How Should Alternative Medicine Be Defined

There is still no strict definition on what alternative medicine really is. But presently, it borders on the broadness of description covered by what we know of as conventional or orthodox medicine. However, to define alternative medicine as we believe it to be, it may be a knowledge that is considered as unaccepted, untested and unscientific. All these were true if we are to look some years back. But since alternative medicine has been studied in the later years, employed by numberless institutions (such as spas and the likes) and accepted by many as cure to their ailments (even those that may be resolved through conventional medicine), this definition for alternative medicine may already be considered as obsolete.

On other terms, alternative medicines are practices that may be considered false that sometime go to the extent of quackery. However, this definition is much abused by several authorities that have their own systems of beliefs and other things to support to. Still others would define it as practices that may not be tested, refuse to undergo tests and may continuously fail tests. On other peoples’ view, this may be too unfair for those practicing the knowledge that comprise alternative medicine and too sweeping a statement since many have gained healing by means of alternative medicine.

This debate on the authenticity of alternative medicine is further made complicated by the number of practices that are labeled as alternative medicine, which has some truths in them. In actuality, alternative medicine covers procedures involving metaphysical principles, spiritual and religious underpinnings, new sets of healing approaches and non-European medicine practices. These are enough reasons why alternative medicine is much harder to accept in the West rather than in the East where most these practices originated. In addition to these, many proponents of alternative medicine contradict and many individual belief systems may reject others.

Furthermore, critics of alternative medicine may further define it as therapy, treatment and diagnosis that may be performed legally by unlicensed practitioners. Yet, a number of doctors and physicians find good uses of alternative medicine when combined with the conventional medicine when they are trying to hit the balance.

But there are more logical and unbiased definitions that are accepted by most. Many of which deal only on the safety and affectivity of the alternative medicine without the protection on economic interests, political views and turf protection. One such definition is that alternative medicine is a field of healing, therapy and diagnosis that are not based on controlled studies.

There are however some therapies that were once covered by alternative medicine that are now accepted within the medical community since they passed approval over their affectivity. On the opposite, there were medical practices that are now disregarded within the medical circles since there are no profound evidences that prove their efficiency in healing.

In reality, the term alternative medicine is quite misleading. Both critics and advocates of the said practices support this view. Some support the idea that Western medical practices are the alternative medicines since they were preceded by ancient practices, which is somewhat true. Others would claim that the term “alternative medicine” was only devised by advocates of conventional medicine to discredit the natural methods of healing.

Detractors on alternative medicine claim that it is not worth as being accepted by the medical circles since it lacks components that may be used to support its efficiency. Yet many assert that once alternative medicine is fully tested, then there would be great rooms for wide acceptance.

Thomas DeReyna is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides a news blog.

The Healing Arts: 18 Things Healers Learn, #14; Everybody Is Somebody’s Trickster

The Trickster lives in all cultures. It is sometimes called the Contrary, the Joker, the Fool, Heyoka, or Coyote. Same concept: This person does things a whole lot different than anybody else. Yes, sometimes wreaking havoc but the end result is always a lesson. Because this lives in all cultures, it also lives in each of us. It, too, is part of being human.

Who among us has not fulfilled that role for others at some time or another in their lives? In a world where we simply have been designed to have different perceptions of the same events, this is inevitable. What is bizarre behavior to others can easily be a routine part of another individual’s experience.

Think back to some of the most impactful lessons you’ve received. Have they all come from familiar places or spaces in your life, or have they come from far out in left field, grabbing you by the soft spot and spinning you into new territory?

Sometimes the Trickster has only one lesson: Don’t take yourself so damn seriously! Oddly enough, the most healing medicine of all, Laughter, is something that so often must be imposed on us. Is that the most ridiculous thing in the world? It’s worth a laugh…go on, give us a Yelp!

Some people, by nature, appear to take on the role of the Trickster. They seem to flow with a different current than the rest of us. Some are even aware of their purpose, and those are usually the ones that, no matter how twisted, exhibit a sense of having fun in the process. They enjoy being a FunHouse mirror that reflects anything BUT what the viewer wants to see.

Some of those who recognize their purpose also express it in the most annoying, rather than comical, ways. They’re the ones we want to haul off and smack right in the nose. Good Teachers, if you can loosen yourself up enough to see the value and stay out of jail in the process!

My Trickster can be your best friend. While I might want to strangle him, you will seek his embrace because the very same quality I detest is the one you adore. Go figure. In all cases, though, the Trickster calls upon us to look deeper than we’re usually willing to look on our own.

The effect of the Trickster is much the same as walking across a room, slipping on something and there you are; looking up at the world from a completely different perspective. The Trickster affects a shift where things unseen become seen, where a new angle on the view allows a clearer understanding of the event; once again, if, and only if you’ll take the time to see it.

If you’re here, you’re going to get tricked. It’s one of the Life-Force’s most potent tools. The power of the element of surprise resulting from suddenly being put off balance often forces you to adjust and come to stability through means of which you never had conceived. Once aware of how you can call on reserves you never knew you had, you become more capable of seeking out alternative solutions to whatever you face.

To be the Trickster all the time, however, is to limit your tool kit. When it’s a driven thing, like a stand-up comic who must always be on!, it becomes all about the comic, not the audience.

Developing the Trickster as a tool is all about developing sensitivity to the moments of your own experience. Turning the concept into a conscious act means identifying instances in your own life where you were turned upside down. Take a good look at your own comfort zone at the time, how it was challenged, and what your recovery looked or felt like.

The details of what happened in each incident are not as important as the overall flow of the experience. Ask yourself if your experience of the “teacher’s” intent felt invasive, controlling, or benevolent. As important are the timing and rhythm of the interaction. To recognize when the “lesson” popped up, how long it stayed active, how it affected you emotionally, and then how it moved you into the next moment are touchstones that you can refer back to for guidance.

To be a conscious Trickster is not about having a plan of action and a lesson to deliver. It is not about the particulars. It is all about recognizing the moment, being within it in relation to the others involved, and then allowing the lesson to come through you.

And why not? Why not allow this to be a part of your tool kit as a healer? You’re going to end up doing it anyway, so you may as well enjoy it! The most potent Tricksters pull the rug out from under you but catch you in a bucket of down-filled pillows. It can be as simple as incorporating a sense of irony or play into the work you do and sharing that part of yourself, for the good of all.

Russ Reina shares over 35 years of experience in the healing arts through his web site http://mauihealingartist.com It is a potent resource for those wishing to deepen their abilities in connection and develop their powers as healers. For a powerful free tool to explore your inner world, please check out his adjunct site http://thestoryofthis.net

(Permission is granted to reprint this article, unedited, provided proper attribution is made and the signature line — the above resource paragraph — is kept intact)

Allergies: Indentifying Your Triggers

Your home is a busy place. People are constantly working, cooking, playing, cleaning, washing and moving things around. That kind of activity is completely normal, but it can generate small particles and chemicals that accumulate in the air you breathe. Whether your home is large or small, old or new, the interior air could be causing breathing problems, in particular for people with allergies and asthma.

There are simple things that you can put in place to clean up the air inside your home, so that everyone can breathe easier. If you have allergies or asthma, you are sensitive to particular “triggers”. These “triggers” can ignite a reaction in your lungs and other parts of your body. Triggers may be found indoors and outdoors. They may be simple things like:

• Illnessescolds and influenza

• Tobacco smoke and wood smoke from the fireplace

• Allergens such as dust mites, cockroaches, pollen, molds, animal dander, tiny scales or particles from hair, feathers, or dead skin cells and saliva from pets

• Perfumes, paint, hair spray, or any other strong odors or fumes

It is important to identify your triggers. This isn’t always easy, so you should experiment by staying away from one suspected trigger at a time. You can tell if it is a problem if you see improvement when it is removed. It is much more difficult to control your triggers outdoors. So, if the air pollution and pollen levels are high, it is an excellent idea to stay indoors. The air in your home is easier for you to control. In some cases, people with asthma and allergies become aware that their symptoms deteriorate at night. Controlling triggers in the bedroom is the best place to start.

There are air cleaning machines that you may purchase that can eradicate some of the triggers in your home. Unfortunately, they will not remove them all. Some air cleaners utilize an electrical charge that makes ozone, which many manufacturers claim will “purify” the air. Sadly, ozone irritates the lungs, and is a particular problem for people with asthma. The American Lung Association does not recommend the use of air cleaners that produce ozone, and is printed in their brochure, “Facts about home control of allergies and asthma.” They advise that you look for a mechanical air cleaner with a HEPA, or preferably a hyper-HEPA filter, that does not produce ozone and can efficiently trap large and small particles.

Judy Phillips is the founder of Jash Botanicals, a manufacturer of physicians grade herbal extracts and medicinals. A naturopath and herbalist with over 25 years of experience, her passion for producing herbal formulas of exceptional purity and strength grew from a dissatisfaction with mainstream herbal products. She is an author of various natural health topics, from detoxification to dietary modification, and works to assist the expansion of knowledge to individuals in search of natural treatments. JashBotanicals.com offers a wide range of informative articles, including a monthly newsletter and a natural health blog.

The Origins of Alternative Medicine

The origins of alternative medicine, also known as holistic medicine, can be traced back thousands of years to the very roots of medicine. Many millennia ago, physicians or healers would assess the sick person’s emotional condition in addition to their physical symptoms before beginning treatment. The roots of alternative medicine deal with the symptoms of the “whole” person, not merely the physical signs of illness. This is radically different from traditional medicine today.

In medicine today, people demand to be cured immediately, and the demand for medicines and treatments that do so is very high. Most physicians today are trained to assess physical symptoms and base treatments on that, without much consideration of the person’s emotional or intellectual state.

Since its inception, alternative medicine has survived the ages and stages of the field of medicine. Despite the prevalence of modern medical practices, there are still millions of people worldwide that take advantage of alternative treatments for ailments or well-being. Some of these alternative treatments include massage therapy, herbal remedies, and meditation. Massage is one of the most long-standing forms of alternative treatment, and it is highly popular today as a treatment for aches and pains, and as a means of stress release and relaxation. Most people probably don’t even think about massage as a type of alternative medicine.

Through the ages, every society has used their own forms of alternative medicines and treatments. There is over 5000 years of history and many types of treatments that were used far and wide, and many traditional medical treatments can even find their roots in alternative medicine from long ago.

Long ago in Europe, medical issues were treated by one of two types of healers, the physicians or the folk healers. The folk healers appealed to the poorer factions of society, in that they used natural treatments that were more affordable and easier to come by. Folk healers were often highly respected in these underprivileged sections of society. Folk healers often incorporated philosophy and religious faith into their healing practices, which helped to strengthen a sick person’s mind and spirit, as well as his body.

Eventually, folk medicine evolved into the traditional medicine we are familiar with in today’s world. With each passing century, many great advances have been made in treatments and cures for various diseases and conditions.

Despite the dominance of traditional medicine in the world today, there is still a place for alternative medicine. It is alive and well, and used by many people around the world through massage therapy, acupuncture, aromatherapy, herbal remedies, meditation, and many other forms of alternative treatments. Many physicians now support many of these treatments, making them less alternative.

The origins of alternative medicine were very forward thinking. Alternative medicine has survived through the millennia because it has real validity, despite a great deal of ridicule through the ages. Though they do not have the immediate effect that many drugs and treatments of traditional medicine, they are a feasible option for a person to consider.

To discover more about alternative medicine visit http://www.greatalternativemedicine.info

Seeking The You in ICQ

“Uh oh!” At the familiar, high-pitched voice, my head snaps up from the assignment
I am completing half-heartedly and turns to my computer screen. My hand has
already moved unconsciously towards the computer’s mouse, even before my eyes
even make contact with the screen. Sure enough, the sound indicated that a
message awaits me, and I double-click on the flashing yellow icon in the bottom
right corner of my screen. For almost an hour now, I have been engaged in this
“conversation” over ICQ, an Internet-chat program, with a high school friend who
currently attends another university. I am also chatting simultaneously with four
other friends about separate topics.

Ever since coming to college, ICQ and email have become my primary methods of
keeping in contact with, leaving messages for, and having discussions with my
friends. When I meet a person, the first means for establishing future contact is no
longer “What is your phone number?” but rather, “What is your email address?”
which is closely followed by “Do you have ICQ?” Electronic communication media are
not only convenient, but they are economical and allow instantaneous contact. If I
initiate an ICQ Chat with one of my friends, I can even save it as a file and replay the
conversation with every detail, including the misspellings and corrections.

Information technology has boomed in the last ten years or so. We seem to have
landed in the middle of a completely networked world without quite knowing how
we got there. Distance no longer inhibits communication, and we have become a
world that is better connected.

Or have we? My freshman year college roommate spent his entire freshman year
ICQ-ing / IM-ing , and surfing the web. Even when we were sitting in the same
room, he always opted to initiate conversation with me through ICQ rather than
simply speaking to me directly. Another one of my web-friendly friends, Jeff, spent
his sophomore year in college playing an online role-playing computer game almost
continuously. When he was not playing the game, he was in a hurry to get back to
playing it because he felt like “he was missing out as other people were playing,
getting more points, and getting ahead.” Unable to comprehend his obsession with
these virtual friends who were assuming imaginary roles in imaginary worlds, I tried
literally to tear Jeff from his computer. My actions nearly destroyed our friendship.
The Internet, in the form of a game, had entrapped him within a world which slowly
drew him away from the reality around him.

Although few of us become that enthralled with the Internet, we cannot help but
admit that it captures our attention with a scary tenacity. An hour can pass by
seemingly in the blink of an eye as we respond to email or surf the web. The very
technology that expands our access to the world has helped us also to shrink into
isolation. Why walk outside when you can experience a virtual 3D world in the
comfort of your room with a friend from the electronic chat-room? Why visit the
person two floors down, when you can email her or him? We have become satisfied
with the worlds that our 17″ screens present us. The Internet provides the
opportunity for us to meet and to converse with new acquaintances from a range of
backgrounds, experiences, and locations. But we will never meet these people face
to face, even though we invest hours of our time in these relationships. For a
significant number of Americans, these chat-room interactions are slowly replacing
real-time friendships. Should we be concerned?

The world of film certainly isn’t troubled; in fact, it encourages us to seek
companionship through the Internet. In the romantic comedy “You’ve Got Mail,” Tom
Hanks and Meg Ryan, who are both unhappy in their existing relationships, fall in
love through emailing and chatting. The movie exploits the mysterious component
to a relationship over the Internet, and it conveys the message that if our
relationships in our lives fail to satisfy, the solutions can be found through the
Internet. In fact, maybe the Love-of-our-Life is waiting at the local chat room for us.
And the Internet has even conveniently eliminated the awkwardness of the first blind
date.

In being able to buy clothes, groceries, electronics, plane tickets, and just about
anything else with the click of a finger while sitting in our favorite chair, isolation
from human contact has become a natural and accepted part of our culture and way
of life. A cheerful attendant offering to pump gas for me surprises me now, because
both his presence and his friendliness are anomalies in the world around us. If the
average city-dweller is seeking to exercise, he or she purchases a Walkman and jogs
three times a week. Portable electronic devices such as Walkmen, cell phones,
laptops, and Palm Pilots themselves promote isolationism. People pull out these
devices while waiting in lines or walking to work, and instantly they erect an
invisible neon sign shouting, “Do NOT Disturb.”

We accept and embrace the isolation technology has brought us, but our
interpersonal communication skills are suffering depressing consequences, as the
need for personal contact decreases. As more and more hackers spend time in front
of the computer, the image of the dorky nerd who can program with his hands tied
behind his back and his eyes blindfolded, but cannot carry on a normal conversation
has also become more prominent. Before I began to receive his 15K emails, I never
realized how much my friend David, who is studying Computer Science at
Northwestern, had to say. However, in person he can rarely finish a thought or fully
convey what he thinks or how he feels. Although the Internet gives people like David
an outlet for expression, does it truly help them to better deal with situations where
spoken communication is necessary? Perhaps with all the new developments in
Internet applications, spoken communication will not be necessary in a few years.
We will be able to complete all transactions without ever having to interact with
another human being.

In evaluating the impact of this technology, this question inevitably arises: “What is
the lure of these friendships over the Net?” As a semi-introvert, I sometimes choose
to eat in front of my computer and chat with friends of friends of friends over ICQ
rather than eat with my floor-mates in the kitchen, simply because being with other
people requires a lot of energy from me. When I am typing my responses, I have the
time to think them over carefully and the opportunity to pace the conversation to
my level of comfort.

But perhaps chat rooms, ICQ, and Instant Messenger appeal to a deeper aspect of
the human subconscious. Within our minds lives a desire for other people to
perceive us in the way we want them to, rather than the way we really are. Just as we
manufacture an image for ourselves through clothes, makeup, cars, and even
smiles, we can create an image for ourselves though the shield of the Internet,
which blocks personal observation through the senses. Other people will see only
what we want them to.

As the application possibilities of this technology approach the limitless, we need to
decide how much we want our lives to become more entwined within this
technology. Without a balance with the reality around us, we may lose ourselves
within the virtual world of the Internet. Perhaps driving to the store, picking out
groceries, and getting into an argument with the checkout person will do us more
good than the half hour we save by grocery shopping through HomeRuns.com.

A little over a week ago, when a virus wiped out my computer, I lost network access
in my room. I dreaded the inconveniences I would face before getting my computer
fixed. No more ICQ, no more instant email. For a two weeks now, I have needed to
check my email in a friend’s room, read a newspaper to find out the news and the
weather instead of checking cnn.com, and make phone calls in order to locate
people instead of ICQing them. As I evaluate these two Internet-less weeks,
however, I find that I have had more intellectually stimulating conversations in this
week than I have had in the previous month. Who knows? I may resist the desire to
fix the connection.

http://www.lonelycanuck.com

How Do I Find out about My PD?

You may already know that yoυr pupilarү distance (PD) іs tһe distance in between the centers (pupils) οf both οf yοur eyөs, meaѕured in mm. Your PD mөasurement is employed if wө acquire a lenѕ ωith your prescгiption and сustomise іt in order for it to Ьoth fits youг fraмe as well as yοu. To bө operative, а lөns must Ьe cut so the centгe іs directΙy in front of your рupil. Without yοur PD we hаve no thought wherө that point іs foг yoυ and as the diagram below shoωs, everүbody іs different. Your PD could be provіded in less than an hour Ьy your optіcian or doctor, and so ωe strongly suggest that yοu inquire for it ωhen yοu have your eyes tested. Alternatively, үou maү also cһoose to usө an аverage pupilarү distance , which is given fοr you as а dөfault when ordering.

Go to this website to find out more details about how to order your specs online
While your contact lenѕ and eyeglasses prescriptions maү seem the same, they usually һave differences. Yoυ must һave үour eyөs tested аnd а prescriрtion issued for uѕe with spectacles, which іs Ιess thаn 2 yөars old, bөfore ordөring your glasses on-line with us either now or in the near future

Pain Relief through Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

The World Health Organization (WHO) references acupuncture as being an effective treatment for the management of many types of pain, both acute and chronic.

There are 3 proven mechanisms that explain how acupuncture relieves pain;

1. Gate Theory
Once inserted, the needle activates the myelinated nervous system fibers which ultimately stops the pain message from getting to the T-cells in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord (closes the ‘Gate’). Therefore the pain message does not transmit to the thalamus/cortex in the brain (these areas normally interpret these messages and make you feel pain)

2. Opiate Theory

Once inserted, the needle activates the midbrain to release beta-endorphins into the cerebral spinal fluid and met-enkephalin into the plasma. This cascade causes the release of other neurotransmitters that block the sensations of pain. Both endorphins and enkephalins are naturally occurring opiate-like substances produced by the body in situations that require analgesia. Opiates are the fundamental compounds that Pharmaceutical painkillers such as codeine and morphine are built from.

3. Antihistamine Theory
Once inserted, the needle activates a process which regulates (reduces) the amount of histamine and bradykinin in the blood. These substances are what causes inflammation and pain when chronic or acute injury occurs.

Traditional Acupuncture Theory

Energy (Qi) circulates within the body through a series of pathways called meridians, similar to blood vessels. Wherever blood flows it brings with it nourishment and life giving qualities to the surrounding tissues and organs. Qi is the vital force necessary to keep the heart pumping so that blood will be transported as needed. More broadly, Qi gives that same life force to every single cell, tissue, muscle, organ, and gland in the body. Therefore, a blockage of the flow of Qi anywhere in the body will inhibit the amount of nourishment that reaches our cells, tissues, muscles, organs, and glands.

Many things can cause Qi to become blocked: poor diet, physical trauma, emotional trauma, inherited weakness, many disease processes, and chemical, physical, and emotional stress, just to name a few.

By inserting fine sterile needles at specific points, blockages of Qi that cause pain are cleared and smooth flow is restored. Once this is accomplished, pain will vanish.

Treatment Protocols

It is not uncommon for there to be significant relief after just one treatment. Most often with acute pain, between 2-4 treatments for 1-3 weeks is usually required to obtain optimal pain relieving effects. As for chronic pain, 1-2 treatments per week for longer durations is usually necessary.

Any pain condition may involve combination with other pain relieving modalities (yoga, fitness rehabilitation, physiotherapy, etc). Herbal salves and preparations along with certain recommended supplements may also enter the scope of treatment. Other traditional techniques such as cupping and moxibustion are also frequently employed. You may also be asked to perform some simple techniques at home or work between treatments to aid treatment efficacy.

Spence Pentland of Vancouver BC Canada received his five year Doctor of TCM education from the International College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Vancouver. To complete his studies he spent 500 hours at Anhui Hospital of TCM Hefei City, in the Peoples Republic of China. He is a licensed and registered member of the Canadian Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, is the President of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association of British Columbia (TCMABC http://www.tcmabc.org), and practices at Acubalance Wellness Centre (http://www.acubalance.ca)where he treats only Men’s reproductive health (http://mens.health-info.org)and Women’s fertility issues.

Potential Breakthrough In The Fight Against Arthritis Pain

There is some potentially positive news for people who suffer from arthritis. Latest research has claimed that a herbal remedy made from rose-hip could eradicate the dreadful pain people who have arthritis feel. Unlike many other potential solutions there are reportedly no known side-effects to this latest treatment.

This news has caused excitement in arthritis specialist quarters after years of negativity, caused by the the many risks connected to conventional painkilling drugs.

This latest study was conducted by a team from The University Of Copenhagen who observed and studied nearly one hundred people suffering from the condition. Four fifths of these people found that after only three weeks of taking the herbal remedy supplement, they were noticing a reduction in pain. This was despite only needing to take half the dosage of traditional painkillers.

Where Can You Buy The Rose-Hip Supplement?

There are many places where you can purchase this rose-hip supplement and due to this news it is likely to become even more widely available in the future. Your best bet at the moment is to visit your local chemist or health food shop and if this does not work you can always try the internet.

Arthritis affects a huge amount of people in the world, if you a sufferer you are not alone. Hopefully this research will provide some hope for the future as have many herbal remedies for people who have other health problems.

I hope you have found this article interesting and beneficial to read.

Steve Hill has a number of websites including:

http://www.arthritis-specialist.com

http://www.herbal-health.co.uk

http://www.anti-aging-specialist.com

How To Afford the Holistic Lifestyle

“Holistic health is nice for rich people.” Who else can afford it?

Is massage a luxury or a therapy? What about a naturopath? Or chiropractor? Can we stay well and stay financially solvent?

In this article, I’ll give you a few tips on how you can make your holistic lifestyle affordable.

Defining the Holistic Lifestyle

I say “your” holistic lifestyle, because it will be different for everyone. But let me take a minute to explain my holistic lifestyle.

My dream holistic lifestyle is to use holistic therapies as my first line of defense for every illness. And I want to approach every discomfort, every tiny little health issue, with the safest, cheapest, effective remedy first. If it proves to be too weak or doesn’t work, I move on to something a little more expensive and/or dangerous. At the end of the line are the most expensive and dangerous treatments, like pharmaceutical drugs and surgery.

In my dream holistic lifestyle, my week includes a set of therapies designed to keep me well. Meditation classes, yoga and chi gong are my favorites. Then I would see several practitioners who help me stay well. My preferred types of “wellness modalities” are massage therapy (ahh!), Feldenkrais, chiropractic and some type of energy healing. I would take vitamins regularly, and I eat great tasting, organic food.

In this dream, I have a complete team of practitioners who know about each other’s role in my holistic lifestyle, and everyone works together to keep me well, and to help me recover from illness when it occurs.

As a piece of the puzzle of my holistic lifestyle, I have some excellent medical doctors who see me when I need them. I don’t use them regularly, because of the high cost and the fact that their remedies are extremely strong, dangerous and have fairly severe side-effects that I want to avoid if it’s possible.

Okay, that’s my dream. As you read about my dream holistic lifestyle, what are you thinking? Does it sound like something you’d enjoy? So how can we make it affordable?

Affording the Dream

Let’s look at the challenge of affording the holistic lifestyle I’ve described.

The first glaring problem is that almost all of what I want is not covered by health insurance.

This is a big problem. But there is a solution.

In order to make the holistic lifestyle affordable, you must change how you think about health insurance.

I want you to treat health insurance the same way you treat auto insurance or home insurance.

Think about these situations. If you have a flat tire on your car, do you go running to your auto insurer demanding payment? No, you don’t.

When you break a doorknob on a door in your house, do you call your home insurance company and insist on getting a check in the mail? That sounds crazy, doesn’t it?

What would happen if auto insurance policies covered flat tires, oil changes and glove compartment springs? Our insurance rates would be really high.

And yet, with health insurance, we act crazy. We run to expensive doctors for every little thing. And what has happened to health insurance rates? They’re crazy high. It’s partly our own fault.

Try to think of health insurance as a way to pay for health crises that you can’t afford yourself.

Can you afford breast cancer out-of-pocket? No way. A broken leg, diabetes, chronic depression or appendectomy? Of course not. Insurance is meant for these things.

But what about colds? Flu? Back aches? Sore eyes? Insomnia? Lack of concentration? Hemorrhoids?

Yes, you can afford these things yourself. Use the money in your savings account, not your health insurance, for these smaller health problems.

What if you don’t have any money in your savings? Well, everyone should have some savings, no matter how poor, but let’s say you don’t. Do you have a credit card? You can take out an advance on your credit card to pay for these smaller health problems, and pay back the balance over time. I’m not trying to advocate credit card debt, but I think it’s a little better than “crazy” health insurance rates that you have to pay every month. Also, most healthcare institutions have payment plans you can use. If neither of those work out, borrow some money from a loved one. We’re not talking about tens of thousands of dollars here, just enough to meet your deductible.

But insurance is not the answer for smaller health problems.

Now that you know that, you need to find a type of health insurance that covers the big stuff (cancer, car accidents, etc.) but ignores the small stuff (colds, flu, etc.). Does such insurance exist? The answer is YES.

It is called the “high-deductible insurance policy.” It is the best type of health insurance to have, for almost every situation.

The rates of high-deductible insurance are much lower than regular policies. And this type of policy opens up your choices for the lesser health problems.

You now have the choice to use Western medicine out-of-pocket or to use alternative medicine out-of-pocket. You may find that alternative medicine, including acupuncture, massage therapy, herbs, yoga and reiki, is often a better choice. When comparing both therapies out-of-pocket, alternative medicine is much less expensive. It is also often safer, and yet, equally effective.

The circle is complete. You save thousands of dollars by changing your mindset with insurance. Then you are free to choose any type of alternative medicine you wish, whether for wellness (to stay well) or for therapy (to recover from disease). It will be less expensive, safer and more healthy for you. And all you have to change is your mind.

Daryl Kulak is the author of Health Insurance Off the Grid, a guidebook to help people afford the holistic lifestyle.

Is This Alternative Treatment Good or Bad for You? Why Can’t the Experts Agree?

Medical experts say that they want their patients’ treatment to be “evidence-based” – that is, chosen on the basis of good research studies. They are often critical of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) because of the limited research available by mainstream Western medical standards for any particular treatment.

The trouble is that it is hard even for doctors, let alone consumers, to figure out whether a treatment is good or bad in a particular case. This problem affects not only treatments with mainstream drugs, but also with the many different types of CAM. Especially in CAM, practitioners usually try to individualize the treatment for the unique physical and psychosocial situation of the person as a whole. What makes it so hard to tell if a treatment might be “good” or “bad” for you?

First, research studies are not individualized; rather, scientists typically do their studies on large groups of people – and then scientists average the results over everyone who participated. So, group averages do not tell doctors very much about what will work for you as the individual in front of them in the office. And the formal research testing doesn’t always tell them the possible interactions between the treatment and other factors – other medications, natural products, other conditions you may have that the research study participants didn’t have, genetics, environmental exposures – that can each increase or decrease the effectiveness and/or the safety of the treatment for you.

In short, research evidence often doesn’t give your doctor – or you – the information he or she needs to decide whether or not a treatment will be good or bad for you in your particular and unique situation. Advice of friends and family, as well as health food store clerks, can sometimes be helpful, but they usually only know what worked for them. You can’t know if you will have the same or different result.

Second, the results of any research study are most relevant to the precise conditions under which the scientists tested a particular treatment. For example, most “good” research studies recruit patients who have fewer health problems and use fewer drugs than the average patient in a doctor’s office. Studies also focus on a specific outcome for a short period of time, usually an outcome that is relevant to the patients’ disease, not to the patient. And they observe for 8-12 weeks or so.

If scientists test a treatment’s effects on persons with headaches for 12 weeks, but the CAM treatment helps other symptoms (not headache) get better, improves overall energy, and gives them a greater sense of well-being in 12 weeks (but has little effect on the headaches until week 20 or later), the conclusion will be that the treatment “doesn’t work.”

Meanwhile, CAM practitioners and patients are puzzled and even outraged to hear the results – because of the contradictions between the research conclusions and their own experience in the real world. But in the real world outside of a research study, the practitioners and patients were able to look at more than the headaches, and they were able to allow the treatment more than 12 weeks to work.

Third, people who do and don’t use CAM differ in their personality type. People who choose to try CAM treatments score higher than CAM non-users on the trait of openness to experience. Openness is one of the five major dimensions of personality, along with extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Other research has shown that people high in trait openness may have not only a different psychology, but also a different biology and genetics, than people low in that trait.

If a research study happens to recruit a lot of people who are low in trait openness and a CAM treatment doesn’t work during the study, the results could be valid – but not relevant to the majority of people who actually use the treatment in the real world, outside the research study.

For now, the bottom line is to use common sense. If doctors and other experts haven’t found any serious side-effects of a CAM treatment and your own health care providers don’t see any significant risks for you with your unique health issues – and some people find the treatment helpful for problems like yours – consider trying it. Continue it if it helps; stop it if you get worse or develop a new problem.

And keep educating yourself about your health care treatment options – empower yourself with information. Don’t expect your doctor or other health care providers to have all of the answers or for any one research study to give them or you the final word.

Iris R. Bell, MD PhD is an alternative medicine researcher, author, and educator. Her e-book, Getting Whole, Getting Well. 5 Keys for Understanding How to Heal from Chronic Disease, is available at http://www.gettingwhole.com She also offers a free newsletter on treatment options for people with chronic disorders and diseases at http://www.holisticmedicinetips.com