Auto-Immunization

There are many ways of helping the body in dealing with infections. Home remedies for strep throat are various and they include many aspects: diet, natural antiseptics, natural analgesics or natural antibacterial cures. Used appropriately, home remedies for strep throat can speed up the process of healing by fighting bacteria and by stimulating the immune system of the body.

Strep throat can occur to anyone, at any time. Although children and teenagers are the ones who often get strep throat, adults may also be affected by this illness. Strep throat occurs due to infection with group A streptococcus bacteria. This type of bacteria is very contagious and can be easily transmitted through secretions (sneezing, coughing) or physical contact (handshake, touch). Even perfect hygiene can’t prevent strep throat from occurring, as the bacteria that cause the infection are also airborne. In some cases, you can contract the bacteria responsible for strep throat just by standing next to a contaminated person.

The most common symptoms for strep throat are inflammation and swelling of the throat, inflammation and swelling of the tonsils, swelling and tenderness of the lymph glands, difficulty in swallowing, fever, headache, nausea, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea.

There are home remedies for strep throat that can ease each of these symptoms. However, it is very important to understand that home remedies for strep throat can’t completely replace medical treatments prescribed by a physician. Strep throat is an infection caused by bacteria and therefore needs appropriate treatment that consists of antibiotics. Although there are natural alternatives for medical antibiotics, they are considerably less effective in fighting bacteria on their own. Home remedies for strep throat that can act as antibiotics are garlic, honey, olive leaf extract and tea tree oil. Such home remedies for strep throat can help in fighting infection and inflammation, but medical treatment shouldn’t be ignored. In fact, most home remedies for strep throat should be used only in addition to medical treatment with antibiotics.

Home remedies for strep throat pain, discomfort and soreness are chamomile, sage, peppermint, lavender, jasmine, rosemary and thyme. These can either be used as essences or ointments and are very efficient in reducing the pain and for relaxing the body. Peppermint and chamomile teas can relief abdominal pain, reduce nausea and can also correct internal disorders such as diarrhea.

A quick, effective, home remedy for strep throat is salty water gargle. By washing the oral cavity with salty water a few times a day you can help the body in overcoming the bacteria responsible for the infection.

When suffering from strep throat, make sure you get enough sleep. Sleep is vital for body regeneration and for maintaining a strong immune system. However, due to the discomfort and pain caused by the infection with bacteria, you might have difficulties in falling asleep. Home remedies for strep throat that have both sedative and analgesic effects are ginseng and passion flower.

Home remedies for strep throat are a very good means of speeding up the process of recovery. By following an appropriate medical treatment and a few good home remedies for strep throat, you will quickly overcome the infection and revitalize your body.

So if you want to find out more information about home remedy for strep throat, and especially about strep throat in adults, please follow this link http://strep-throat-center.com.

Since times immemorial, Acupuncture is a unique treatment for reducing high blood pressure in human beings. High blood pressure refers to a situation where blood starts exerting pressure against the walls of arteries, veins and also the chambers of the heart. Over a specified time period, this heavy rush of blood starts damaging the lining of the blood vessels. It can also lead to arteriosclerosis, meaning hardening of the arteries.

Symptoms of high blood pressure

High blood pressure symptoms are often acute in human beings. They include sudden dizziness, flushed faces, nervousness, severe headaches, restlessness, difficult breathing, nose bleeding, insomnia, intestinal complaints, depression, short temper and emotional instability. The diagnosis of high blood pressure is done when the normal pressure tends to repeatedly rise. The other physical symptoms of high blood pressure includes constant tendency to urinate, decrease in eye vision and muscle weakness.

Electro-acupuncture treatments

Acupuncture combined with electric stimulation or electro-acupuncture can lower elevations of blood pressure in human beings. When the research was conducted for the first time, acupuncture needles were inserted on the inside of the forearm just above the wrist, but to no avail. Researchers then started adding electric stimulation to the needles, which means that electric would start flowing from the needles to the body. While high frequency of stimulation had no effect, low frequencies of electro stimulation reduced blood pressure effectively.

A thorough research on acupuncture shows that the inserted needles excites brain cells, causing them to release neurotransmitters that always heighten the heart’s activities. To cure high blood pressure, acupuncture inserts needles on certain points on the wrist, forearm or leg, to excite the opioid chemicals in the brain and reduce excitatory responses of the cardiovascular systems. This eventual decrease in heart activity and need for oxygen can lower blood pressure to a great extent. It also promotes in the healing of other heart-related conditions like myocardial ischemia and hypertensions.

Other acupuncture treatments to reduce high blood pressure

While you are undergoing acupuncture treatments for curing high blood pressure, you can also use herbs like Tian Ma [Gastrodia Rhizome], Xia Ku Cao [Prunella] and Shan Zha to reduce high blood pressure. You should inject the juices of these herbs into your blood to achieve better results.

A unique and natural acupuncture treatment for high blood pressure also include pressing of the skin on the back of your hand in between the thumb and index finger.

Find all about acupuncture and high blood pressure only on acupuncture for high blood pressure and much more. All about acupuncture on LeanderNet – www.leandernet.com

Vitalism is a philosophy on health that is simple to follow and provides powerful effects. At its heart is the belief that living in pain or disease, of any type, is an unnatural state. More importantly, Vitalism suggests that pain and disease is a sign that a larger problem is underfoot.

Reducing pain and disease symptoms by fighting them with modern medicines and surgery will rarely touch the larger problem. New symptoms will arise, and new medicines and surgeries for this symptom will continue to weaken the body, harming its precious organs and destroying the body’s immune response strength. What is needed to understand is how to identify the greater problems behind the initial symptoms of pain or disease before they cause the arrival of larger, more complicated conditions.

There should be an adopted focus on learning the basics of Vitalism, and with each step, the discovering of major health conditions and understanding their underlying causes, of which may not often be considered or discussed in your doctors office, but which are nevertheless understood and well researched. This way of thinking is a positive means of finding more practical alternatives to drugs, expensive supplements, and surgeries.

Also central to the ‘vitalist’ philosophy is the key principle that a lack of symptoms does not mean health. Health is an abundance of energy. Health is a source of personal power and control over your personal and professional life, along with other relationships. Health is, also, control over your self. Health is having the ability to have your body do whatever you want your body to do.

While the ‘vitalist’ lifestyle is simple and enriching, to educate yourself away from the misinformation you have been fed over the years may take some time and commitment on your behalf. Every effort should be made to strive for information, expanding your understanding of how your mind and your body work together. Soon, you will understand that the food you eat, when eaten properly, brings you energy instead of draining energy. You will understand that the foods that bring you health are delicious and the unhealthy foods you crave are draining.

Through Vitalism, you will also learn how a lean, healthy physique is enjoyable to obtain and enjoyable to maintain. The same simple steps you need to take to reduce your body pains will bring you a healthier, leaner physique, and an invigorated organic system. We hope to educate you as to what these underlying forces of Vitalism may be and what remedies you may find.

Dr. Bryan Brodeur lives a vitalist lifestyle, is the author of Vitalism, and the owner of VitalityHouse.

The 90’s gave birth to a wave of organic consumerism, and with good cause. Organic agriculture by definition is a more sustainable, environmentally friendly practice than conventional agriculture. Consumers are attracted to the potential health benefits gained from fewer pesticides and chemicals in their food and household products. Organic bedding is no exception. A mattress free of synthetics and potentially harmful chemicals is in high demand.

Many companies are pushing their organic sleep solutions to an eager consumer, but it is important to be aware of what, exactly, is being offered. Mattresses labeled as organic contain organic materials, but almost never contain exclusively organic materials. Any mattress with an innerspring core is obviously not entirely organic, as steel by its very nature is not organic. There is no such thing as organic polyurethane, which is entirely chemical in composition and tends to outgas. The only other core material widely available today, is latex.

Latex generally falls into two categories, talalay, and natural. Talalay latex contains about 30% synthetic latex so is not organic, though it remains a premium sleep surface and is hypoallergenic. Natural latex, which is often called 100% natural (but is never quite 100% latex), cannot be organic either. This is due to the nature of processing latex. Ammonia is always added to the milky sap of the rubber tree to prevent coagulation. This ammonia is removed later in the processing through a rigorous rinsing process, but still prevents latex from being certifiably organic.

Other factors include additives such as soaps and curing agents, as well as the certification process. In order for a plantation to produce organically certified latex, it would have to undergo a rigorous inspection of production and handling procedures – needing to adhere to strict regulations such as: a 2 year period with no use of prohibited materials, regular inputs of organic material, no use of soluble mineral fertilizers, no use of chemical pesticides, and many others.

Despite not being labeled with the tag word organic, natural latex is without a doubt the best all natural sleep surface on the market today. It offers the best pressure point free support while remaining inert, and free of chemical out gassing, as well as the longest life of any core material on the market today. If a comfortable night’s sleep on a natural product is the goal, natural latex is the sleep surface to pursue.

Ben Hermsen, a latex mattress and foam cushion engineer, is a manager for http://www.foamsource.com where he champions the benefits of latex mattresses, toppers and pillows for both individual health and also the preservation of our natural environment.

So many health products for sale! So much money to be spent! Yet, in your kitchen, you may have just what you need to give you optimum health. Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey. It is important to note that they must both be organic and raw. The modern types that you buy in the grocery store will not work, as all the healing elements have been removed. Did you know that this little combination will take care of a variety of health problems? I will give my disclaimer now. If you are ill or have a chronic condition, don’t stop taking your medication abruptly. Take the apple cider vinegar tablets together with your medication and notice how much better you feel. There are various ways to do this. You may mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar, together with two teaspoons of honey in a glass of water and drink this three times a day. Some people love it and say that it is quite a refreshing drink. I do not share that opinion, so I opt to take the tablets. Whichever route you decide to take, remember, they must be organic. Do not get the watered down commercial brand.

I first discovered an advertisement about apple cider vinegar and its health benefits, not even a month after I lost my mother. I had cared for her for four years and it had worn me down emotionally and physically. Where once upon a time I came first and she sacrificed for me, life had done a backward flip and now she came first and I sacrificed for her. Therefore, many of my health concerns went unattended. No, I would not advise anyone to sacrifice in this way, but when faced with the position of full time caregiver, this is so very easy to do. You tend to forget about yourself, fully intending to take care of yourself later . . . and later . . . . and later . . . . .By the time mother died, I had asthma, for which I was taking a variety of inhalers, sinus headaches, Osteoarthritis, so bad in my hips that it was extremely difficult to go up two steps. I have always been wary of prescription medicine, so I never asked for the latest miracle pills on the market. After several of them being taken off the shelves, I am most glad that I didn’t.

Well, normally I just take a quick look at advertisements and then just toss them. However, this one was different. There was something about it that made sense, it might really work. The benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey. I read through the entire article and it convinced me to try it. I don’t remember what exactly they were selling but I knew that I could use their methods for just pennies a day.

Optimum health has to do with your body’s alkalinity. This was something new to me. Apple Cider Vinegar gives your body the exact alkalinity it needs. If you have too much, it will reduce it. If you have too little, it will increase it. It is good for a variety of conditions. Started early enough, you will not have to worry about depending on prescription pills. Of course, this is in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise. While caring for mother, I noticed that so many prescription medicines cause side effects, necessitating you to take additional medicines to alleviate those side effects. Well, this can turn into a vicious cycle and too often does. I became very aware of this as I cared for my mother through her illness. By the time I realized what was going on, it was too late. I am not even taking into consideration the expense involved.

I have been taking Apple Cider Vinegar tablets for seven months now and I maintain that if I had given these to mother from the minute she came to live with me, right now she would be running a marathon without her oxygen.

This is what Apple Cider Vinegar has done for me. I have no asthma. I take no inhalers. I have no sinus headaches. And the most amazing of all …….. Drum Roll Please! I am not allergic to cats anymore. Yes, apple cider vinegar will take certain allergies away. I will not say all allergies, as I am not positive, but it will take your animal allergies away. Imagine, no more dreadful allergy shots. I now have an indoor cat, Maggie May. Oh yes, the osteoarthritis. Gone. I am limber and can climb stairs. I can get on a bus without having to be helped up and I can sit on the floor and get up again. This is my personal testimony.

Now, let me list all the benefits of apple cider vinegar, whether you take two teaspoons mixed with two teaspoons of honey, in a glass of water, or if you take tablets. Since I have found tables, that is what I do, since it is much less painful than the other alternatives.

Apple Cider Vinegar is good for:

Obesity; Overweight; Arthritis; Asthma; High Blood Pressure; Blood – Provides the elements necessary for perfect clotting. Blood will not clot abnormally and it will also prevent hemorrhaging.

Colitis; Coughs; Diarrhea; Dizziness; Ear Discharge; Eczema; Tired and Sore Eyes; Fatigue; Food Poisoning; Hair Loss; Hayfever; Headaches; Hearing; Heartburn; Hiccups; Insomnia; and, last but not least, Kidneys and Bladder

These are only some of the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar.

Hippocrates treated his patients with Apple Cider Vinegar. Apple Cider Vinegar has been discovered in Egyptian urns as dating back to 3000 B.C. The Babylonians used Apple Cider Vinegar as a condiment and preservative. Julius Caesar’s army took Apple Cider Vinegar to stay healthy. It was used as a healing agent in Biblical times, and in the Middle Ages it was sold as a healing tonic. Christopher Columbus used Apple Cider Vinegar in his voyage to prevent scurvy. Apple Cider Vinegar has a myriad of uses. Not only is Apple Cider Vinegar used for over all health, but it is also used as a cleansing agent to remove germs, bacteria, and odors. It can even be used to remove stains and spots.

In this day and age, it is so important to keep fit. We are in a fast paced world where stress rules the day. Our cities are polluted and our food full of insecticide and preservatives. It is so important that we give our bodies the proper nutrients for optimum health. If we start while young, we minimize the risk of chronic illness. However, if have already burned the candle at both ends and find ourselves a little older, a little fatigued or maybe even have medical problems, combined with proper nutrition and exercise, Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey is Mother Nature’s supplement for optimum health.

©Luella May 2006

Luella May lives with her dog, Misty, and her Manx, Maggie. She has a bus route where she takes Bus Kids to church every Sunday. Luella loves music and singing.

Luella May is currently the co-founder and editor of “The Corner 4Women.com” http://www.thecorner4women.com/ and writes exclusively for her blog http://www.thecorner4women.blogspot.com/ and Luella’s Corner http://www.oakwoodgrafix.co.uk/blog/LuellasCorner/

Is your body a type of machine, like a car or a cell phone, or is it a living thing?

I know that’s seems like a weird question, but your answer to it determines whether you agree with the Western medical model or alternative medicine.

Western medicine increasingly sees our bodies as machines with interchangeable parts.

Heart isn’t working right?

Okay, we’ll get that damn thing replaced for you and rotate your tires while we’re at it.

Does that sound like a human body?

Here’s the problem, as I see it. There is no accumulation of substances that you can pile up to create life. Because life isn’t just stuff, it’s mostly relationships between stuff. That is to say, life is mostly due to fields. Electromagnetic fields and other types of fields. That’s what makes life.

Western medicine takes what is called a reductionist viewpoint of the body. That means, no matter what the illness, we can always just take things apart until we get to the “one thing” that caused the problem, the one defective part in the body-machine. I’ve written about the reductionist paradigm in another article.

So, if something goes wrong in your life, some disease, condition or problem, you need to turn first to the fields to find out what happened. Then perhaps it will make sense to think about the substances and see what you can do there.

Machines are just piles of stuff. They aren’t dependent on any “field of life.” That’s silly. You just put the stuff together in the right way and the machine works. But human bodies (or any animals or plants) don’t work that way. We’ve tried it a million times, and whenever we try to create life synthetically with piles of stuff, we just can’t.

Many types of alternative medicine, including acupuncture, ayurveda, energy healing, etc., look at the fields first and try to correct them. Then you add substances (herbs, physical exercises, etc.) to round out the treatment. But they don’t start with the stuff. They start with the fields.

Our health problems often begin in the fields, called meridians in Chinese medicine or chakras in Indian medicine, moving into our physical body later. When a problem manifests in the body, it’s already late in the process. You can probably still do a lot by adjusting the fields, but you’ll also have to deal with the physical issues too.

But you might want to leave the dangerous, expensive treatments like drugs and surgery as a last resort. Doesn’t that make sense? If you’ve got a very powerful, but very deadly, treatment, wouldn’t you want to use that last rather than your first line of defense?

Daryl Kulak is the author of Health Insurance Off the Grid, a book that explores how a combination of holistic health and the new Health Savings Account (HSA) can make an enormous difference in the budget and health of the self-employed. Daryl is not a medical doctor, nor is he an insurance agent.

My first shiatsu massage

I opened my eyes suddenly. He was smiling at me. Then I realised I must have fallen asleep. It was a strange feeling. Energised, refreshed and relaxed, all at the same time. And it was so enjoyable. If that is a full body shaitsu massage, I want another.

Shiatsu massage is done fully clothed, but nothing restrictive must be worn, I was told. I lay on a futon on the floor. He started by placing his hands on my stomach and closed his eyes, just sensing my energy. Then he started to work his way around my body using all sorts of massage techniques combined with stretching and pulling of my arms and legs.

But the best bit was when he worked around my head and neck. That felt so good. And when he moved down my spine with his hands chopping and kneading. My whole body tingled and I felt a rush of energy. I think it was about then that I must have drifted off to sleep.

What is a full body massage?

The session starts with some questions. General health, problems, pain, tension spots and any existing medical conditions. This builds a case history. If you have a number of regular treatments your case history is kept current with the results of each session.

Lying on your back, the giver kneels down beside you and places a hand on your abdomen. This is a ‘hara’ diagnosis. The Japanese word ‘hara’ means your centre and it reveals much about your energy system to a sensitive shaitsu practitioner. The shiatsu massage technique involves stimulating or relaxing the acupuncture points or meridians of your body.

The word ’shiatsu’ means ‘finger pressure’. The purpose of these massage techniques is to release and balance the flow of ‘ki’ or energy, at points where it has become blocked or overstimulated.

A full body session will include work on your abdomen, chest, shoulders, arms, hands, head, neck, legs, feet and back. You get your arms and legs pushed and pulled. You are kneaded and chopped with hands and static finger pressure is applied at specific points on your body.

Why do you feel both energised and relaxed?

Your body has a network of energy channels or ‘meridians’ in which your ‘ki’ flows. This unseen network follows similar pathways to the nervous system and provides a constant supply of life-giving energy.

And just like a busy freeway, blockages in the flow can occur. But unlike a freeway these constrictions often do not clear naturally, causing local pain, tension, irritation or even illness. And because the meridians connect all the organs together, it can cause problems in other parts of your body too.

Shiatsu clears these blockages, freeing your energy, so you feel energised. Clearing blocked energy releases tension. The massaging techniques and the power of ‘human touch’ has a tremendous relaxing effect on your whole body. This is why you can fall asleep. Releasing all your tension you instantly relax into much deeper levels of mind which border on sleep.

Where does this form of massage originate from?

Shiatsu massage started in the 6th Century in Japan. The modern-day founder of shiatsu as a therapy is Tokujiro Namikoshi and the Institute for Shiatsu therapy which he opened in 1925 on the Island of Hokkaido. After 20,000 graduates, shiatsu is widely practiced in Japan. It is also practiced in China but is called acupressure.

The study of shaitsu involves a lot more than just finger pressure and massage techniques. Students study anatomy, physiology, the meridians and energy ‘circuits’ of the body, pressure points, case studies and ‘hara’ diagnosis.

They must have many hours of practice on volunteers and they must be fit and strong. A practitioner must be comfortable sitting, kneeling and squatting on the floor. Something we are not use to doing in the west.

Why shiatsu is the ultimate stress relief

We all lead busy lives balancing work, homes, relationships and many other triggers for stress and tension. These triggers build slowly but surely, especially if your life is ‘full-on’ with little rest and relaxation. You will notice the signs: inability to relax, irritability or you may suffer from insomnia. These are just a few of the symptoms.

This stress causes body and muscle tension and many inbalances in the way your body works. In turn, the vital energy that flows around your body becomes constricted and blocked causing pain and discomfort. We all know the therapeutic value of massage for releasing tension but Shiatsu combines tension release with energy unblocking, all in one session.

A Shiatsu massage melts away all your accumulated stress and tension and gives you an energy boost all at the same time. There are not many therapies that can do this and be so enjoyable too.

Terry Dunn writes regular articles on how to use alternative therapies to improve your health. From aromatherapy to yoga, discover what it’s like, how it works and how you can benefit. To read more articles, visit his website, http://www.holistichealthtalk.com

Is Headache Pain Disrupting Your Life?

In today’s high-speed, high-stress world, headaches have become something of a constant companion for many people. As a matter of fact, the National Library of Medicine reports that the most likely causes of occasional to chronic severe headaches are stress and tension. With over 78% of adults experiencing tension-type headaches and 30% of the general population suffering chronic migraines, is it any wonder that the business of headache pain remedies is booming? Add to these startling numbers the 20% of children and adolescents who also battle chronic headaches and migraines, and you begin to understand the massive scope of this problem.

Whether your headache pain is chronic or occasional, or is the result of a migraine, allergy, stress or a wide variety of other maladies, slick marketing campaigns assure you that a pill has been developed to cure all your ills. But is ongoing medication use (and overuse) really the best way to address headaches? Have we really weighed its long-term affects on our health?

The National Headache Foundation recently published compelling information warning those with frequent tension headaches of the dangers in overusing headache pain relief products such as aspirin, acetaminophen, Motrin or ibuprofen. Such overuse has been directly linked with irreversible, and sometimes fatal, kidney and liver damage. Going one step further, scientists have found that even taking the maximum recommended dose for a long period of time can be risky, causing liver disease and even liver failure in many users.

Headache Pain Treatment- Listen To Your Body’s Warning Signs

In the vast majority of cases, headache pain is benign, meaning that although the pain may be severe, it is not life-threatening. While some conditions that manifest as or are accompanied by headache pain may require the attention of a medical doctor, a much greater number of painful and potentially serious maladies can be successfully treated with a much more natural approach.

It is important to note that there are a few specific “red flags” your body may give you which deserve your immediate attention, as they may indicate a more serious medical condition. Here are some warning signs that should be addressed by an MD:

• Headache accompanied by an episode of fainting
• Headache after any type of head trauma
• Sudden onset of severe headaches after the age of 50

However, if these particular circumstances do not apply to you, rather than risk permanent liver or kidney damage through overuse of pain-killing medication, become proactive and make an appointment with a chiropractic doctor. Explain your symptoms and learn about late-breaking natural headache pain relief information. You just may be surprised at how quickly you can break free from the chains of headache pain – without mind-numbing drugs.

Migraines And Headaches With Neck And Shoulder Pain Are Symptoms Of An Underlying Disorder

These symptoms indicate that there is another underlying problem, something lurking beneath the surface that is triggering your pain. Ignoring these symptoms by simply masking them with pain relief products is exactly like removing the batteries from a sounding smoke alarm. You might stop the noise for the moment, but if you do not take action your house will burn down. Don’t you agree that it makes much more sense to discover and address the reason for the sounding alarm? Similarly, it just makes sense to find out what is actually causing your pain and address it.

According to the World Headache Alliance, between 70-80% of all Americans experience chronic headache pain at least once per week and a large body of research indicates that poor posture and spinal misalignment may be responsible. And yet, a surprising number of traditional medical practitioners fail to recognize the connection between healthy cervical spine alignment and headaches.

The fact is that bad posture and poor workplace habits have been proven to be extremely relevant factors in many types of chronic headaches. Do you sit in front of a computer all day, every day? Do you cradle the telephone on your shoulder during phone conversations? Does your work require you to remain standing at an assembly-type line? If this sounds like you, chances are, you suffer from migraines or headaches with neck and shoulder pain.

Don’t Endure Chronic Headache Pain!

Today’s workplace environments and our hectic lifestyles may be causing an epidemic of chronic headache pain, but you do not have to simply endure it. Chiropractic care has a strong track record of incredible success in treating most forms of benign headaches. It has even proven to be very successful in treating and eliminating debilitating migraine pain – without the danger of potentially harmful drugs.

Clinical studies have repeatedly shown that chiropractic treatment of headache pain enjoys consistently spectacular success rates ranging between 72-98%. Unlike prescription medications, there are no adverse or allergic reactions, no potential drug interaction, and you never have to worry about drug-induced drowsiness.

Seek Out Natural A Chronic Headache Pain Relief Remedy

Before the next massive headache slams its way into your day, do some research to determine what foods or environments you should avoid. Learn to handle everyday stress in a positive, healthful manner. Carefully assess the pain medication you take to manage your headaches. And consider making an appointment to see your chiropractic doctor. You just may be surprised to discover the wonderful world of a life filled with newfound health and energy, free from the shackles of chronic headache pain.

About the Authors:

Drs. Brenda and Erik Slovin are board certified Chiropractic Physicians at Slovin Family Chiropractic Center in Norwalk, Connecticut. Drs. Slovin specialize in teaching real people how to get rid of their headache, migraine and neck and shoulder pain, quickly and easily, without the use of lotions, potions, pills or surgery.

To get instant access to all their most successful health strategies and secrets, as well as a free Chronic Pain Report that lets you know why, what most people don’t know about chronic pain can actually hurt you!, visit them at: http://www.Headache-Neck-Pain-Relief.com and sign-up to receive their monthly newsletter “Live Well”.

Headaches are a common problem. About 12% of the population suffers from migraines; counting sinus, tension, and cluster headaches, that number probably approaches 100%. While over-the-counter and prescription headache remedies often are appropriate, the expense and side effects can be problematic for some people.

These problems may be avoided with any of a wide selection of herbal and mineral supplements. Here are some you can try; they’re listed in alphabetical order, and, as always, you should check with your health care provider if you have any questions.

General precautions:

– Some are not recommended for pregnant or nursing women or children under age two.

— Don’t take any of these with Coumadin or other blood thinners without consulting a doctor or pharmacist.
— Don’t take them if you have kidney problems without consulting a doctor or pharmacist.

Butterbur. Sold under the brand name Petadolex, it should be taken regularly, as a preventative; you may not be able to find it at the health foods store (if not, do an Internet search), and it’s not inexpensive.

Cayenne. Cayenne dilates your blood vessels, improving circulation; it is also a natural analgesic. You can buy cayenne capsules and take them regularly as a preventative; or you can take cayenne on an as-needed basis, and if you have cayenne (red pepper) in your spice cupboard, it’ll do. Put some in a glass of water, or a cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. How much is effective without being overpowering is something you’ll have to experiment to discover; start with 1/8 teaspoon and work your way up. You may be able to tolerate a whole teaspoon–but you may find relief from a lot less.

Celery seeds. You can find these at the grocery store. Soak the seeds in hot water, strain, and sip like tea.

Chamomile. Chamomile tea is calming and soothing, and readily available at the grocery store.

Cinnamon reduces stress, loosens tight muscles, and lowers blood pressure–all of which ease a headache.

Co-Enzyme Q10 acts on energy production within the mitochondria in the cells.

Eucalyptus oil. This is an essential oil; put a few drops of this in a carrier oil (vegetable, olive, etc.) and massage into your forehead to help with tension headaches. Also, try putting a few drops on a handkerchief and sniffing it.

Feverfew and ginkgo reduce migraines and vascular headaches by reducing blood vessel dilation and spasms. They also have anti-inflammatory properties; ginkgo, in addition, relieves dizziness often associated with headaches. You can try chewing feverfew leaves, although they are very bitter; or get a tincture or capsules. This is a good remedy for migraine or cluster headaches. Feverfew appears to be better at prevention than treatment of migraines, so you may want to take it on a regular basis. Both are available at health foods stores.

Ginger relaxes blood vessels in the head and reduces swelling in the brain, and activates natural opiates in the brain that relieve pain. It can be taken in the form of tea or in tablets available at health foods stores; use fresh or powdered ginger when you cook, eat crystallized ginger, or put fresh-grated ginger in a drink. Ginger is useful for migraines as well as other headaches, and also eases nausea.

Honey is a natural sugar, pre-digested by bees, that has been used since Bible times. It contains potassium and magnesium, which will help relax the arteries and allow more blood to flow to the brain. Try taking a couple of teaspoons if you feel a migraine coming on; it also might help with a hangover. Try boiling equal parts of honey and apple cider vinegar and inhaling the steam.

Lavender reduces pain and relaxes. Massage or sniff as with eucalyptus oil.

Lithium, a salt that is used to treat bipolar disorder, can help those suffering from cluster headaches. It is available at the health foods store.

Marjoram eases muscle tension.

Menthol preparations can be helpful in relieving tension headaches. Massage the oil into your temples.

Magnesium. Headache sufferers sometimes have underlying magnesium deficiency. Following the recommended dosage on the label, take with meals, but not with dairy products–magnesium interferes with calcium absorption.

Milk thistle, like feverfew, has been subject to many clinical trials that clearly demonstrate its effectiveness. It is frequently recommended to counteract the harmful effects of alcohol and other drugs on the liver. Silymarin, a powerful anti-oxidant, is largely responsible for the medical benefits of this herb.

Mustard. Soak your feet for 10-20 minutes in a hot foot bath to which you have added 2 teaspoons of powdered mustard. The heat and mustard will work together to ease your headache, and mustard powder is available at the grocery store.

Passiflora incarnata, a tropical herb, has been used since the 19th century for nervous conditions. Clinical trials have demonstrated the relaxing and calming effects of Passiflora; it is often recommended to treat anxiety and reduce tension.

Peppermint reduces pain and tension. Massage or sniff as with the other oils. (Warning: keep the peppermint oil away from your eyes!) This may be beneficial for tension headaches. Drink peppermint tea, available at the grocery store.

Riboflavin (vitamin B-2), like CoQ10, acts on energy production within the mitochondria; see package for the recommended dosage.

Rosemary. Rosemary oil helps keep blood vessels dilated; rub a few drops of it into your temples. Or make a rosemary tea using one teaspoon of rosemary in a cup of hot water; cover and steep for 10 minutes; strain and drink.

Valerian reduces tension and pain. It’s available in capsule form at the health foods store.

White willow bark will give you results similar to aspirin, but is much gentler on the stomach. This is the natural ingredient from which aspirin is made. Capsules or tincture can be found in health foods stores.

So, if you, like many people today, hesitate to spend the money–and take the risk–sometimes associated with traditional medications, try these first. For most headache sufferers, it can’t hurt.

Lisa J. Lehr © 2006

Lisa J. Lehr is a freelance writer and Internet marketer specializing in direct response and marketing collateral. She holds a biology degree and has worked in a variety of fields, including the pharmaceutical industry and teaching, and has a particular interest in health, pets, and conservative issues.

Please visit her blog at http://hopeforheadaches.blogspot.com.
If you’re looking for a copywriter, go to http://www.justrightcopy.com. Just Right Copy–because words sell.

Historical references to a universal energy field date back as far as 5000 B.C. to India where prana was considered to be the basic source of life. In China it was called chi and was believed to be in all matter. Two polar forces were recognized, yin and yang. When these two forces were in balance, one was considered to be healthy. More recently Western medicine has begun to recognize energy within the body with the advent of devices capable of detecting its effects in the body. Energy fields associated with the human body have been detected by electroencephalograms (EEG), electrocardiograms (ECG), and very highly sensitive devices such as superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID). Even biomagnetism has been recognized, as more sensitive devices have been developed to measure very weak magnetic fields.

Practitioners of alternative forms of health care often believe much of the illness we see in the human body is the result of either a blockage of the flow of energy of the body, or an imbalance in the energy from one side of the body to the other. When the energy balance is restored, the body begins the healing process. Often, symptoms seem to almost miraculously lessen or even disappear. Conditions such as migraine headaches, the cause of which is poorly understood anyway, respond remarkably well to a restoration of the energy in the body.

Energy imbalance is the result of too much nerve energy being sent to a part of the body in response to pain or dysfunction. Nerve energy, as I have called it here, is an electrical signal that is sent along the path of the nerve. All electrical signals also have a magnetic field. The magnetic field is so weak around this nerve impulse that it would seem to be undetectable. When measures are taken to restore proper balance to the energy of the body, a clinical result can be measured. A definite beneficial change takes place. If balance is not restored, the body gets caught in an endless loop of trying to make corrections. The result is an imbalance in which the deficient side develops painful trigger points. These trigger points are formed in the areas where acupuncture meridians are located. Therapies have been developed using these points to release blockages of energy and allow the proper amount of energy to flow. One does not need to use needles. These are the same acupressure points used by massage therapists, and other touch type therapies, to release tension, increase blood flow, and strengthen the body’s natural life force to assist in healing.

When energy is flowing to one side of the body more than to the other, it can be easily felt in the form of muscle tension. Nerve impulses are sent along the nerves to muscles and other locations in the body. In the muscles, this naturally causes them to be more contracted. A muscle that is contracted is shorter than a muscle that is relaxed. Remember as children how we showed off our muscles by forcefully contracting them ourselves? As a result of the increased muscle contraction, one entire side of the body will often feel tighter and tenser than the other. How can we balance this energy and cause both sides of the body to be equally relaxed? The method is simple.

Trigger points are located by their tenderness, and once located, gentle pressure is applied. The initial stimulation of the trigger point sends a signal to the central nervous system to send more energy to the deficient side. It is like saying, “Hey, look! There is a problem over here too.” The side that was getting the excessive energy suddenly has energy diverted from it, and the deficient side begins to receive an increase in energy. After a short time, a balance is achieved. The body is then able to use its resources for healing instead of continually attempting to bring the flow of its energy back into balance.

Dr. Conny Young has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and a Master of Arts degree in Physiology and Biochemistry. He did postgraduate work in Neurophysiology and Phamacology. He worked as a research scientist for a major pharmaceutical company for 17 years before becoming a chiropractor. He attended seminars on Touch for Health, Logan Basic Technique, Bioenergetic Synchronization Technique, Reiki (Level III master), Network Chiropractic, Brimhall 10 Step Protocol and has studied the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Shiatzu, Kiatzu, and Reflexology. He maintained a private practice for 17 years, and taught Neurophysiology and Toxicology at Palmer College of Chiropractic. He conducted research on the effectiveness of energy balancing for the treatment of migraine headaches. He can be reached through his website at: http://www.healthandwellnesssolutionsonline.com