational course in the theories and principles of homeopathy. In addition to learning about the law of similars, students learn the science of homeopathic provings, homeopathic pharmacy, materia medica, acute and chronic case taking, Hering’s Law, and more.
Year two at homeopathic schools provides hands-on training to future homeopathic practitioners. In addition to casework, advanced theories and practical applications are introduced to students at this point in time.
Years three and four at homeopathic schools are designed for individuals who are seriously pursuing a career as a homeopathic practitioner. Learning how to take cases, prescribe treatments, assess and make prognosis, and case management, among other associated studies.
Since the time of Hippocrates, a number of healthcare systems have come to the forefront with each making purported claims of how their system works the best; however, homeopathic schools may offer some of the most advanced and enlightening modes of thinking and practical health treatments to date.
If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding educational programs in homeopathy, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore homeopathic schools near you.
Homeopathic Schools: Teaching Innovative Ways to Heal
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Filed under Homeopathy by Dr. Waqas Yousaf
