No Side Effects

Since acupuncture is a process that does not involve any surgical procedures, medical treatments or prescribed medications, there are typically no unwanted side effects. A patient cannot overdose from acupuncture. Furthermore, though there may be initial sites that are red, the needles are so thin, they will not leave behind scars and the skin will heal relatively quickly.

Physical Ailments

Acupuncture can be used to treat a wide variety of physical ailments and issues. This includes everything from physical pain such as a migraine or lower back pain to illness related pain such as asthma, Crohn’s Disease, fibromyalgia and more. It can also be used to treat simpler issues, such as an ear infection or headache Other issues that can be treated using acupuncture include hot flashes, certain infertility issues, diarrhea, colds, bronchitis as well as autoimmune disorders such as lupus.

Emotional Issues

Acupuncture is not a therapist, but it can be beneficial emotionally. Acupuncture can be used to treat various emotional issues, such as postpartum depression and general depression. It can also be used to treat anxiety, irritability, and stress.

Cost Effective

Acupuncture costs less than traditional Western medicine. A trip to the doctor may include the cost of the visit, the cost of prescribed medication and the cost of any associated referrals, MRIs, CT scans or any other diagnostic tests. Meanwhile, acupuncture sessions are usually based on set fees with no surprise. Patients who go in for a headache treatment will pay for that and no additional fees for various diagnostic tools or medications. Plus, some insurance companies will cover a portion of the cost of acupuncture. Unlike many other health related products or check-ups for which you may need a lot of money, Acupuncture is much cheap.

Not as Painful as Perceived

The idea of being stuck with several small needles often invokes thoughts of extreme pain. However, many acupuncture patients report feeling little to no pain at all when undergoing an acupuncture session. It should be noted, however, that there may be various sensations at the site of insert for different patients which can range from a tingling or burning sensation that is typically brief in length.

With few to no side effects, aside from some patients experiencing a burning or tingling sensation, there is not much risk associated with trying acupuncture. Treatments are also affordable, so you won’t have to take out any sort of bad credit cash loans, even if it’s an emergency medical situation. Plus, since acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of issues, anyone can try this alternative to traditional Western medicine.

MSG or Monosodium Glutamate is the salt component of glutamic acid. Due to this purpose, many chefs and other cooks are using this food enhancer in their dishes for over 100 years already. What MSG does is that it brings out the umami flavor present in the other foods previously mentioned and improves the overall taste of any particular dish.

It can be used to any kind of cooking, particularly those that have pork, beef, chicken, fish, vegetables, sauces, soups, and marinades. There are no known limits to how much glutamate should be used, but Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has stated through studies that accepted daily intake is not suggested.

MSG is also a great substitute to salt as the sodium content is only 12% than that of table salt, which is at 39%. Lesser sodium intake helps in reducing the risk of hypertension, stroke, and even heart attack. Once applied to food, people find many recipes to be palatable, increasing their appetite and interest in eating. Thus, the good effects and benefits of any cuisine can be achieved without the need to yield for Hyperphagia, or excessive ingestion of food beyond the capacity of any individual. It does not produce any negative effects to the brain, as certain amounts of glutamate are also necessary for brain function. It can help people to have better dieting patterns, especially to those who are nutrient deficient.

There are quite a number of massage techniques, and these vary depending on the origin. But the benefits are usually the same, no matter what technique is applied. Here are a few physical and mental/emotional benefits, to note.

• Improved circulation. Massage usually involves manipulation of the muscles and joints. This helps the blood to flow more freely through the body. Massage also aids in the flow of lymphatic fluids since these require muscular movements to flow through the body.
• Stress relief. This is one of the most important benefits of massage. Physical manipulation of muscles can be very pleasing and relaxing. This can lead to an overall feeling of relaxation and release from the physical stresses of everyday living.
• Pain reduction. Some types of massage focus on reducing pain from injury or athletic activities. Some techniques are also designed to reduce pain from surgery, accidents, or other medical conditions.
• Alertness. After massage, one usually feels more alert and energetic. This is especially appreciated by professionals who take quick massage sessions during their workday.

There are countless benefits to touch therapy. We’ll try to cover some particular techniques here on the Health Blog, along with a discussion of their origins and applications.

As an alternative, the use of herbal medicine has done wonders for various illnesses such as cancer and heart associated problems. This can be attributed to the fact that the substances and composition that all extracted herbs offer are found to negate and improve the body components.

Weird as they may sound, taste or look, it is the healing effect that holds the truth towards a successful fight against diseases and illnesses. It is not purely a matter of relying on your doctor for advice but also a matter of taking into consideration that herbal plants are existent for a reason, a health reason.

Technorati Tags: herbs, herbal plants, natural healting, alternative medicine

Today, calcium deficiency is one of the main concerns for women in their 30s or even early 20s. The great fear is that when we reach our 50s or 60s, osteoporosis would set in. That is why you can see a plethora of advertisements regarding calcium and different products supposedly containing adequate amounts of this mineral.

Because calcium is not that easy to acquire from the natural food that we eat everyday, the best course for the busy woman these days would be to take calcium supplements. There are a lot of different forms of calcium supplements – calcium caltrate, calcium carbonate, oyster shell or bone meal based calcium supplements, coral calcium, calcium lactate.

You have to be careful when choosing which kind of supplement you take. This is because calcium is not easily absorbed by our body. So the fact that you are taking supplements doesn’t mean that the body is actually benefiting from it. Different supplements may have different instructions on dosage and the manner of intake. You can ask our doctor to help you determine which supplement is the best for your needs.

So anyway, I was making lunch – pan fried slabs of yellow fin tuna. This stuff is really good, especially if you get the fish fresh from the market. So there I was happily pan frying the slabs when I lost my grip on one as I was turning it. unfortunately, some of the hot oil splashed on my left hand, burning the length of my index finger.

I immediately ran cold water over the burn as it hurt like anything and was quickly turning an angry red. After a few minutes, it still stung and was really bothering me so I turned to an age old remedy in my family – toothpaste. I spread – NOT RUBBED – some Colgate onto the burned area and almost immediately, the stinging sensation disappeared!

This made me think, did I do the right thing? Does toothpaste really work for minor burns? I looked it up on the Internet and found contradicting opinions. Some say that toothpaste should never be placed on burns while others highly recommend it.

I think that for minor burns that remain closed, toothpaste will work just fine. I can attest to that myself. However, I am almost certain that for second degree burns and burns that involve open wounds, toothpaste should never be used. What’s your opinion?

Enter the Nintendo Wii. With their new product line – aptly dubbed the Wii Fit – Nintendo is posed to capture a new market, if they have not already. So what is the Wii Fit all about? Time shares:

This is the genius of Shigeru Miyamoto, the famed game designer and mastermind behind blockbusters like Legends of Zelda, Donkey Kong and the many Mario titles. He has managed to take an activity that many people dread — exercise — and actually make it feel like a game. “What is most interesting to me is helping people find something within themselves and then drawing it out,” says Miyamoto, 55.

Nintendo’s Wii Fit comes with a wireless “balance board” that you set on the floor in front of a TV hooked up to the Wii console. About two feet wide and half as deep, the board is essentially a fancy scale, which not only measures your weight, but also detects your equilibrium with startling precision. To play Wii Fit, you stand on the board and go through a series of exercises/games that fall into one of four categories: balance, strength, aerobics and yoga. You can box, snowboard or hula-hoop. You can practice your tree pose and lotus position. Or you can play a tilting game that uses careful body movements to maneuver balls across a shaky platter onscreen, as you try to sink them into various holes.

For those of us who shy away from the more traditional forms of exercise, the Wii Fit may be our savior. I can’t help but think though, can it really replace exercise? What do you think?

Paper products are not naturally white. All white paper products are bleached with chemicals that leave behind a harmful residue of dioxin, a known carcinogen. This residue is found in coffee filters, diapers, lunch bags, napkins, paper towels, tissues and toilet paper. When dioxin enters the landfill as waste, it leaches into the soil, contaminating groundwater.

Sounds good to me. Wouldn’t it feel a bit strange having toilet paper that is not white? Come to think of it, I don’t really see those products in the supermarket all that much. However, the idea of using unbleached paper products – visual aesthetics aside – is a very good one. The question is whether or not these can easily be found where we shop. It won’t hurt to try looking for them, though.

Another point that Dr. Mao brings up is the use of natural cleaning agents. He suggests:

The first step is to completely stop using cleansers containing bleach or chemicals. These days, there is an abundance of natural cleaning products on the market, which are safe and will not pollute the environment.

This one I totally agree with. Vinegar is one of the best cleansers that I have used. I particularly like using it to clean my coffee maker. It also helps remove those odors that can be irritating. Of course, make sure you dilute it – one is to one is a good ratio.

Got any green tips for the health?