A chiropractor is a medical professional who deals with issues involving the musculoskeletal and nervous system. Many times a chiropractor works in conjunction with other medication professionals to help people suffering from pain of the lower or upper back, neck, arm, leg, or joint pains as well as helps to relieve headaches.

Chiropractors do not prescribe medications or drugs for their patients instead they use a variety of other treatments such as spinal manipulation and mobilizations to treat patients who have a variety of problems. Chiropractors go through three years of training after college to become chiropractors. Chiropractor training is not the same as medical school. Chiropractors are not trained to recognize the symptoms of medical conditions, but rather are trained to focus on manipulation of the spine believing that this is the way to help maintain health.

Although chiropractors are often called doctors of chiropractic medicine they are not medical doctors and are what is considered to be limited practitioner meaning they cannot dispense medication or perform surgery.

Once considered to be almost quacks by regular medical practitioners, Chiropractors have been more or less accepted by the medical community with some medical professionals also having chiropractic as well as medical training.

Chiropractics are not physical therapists and many states have laws forbidding those practicing chiropractic medicine from calling themselves physical therapists as physical therapists have their own special training programs and licensing.

Chiropractors are actually divided into two separate groups, those known as straights and those called mixers. Straights are chiropractors who believe that all health problems are caused by misalignment of spinal bones, and only by correcting this misalignment can a patient once again become healthy. Mixers are chiropractors who acknowledge that misalignment is not the only cause of ill health, but that germs, and hormones play a role in disease. Mixers are more likely to diagnosis medical conditions and urge their patients to seek medical advice in the advent of a disease.

Chiropractic treatment and spinal adjustments are most likely to help patients who suffer from low back pain due to a number of conditions. These treatments may help to relax muscles resulting in reduced pain for people suffering from these conditions.

While patient satisfaction with chiropractic treatment is quite high there is little evidence that these treatments are effective in situations where a patient may suffer from fibromyalgia and other conditions. In fact many times direct contact with the knots of muscles patients with fibromyalgia have can increase pain or cause pain to extended to other parts of the body.

While chiropractic care may be useful in some cases, chiropractors in your area, like a chiropractor Charlotte NC, should never be seen as a replacement for a medical professional for the treatment of any disease.

‘You are what you eat’ is one of the most popular saying that almost never fails to not make sense at all. What it means, I guess, is that what we eat certainly has a big impact on our well being, our actions, and even our sleep. ‘How can sleep be affected by diet?’ you ask? Well actually, there are two ways sleep can be affected by what we eat. For one, there are food that give us a good wake-up call, and keep us perky. While there are food that will most likely knock out any insomniac willing to give them a try.

So, depending on whether your suffering from getting too less sleep or getting too much, you might want to adjust your diet to suit your lifestyle. Too much sleep and too little sleep are both bad ends of the scale.

Alarm clock food

Food rich in sugar and caffeine can keep you awake for a certain duration. Sugars that can readily be absorbed into the bloodstream are called simple sugars. They require less metabolism, hence their effects are almost instantaneous. Food that can perk you up are candy, chocolates, and any artificially sweetened treats. Caffeine, on the other hand, can be taken from a number of sources besides coffee, although coffee is the healthiest among all sources of caffeine- being rich in anti-oxidants and known to promote development of good short-term memory. Aside from coffee though, energy drinks and soft drinks contain caffeine and a small dose of sugar. So the next time you feel like you’re almost dozing off in a boring lecture, try chewing on a coffee-flavored piece of gum. It’s almost guaranteed to wake you up.

Foods that help you sleep at night

According to Easy Snooze, a website that deals with sleep, a certain amino acid is responsible for the metabolism and production of melatonin in the pineal gland. The amino acid is actually tryptophan. A number of food are actually rich in tryptophan including eggs, milk, turkey, poultry, nuts, and corn.  (For others just search for foods high in tryptophan). This amino acid alone will not be enough to induce drowsiness though. Better to combine it with food rich in carbohydrates as these trigger the production of insulin which hastens the conversion of tryptophan into melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that is responsible for the regulation of sleep. Melatonin taken orally is used to cure jet lag, delayed sleep disorder, as well as other sleep-related disorders. So, the next time you consider taking sleeping aids, you might want to consider the natural remedies to insomnia mentioned above.

Sinus neti pots are designed to help irrigate the nose and get rid of common problems and nasal ailments.
The idea behind the pots emerges from ancient Ayurvedic techniques concerned with the cleansing of nasal passages. The practice was very widespread in ancient India where the term Jala-Neti means cleansing and clearing the nose using water. More recently, SNI or saline nasal irrigation has become very popular as a home treatment to get rid of problems like sinus infections, colds and allergies. Some research and studies show that SNI can also be very useful for treating chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. Short term applications are shown to be very effective, but long term and frequent applications might lead to more sinus infections so proceed with caution.

Description of Neti Pots

Neti pots are described as tools used to irrigate the nasal passages. Usually, these have an attached spout close to the bottom. Other models also have a handle located at the opposite side. Neti pots are usually made of different metals, plastic, ceramic or glass. These function by flushing out nasal cavities via gravity to bring out the flow of saline. A number of new variants can be found in pharmacies. These are usually made of flexible plastic and can also be compressed to provide extra pressure.

Recently, new strategies were also made, such as the inclusion of bulb syringes where the flow is made by squeezing the bulb and through other pulsatile devices. These will mechanically pump the saline to clear the nasal passage. Bulb syringes are preferred by many people because these give them full control over the exerted pressure. Pulsatile devices will pump at a fixed pressure or ask the user to use and turn the control knob. Neti pots, require the user to turn the head for pressure control.

Using the Pot

To use the neti pot effectively, you need to combine a saline solution to pour and flow through the nasal passages. The usual saline solution is made up of a mixture of 5g salt and 500 ml water. At times, 2.5g sodium bicarbonate is added to buffer the solution and make it more tolerable and smoother on the sinuses. The full effect of adding sodium bicarbonate is still unknown. Neti pots used with saline solution have presented to be very useful in treating hay sinusitis, hay fever and other nasal conditions. Hypertonic and isotonic saline can be applied for neti.

Step by Step Method

For the general approach, fill the neti pot then stand in front of a mirror and sink. Bend over the sink. Breathe in a natural way using your mouth. Open your mouth wide, so the nose-to-mouth passage stays closed. Water cannot enter the mouth or throat if you’re doing this. Also refrain from laughing and talking. Air should not enter into the nose. Position the nose cone straight into the right nostril, then seal using a smooth and gentle approach to keep water from exiting.

The head should be bent forward and rolled to the left side. The left nostril should be positioned at the lowest point. Your chin and forehead should be found at the same level. Try new things with your head posture. As soon as the water exits the left nostril, hold your head. The neti pot should only be moved to prevent more water from pouring in. Start with half a pot for each side. Wait around 20 seconds and take out the nose cone from the right nostril. If you’ve been applying half a pot for a while, you can start using one pot per side.

A botanical is a plant or an extract from a plant that has been chosen for its health giving properties, its flavor or its scent.   Lets take these three aspects of botanicals in turn and dig a little deeper.

1. Botanicals to improve health and well-being

Also referred to as herbal medicines, herbal remedies or phytomedicines – these botanicals are most commonly available as dietary supplements (although a few are classified as pharmaceutical drugs by the FDA in the US).  The field of botanical medicine, considered a complementary form of therapy, is growing rapidly.  Here are some examples of botanicals used to maintain and improve health:

• Echinacea is used to strengthen immune functions
• Green tea is thought to help improve cardiovascular health, protect against certain forms of cancer and slow down aging.  Other forms of herbal teas or tisane are often defined as being “botanical”
• St John’s word is recommended by alternative health practitioners as a treatment for depression, anxiety and insomnia.  See other herbal supplements for anxiety.
• Ginger has been linked to improvements in gastrointestinal problems.

2. Botanicals used in cosmetics and personal care

Botanicals are incredibly used as ingredients in personal care products instead of artificial smells and colorings as the trend towards pure and natural ingredients gains momentum.  Barefoot botanicals for example focus on 100% natural products that are light, gentle and aromatic.  Minasota based Purple Prairie Botanicals take organic ingredients and combine they with herbal infusions and essential oils ensuring that they are petroleum free and environmentally safe.

3. Botanicals in the home

Again the marketing catchphrase used for botanical products is that they are “natural” and “gentle.”  Brands such as Archipelago botanicals bring botanicals to the home in the form of natural soy candles and scented diffusers.  Banyan botanicals focuses on the kitchen supplying a range of certified organic herbs. (They are also sustainably sourced and fairly traded).

Evidence indicates that certain herbs can have powerful anti-anxiety effects.  Herbal supplements for anxiety are considered safer than prescription medications and are less lively to result in addiction or long term dependence.  However bear in mind that herbal supplements are not comprehensively evaluated by the FDA and some may not be effective.  It is always worth sticking to products that contain specific herbs whose effects  have been widely researched.  The following are generally considered to have potent properties:

The effects of Valeriana officialis (Valerian root) to reduce nervous tension has been backed up by clinical trials.  It is relatively quick acting and also appears to be effective for insomnia.

L-theanine is considered to have strong anti-anxiety properties and is not habit forming.  It is an amino acid derived from green tea.

There is growing evidence to support the claim that passion flower extract containing vitexin is effective for anxiety conditions.  It is often used in combination with valerian.

Kava, generally taken as a sedative beverage, has long been known for its calming properties but concerns have arisen over its potential for liver damage.

Although not backed up by clinical trials many anxiety sufferers have reported positive results after taking St John’s wort.

Although not strictly speaking a herbal supplement, vitamin C and vitamin B both help contribute to a healthy nervous system.

It is sensible to speak with your doctor before taking an anxiety supplements.  This is vital if you are taking medical anti-depression drugs. As mentioned at the outset, herbal supplements are not closely regulated by the FDA.  They should also only be taken as part of an holistic approach for stress management.  It’s no point taking an anxiety supplement if you also do not ensure that you are getting adequate rest, exercising regularly or eating well.  It also makes sense to consider emotional and spiritual factors that could be effecting your well-being.

Prononced tee gong, Qigong is a health practice long practiced in China and often classified as part of Chinese Traditional Medicine (along with herbal medicine and acupuncture).  The practice involves balancing and manipulating the body’s energy (chi or qi).

If you watch people practicing QiGong you’ll observe slow graceful movements and relazed breathing.  It requires significant mental concentration as well as physical skill.  Unlike conventional exercises it is a holistic practice that focuses on the whole body (not just the muscles ) including the lymphatic, digestive and nervous systems.

From a health care point of view, it has emerged as a practical method to help with disease prevention and wellness.  But many experts and practitioners take it one step further using it as a technique that defines a way of being and a deep spiritual awareness.

Relationship with Tai Chi and Kung Fu

Both Tai Chi and Kung Fy can be considered as martial arts form of Qigong.  In a sense Qigong provides the foundation for both as both require a manipulation of the body’s energy (thorugh focus and discipline).

Here’s a quote that explains the interrelationship between the disciplines in more detail from Roger Jahnke:

When you cultivate balance and harmony within yourself, or in
the world — that is Tai Chi. When you work and play with the essence
and energy of life, nature and the universe for healing, clarity and
inner peace — that is Qigong.

Although there are thousands of different types of Qigong it is useful to categroise them into three training categories:  (Note the below is an oversimplification of what is involved and many qigong systems are composed of one or more types of training).

1. Dynamic – involves movement (tai chi is a representation of dynamic qigong)
2. Stability – involves maintaining a particular posture (has some similarities with traditional forms of yoga)
3. Meditative – involves mantra, meditation, visualization and breath awareness

As with all forms of exercise consistency is vital in order to experience the health benefits.  Qigong also requires mindfulness while practicing and an intense focus.  In alternative health circles, qigong has been linked to improvements in chronic conditions success as allergies, back pain, depression, arthritis, cancer and diabetes.  It is also widely used for physical rehabilitation and anxiety management.

Resources:

The Qigong Institute

One of the broad categories of Contemporary Alternative Medicine (CAM) includes the use of natural products including herbal medicines (aka botanicals), dietary supplements (vitamins and minerals for example) and probiotics (live bacteria that boost the natural populations found in the digestive tract).  Lets explore these three in turn.

Herbal medicines

The use of plants and plant extracts for the treatment of ailments has a history that goes back many thousands of years.  Although many pharmaceuticals used in conventional medicines rely on herbal medicines, here the focus is often to identify a single active ingredient as these can be better quantified (and patented).  In alternative medicine, herbalists take the approach that the various chemicals present in many herbs and plants should be allowed to interact together synergistically in order to improve the therapeutic effect.  Common examples of plants used as medicine include aloe vera (to help skin healing), echinacea (to mange the severity of the common cold), garlic (for yeast infections and to lower cholesterol), ginger (to manage vomiting), green tea (the list of health benefits associated with green tea is a long one) and oregano (as an antimicrobial).  But there are many many others which we will cover in more detail.

Dietary supplements and probiotics

Modern diets do not always provide sufficient quantities of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fiber, proteins or fatty acids that are necessary for our health.  Stress, travel and illness can also negatively impact our diet.  That’s where dietary supplements come into play and recent years have seen an explosive rise in their use – so much so that taking a multivitamin can not really be considered an “alternative medicine.”

Probiotics however are normally defined as a CAM product and come in the form of both foods (such as live yogurt) or as dietary supplements.  If you want to learn more about how to choose the best probiotic for your needs have a look at the guidance provided over at whatisthebestprobiotic.com Remember that not all probiotics are of a high quality and may not contain the large quantities of Colony Forming Units that are needed to confer a health benefit.  Note also that in the US dietary supplements do not undergo the same levels of regulations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as pharmaceutical or some over the counter drugs are subject to.

Resources:

See tips for the supplements user published by the FDA
See more on contemporary and alternative healing practices over at CAM