Everybody at some time or another has decided to take a fabulous vacation out to the beach, the desert or someplace else that they normally do not venture. The trip is always wonderful, filled with fun and somehow in the excitement the sunscreen is forgotten, or you are so wrapped up you stay out a bit too long. This has happened to practically everyone capable of walking. In order to avoid all of the pain that sunburns create it would be necessary to live our lives entirely indoors, and this just is not much fun. After all, then there would be no baseball games, no swimming on the beach and plenty of other great activities.

In order to calm the intense pain that sunburns can cause it is important to know how to treat them. Of course, prevention is always the best advice, but for those times when a burn is unavoidable, it is important to know the proper treatment methods. These can help you to avoid screaming in pain each time you lay down to sleep, and also allow others in your family to come within 50 yards of you. Without a good treatment plan you can expect to be extremely lonely, so now is the time to start learning before you are burnt to a crisp struggling to read the screen.

Before we get started, it is extremely important that you always wear sunglasses whenever you are outside. Even if you only plan to be outside for a couple of minutes, something can always happen where it is hours before you go inside. Treating a burn in your eye is much harder to do and is not something that is easy at all. It will also require the specialized attention of an eye doctor to ensure that your vision is not damaged.

One of the first remedies that you should try is always drinking ample water. This is important because it helps to ensure that your body is fully hydrated. If you are dehydrated, it will cause your skin to dry out, which in turn can make it extremely difficult to soothe your skin to a level that is comfortable. If you are dehydrated, your skin is going to have a much harder time healing. Drinking plenty of water will be extremely helpful to ensure that you are getting all of the fluids that you need, not only for your health but also to improve the shape of your skin.

Another highly effective solution is to use aloe vera. This is available in the form of gels, but can also be used directly from the plant. If you have access to an aloe vera plant, it is a wonderful way to ensure you are protecting your skin. If you have an aloe plant, you have access to a great asset. Used for more than just sunburns, an aloe plant is also highly effective for a plethora of other burns as well.

You can also use cool milk compresses. It is important to use cool milk, not cold. If you use milk that is extremely cold, you will often find that it is extremely uncomfortable to the touch and is more disturbing than comforting. Using hot milk is also not effective since it will not properly soothe the skin. To get the biggest benefit possible from the cool milk compresses you should take some cotton gauze or even some very soft cloth and soak them in milk. You will then dab the compress onto the skin.

With some patience, all sunburns will of course heal. Trying to wait until they heal all on their own is not always possible. This can make it extremely difficult to work, get the rest you need and also function. A small amount of relief is always a welcome benefit for most people and is something that should never be discounted. Getting relief is possible and your skin will certainly appreciate the help. Word Count 659

Related Blogs

• Top 10 Vacation Spots To Have A Fabulous Vacation
• Metrodome Collapse Scrambles Spring Baseball Games « CBS Minnesota ...

Technorati Tags: Alternative, Home, Medicine, Remedies, remedy, Treatment

When I look up the definitions of these topics, there seems to be a more vast array of methods besides 'nutrition' or use of 'foods'. I'm trying to write a research paper on nutrition as an alternative therapy and would like to be correct as possible with the terminology. This is also something I would like to persue as a career and I am having a hard time finding programs that fit into this category...sort of like being a nutritionist...but dealing with using supplements, colonics, etc. aswell to cure ailments and propel a person to optimum health. Can anyone help me out here?

I've heard many people referring to this field as Phyto-chemistry or even phyto-medicine, although I'm not sure that's a real career field yet. Probably being a holistic or intergrative health practitioner is what you'd be looking for.

Try checking out these two organizations for more info:

Association for Integrative Health Care Practitioners (http://aihcp-norfolkva.org/AIHCP/index.html) and American Integrative Medical Association (http://aihcp-norfolkva.org/AIMA/index.html)

Good luck in your career!

Related Blogs

• Enroll for California Health Insurance and Secure your Family's ...
• How New Jersey Health Care Fraud Law Works Against Medical ...

Not too long ago, I went to an herbalist-doctor where he tried to charge me $50 for a consultation with the herbs. Another herbalist-doctor have told me that in California, such consultations cannot exceed a certain amount (like around $8). I just want to seek the truth. Thanks!

To my knowledge, there are no regulations regarding how much herbalists or practitioners of alternative medicine can charge for their services. Every practitioner determines what they charge based on their education, expertise, and cost of operating their practice.

You will find fee variations in the medical field especially when people have their own private practice, as well as in other professions.

$50 for a consultation is a good price. If you think about the many thousands of dollars that were invested in education, texts, inventory, operation costs, and all the time and money that is invested in further professional development and research.

Anybody here in Canada could make $8/hr by working at a McDonalds or Wal-Mart. The going rate here for snow shoveling is $15 for driveways that take 15-30 minutes to clear, so that ends up being between $30-$60/hr. I could list off so many more examples, but I think you get the picture.

As a Garden Designer/Horticultural Consultant, I charge $100/hr because I am very specialized in what I do, and have spent a lot of time and money perfecting my skills and offering services that nobody else around here is qualified or capable of doing.

As a Herbalist, I operate on a sliding scale because the money I make from my other work is enough to support me and allows me to keep my fees low thereby making my services accessible/affordable for more people. While doing this, I realize that I am undercharging a lot. I offer many of my workshops and classes for free, because of my strong desire to help people help themselves.

I don't know how different the situation is where you live, but that's how it is in Canada, so I hope this information has been of some use to you.

---------------------------------------
lolly - picking up a herbal book to self treat would be as unreliable and potentially dangerous as picking up a good medical book and expecting it to take the place of your doctor's expertise. In my many years as a Herbalist, you have no idea how much bad information I have seen out there about herbal medicine in the majority of those books.

ScepDoc - You are misinformed. We are not 'self-appointed'. We have studied, attended College or University and have been accredited in our field as anyone else who has graduated with a degree or diploma. Of course, there are people that haven't, but you will find such people in every profession. I have seen countless television programs about people in the U.S. practicing as doctors without a medical license. You will not find a single profession that does not have frauds.

We do have strict standards, codes of ethics and expect purity of product. As for efficacy - the whole point of our education is to learn about the effectiveness of specific agents.

I don't understand why you would feel the need to go to such an extreme by mentioning Poison Ivy and Arsenic. Herbalists don't use those. Although arsenic has been used in the past by physicians

Related Blogs

• Multiple Sclerosis Alternative Medicine That Works

does anyone know of any alternative medicine,method to treat depression besides prescription meds?

Herbal Remedies

There are a variety of herbal therapies believed to treat many illnesses. For depression, St. John's wort and ginkgo biloba are the most talked about.

St. John's wort has been used for medical purposes in other parts of the world for thousands of years, despite the fact that it hasn't been scientifically proven to treat moderate to severe depression.
Ginkgo biloba is thought to improve memory and other intellectual functions, although the evidence is conflictual.
Any herbal supplement requires caution and should be taken only after consulting your doctor. Your doctor can help you weigh the risks and potential benefits so you can make an informed decision.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of healing that prevents and cures specific diseases and conditions by sticking very fine, solid needles into specific points on the body. It stimulates the body's ability to resist or overcome illnesses and conditions by correcting imbalances. Acupuncture also prompts the body to produce chemicals that decrease or eliminate painful sensations.

Acupuncture is most effective at treating long-term pain, such as headaches, menstrual cramps, and low back, neck, or muscle pain. It can also be used to treat arthritis, facial pain, pain from shingles, spastic colon, colitis, obesity, and addictions to nicotine or other drugs.

Reflexology

This is a technique in which a therapist applies pressure to specific points on the hands and feet. Reflexologists believe that the body has the capacity to heal itself. There are nerves in the hands and feet related to various parts of the body, and by manipulating these points through reflexology, it is thought that the healing process is stimulated.

Exercise

Different forms of exercise can lower your stress, relax you, reduce depression and increase your energy, balance, and flexibility. In general, exercise is a safe, effective, and easy way to improve your well-being; but, always check with your doctor before starting a new program.

Meditation

Meditation is sometimes described as an altered state of consciousness. It is a form of relaxation that, unlike sleep, is entered into purposely. Meditation is usually practiced regularly -- for at least 10 minutes each day. While the body is at rest, the mind is cleared by focusing on one thought, sometimes a word, phrase, or particular scenery.

Massage

Massage uses touch to provide relaxation. While there are variations of massage, they all work under the general principle of the connection between body and mind -- that when the body is relaxed and at ease, the mind is promoting better health, less depression and overall well-being. Some examples of massage include shiatsu, neuromuscular therapy, spinal release therapy, Swedish, and the sports variation.

Guided Imagery and Relaxation

Guided imagery is a form of focused relaxation that helps create harmony between the mind and body. Guided imagery coaches you in creating calm, peaceful images in your mind -- a "mental escape" for therapeutic purposes. It can be a powerful psychological strategy to enhance a person's coping skills. It can help people cope with -- and possibly overcome -- stress, anger, pain, depression and insomnia with or without associated physical illness.

Related Blogs

• St. Johnswort Beetle | What's That Bug?
• From the neuromatrix to the pain matrix, and back (Iannetti and ...

Image by centralasian via Flickr

Most folks believe that home-made remedies might be the final answer to everything. Trying to be sure that you actually do get the very best results possible from your house cure isn't invariably straightforward, but there are a couple of things you can do to help increase the likelihood of success, instead of drown in a dearth of success once again. For anybody trying to go looking for the correct home cure one of the most important factors of success will be whether or not you are able to catch the ailment fast or whether you take a rain-check on treatment till after an extended time period. The general public discover rather swiftly a good home cure has a tendency to be intensely straightforward. Employing a terribly complicated cure may seem more exciting but it won't usually offer the results that you actually want. If you decide to instead stay with cures that are easy, you'll be able to supply treatment quicker, and you may also have the advantage of having the ability to actually decide if you're correctly following all the directions. Failing to correctly follow directions and employ a cure that is much too complex will often find you failing to get the very best result practicable.

If you intend to employ a big spread of homemade treatments, it is highly important that you spend a while learning what's most critical in home cure treatment.

Knowing all this info is important because it can often help you identify the ideal time to truly start commencing treatment. Not having this info can put you in a serious downside and find you waiting far too long to start treatment. The largest impact to success is how swiftly treatment starts, and this could also have a tendency to impact which home cure treatment you ought to use since some are rather more potent than others. Understanding that there are a significant number of home cure options to choose between can permit you to explore all your options completely.

It is very important to still look over all the ingredients though and see if you want to purchase any supplies before starting.

For instance, if a home cure calls for vanilla extract, you should not substitute imitation vanilla extract since it won't give the precise result required. There are some occasions when a substitution can be made for a needed item ; however, the home cure should generally list this in particular so you don't make an inaccurate substitution. For all the home-made treatments that are generally accessible it actually is feasible to get some excellent results. Knowing that there's a lot of help open to you makes it way easier to get the results you need. If the 1st home cure doesn't work, there are a lot of options still free to you clearly that you can explore.

This will enable you to truly keep trying your luck till you find the proper home remedy for your present position. Just don't fear you are quite certain to find precisely what you want, and all while not having to essentially consult a medical practitioner unless positively mandatory. This will help you to save a ton of cash, and also begin treatment much earlier since most doctors take some time to literally get an appointment. To actually enjoy the advantages of a home cure will involve a little bit of patience and a lot of expertise but actually is achievable.

Related Blogs

• Things To Check Out When Buying Rain Boots For Women

Technorati Tags: home depot credit card, homecoming dresses, homepath, homes for rent, remedy for constipation, remedy lyrics, remedy software, remedy staffing

Basic Principles of Complementary/ Alternative Therapies

JUST AS MAINSTREAM MEDICINE has a fairly consistent approach to illness, so does al-ternative medicine. Most prevalent in alternative medicine are the six naturopathic principles. In one form or another, these principles are revisited again and again throughout Section Two of this text. The following principles are described by Dr. Catherine Downey and excerpted from her chapter on naturopathic medicine.

1. The Healing Power of Nature (Vis medicatix naturae)

The body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain and restore health. The healing process is ordered and intelligent: nature heals through the response of the life force. The physician's role is to facilitate and augment this process, to act to identify and remove obstacles to health and recovery, and to support the creation of a healthy internal and external environment. In short, give the body the appropriate tools and it will heal itself.

2. Treat the Whole Person (The multifactorial nature of health and disease)

Health and disease are conditions of the whole organism, involving a complex interaction of physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, and social factors. The physician must treat the whole person by taking all of these factors into account. The harmonious functioning of all aspects of the individual is essential to recovery from and prevention of disease and requires a personalized and comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment.

3. First Do No Harm (Primum no nocere)

Illness is a purposeful process of the organism. The process of healing includes the generation of symptoms, which are, in fact, an expression of the life force attempting to heal itself. Therapeutic actions should be complementary to and synergistic with this healing process. The physician's actions can support or antagonize the actions of the vis mediatrix naturae; therefore methods designed to suppress symptoms without removing underlying causes are considered harmful and are avoided or minimized. Therapeutic actions are applied in an ordered fashion congruent with the internal order of the organism.

4. Identify and Treat the Cause (Tolle causam)

Illness does not occur without cause. Underlying causes of disease must be discovered and removed or treated before a person can recover completely from illness. Symptoms are expressions of the body's attempt to heal, but they are not the cause of disease; therefore naturopathic medicine addresses itself promptly to the underlying causes of disease, rather than symptoms. Causes may occur on many levels, including physical, mental-emotional, and spiritual. The physician must evaluate fundamental underlying causes on all levels, directing treatment at root cause rather than at symptomatic expression.

5. Prevention (Prevention is the best "cure")

The ultimate goal of naturopathic medicine is prevention. This is accomplished through education and promotion of lifestyle habits that create good health. The physician assesses risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and makes appropriate interventions to avoid further harm and risk to the patient. The emphasis is on building health rather than on fighting disease. Because it is difficult to be healthy in an unhealthy world, it is the responsibility of both the physician and patient to create a healthier environment in which to live.

6. The Physician as Teacher (Docere)

Beyond an accurate diagnosis and appropriate prescription, the physician must work to create a health-sensitive, interpersonal relationship with the patient. A cooperative doctor-patient relationship has inherent therapeutic value. The physician's major role is to educate and encourage the patient to take responsibility for health. The physician is a catalyst for healthful change, empowering and motivating the patient to assume responsibility. It is the patient, not the doctor, who ultimately creates or accomplishes healing. The physician must strive to inspire hope as well as understanding. Physicans must also make a commitment to their personal and spiritual development in order to be good teachers.

More than a third of all Americans have used unconventional therapies and herbal remedies even though they have not proved to be safe or effective. (June 7)
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Related Blogs

• Mainstream Medicine is Insane
• The External Environment

Technorati Tags: Alternative, Medicine

My best friend is pretty sure that she has celiac disease, and she is afraid of taking the medicines for it because of the more serious down falls of the meds. She also has the skin rash Dermatitis Herpetiformis and she doesn't know what to do for either.

Does anyone have any good holistic medicine recommendations her?

Celiac Disease Alternative Medicine
Celiac.com 02/12/2007 - Before they are diagnosed, people with celiac disease often find themselves in an unenviable position. They may go out of their way to eat a wholesome, balanced diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables, a good variety of whole-grain foods, and a modest amount of meat and dairy, yet still find themselves suffering a whole range of bothersome stomach and digestive complaints including indigestion, gas, stomach cramps and diarrhea, alternating with constipation.
http://www.celiac.com/articles/1109/1/Celiac-Disease-Alternative-Medicine/Page1.html

Related Blogs

• Examples of Whole Grain Foods | Healthy and Wealthy
• Food poisoning | Treble 9 Ambulance Blog

My little sister has had several different cancers and right now she has a very aggressive lung cancer. Tumors are wrapped around her windpipe and a major artery and we have been told that she can't have surgery anymore because the tumors are too big. She is being treated at MD Anderson in Houston,Tx and she is going to receive radiation and chemotherapy. My parents heard that herbs and alternative medicine could help "cure" the tumors and that vitamin B12 and Cat's Claw would help too. We really don't know what else to do, my sister is only 15 and she is very scared. If anyone has any information on Thien Thao Chinese Herbs that would help out a lot because my parents are thinking of taking her there. Thank You so much.

I am so so sorry to hear about your sister. I can only imagine how desperate you and your family are feeling.

Unfortunately there are always unscrupulous people waiting to make money out of desperation like yours by selling untested, unproven and sometimes dangerous 'alternatives'.

Cat's claw is one such unproven treatment:

http://www.ncahf.org/articles/c-d/catsclaw.html

I think when you say vitamin B12 you may be thinking of the non-existent vitamin B17; this name was invented to give credibility to Laetrile, a brand name for apricot kernels. There is not a scrap of evidence that this helps in the treatment of cancer, and much evidence that it does not. Apricot kernels contain cyanide, so in addition to being useless, they are dangerous:

. http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/cancer.html

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/laetrile.html

I haven't heard of Thien Thao Chinese Herbs, but I do know that no herbs of any kind have been proven to be of help in treating cancer.

I urge you to be wary of stories of miraculous cures on sites and in literature promoting these alternatives. You have no way of knowing if the person ever had cancer in the first place, or even if they are still alive.

I'm sure that the people who have recommended these treatments to your family are well-meaning people, concerned for your sister and anxious to help. But they are misguided. Alternative medicine is a multi-million pound industry, and above all they want your cash.

Again, I am so sorry about your sister; I hope so much that the chemotherapy and radiotherapy she is about to have are effective. My best wishes to her and to all of you.

Related Blogs

• What is the borderline tumorsｼヾtart here to learn the tumor ...
• Cancer scientists believe nanoparticles could accurately target ...

My stepmom is depressed and does not seem to tolerate medicine very well. She develops all sorts of side effects. She is currently on zoloft and zanax. She has developed tremors, is nauseous and is not sleeping. Plus, her stomach really hurts now. She has tried 3 different medicines and is getting more depressed.

Funny this question came up. I was researching that same question. I found some good info HERE.

http://lifecoachesblog.com/

Related Blogs

• Joel Schwartzberg: Six Things Remarried Dads Owe Their Stepmom ...
• Blood Theme (From Dexter) / Tremors Live at Union - Grandfather ...

Image via Wikipedia

Are you currently taking any medicines or drugs for anything? If you are like a very large number of Americans, you likely are. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it definitely can be. You should consider for a moment all of the negative things synthetic drugs can do to your internal organs, digestive tract, brain and heart. In short, you probably do not want to be taking any prescription drugs or medicines unless it is actually necessary. As you may have noticed, a number of celebrities have died over the years from taking these products. They can have a detrimental effect on your body.

More and more, many men and women are tuning to alternative medicine remedies for what ails them. This is not a bad idea when you consider the damage many common synthetic drugs cause to your body. For instance, you have probably heard of people abusing products like Tylenol. Unfortunately this simple over-the-counter drug for headaches, fever and body aches can really have a terrible effect on your liver and kidneys, if taken too much. A simple rule of thumb is, if you are taking drugs like this every day for aches and pains, then there is a problem. You should look into alternative medicine remedies.

One of the reasons many people are looking into alternative medicine remedies is because they come from natural sources or nature. This literally means plants, flowers and herbs. Although you may not know it, there are countless remedies already available on earth. You just have to know what they are and where you can find them. Many holistic practitioners use and sell these alternative medicine remedies all the time. They actually recommend them because they do not contain synthetic compounds. This often means they have much less of a negative impact on your body and mind. Especially when taken over a long period of time.

It is not difficult to find alternative medicine remedies and products these days. In fact, all kinds of health food stores and supplement shops typically offer these. You can also find them online through countless dealers and distributors. However, you may want to speak with a professional before actually taking any alternative medicine remedies. This way you will have a good idea of what to expect, and the kind of effects they may have on your body. Often these products do not lead to major side effects like many other over-the-counter drugs and prescription medications do.

Related Blogs

• Alternative Medicine Remedies
• What Are Some Really Great Health Food Stores In The Area ...

Technorati Tags: alternative medicine remedies, alternative remedies