Revitalise Your Health

The chances are that at some point in your life, you’ll have had a medicine that contained eucalyptus oil in it. The majority of the time, it’s very obvious that it’s in the medicine or treatment that you’re taking.

The taste and smell of eucalyptus oil is quite distinctive - but have you ever wondered what it was about the humble Australian gum tree that makes it such a medical necessity? Eucalyptus oils can either be rubbed onto any part of the body that might need it or taken internally - usually as an ingredient in a pill or inhaled through vapor form or by putting a few drops of oil on a cloth for inhalation.

The way you use it all depends on the particular problems you’re having. For example, eucalyptus oil can help with migraines, fevers, and malaria. It can help with asthma, throat infections, coughs, catarrhal and sinusitis conditions.

It also helps soothe inflammation, eases mucus, and clears the head of stuffiness, colds and hay fever. Externally, it can be used for blisters, burns, cuts, wounds, herpes, insect bites and skin infections. It can help your immune system and has helped in cases of chicken pox, measles, flu and colds.

So, why are eucalyptus oils so potent when it comes to healing? When used medicinally, the oils have a minimum of 70% of the active therapeutic agent cineole. Originally called eucalyptol, it was changed to cineole when it was discovered that it also occurred naturally in mugwort, bay leaves, wormwood, sage, sweet basil, rosemary and other aromatic plant foliage.

Cineole has been shown to reduce inflammation and pain and it’s claimed that it can kill leukemic cells. Another of the therapeutic properties that eucalyptus oil is said to have is its analgesic quality.

It’s also anti-bacterial, anti-rheumatic, anti-neuralgic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, astringent, a decongestant, a deodorant, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, and a stimulant - meaning it has a large scope therapeutically.

Of course it isn’t all about the healing properties. If you don’t like the smell or taste of eucalyptus oil, you aren’t going to use the products. However, all of the products have to be blended in some way because of the properties contained in eucalyptus oil. Although they are nontoxic in their undiluted state, they can cause irritation if they come into contact with the skin.

Also, there have been reports of side effects from eucalyptus oil when it has been put in the mouth (in an undiluted state and not part of any approved medicine), so be sure to keep any oils you have out of the reach of young children.

If handled in a responsible way, eucalyptus oils can make a huge difference to some of the ailments you have at the moment, so give the products a try and see what they can do for you.

The practice of Apitherapy is the use of bee stings, bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and honey to treat a variety of aliments. While there has not been extensive testing in the scientific world to validate the claims of apitherapists, history proves that the treatments provide relief.

There are five honeybee products that are used in apitherapy:

1.Venom: A practitioner will aid the patient in injecting or being stung by bees in the affected area. The venom is used to provide relief for conditions such as tendonitis, Multiple Sclerosis, and degenerative bone disease. It works because the venom is a natural anti-inflammatory which is more potent then others available to conventional medicine such as hydrocortisone. You must get tested to be certain that you are not allergic to beestings prior to exposing yourself to bee venom.

2.Pollen: A natural energy supplement that is also used as a seasonal allergy aid. It is also believed to slow down the development of wrinkles.

3.Raw Honey: A source of quick energy, raw honey is used for many cures. It can even be used as a salve on top of an open wound to avoid the spread of bacteria.

4.Royal Jelly: Is the milky white substance that the worker bees produce to feed the queen. While unsubstantiated, this substance is used as a beauty aid and is believed to help lower cholesterol.

5.Propolis: Is the glue used to keep the hives together and make repairs. Propolis is made from the sap of poplar and conifer trees. It is used to make lip balm and salves, and is considered to be an antioxidant.

An age old remedy, herbal teas are used to soothe and relive pain and stress. Many teas are actually a tincture rather than a tea. A tincture is a thicker tea that is herb-dense and is infused instead of steeped.

The following list is a list of conditions and herbal tea remedies:

Anemia.

Drink a tincture made from boiled stinging nettle leaves.

Arthritis.

Drink a tincture of devil’s claw, juniper, birch, or celery seed (not the type on your spice rack).

Chemotherapy side effects.

Drink a tincture of Siberian ginseng root. It soothes the insides and relieves fatigue.

Colic in babies.

Add less than 10 drops of dill and fennel tincture to their bottle.

Constipation.

Drink a liter of rhubarb root per day.

Cough.

Drink a tea made from garlic bulbs and ribwort leaves.

Depression.

Drink a tincture daily made from the ground up oat plant and St. John’s wart flowers.

Fever.

Drink a hot tea made of lemon balm, yarrow, and ginger.

Gas.

Drink a tea made of caraway, fennel, ginger, and peppermint.

Flu symptoms.

Drink a tincture made of Echinacea, yarrow, and catnip.

Nature provides many cures and treatments for ailments of all kinds. Each region has its own native plants that are used in alternative medicine.

When buying herbs for medicinal purposes, it is suggested that you use herbs from an herbal shop. Herb strength varies depending on the way in which they are grown, so until you are familiar with growing techniques for medicinal herbs, purchasing from a professional is recommended.

The following list provides herbal cures to common ailments:

Acne and skin blemishes.
Wash your face and rub a clove of garlic that has been cut in half. Or, mix lavender with witch hazel at a 1:10 ratio. Tea tree oil can be substituted in place of the lavender.

Anxiety and stress.
Lavender pure essential oil soaked onto a cotton cloth, heated, and folded into a compress. Apply to head or neck.

Bruises and contusions.
Boil hyssop flowers and leaves into a tincture. Filter liquid, and soak a cotton compress. Apply to bruised area by applying pressure. The hyssop, heat and pressure combination will reduce the bruise.

Burns.
Minor burns can be treated with comfrey or aloe juice. Simply rub aloe juice into burned area. Comfrey can be crushed into a fine powder, mixed with equal parts of melted beeswax, and added to vegetable oil. Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, and then strain mixture.

Warts.
Either use a cut piece of garlic, placed directly on the wart or, for a less odorous cure, try dandelion juice applied repeatedly throughout the day.

For herbal remedies for better health, click HERE

Tagged with: Anxiety & Stress • Bruises • Burns & Warts • Herbal Remedies For Acne & Skin Blemishes

Homeopathy is defined as an organic system of medicine that is based on three main ideas:

1.Like cures like

2.Minimal dosing

3.One time remedies

Alternative medicine traditionally has the least amount of “active” ingredient possible, with the concept of using one single remedy irregardless of how many symptoms are presenting. Homeopathy focuses on the least amount of treatments for better health.

There are several reasons why homeopathy is the second most popular form of medicine (after conventional medicine). The most popular reasons are:

It is extremely natural and safe
The results are permanent
It is effective
You can take most homeopathic medicines along with conventional medicine without side effects
It is non-addictive

Homeopathy is a precise science, which is why it sometimes takes longer to find exactly the right medicine for your illness. Alternative medicine spends time asking questions about symptoms and the root cause of the illness in an effort to make a clear diagnosis for the problem, and treat it effectively.

North American Indian tribes have been practicing medicine for what some claim to be over 40,000 years. The medical information and techniques are handed down from generation to generation; ensure the longevity of the practice.

Some remedies are tribe-specific, although all tribal medicine is called Native American Medicine, collectively. Native Americans believe that man is one with nature and that the elements provide strength and can cure disease.

It is fascinating to note that at the same time that Native American medicine was being practiced in North America, Traditional Chinese Medicine was being practiced a half a world away. Ayurveda (medicine practiced in India), was also practiced at this time, and will be covered in a later blog post.

All of these traditional medical practices are based on the same fundamental belief that a person’s lifestyle and environment should be taken into consideration before choosing a treatment path. There are subtle differences between the practices that are specific to the region.

Native American medicine recognizes a purification procedure involving herbal smoke before and after treatment. Treatments include the use of sage and cedar smoke to repel negative energy. Negative energy is considered the pain released by someone who is ill, or the pain that the healer takes on themselves from their patients. Therapeutic touch is used. Singing, chanting, drums and rattles accompany the healing during the session.

Tibetan Medicine is almost solely based on herbal remedies, and has been around for over 2,500 years. It is called “gSoba Rig-pa”. Tibetans mostly live in India because they have been in exile since the late 1950’s. They practice Tibetan Buddhism.

There is a Tibetan Medical Institute in Northern India, where doctors studying Tibetan medicine attend for 7 years before earning a degree.

The underlying belief in Tibetan medicine is that all illnesses are caused by poisonous thinking which include dread, denial, and want. This concept ties to the principles of Buddhist philosophy.

The three poisonous thoughts are believed to be caused by poor diet, inappropriate behavior, and the imbalance of time and season. This concept is more complicated than this, but this simplification will give a general sense of it.

Cures are linked to all systems of the body working together. The elimination of sweat, feces and urine contributes to this harmony.

Similar to the Chinese “Qi”, the Tibetans have the Rlung, which is the overall life force that connects us to the universe. Rlung has five types:

1.Centered in the brain. Life grasping – controls breathing, intellect, sneezing and swallowing.

2.Centered in the chest. Upward moving – controls verbal ability and stamina.

3.Centered in the heart. All pervading – controls all movement like that of the orifices of the body and walking.

4.Centered in the stomach. Fire accompanying – controls digestion and metabolism.

5.Centered in the rectum. Downward cleansing – controls everything that is expelled from the body, such as babies, menstrual blood or semen.

Tibetan medicine usually handles sickness diagnosis by analysis of the tongue and urine. The spiritual element is also at play in Tibetan medicine, with much attention spent focusing on the type and temperament of spirits in the body.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) includes acupuncture, Qigong, herbal treatments, deep massage, and more. More than 25% of the world’s population practices TCM.

Several reputable groups, such as the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Health, find traditional Chinese medicine to be a viable alternative to contemporary medicine.

Many parts of TCM began well over 3,000 years ago in China. The focus of TCM is Qi (pronounced “Chee”), which is the body’s energy that connects it to the world around us. It is believed that all disorders and bodily problems are caused by the misalignment of Qi. Acupuncture is one of the most widely recognized methods of bringing the Qi into alignment.

Herbal remedies are popular in traditional Chinese medicine. They are used to relax and calm the patient’s emotions to avoid depression, and provide a more positive outlook on the illness. This helps tremendously in the healing process. Ginseng and herbal green tea are the most popular herbal remedies in China.

Exercise, mainly Qigong (pronounce “Chee Kung”), is also an important part of traditional Chinese medicine. Qigong involves posture, meditation, and slow, calculated body movements. To learn more about Qigong, click HERE

When most people get sick, they look to conventional methods of medical treatment for relief and healing. There are alternative methods to treatment that are becoming increasingly popular.

What treatments are considered “conventional?” Prescription medication, traditional surgery, and computerized scientific testing are three examples of conventional medicine. Most physicians support conventional medicine in their practices, so when seeing a doctor, it is highly likely you will be advised to follow conventional medical advise.

The decision to use conventional medicine should be made by the patient and doctor on a case by case basis. An alteration to the type of treatment is sometimes all that is needed to feel better.

Alternative treatments include:

Herbal remedies
Massage (Click HERE to learn how to massage like a professional)
Meditation (Claim your free Deep Zen Meditation DVD by clicking HERE)
Acupuncture

Patients will often find themselves turning to alternative methods of treatment when conventional methods are ineffective or a medical problem has been deemed untreatable. Alternative treatments are designed to not only aid in pain relief, but also reduce stress and tension that can worsen chronic pain.

Alternative methods of treatment focus on the whole person; body and soul. Conventional methods strictly focus on the physical problems alone. For alternative methods to be effective, the patient must be motivated and believe in the alternative treatment’s ability to work.

Of course, any serious, life-threatening health problem should blend conventional and alternative methods for a comprehensive approach. Be sure to consult with your doctor to avoid complications. If planned well, you can take advantage of best of both types of medicine for a life that is comfortable and enjoyable.