Care & Cure | Colorado Homeopathy

Understanding the Aspects of Addiction

One thing that many people do not realize when it comes to addiction is that there are both physical and emotional aspects to addiction, and so it is neither one nor the other that completely controls you. For example, emotional considerations probably led to you using the drug in the first place. Perhaps you were pressured into it by a friend at a party, or just wanted to try it since everyone else is doing it. You were not physically compelled to try the drug, but psychologically there were influences that led you to make that decision. On the other hand, when it comes to continuing to use the drug, the addiction is largely physical in nature.

The reason for this is because drugs change the way the chemicals work and communicate in our brains. They convince our brain that we need the drug in order to feel okay, and so our body goes into a panic mode known as withdrawal when we are lacking the drug in our body. For this reason, once you start using a drug it can be difficult if not outright impossible to stop again. At this point, you need to consider getting help, and help is something that a drug treatment program can provide.

When it comes to using a drug treatment program to meet your needs, consider that there is no single “one size fits all” solution to getting help for your drug addiction. You are definitely going to want to comparison shop, looking at what options are available to you until you find a treatment program or facility that is going to provide you the type of care that you desire in overcoming your addiction once and for all. Start looking for the right drug treatment facility today and you will be on the road to recovery in no time at all.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Care & Cure, Drug Treatment · Tagged With: Addaction, Addiction, Centers and Counseling Services, Health, Project Prevention, Substance Abuse, Substance dependence, United States

Don’t Get the Flu this Winter

As flu season approaches, now is the best time to make sure that it does not get you down this winter. The best way to prevent the flu is to build up your bodies immune system so you are ready to fight the bug if it attacks. Homeopathic medicine offers a number of alternatives to conventional treatments which have been shown to be very effective.

The two most popular immune boosters used by homeopaths are Engystol and GrippHeel. These are considered natural versions of a flu vaccine and work on the same general principle. A vaccine uses a small amount of the virus to boost your immune system while homeopathic medicine finds a natural product that produces similar symptoms and uses it in extremely small doses to build immunity.

Unlike the flu shot, Engystol has no known side effects and its use is considered completely safe. This medication is derived in part from swallowort and sulfur and is recommended to be taken three times a day. It has been shown to be effective in treating the flu symptoms as well as rashes and skin disorders.

The other alternative medicine often used is GrippHeel. Like Engystol, GrippHeel is a natural immune booster. The active ingredients in GrippHeel are plant materials and phosphorus. It is used once the symptoms of the flu begin to surface and has been shown to be very effective in shorting the duration of the symptoms and the severity.

Homeopaths say there are other things you can do to keep your immune system strong to ward off the flu. Number one, is getting enough sleep. At least six to eight hours is recommended each night to insure that your immune system continues to function properly. It is also advisable to avoid caffeine and replace coffee or soda with herbal teas that can give you energy, naturally.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Care & Cure · Tagged With: Health, Homeopathy, Influenza

Increase Healthy Digestive Functions

Obviously, most people eat and digest their food each day without thinking about it. But many people also suffer from digestive issues: bloating, upset stomach, constipation, heartburn, and more. Thousands of dollars are spent each year on over-the-counter and prescription medication meant to combat problems that are often caused by busy lifestyles that lead to poor food choices and eating quickly. Rather than purchasing chemicals to help your body’s natural process of digestion, here are a few easy things to do to bump up the effectiveness of your body’s ability to extract nutrients from food and process waste.

First, you might want to consider the speed at which you ingest your meals. Do you eat fast, perhaps at a desk or in your car? Shoving food down causes two major problems. One, you’re not savoring the food, or “eating in the moment,” which usually means you eat more than your body needs. Slow down, add something pretty to the table, enjoy the flavors and textures of whatever you’re eating, and you’re more likely to stop when full.

The second problem with nearly inhaling food is that you don’t have time to chew properly. Digestion begins in the mouth as saliva starts to break down food. When you swallow barely chewed food, the rest of your system has to work harder to get the fuel it needs from that food, which can cause bloating or other intestinal issues, and you’re likely to lose out on some of the important nutritional assets. Try taking smaller bites, putting utensils down to rest between bites, or counting the number of times you chew each bite to ensure your food gets off on the right foot, so to speak, down your digestive tract.

Some other recommendations for improved digestive function include drinking plenty of water, a lack of which can cause constipation. Fiber is another nutrient you’ll want to make sure you get enough of to keep your digestive system working its best. Dark green vegetables, beans, lentils, dried and fresh fruits, and seeds such as flaxseed all provide good doses of healthful fiber.

Filed Under: Care & Cure, Fitness, Health · Tagged With: constipation, Digestive Functions, heartburn

The Importance of Thyroid Health

: Image via Wikipedia

Maybe you’ve heard someone say they were going to get their thyroid tested because they felt tired, or maybe you know someone who has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. But what does the thyroid do, and why do people seem to be so worried about it?

Your thyroid is a gland that manages metabolism—which is essentially the system that is responsible for the chemical reactions keeping you alive. Your body’s ability to maintain and regulate temperature, blood circulation, energy levels, and how fast you’re able to absorb calories for fuel are all controlled by your thyroid. So the little gland is pretty important, and it’s necessary to keep it functioning properly. People who have hypothyroidism have an “underactive thyroid” which slows down all the body’s metabolic processes. Symptoms of this most common thyroid malfunction include severe weight gain, dry skin, inconsistent moods, intense fatigue, and even depression. Women are particularly susceptible to this disorder.

People with hyperthyroidism have an “overactive thyroid,” which creates a sort of hyperactivity in the body’s chemical reactions, speeding everything up. Many people may have thyroid problems and not even realize it, and even people with healthily operating thyroids should do their best to keep that gland working in tip top shape. A few vitamins and minerals are key in thyroid maintenance. Of course, if you believe you have a thyroid problem, see your doctor or have your thyroid hormone levels tested, but these nutrients can help the thyroid stay healthy.

Your body needs Selenium, a mineral found in Brazil nuts, in order to translate hormones into active, usable compounds. Iodine is important, as iodine deficiency is one of the causes of an underactive tryroid. Zinc is also necessary to keep the thyroid running smoothly, as is L-tyrosine. This amino acid is said to limit the hormones created by the thyroid so those with hypothyroidism, or simply a slow metabolism, can benefit from this supplement. Of course, before beginning any regime of dietary supplements, you should consult a doctor or nutritionist. But these nutrients could help keep your thyroid and metabolism in top working condition.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Care & Cure, Fitness, Health · Tagged With: Endocrine Disorders, Hypothyroidism, Thyroid

Eating the Ayurvedic Way

: Image by kennyphoto1 via Flickr

Ayurvedic medicine is considered “alternative” in western culture, but has been practiced in India and surrounding areas for many years. Ayurveda focuses on holistic healing of ailments through natural remedies including the use of plants, vegetables, herbs, oils, yoga, and massage. Another part of ayurveda includes aligning and balancing energies within the body. Ayurvedic medicine is varied and personal, as each individual body has its own unique properties and nuances, but there are a few simple tips involving eating habits that can introduce you to some ayurvedic principles, as well as help you get the most from your food.

Tip number one: try not to miss meals. Without regular feedings, your body will run out of the fuel it needs. Without proper fuel, your body activates adrenalin and other hormones designed to give you a short burst of energy because it thinks there is a problem. Relying on these stress chemicals can cause adverse side effects like irritability, anger, extreme fatigue, and intense food cravings for high-fat, high-sugar, quick energy foods. The old three balanced meals per day suggestion will keep your reserves saved for when there’s a real emergency.

Number two tip: eat a big lunch and a smaller dinner. The way Americans tend to dine is by having two small meals early in the day and then a large dinner late in the evening. Ayurvedic thought says that the body’s digestive routines slow down at night, and just when you should be resting, your body instead is forced to process a big amount of food. Eat your biggest meal at lunchtime, when your body is ready for and craving fuel, and you’ll be able to more effectively burn off those calories and utilize the nutrients.

The third and final ayurvedic eating tip is to stop snacking. Many people get hungry between meals, but if you don’t take a break between bouts of food ingestions, your body can’t burn stored fat. Instead, it must focus on digesting all the new food it’s being given. Sticking to three daily meals will help your body burn fat between eating sessions.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Care & Cure, Health · Tagged With: Alternative medicine, Ayurveda, Yoga

Naturopathic Medicine Explained

Just like western medicine, naturopathic practices diagnose and then treat ailments. The ultimate aim is to reduce the occurrence of symptoms, remove the cause of the ailment, and prevent future flare-ups. The naturopathic practitioner examines the patient physically, mentally, psychologically, and emotionally. Taking into consideration all that he has learned about the patient’s unique condition and history, the practitioner then lays out a therapy plan solely designed for that individual. Rather than a one size fits all philosophy, naturopathic medicine caters to the personal needs of each patient.

Two of the most common types of therapies categorized as naturopathic are acupuncture and clinical nutrition. Clinical nutrition is based on the thought that you are, almost literally, what you eat. In other words, whatever ailments a patient is suffering are directly related to what the patient is ingesting. The focus is on finding a connection between nutrients eaten and health, and adjusting the patient’s diet. According to what the body lacks or carries too much of, the nutritionist may suggest supplemental vitamins, enzymes, minerals, or specific food regimes to help reduce the sickness and/or maintain health.

Acupuncture uses small needles inserted in targeted areas of the body in order to realign, increase, or regulate the energy flow in the body’s meridians, or essentially, life lines. With a skilled acupuncturist, a patient may feel immediate relief from symptoms, and with regular sessions, may be completely cured of their ailment.

Naturopathic medicine relies on healing properties and wisdom that are centuries old, but with modern updates that make these therapies safer, simpler, and even more effective. A variety of disorders can be alleviated with naturopathic treatments, including migraines, high blood pressure, insomnia, allergies, heart burn, depression, and many more.

With a name like naturopathic, it must be natural, but what exactly is naturopathic medicine? It’s considered an alternative method of treating bodily disorders or illnesses. Unlike more “traditional” treatments, naturopathic remedies focus on preventative care as well as treatment of already pronounced symptoms. For this reason, anyone can benefit from naturopathic practices, no matter their level or state of health.
Just like western medicine, naturopathic practices diagnose and then treat ailments. The ultimate aim is to reduce the occurrence of symptoms, remove the cause of the ailment, and prevent future flare-ups. The naturopathic practitioner examines the patient physically, mentally, psychologically, and emotionally. Taking into consideration all that he has learned about the patient’s unique condition and history, the practitioner then lays out a therapy plan solely designed for that individual. Rather than a one size fits all philosophy, naturopathic medicine caters to the personal needs of each patient.
Two of the most common types of therapies categorized as naturopathic are acupuncture and clinical nutrition. Clinical nutrition is based on the thought that you are, almost literally, what you eat. In other words, whatever ailments a patient is suffering are directly related to what the patient is ingesting. The focus is on finding a connection between nutrients eaten and health, and adjusting the patient’s diet. According to what the body lacks or carries too much of, the nutritionist may suggest supplemental vitamins, enzymes, minerals, or specific food regimes to help reduce the sickness and/or maintain health. Acupuncture uses small needles inserted in targeted areas of the body in order to realign, increase, or regulate the energy flow in the body’s meridians, or essentially, life lines. With a skilled acupuncturist, a patient may feel immediate relief from symptoms, and with regular sessions, may be completely cured of their ailment.
Naturopathic medicine relies on healing properties and wisdom that are centuries old, but with modern updates that make these therapies safer, simpler, and even more effective. A variety of disorders can be alleviated with naturopathic treatments, including migraines, high blood pressure, insomnia, allergies, heart burn, depression, and many more.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Care & Cure, Health · Tagged With: Alternative, Hypertension, Medicine, Naturopathy

Chinese Medicine Recommends Moderation and More

Chinese medicine includes a seventy percent rule as the basis for moderation. The practice is to only do seventy percent of all things, like stopping eating when you are seventy percent full instead of stuffed to the brim, or quitting your workout when you are seventy percent sore instead of pushing yourself to the breaking point. If you eat too much, you’ll feel sluggish and you’ll overwhelm your metabolism. If you exercise too intensely, you can injure yourself. “All things in moderation,” is a wise adage, and one worth considering in many aspects of daily life.

Sharing and expressing your feelings can have benefits to your wellbeing. Chinese medicine believes that each emotion is attached to an organ in the body, so dwelling on negativity or constantly worrying can cause physical problems. For example, overthinking can damage your digestive tract. Express your anger and sadness to avoid blockages. Good emotions should be shared, too. Gratitude, happiness, appreciation, and love are vital to maintaining an upbeat attitude. Try to be aware of your emotions, acknowledge them, own them, and then release them. You’ll learn to manage your feelings and feel good from the inside.

The principles of Chinese medicine state that your digestive system’s energy is like a fire. You want to keep that fire burning so it can successfully process foods your body needs for fuel. If you ingest a lot of cold foods such as, ice cream, iced water, and raw, straight-from-the fridge-veggies, you could be slowly smothering your digestive flames, which can lower the effectiveness of your metabolism. Icy cold food makes your heart pump harder in trying to warm up your body by circulating blood and weakens the processes of digestion. Stick to warm foods to keep your metabolism in top form.

Chinese medicine is best known for its use of herbs, teas, and treatments such as acupuncture. But Chinese medicine has more to offer than just symptom stopping therapies. Principles to live by are included as part of preventative care in the practice of Chinese medicine, including practicing moderation, expressing emotions, and avoiding icy foods.
Chinese medicine includes a seventy percent rule as the basis for moderation. The practice is to only do seventy percent of all things, like stopping eating when you are seventy percent full instead of stuffed to the brim, or quitting your workout when you are seventy percent sore instead of pushing yourself to the breaking point. If you eat too much, you’ll feel sluggish and you’ll overwhelm your metabolism. If you exercise too intensely, you can injure yourself. “All things in moderation,” is a wise adage, and one worth considering in many aspects of daily life.
Sharing and expressing your feelings can have benefits to your wellbeing. Chinese medicine believes that each emotion is attached to an organ in the body, so dwelling on negativity or constantly worrying can cause physical problems. For example, overthinking can damage your digestive tract. Express your anger and sadness to avoid blockages. Good emotions should be shared, too. Gratitude, happiness, appreciation, and love are vital to maintaining an upbeat attitude. Try to be aware of your emotions, acknowledge them, own them, and then release them. You’ll learn to manage your feelings and feel good from the inside.
The principles of Chinese medicine state that your digestive system’s energy is like a fire. You want to keep that fire burning so it can successfully process foods your body needs for fuel. If you ingest a lot of cold foods such as, ice cream, iced water, and raw, straight-from-the fridge-veggies, you could be slowly smothering your digestive flames, which can lower the effectiveness of your metabolism. Icy cold food makes your heart pump harder in trying to warm up your body by circulating blood and weakens the processes of digestion. Stick to warm foods to keep your metabolism in top form.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Care & Cure, Drug Treatment · Tagged With: Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Alternative, Traditional Chinese medicine

Youth is in Your Outlook and Actions

: Image via Wikipedia

There is some actual scientific proof that an upbeat outlook and a zest for life can create beneficial health effects. A deep, full, whole hearted laugh can boost your body’s immune system, which in turn can increase your ability to fight off diseases. Laugh often, and you give your immunity frequent jump starts to keep it running smoothly. Intimate contact with loved ones has been shown to reduce stress and lower anxiety as well, so people who are part of loving, fulfilling relationships with friends, family, and significant others often show lower emotional stress levels than those who are in unhealthy relationships. Think about how calming and comforting a hug from your mother or partner is, and imagine that calm extending throughout your body, possibly helping to reduce blood pressure or even depression.

In addition to laughing and maintaining quality relationships, your daily choices can affect your youthfulness. Nutrition is important. Just as a positive outlook keeps your brain young, proper nutrients keep your body fueled and prepared for all its challenges. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and limited sugar and fat are smart choices for food to keep your vitality. Meditation lowers stress and has been linked to the reversal of age markers, and enough sleep—seven to eight hours a day—is also important to longevity and youthfulness.

The evidence that suggests this culture’s obsession with looking young is abundant: botox, collagen injections, hair plugs, hair dye, face lifts, anti-aging creams, under eye treatments, washes and moisturizers, all created to help people look younger. And yet, often those who look the most youthful are those who don’t spend a dime on fancy methods of camouflage or improvement. They are beautiful from within because they enjoy life and celebrate it to the fullest. A youthful and positive attitude can add years to your expected age and subtract years from your face and skin. The odds of living longer go up for people who tend not to dwell on the downside of aging and concentrate instead on a high quality of life while they’re living it.
There is some actual scientific proof that an upbeat outlook and a zest for life can create beneficial health effects. A deep, full, whole hearted laugh can boost your body’s immune system, which in turn can increase your ability to fight off diseases. Laugh often, and you give your immunity frequent jump starts to keep it running smoothly. Intimate contact with loved ones has been shown to reduce stress and lower anxiety as well, so people who are part of loving, fulfilling relationships with friends, family, and significant others often show lower emotional stress levels than those who are in unhealthy relationships. Think about how calming and comforting a hug from your mother or partner is, and imagine that calm extending throughout your body, possibly helping to reduce blood pressure or even depression.
In addition to laughing and maintaining quality relationships, your daily choices can affect your youthfulness. Nutrition is important. Just as a positive outlook keeps your brain young, proper nutrients keep your body fueled and prepared for all its challenges. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and limited sugar and fat are smart choices for food to keep your vitality. Meditation lowers stress and has been linked to the reversal of age markers, and enough sleep—seven to eight hours a day—is also important to longevity and youthfulness.

Filed Under: Care & Cure, Fitness, Health · Tagged With: Ageing, Immune system, Stress

Cold Wisdom from Alternative Therapies

Prevention techniques include keeping your body temperature up. Ayurvedic medicine believes that colder outside weather can decrease your body’s inner digestive fire and also your immunity, which makes you more prone to getting sick. At the first sign of mild cold symptoms, try a warm oil massage followed by a bath or shower of heated water. With increased body temperature from this massage, your body can more easily burn off mucus and rid itself of the cold before it even begins.

Other prevention ideas are washing your hands often to keep them clean and free from germs encountered by shaking hands and touching doorknobs, adding herbal supplements to boost your immune system such as echinacea, ginger, vitamin C, and garlic. Chinese herbalists can also brew special teas that will up your body’s immunity and help you build up a resistance to disease. Drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of time to rest are also powerful preventative tactics that are so simple they often get overlooked. Sleep and water are a few of your body’s most basic tools in construction of a healthy system.

If you can’t avoid the cold going around, there are a few treatment options. Try drinking several glasses of hot water with lemon each day. The juice of one fresh lemon per cup provides a shot of vitamin C, and the water warms your system as well as hydrates. Herbs, teas, and warming spices mixed with hot water and honey can help sooth sore throats, decrease inflammation, and replenish liquids. A humidifier can help ease congestion, and eliminating all dairy will help reduce phlegm.

It seems like most people catch a cold at least once a year. It travels through schools and offices, and everyone will talk about “that bug going around.” But have you ever noticed how there are some people who manage to avoid getting sick? How do they do it? Well, below are some suggestions for prevention of the common cold, as well as remedies to try if you can’t avoid becoming bogged down with nasty cold symptoms.
Prevention techniques include keeping your body temperature up. Ayurvedic medicine believes that colder outside weather can decrease your body’s inner digestive fire and also your immunity, which makes you more prone to getting sick. At the first sign of mild cold symptoms, try a warm oil massage followed by a bath or shower of heated water. With increased body temperature from this massage, your body can more easily burn off mucus and rid itself of the cold before it even begins.
Other prevention ideas are washing your hands often to keep them clean and free from germs encountered by shaking hands and touching doorknobs, adding herbal supplements to boost your immune system such as echinacea, ginger, vitamin C, and garlic. Chinese herbalists can also brew special teas that will up your body’s immunity and help you build up a resistance to disease. Drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of time to rest are also powerful preventative tactics that are so simple they often get overlooked. Sleep and water are a few of your body’s most basic tools in construction of a healthy system.
If you can’t avoid the cold going around, there are a few treatment options. Try drinking several glasses of hot water with lemon each day. The juice of one fresh lemon per cup provides a shot of vitamin C, and the water warms your system as well as hydrates. Herbs, teas, and warming spices mixed with hot water and honey can help sooth sore throats, decrease inflammation, and replenish liquids. A humidifier can help ease congestion, and eliminating all dairy will help reduce phlegm.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Care & Cure, Health · Tagged With: Alternative, Common cold, Herbalism

Aromatherapy 101

: Image by FL4Y via Flickr

You’ve probably heard the term, “essential oil.” Well, this refers to concentrated extracts from plants. Most perfume oils are not true essential oils and don’t contain the same therapeutic properties. The same goes for flower or herb scented shampoos, lotions, etc. They often smell heavenly, but they do not count as aromatherapy since most fragrances now are manufactured artificially. But true essential oils can provide tremendous stress relief and healing, as well as encourage the overall well-being of your mind and body.

A skilled aromatherapist will most likely blend a unique mix of oils individualized for you and then apply it to your skin via massage, or simply give it to you to be inhaled or dropped into your bath. Aromatherapy can be done on your own as well, by doing a little research into which oils soothe which ailments and then buying the essential oils yourself. Lavender and vanilla both have relaxation and stress-reducing properties, and are fairly easy to find. Peppermint can be used to decrease appetite and keep you from falling asleep.

Emotional and physical effects occur when you inhale specific essential oils. Emotionally, aromatherapy improves your mood by associating positive memories with a smell. For example, your mother’s garden was full of gardenias, so gardenia scent makes you feel safe and at home. Physically, aromatherapy can trigger responses in your nervous system, circulatory functions, and immunity that lead to better health. Aromatherapy can treat a variety of mild disorders, and it’s so easy, cheap, and not to mention great smelling, why not give it a try?

Many people consider aromatherapy to be the act of smelling something good. But it is actually a method of healing that has proven results and is easy to do. Officially, aromatherapy is just that: aroma, smell, and therapy: “the use of volatile oils, extracted from plants, trees, and herbs, for therapeutic purposes.” Humans, and even animals, have made use of plant properties for thousands of years, and numerous studies have shown that smell is the most sensitive of senses and can create potent responses in minds and bodies.
You’ve probably heard the term, “essential oil.” Well, this refers to concentrated extracts from plants. Most perfume oils are not true essential oils and don’t contain the same therapeutic properties. The same goes for flower or herb scented shampoos, lotions, etc. They often smell heavenly, but they do not count as aromatherapy since most fragrances now are manufactured artificially. But true essential oils can provide tremendous stress relief and healing, as well as encourage the overall well-being of your mind and body.
A skilled aromatherapist will most likely blend a unique mix of oils individualized for you and then apply it to your skin via massage, or simply give it to you to be inhaled or dropped into your bath. Aromatherapy can be done on your own as well, by doing a little research into which oils soothe which ailments and then buying the essential oils yourself. Lavender and vanilla both have relaxation and stress-reducing properties, and are fairly easy to find. Peppermint can be used to decrease appetite and keep you from falling asleep.
Emotional and physical effects occur when you inhale specific essential oils. Emotionally, aromatherapy improves your mood by associating positive memories with a smell. For example, your mother’s garden was full of gardenias, so gardenia scent makes you feel safe and at home. Physically, aromatherapy can trigger responses in your nervous system, circulatory functions, and immunity that lead to better health. Aromatherapy can treat a variety of mild disorders, and it’s so easy, cheap, and not to mention great smelling, why not give it a try?

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Care & Cure · Tagged With: Aromatherapy, Essential oil, Lotion